Salt and Super Powers

Today we went to the Trona Salt Mines. First big discovery, it is not underground. It is more of a flat area with the salt deposits under the ground. Miners dig up these big salt deposits, trona, with very little machinery because the land is protected. The way our guide was describing it the miners used their own vehicles hoods. The place a rope around the trona and tie that to the front of their car and pull it out. The salt mined there isn’t edible, but it used in calcium carbonate medicines and glass. While we were there we saw a coyote wandering about, he was headed toward a watering hole and a birds nest.

Although the mines were interesting, I think the most interesting part of the day was the drive over. Abraham, our amazing CEDO intern came with us. He answered a lot of questions about the living conditions in Mexico. He once worked at the local store that was bought by Wal-Mart. He mentioned how he enjoyed his coworkers and his managers, but the pay was low. Every fifteen days he received 1400 pesos. It is roughly 300 American dollars a month. We also asked about where the locals live because we have only seen vacation rentals. He said that they live towards the edges of town. The families usually make their own houses which cause them to be smaller and put together with variety of materials.

It was hard seeing the differences of the children as well. Most of the kids I have seen have been working in their families shops selling tourists souvenirs. The parents will have the kids go into a restaurant with a variety of bracelets and necklaces and sell them to the guests eating their dinner. There are also kids begging for money for food because they are hungry. It is hard to tell which children are hungry and which children are being taught to be scam artists. It is really hard knowing the opportunities that I have and knowing that a lot of these kids will not even have the thought of them.

On a completely different note, this evening was interesting. In Mexico the street vendors will haggle with you. It is a new skill that I have gaining a better knowledge of it. I learned when the original price is 30 you start down at 15. They won’t give it to you for that price, but it allows for more leeway.  Tonight I brought up a whole new technique. I had shopped this place last night and received a pretty decent deal then. So this evening the shop worker didn’t want to haggle too much. I was able to knock off seven dollars of my total by offering the man a hug. Apparently my hugs are pretty awesome if they are worth seven dollars. Because of this I have deemed my hugs a new super power of mine and shall only be used in time of desperate need. Although now all of my shopping is done I will have to retire my super power.