Being one of only two white people in the area has a number of implications... Amongst them is the universal assumption that Liz and I are either husband and wife, engaged to be married or boyfriend/girlfriend. The people that know us obviously haven't quite compared that against the fact that we had never met before coming to Mexico as volunteers!
The assumption in question seems to be entirely based on the fact that we're both white. And increasingly we're being asked when we're going to get married. Now I chuckle when I think that before I went many people suggested that I was going to come back with a Mexican girl. In the eyes of the Mexicans, that prediction is close but actually it'll be an 'Americana'.
It has now got to the stage where they don't feel like they have to ask us individually. We were walking to the centre and three of the girls who come to the homework club (aged 9-10) were standing in the road. I greeted them and was met by the question: ¿Cuando te vas a casar con Liz? (when are you going to marry Liz?). Not 'how are you?', not even 'hi'. They just jumped straight in with what they saw was the most important issue.
Now I ought to confirm that this isn't going to happen. I have no intention of returning with neither a Mexican nor an American in my suitcase. For one, how will I fit my things in there with them? Liz and I get on well but not too well (if you know what I mean). And I'm grateful to God that we work well together even our Mexican friends miss-interpret that.
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