Job Discussion Forums

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

But that's a lot of water for over 50% of the year, and surely by letting the rain pour off the roof and soak into the ground, it's going to take a long time for that water to get back into the system. At leat by using a waterbutt, you distribute that water in a controlled way.

Admittedly, I'm not too hot on these ecology issues, I'm so not green, that I'm red. I was just thinking of the practical issues of not having gutters.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Phil,

As you may remember, I do have a rainwater catchment system. But it breaks my heart to see all the water just being dumped into the street and treated like waste that has become a problem then have to hear people suffer with lack of water the rest of the year.

This problem is not particular to Mexico, in many parts of the world we've come to think of rainwater as a problem, rather than a resource.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject:

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

Why do Mexicans believe drinking cold drinks or eating ice cream is bad for you when you have a cold?

I have been doing this all my life but my Mexican doctor students react in horror when I tell them this and everyone in my Mexican family yells at me when I do it.

MO39 · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

notamiss · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Mapache, MO39, it's because the health construct in this culture is based on heat and cold. All maladies (illnesses, diseases, sore muscles, etc.) are caused by getting too hot or too cold. Every disesase and every remedy is associated with either heat or cold, and a "hot" disease is treated by applying a "cold" remedy and vice versa. The temperature of a remedy isn't always obvious to one who isn't acquainted with them; for example every herb used for medical treatment has either a "hot" or a "cold" quality. These beliefs have been around longer than modern Western medicine, and exist in parallel with it.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MELEE · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject:

With UNAM is really depends on what you study. Some programs are world class others give out degrees to anyone who manages to stick it out.

In terms of Post Grad, most programs are well respected and well funded. Students come from all over Latin America to do post grads at UNAM.

The thing that gets me about the hot/cold this is that some foods are considered cold no matter what temp they are. Watermelon is considered cold so a lot of people believe you shouldn't eat it at night. I have found memories of sitting on my grandmother's porch eating watermelon and spitting seeds out into the dark of the night.

CharlieBaloney · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Ciudad de Mexico

I always swallowed the (watermelon) seeds. I don't know why. Too lazy to spit, I guess.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City