VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910 with an uprising led by Francisco Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Diaz. The movement was characterized by socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist and agrarian expressions of malcontent. Over time, the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order to all-out civil war, eventually producing the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The Revolution triggered the creation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929 (later renamed the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, in 1946) which held power until the general elections of 2000. On this centennial anniversary, Mexicans all around the country are pouring into the streets to commemorate the special occasion through demonstrations, patriotic speeches, and by dressing up in “guerrillero” outfits (sombreros, ponchos, large moustaches, rifles, and silver bullets criss-crossing their chests).

Professionally, I have been traveling quite a bit lately. (Most recently, giving teacher-training workshops in Villahermosa and San Luis Potosi, and presenting at the annual MexTESOL conference in Cancun - see photos below). The next two weeks will be spent in Mexico City (DF), however, preparing for upcoming trips to Puebla and Oaxaca.

Many of you have asked where to send holiday cards/gifts, so here is the Embassy’s pouch address (if you feel so inclined):

C/o Kitty Johnson
PAS/RELO/BFL
PO Box 9000
Brownsville, TX 78520-0900

FYI - Only domestic US postage is required. Also, put MY name in the return address, since this is officially my boss’ diplomatic address. And ABSOLUTELY NO LIQUIDS OR POWDERS! (Trail mix and M & M’s are most certainly allowed, though! Ha!)