The narrator and their companions visit various places in Oaxaca, Mexico, immersing themselves in the local culture. They visit a community where women work with yarn weaving techniques and a traditional kitchen, where they learn about the local cooking methods.
They then visit a plant nursery and choose trees to plant, with the narrator selecting a pistachio tree. After a bumpy truck ride, they arrive at a location with many holes in the ground, where they plant their trees and give them names. The narrator names their pistachio tree "Lily" due to fond memories associated with the name.
The group then visits a place where they work with clay, watching as the clay is prepared and molded into various objects. They learn about the different types of clay and how they are used to create traditional objects. The narrator buys some clay monkeys and asks the artist to sign them.
Later, they visit a shop where they see various clay objects on display, including pieces that have been exhibited at the MoMA museum in New York. The narrator meets with a local woman who explains the importance of preserving their language, culture, and traditional clothing.
The group then participates in a chocolate-tasting experience, where they learn about different types of cocoa and how to identify flavors. They taste various chocolates, including one with "chapulines" (fried grasshoppers), which they find delicious.
Finally, they celebrate the narrator's birthday with a traditional Oaxacan dinner, complete with a chocolate cake and macaroons. The narrator reflects on the wonderful people they have met during their journey and the experiences they have shared.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator and others visited a community where they work with yarn weaving techniques.
2. They visited a traditional kitchen with a Zapotec stove.
3. The kitchen's walls were made of adobe, a material made from soil and dry leaves.
4. Adobe is a natural, lifetime material that acts like cement.
5. The group visited a plant nursery with a wide variety of endemic plants.
6. They picked out trees to plant, including a Ceiba tree and a pistachio tree.
7. The Ceiba tree was sacred to the Mayans and used in spiritual ceremonies.
8. The group planted their trees in pits on a mountain.
9. A reforestation crusade would be held in the area, with 3,500 trees to be planted.
10. The group visited a place where they work with clay, including a workshop where clay objects are made.
11. The clay is mixed and kneaded by hand to create a moldable material.
12. The group learned about the process of making yellow clay, which involves gathering clay, soaking it in water, and beating it by hand.
13. The clay is then dried in the sun for two hours to create a harder material.
14. The group visited a shop where clay objects are sold, including pieces made by an artist named Jazmín.
15. The narrator bought a piece signed by Jazmín.
16. The group participated in a chocolate sampling, where they tasted different types of cocoa and chocolate.
17. The cocoa was from México and had different percentages of cocoa content.
18. The group used a guide to identify the flavors of the chocolate.
19. One of the chocolates had "chapulines" (fried grasshoppers) and was described as salty and delicious.
20. The group ended their journey with a traditional Oaxacan dinner and a birthday cake made of chocolate.