Search by Topic
Stay Connected!
LIKE Us on Facebook!
See Us Social
Norma Writes for Selvedge Latin Issue
Why We Left, Expat Anthology: Norma’s Personal Essay
Norma Contributes Two Chapters!
- Norma Schafer and Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC has offered programs in Mexico since 2006. We have over 30 years of university program development experience. See my resume.
Study Tours + Study Abroad are personally curated and introduce you to Mexico's greatest artisans. They are off-the-beaten path, internationally recognized. We give you access to where people live and work. Yes, it is safe and secure to travel. Groups are limited in size for the most personal experience.
Programs can be scheduled to meet your travel plans. Send us your available dates.
Designers, retailers, wholesalers, universities and other organizations come to us to develop customized itineraries, study abroad programs, meetings and conferences. It's our pleasure to make arrangements.
Our Clients Include *Penland School of Crafts *North Carolina State University *WARP Weave a Real Peace *Methodist University
Tell us how we can put a program together for you! Send an email norma.schafer@icloud.com
PRESS
- WEAVE Podcast: Oaxaca Coast Textiles & Tour
- NY Times, Weavers Embrace Natural Dye Alternatives
- NY Times, Open Thread–Style News
- NY Times, 36-Hours: Oaxaca, Mexico
Our Favorites
Las Cuevitas 2010
We arrived late in the afternoon at that magic hour between daylight and sunset when everything is aglow. Village people had been gathering on the mountainside behind the village since last night, many of them camping overnight. There are some shallow caves there that are holy altars and each year a pilgrimage takes place to this spot where families gather, eat, take the rocks from the hillside and build miniature structures that represent the grand houses they wish for. Everyone wants a house and everyone wants their house that is under construction to be complete. This is what dreams are made of and the biggest dream for a Teotiteco family is to have a large casa where all the extended family of multi-generations can live together comfortably.
As we got in line to make our wishes at the altar, I saw this stunning, tall woman coming out of the small hillside chapel. She was dressed like an angel in a gorgeous handwoven silk and wool sarape. I got as close as I could to take photos of this incredible garment, which you will see in the gallery above. Today, I found out that this was woven by my friend Tito Mendoza and the person wearing it was none other than Lila Downs.
This year, Federico and Stephen gathered rocks helped by Dolores, Janet and me, and completed the houses we have had under construction for two years as miniatures right before our eyes, complete with garden, roofs, courtyards, driveway and fencing surrounding the property. Others sat alongside their completed rock houses, nibbling on sweets or drinking beer, or lighting bonfires and shooting off firecrackers. By the time it was dark, the hillside was aglow with firelight, families gathered together, contemplating their dreams.
Like this: