Pictures from Graduation

This past Wednesday was the big graduation for the kids going to kindergarten! That meant saying goodbye to Erik & Angel--I started crying when they walked in wearing their suits.

Handsome Erik!

Angel with chocolate cake in hand

The dance for "El Chavo del Ocho," a Mexican sitcom
L to R: Maestra Mari, Kevin, Maestra Marisol, Emilio Miguel, Jair & Diana

The teachers doing their Western/Rodeo Dance
L to R: Ana, Mari, Adriana, Marisol

Graduates doing their dance

In lieu of dancing, Angel was given a basket of flowers, which he gleefully chucked at the other kids

Kay receiving volunteer of the year award for all her fundraising efforts

Juan Pablo with his mom, Vero

Christine & I posing with Yoselin, dressed as Chilindrina

Sweet boys that I will miss--already unwrapping their graduation gifts

Visitors!

Oh, and one more thing.. My parents are here!

Con agradecimiento

Gearin' Up for Graduation!

This week was full of practice, practice, practice for the big graduation on Wednesday. After a disappointing full rehearsal on Tuesday, we opted out of the usual Friday trip to the park in order to get in a couple more run-throughs of speechs, songs and dances. Donna said, "You know, they tell me that they practice a lot, but when the day finally comes it always seems like they could have practiced more."

A lot of practice means a lot of time out on the patio--a lot of downtime. Earlier this week Yoselin, Diana and Jimena decided to peinarme--do my hair. After awhile, peinarme just meant tugging at my hair--three pairs of hands tugging in three different directions. Ya no, por favor, I had to ask.

Marisol with Jair, Beto & the mother of Lupita

The kids were as rambuncious as ever this week. They couldn't even pay attention to the TV anymore--not even Cars or Mulan could keep them still. Nap time was extremely trying as Fernando and Yoselin ran around the room from one casita to the next while Angel shouted out ¡Cállate!--shut up!--before commencing in sucking on his right pointer finger, as is his custom. My favorite part of this week was sitting next to Erik, trying to get him to sleep, while he's chatting away and wriggling about. Only three more days with that precious little one!

Unexpected Goodbye

Fernando meticulously "writing" Marisol's dictation of the day's weather

Friday morning as the kids were settling into their seats to get ready for breakfast, Marisol began counting heads, noting that we had ten instead of the usual eleven. ¿Quién falta? "Who's missing?" Ah.. Fernando.. Erik's voice piped in, Se fue al doctor "He went to the doctor." Soon we had in hand the doctor's note, typewritten, communicating that Fernando had hepatitis. Doctor's orders: bedrest for eight days. Bedrest for eight days=no Fernando at the graduation. Bedrest for eight days=Fernando is never coming back to Hogar de los Angeles (he's moving onto kindergarten!). I was kind of crushed and sad at this sudden news! I didn't get to say goodbye. :( Prayers for him healing quickly and a good beginning in kínder.

Fun Stuff

Curry Night with Christine and Sammy (from CA)

Had a wonderful time cooking with a couple of the volunteers on Tuedsay. Christine's mom sent her Vermont curry blocks in a care package. Mmm. It was too watery, but we didn't care. By the way, the beer is Christine's, not mine. Afterwards we watched Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley because Sammy was dying for anything in English--anything she could understand. We'll both be leaving on the same day; she's been great company. :)

Took a big ol' hike up to the Botanical Gardens El Charco del Ingenio today. Got lost a couple of times yet was blessed by charitable people who pointed me in the right direction. I felt my energy being restored as the sounds of the city faded away. The nature reserve is huge, with many trails and many protected species of cacti. Best of all, it was nearly deserted. The entire time I was there I only crossed paths with two other people. What a gift for an introverted, nature-addicted girl like me.

Today I was just praying and thinking about how absolutely incredible it is that I am here, that I have been able to meet so many different people and have so many new experiences. I mean, yesterday I had youth from the church over to the house--we were talking in pure Spanish. We ate popcorn and crepes with ice cream and watched 17 Again. To me that's just cool--to really feel part of the community here. To know the Mexican people here has been so awesome! I feel blessed to know each one.

Más adelante yo voy a recordar

The weeks seem to be getting fuller and fuller with different experiences and memories. Today there were nine new volunteers and I found myself surprised telling them, "This is my eighth week here."

Visit to Mexiquito

This past Wednesday Donna drove me out to visit Casa Hogar Don Bosco "Mexiquito," which is the orphanage where Ángel, Erik and Fernando live. It's a peaceful place with lots of room to roam. Although it make be technically labeled an "orphanage," Donna pointed out that it's more like foster care. All of the boys who live there have parents who are living, yet cannot care for them--either because of lack of resources or substance abuse problems. "You know, any of our kids at the daycare could be here," Donna explained to me, "The mother's could easily have given up their kids like the mothers of the children in Mexiquito have, but they are choosing to fight." I love that Hogar de los Ángeles makes it possible for families to stay together.

Cute Pictures of the Kids

After being here awhile the weeks become clumps of memories balled into an indistinct mass. Until now I've been very diligent, making lists at the end of the day of "moments" where I saw God in the kids--trying to be hyper-present all the time. It was a great relief when this Friday a pastor from Texas prophesized over me saying, "And don't worry so much about remembering everything--God will bring them to mind and will remind you of how he loved you, how he loved through you, when you need it." So now I just enjoy and let the moments pass by, absorbing them--not desperately grabbing at them.

Jose Maria and Beto in matching cachucas

Juan Pablo and Yoselín doing rompecabezas

The Late Pick-Up Bunch: Brisa, Beto & Yoselín sitting on the bookshelf

Believe it or not, I have only a week and a half left with these kids! August is the time for graduations and the beginning of a new school year--many kids will move on to kínder (Erik, Fernando, Ángel, Brisa), teachers will change classrooms and perhaps even daycare centers (I have a hunch that Marisol will be transferred to the Santa Julia daycare, where I will dutifully and cheerfully follow her). Time is precious with these precious little ones!

Fine Arts

Cuyos Quartet from Morelia, who played a mix of Mozart and Mexican tunes

Earlier last week I went to a couple of free concerts as a part of the Festival Internacional de Música de Cámara which feature young hotshot musicians from around Mexico playing chamber music. The musicians were all incredibly talented, and it was such a relief to think in neither Spanish nor English--to think musically! Teatro Ángela Peralta is a small, but quite classy performing arts center and the audience was filled with many gringos jubilados--retired Caucasian Americans. It was pretty awesome.

Adventuresome Eating

Sope de Panzita y Quesadilla de Raja

Was so psyched to eat me some more street food yesterday after church! Right nearby is a tarp-covered area by the side of the road with tables, chairs and a handful of women in aprons gathered around a portable grill of sorts. By the time I got there after service was over, all the chicken was gone, which was no matter for me. With gusto I chomped down a sope of stomach lining (I think it was pork?) and a quesadilla filled with delectable spicy green chiles. Accompanying me was Laura, the 12-year old daughter of a couple of leaders in the church, Angelina and Alberto (nicknamed Beto). She's soft-spoken and quite timid, but she has a big heart for little kids. Last Thursday she even came in to volunteer at the daycare! :)

As we were waiting for the food to arrive, I saw in the cemented stone siding, hidden under some ivy a teensy mouse. ¡Un ratón!--"A rat!" I cried out to her, laughing. It scampered along the wall, plummeted into the brush and was never seen again.

At the Movies--Mexican Style

Later on Laura and I walked up to the "mall" named La Luciérnaga to watch for the first time Toy Story 3. Sadly enough, it was already gone from the theater--we've got a bootlegged copy of it at the daycare already, so I guess it's old news. We ended up watching Despicable Me in Spanish, which was retitled Mi Villano Favorito. Watching it, I was struck at how, if I hadn't known otherwise, I would have thought this movie was made originally in Spanish the dubbing was so well done! Afterwards I asked Laura what part she liked best and she said, "Everything!" I thought it was pretty good, but nothing can beat Pixar.

Luckily, I didn't end the night disappointed! After some delicious enchiladas and horchata, Amanda (another volunteer) and I watched her pirated copy of Toy Story 3 together while tossing a spit-covered tennis ball for Noela (the dog she's sitting) to go fetch. I must say, the bootleg quality was pretty splended--the audio track was in Spanish but all the writing, quite puzzlingly, was in Ukranian. Despite how far the copy was from its original form, though, by the end both of us were tearing up at the sight of Woody being given to a new owner.

Thanks!

At Parque Juarez with Emilio and Ángel

Thanks so much for reading my blog, leaving comments, sending packages & letters, supporting me in your prayers. If you can't tell, I'm having a great time here, and can't wait to blog more about my adventures in the coming weeks!