Not me. A couple of days ago, Erica Gibson, a researcher from the University of South Carolina came to our colonia to.....do research! She is involved in a project comparing maternal care, both pre- and post-natal, among Mexican women in Veracruz and in South Carolina. Veracruz comes out better, so far at least.
Two of our friends in the Colonia, Mari and Areli, met her criteria of being in their third trimester so they came down to be measured, weighed and questioned. Erica is a delightful interviewer who made the experience fun for all of us, including Jim and me. We hung around in the background. She brought hand-crocheted baby blankets and caps (she does the caps, her students the blankets) and 200 peso gift cards from Chedraui for Areli and Mari. Mari's son Omar also came and sat patiently through the whole thing.
Afterwards, the women had water being the well-educated pregnant women they are (no caffeine, no sodas) and we all chatted. They gave credit to the wonderful program Oportunidades which Erica had not heard much about (!) for their understanding of the issues facing them. Interestingly, when the matter of safety in the US vs. Mexico came up, Mari and Areli had absolutely no doubt that Mexico was safer. As I frequently say, it sure seems that way here.
And here they all are:
From left to right: Mari, Omar, Erica and Areli