Customer Reviews

In a Village Far from Home: My Years among the Cora Indians of the Sierra Madre

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What started out as a "self-appointed tour of the Franciscan missions" in western Mexico, turned into a stay of 8 years in the small, isolated town of Jesus Maria. The author, a woman of 63 years, found herself placed in the position of administering health care to the Cora Indians and mountain Mexicans who lived in the area - despite the fact that she had no prior medical experience.

Adapting to life in the small community, in the early 1970's, was life changing. Having once lived in New York and worked on Madison Avenue, she was now living in a tiny house, with little more than the basics: towels, sheets, a net over the ceiling to catch scorpions, a kerosene store, and pots and pans. She learned to live on beans, tortillas and coffee, with the occasional fruit, egg or piece of meat.

Much of her story centers around her getting accustomed to her surroundings and the people she dealt with. Also, there is a lot of information on the religious holidays and festivals of the area. But her story telling is at it's best when she opens up her heart to the reader, as she does in the story of the little girl with burns. An inspiring story of how one person can make a difference, even after retirement.

The book was enthusiastically recommended by a friend who has lived there and knows the author. It did, indeed, give a very nice insight into conditions there, but did not generate in me the same excitement that my friend (who has lived there) has as it records something very dear to her. It is interesting and worth the read, but I read it more from a sense of obligation than true interest.