Olvera Street Field Trip 2017

On Wednesday, November 1, students from Frazier Mountain High School traveled to the “birthplace of Los Angeles.” Olvera Street is a Mexican Marketplace that preserves the culture of early California, and is lined with street vendors, restaurants and shops teeming with colorful Mexican clothes and knick knacks. The vendors are mostly descendents from the original Mexican vendors of the mid 1900s, bringing life to the atmosphere. As an added bonus, October 29th- November 2nd is Dia de Los Muertos- “Day of the Dead” in the United States. This holiday is a fun and full of life festival ironically representing lost loved ones and carrying on their memories through dancing and celebration.

Stepping into the stone paved narrow walkways of the Marketplace is like stepping into Mexico itself,and the culture is bright and proud here. Students from FMHS enjoyed going through the different stores where the majority of the goods are handmade and traditional. One example are chanclas (sandals)--one store was dedicated to selling them in all sizes. Cheap souvenirs were a favorite, whether it was sugary Day of the Dead candy skulls, handwoven colorful wallets, or cheap tiny guitars in all colors. Face painting in Day of the Dead festival style was a favorite as well, with students such as Emma Abell, Alondra Mosso, and Angela and Kelly Stegeman decorating half their faces with skulls.

They became part of the Day of the Dead vibe in Olvera Street, which also included women walking around fully clad in traditional costumes and fully painted faces. Altars, or ofrendas to the dead were also available for viewing, complete with Marigold flowers and food for the dead souls completing their journey to their place of rest. It was interesting viewing the altars, which FMHS senior Bianca Mechelin considered sentimental. Cesar Camacho thought that having the experience to walk around Olvera Street was “Great because we got to see what another culture was like up close.” Being immersed in another culture can open your mind up to how other people live and the daily activities they do that may differ from your own life.

Olvera Street is free to visit and a worthwhile experience. If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles make sure you pay this historical Marketplace a visit. Spanish teacher and Viva club advisor Senora Hughes plans Olvera Street visits every year to allow any interested FMHS student to be involved in Mexican culture.

A list of events can be found on the official Olvera Street website.

http://www.olvera-street.com/

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