cultural transpositions

The andean flute music is gone. Maybe there were complaints.

Today, without any money, I roamed the other side of the Reforma to see the balance of the other pavillions. Japan and China were booming. Tons of stuff for sale. Japan was selling everything from chopsticks to inflatable katanas to Zojirushi rice cookers. Korea was doing a brisk business too, although the tee shirts the staffers were wearing said "I [heart] Korea" instead of "Y[o] [corazón] Coréa". There were other odd transpositions too. I caught the Chinese booth selling genmaicha (Japanese tea) the US booth was selling French fries.

Actually, I was really curious about what the US booth would sell. Mexico and the US are slowly eroding the differences between the two as far as goods, economics, lifestyles, and appearances are concerned. The question- what food is most representatively American? Here's thier menu.

• New Orleans Jambalaya
• French fries
• 100% beef hot dog
• Iced tea with lemon
• desert: blueberry pie with "crema battida" which I belive is whipped cream.

Anyway, Reforma is lined with American culinary pavillions: Wendy's, Starbucks, Yogurtland, Starbucks, Capital Grille, Starbucks, Olive Garden, Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Carl's Junior Burger, and Starbucks.

The rest of the pavillion which was apparently sponsored by a local english language acadamey, had books on passing the TOEFL, the Guiness Book of World Records, notable Hispanics in the US, and a cardboard cutout of Barack Obama. Like the Belgian pavillion, there was also a selection of beer on sale, although unlike the Belgian pavillion, the beer was the typical industrial swill. I can't believe they spent the money to import Miller Lite. I suppose the average Mexicans and Americans do love thier weak lagers.

The secretive nation of North Korea also had a pavillion and I got to peek inside. It was all painted artwork of typical themes and a bald mannequin wearing a tradtional chesong. I was curious who was running the damned thing, and as far as I could tell, it was a grinning guy who looked like a typical young Mexican twentysomething.

The Russian pavillion was hopping too, although I hope that if any Chilangos decide to visit the Old Country, that they travel in an organized tour. Russia is still about as xenophobic as Saudi Arabia and similarly tourist-friendly.