Chisme

Gossip—a defining characteristic of every culture. Paparazzi. Blogs. He said/She said. Bathroom wall writings. Passing of notes. High School. Lunch breaks. Train talk. Work gossip.Grandma knows everything and tells everyone. Family “secrets.” Watering of the flowers. Taking out the trash. Nosey neighbors.

One thinks he/she is above it. But loves to hear it. Ask questions that confirm/deny. Love knowing that our fellow being is capable of being sinners. Try to hide our own dirty laundry.

Shows such as Desperate Housewives, Housewives of Atlanta, 90210 and just about every US sitcom confirms it in US culture.

Still, I never considered it dangerous. Perhaps because our social circles are big. One has to be an active player in order for their home life to be mixed with their work life.

Living in such a small town, chisme (gossip) has its own life. Work, home, school, church, social all involve the same people. One action (done or presumed) is soon known throughout the town. Finally, those that did not witness the action ask questions to confirm or clarify events, thus involving the actor in the chisme.

As I write this, I think about chisme that I accidently created / took part in yesterday. Yesterday was a complete day of pereza (too lazy to do anything….I should write a blog about this concept as well.) Interestingly, I was bored out of my mind and wished to do something…something that did not involve MonteCarlo. I wanted something exciting to happen. That wish came true.

Around 5pm, I went to my neighbor’s house. Mari (previous blog about her slaughtering pigs) is considered an outcast of the town and she prefers to keep it that way. After I arrived, her mother-in-law arrived just to say hello. Mari then notices a group of people walking up our street along with a cross and guitars. CRAP!

It’s a religious tradition: Every house is supposed to place a cross in their front yard along with a purple cloth. A church group then comes to their house, says a prayer and sings a song. The house members then join the crowd and they continue throughout the community.

On my street, only 1 house (out of 5) placed a cross in the front yard and it wasn’t Mari nor mine’s. Keeping with tradition, the group should only approach the houses with crosses so I made sure I didn’t leave Mari’s house (I was in short shorts and a tank top and she was in the shortest of pajamas shorts and a tank-top without a bra…not appropriate for the church group to see) and Mari avoided being seen as well.

However, bc Mari’s mother-in-law knew she was home, the group decided to come to Mari’s house next (despite no cross). As I saw them standing in front of the house (but still on the “sidewalk”, I dropped to the ground, hoping they did not see me. Mari immediately followed as well as her daughter. Outside, they sang “Forgive this town, Lord.”

QUE VERGUENZA!!!

Protocol required Mari’s household to come outside and greet the group.

Once they left, I went outside to where they were standing to check to see if you could see through the blinds. I couldn’t (or so I hoped.) Afterwards, I realized that I may have caused problems for myself. Problems, not really. Just chisme. I can read the headlines now:“Devil-serving Gringa hides from church group.”

Darn-it. It’s so much easier hiding from Jehovah Witness’ in the states!

I’ll have to keep you all updated as to how this turns out, but I can’t help but laughing as of now.