Notes

JAVIER: Hola. You must be the exchange student I'm hosting today. Well then, my name is Javier and let me be the first to say welcome to Mexico City, my hometown. It's a big city, but nobody knows it better than I do. Why don't you let me show you around?

This is the historic downtown of Mexico City. Historic because I was born here … just kidding. My city does have a rich history, though. Hundreds of years ago, this was the site of Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs.

Back then, only about a hundred thousand people lived here. Nothing compared to the nearly nine million who live here now. But at the time it was still bigger than any city in Europe.

(BEGIN CONVERSATION)

ALEJANDRA: Saludos Javier! ¿Ahora eres profesor de historia? ¿Por eso no fuiste a la práctica de fútbol ayer? Translates to "Hi Javier! Are you a history teacher now? Is that why you did not come to soccer practice yesterday?"

JAVIER: ¡Hola Alejandra! Muy chistosa. Salí tarde de la escuela ayer. Tuve que hacer mi tarea cuando llegué a casa. Translates to "Hi Alejandra! Very funny. I left school late yesterday afternoon. I had to do my homework as soon as I got home."

ALEJANDRA: ¿Al menos vas al partido esta tarde? Translates to "Are you at least going to the game this afternoon?"

JAVIER: ¡Claro que sí! Translates to "Of course!"

JAVIER: It seems Mexico City is under construction forever because all the new people to our city need a place to live. The housing is functional and modern … but I prefer the Aztecs' style, with their beautiful paintings and carvings all over the walls.

JAVIER: But there were other influences in the development of Mexico City. The French occupied the city in the 1860s, and they built great roads, like the Paseo De la Reforma.

ALEJANDRA: ¿Los franceses estuvieron aquí? ¿Cómo es que sabes tanto? Translates to "The French were here? How do you know so much?"

JAVIER: Soy profesor de historia ¿recuerdas? ¡Bromeo! Aprendí todo esto en clase, ayer. Translates to "I'm a history teacher, remember? Just joking! I learned all of this during a class yesterday."

ALEJANDRA: Uy. Me dormí en clase ayer. Translates to "Oh, I fell asleep during class yesterday."

JAVIER: Ya sé. ¡Roncas! Oye, camina conmigo. Necesito ir al mercado. Translates to "I know. You snore! Hey, walk with me. I need to go to the market."

(END CONVERSATION)

JAVIER: Yeah, the Aztecs didn't rule Mexico City forever, obviously. Otherwise, we'd still call the city Tenochtitlan. Eventually, Cortez came from Spain and conquered the Aztecs. It wasn't hard to overpower them with superior technology—like guns and armor.

But it wasn't just the guns. The Europeans also brought diseases that the Aztecs were not prepared for. I can barely go to school when I'm sick, let alone fight a war. The Aztecs didn't stand a chance.

Ah, here we are—the market. It's pretty modern and not quite the same as the open air markets of the Aztecs. But we still get all of our produce here and catch up on the latest gossip, just like they did.

(NEW CONVERSATION)

ALEJANDRA: ¿Escuchaste el chisme? Ayer, Xochilt intentó comprar cincuenta elotes a la vez. Translates to "Have you heard the latest? Yesterday, Xochilt tied to buy fifty ears of corn, all at once?"

JAVIER: ¿Qué pasó? Translates to "What happened?"

ALEJANDRA: Se le cayeron antes de llegar al cajero. Translates to "She dropped them before she got to the checkout counter."

JAVIER: Es cierto. Los empleados limpiaron todo para evitar otro accidente. Translates to "It's true. The clerks cleaned it up to avoid another accident."

(END CONVERSATION)


Once we get back home, why don't you take a break? The city moves pretty fast, and most tourists have a hard time catching their breath at 7,000 feet above sea level.

I've still got to hurry to my soccer game, and then make it back here in time for dinner. It might sound crazy, but I'm used to it! It's just another day in the life here in Mexico City!