Alas, Wings!

For reasons not clear to anyone, chicken wings (alas or alitas) have become omnipresent across Guadalajara, with at least a dozen different chains and countless independent outlets vying for some of that sweet wings money,

I don;t really have much else to say about it, really. I'm not a huge wings guy myself and I don't really understand why this is such a thing.

When it Rains

 

Despite its many charms, Guadalajara has a big problem: the summer.

Or, more precisely, the months of March, April, and May.

At this point, the mild winter temperatures have given way to t=scorching Mexican heat. But not to worry, when the rains come, it'll cool everything down.

The rains don't arrive til June...

That means we have about 3 months out of the year when it is hot, dry, and exceedingly dusty.  Part of this is due to weather and part of it is because of the lack of tree covering for the city.

But last night it stoooorrrrmed and everyhting is much better.

How do you get a visa?

There's not a simple answer to that question.

There are many types of visas n the world.

Immigrant visas.

Work visas.

Student visas.

But if you mean a regular, tourist/business visa, here's the short version.

You must:

1. Not have any ineligibilities (past immigration violations, serioues crimes etc.)

2.   Overcome section 214(b) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA)

OK, so what the hell is that?

To put t as plainly as possible, you must visit the Consular Officer that you do not intend to misuse your visa. In other words, you must demonstrate that you have a good reason to stay in your country of residence, and not live or work without authorization in the United States.

How do you do that?

Well, the usual way is to show strong ties. A good job, family connections, a government pension.

All visa applicants are PRESUMED to be immigrants until they show otherwise.

Despite the rumors, there is no set rule about how much money you have t make, how many kids you need to have or anything else.

Happy interviewing...

Comida Tapatia: Birria

One of the lesser-known culinary greats you can get is Jalisco is birria.

A rich, warming and spicy stew usually made of beef or goat (goat is better).  Birria is terrific on the few cold nights of the year, though Jaliscenses will serve it no matter what the weather.

Birria is also an excellent celebration dish due to the ease of making large quantities. It is particularly popular at weddings.

Like many other Mexican dishes, the stew is usually served with diced onions, lime, and cilantro.

Meat cooked in the birria style (marinated in spices and chilis, then stewed) is also served on tacos.

Rethinking the Battlefield

With top State Department positions unfilled and the hiring freeze extended, it's nice to know there are people out there who get it.

I'd like to thank Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for his Rethinking the Battlefield initiative, which seeks to xpand and strengthen America's diplomatic might.

Talk is cheap, but it can move mountains. Analysis and expertise are never to be devalued.

Guadalajarences?

For reasons that are not entirely clear, very few people from cities in Latin American have demonyms which have obvious origins.

People from Mexico City are chilangos.

From Buenos Aires, portenos. 

Bogota, rolos. 

And people from Guadalajara are called tapatios. 

The term apparently derives from an old Nahuatl coin or monetary unit, the tapatiotl. 

It is also a brand of hot sauce.

 

Why Join the Foreign Service? Part VI

“The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.”

– Anna Quindlen