OUR DAY OFF!

Because the picnic for the orphanage did not fully come through we decided it would be necessary to take a DAY OFF! On a day off from tremendous labor (not really) we went to the near by movie theater. This was after we met at Chedraui for 12:00. For all of you Americans, Chedraui is a supermarket/clothing store equivalent to Target.
We walked to the movie theater only to find that there were two movies in English at the time we wanted. 88 minutes or The Happening. We decided to see The Happening, which was very, very gruesome. We will be having nightmares. What was strange was that the movie nurse, or whatever their title is, demanded we keep our feet of the back of the chairs, yet it was okay for the natives to blow balloons during the movie.
The group, without teachers, for today was our day off, went to Chedraui to catch up with Enid. From there we took a SALSA AND CARIMBA dance class. AS all of you may or may not know Maggie is a great dancer. Thus she was able to master the moves faster. BUT Enid, definitely was a great help in making sure we understood the steps. Exhausted from the days worth of relaxation we went home to our houses to enjoy the sweet home stay mothers time.
STAY TUNE FOR MORE ABOUT THE GREAT CHURCH OF SANTO DOMINGO TOMORROW!

Oaxaca - 6/26/08

We have been back in Oaxaca since Monday when we managed to dodge highway closings by the teachers' union (free political prisoners) and arrive happily to our new homes in Oaxaca. Without Mary(we miss you every day and hope you are well - Patrick has taken to recording the journey in your absence so there are many pictures to come) we rearranged ourselves but can be reached at all the sites on the itinerary.
On Monday we drove up into the mountains to Hierve El Agua, the site of the remarkable petrified mineral falls and the pools of mineral water perched on the side of the cliff. Some of us held our breath most of the way up (and down!) but once reaching the top, thoroughly enjoyed our picnic prepared by Enid and swimming in the mineral pools. On the way back from our adventure we stopped at an archaeological site -Yagul- and explored it alone since the highway was closed to most tours that day. While some climbed to the fortress at Yagul to capture the view of the entire valley and facing mountains, others explored a sweet serpent which our guide found in an orchid! From there we swept back through Teotitlan to pick up luggage and headed back to Oaxaca.
Today was our second day of working at the Ophanage. After three days of rest and exploring Oaxaca, we sat down to plan new activities with the 50 orphans. While we entered feeling well prepared we met with the unexpected and all felt a bit daunted by our first efforts. Today was much more satisfactory - we felt we had reached the children and that they enjoyed the opportunity to work with us. The age range is 2 to 17 which challenged us all.
Yesterday, Mary Hills and Sandy walked from our home to the center in the city. It was early morning with the streets very quiet and the Zocalo wet in the shade of the giant laurel trees. We found coffee and strolled the streets in the morning cool - a delightful start. After the orphanage where we sang ¨Head, shoulders, knees and toes¨, created scrapbooks, taught English basics and yoga, we made our way back to the same Zocalo to watch all generations dancing the regal ¨danzon¨ to a band with three marimbas - an inspiring spectacle. We closed the night with pozole. a traditional soup with hominy, chicken and vegetables.
This morning saw us on top of one of the highest points in the valley of Oaxaca looking down from the ruins of Monte Alban. It was a beautiful morning with cloud cover that protected us as the young ones jogged up the pyramids and listened to the history of this remarkable site. Going up was far easier than coming down for most. The whole site was softened by the green that comes with the early rain in this season. After all the anticipation the site did not disappoint.

Ocotlan

Eating at Los Portales, after our first day teaching at the primary school. (Photo by MHP)

Ocotlan

After dancing at the closing ceremony at Escuela Primaria Morelos in Ocotlan. (Photo by SG)

Teotitlan

Blindfolding Maggie for her birthday party surprise.

Teotitlan

The travelers sitting on the steps of Mitlan, a Zapotec palace. (Photo by chatty tour guide)

Teotitlan

Patrick, Maggie, Gaby, and Susan at the summit after climbing one of Teotilan's many volcanic mountains. (Photo by MHP)

Collision... then Sunday's events

It was requested that I describe the collision between Maggie and Susan. Before the dance Maggie overheard her dance partner making some gestures to his friend about trying to kiss their partner, Maggie and Susan, during the dance. As you may not know there is a part where you turn your head as if recieving a kiss from your partner. Sooo i trying to dodge the boys kisses the girls went in circles and crashed into one another. To their misfortune it was not discrete because our host family took several pictures of the collision. THE END


Today, Sunday, I woke up to see Mrs. Powell who sweetly asked me to go to the market with her and Sandy (as she allows us to call her). Unable to say no I went along for the ride with Viridiana her husband Jesus, Beatriz, her mother, her father, and also her baby Nelly. When we got their I was surprised by the crowd in the market at 8:30 in the morning. Viridiana explained to us that there are more people come to sell, but the wee hours of the morning they had decided to sleep. Also what is really cool is that the people really dont have to pay for the spot to rent. They can just come in and make sure that they clean up their area before they leave. CANT DO THAT IN AMERICA! By the time we got home at around 9:30 everyone was awake and ready to go shopping in the market in Tlacolula. This market probably took up over 10 blocks. There we could buy fresh fruit, hammocks, chocolate foamers (which you will all have when we get back) and also a silver ring for Mary, which she requested in her absence. Shortly afterwards we went to Mitla, an archeological site built from possibly 200 A.D. The uniqueness of this structure is seen in the palace walls are decorated with distinctive geometric mosaics. As the tour guide said, this best characterizes the site as a Zapotec ruin.

As you can see below there is a church built behind the ruins. Well, unfortunately in 1494 the aztecs ransacked the zapotec ruins and took over. Then Columbus and his goonies came in and coverted the indigenous people into Catholics. Therefore the church behind what is 5% of the complete Zapotec palace was built on top of the site. Also making the church an ancient building, Columbus used the materials from the old ruins to build that very church.When we came home from Mitla we made tamales the traditional Mexican way. We used masa, which is a kind of batter with corn meal, and pressed them into tortillas. Then we placed chicken and a kind of chile sauce inside. Once the tamale was closed we placed them in corn husks and put them in a huge vegetable steamer for 35-45 minutes. And as I speak, dinner is ready.

As you all can see our days are jam packed with things to do and people to see. Tomorrow stay tuned as we discuss the petrified waterfalls Hierva del Agua. Hasta Luego

Past Three Days

Before leaving work at the school, the kids finished up their artwork and their engllish classes where we taught fruits, body parts, and contined on the family trees. At the closing ceremony we were presented with certificates and more flowers. We participated in a Mexican Folk dance, costumes and all, which went well, other than a small collision. We all spent one more night at our homestay before we had to say goodbye to our hosts. We ordered them pizza and gave them their gifts. We are now in the weaving village, Teotitlan del valle. Here we learned how to weave rugs, and dye the wool, and went to an ancient chuch which was transformed from an old pyraimd using the same stones. We also celebrated Maggie's 15th birthday. It was nice to have a break since we have been working so hard with the children all week. We are all doing well and hope to hear from you!
-Susan and Maggie

Update

It has been frantic and exhausting this week working at the school, visiting various historical locations, and talleres (workshops). Tomorrow is our last day working at the school, and we've been practicing a traditional folk dance for the closing ceremony. Generally, the students have been very receptive and eager to learn English. In the English classes, we have been teaching the students how to say "hello, my name is...", body parts by singing "head, shoulders knees and toes," designing family trees, learning the English alphabet, colors and numbers. For the first and second grade classes we have been playing four square, red light green light, hop skotch, duck, duck goose and we've incorporated English into all of the games. In the art classes, with English instruction, they have been creating portraits, making hemp bracelets/necklaces, and paper cranes. It is gratifying to see that the students are taking full advantage of the resources at hand. We've also gotten a taste of stardom; any free time at the school is consumed with signing autographs and posing for pictures.
We have visited several local artisans. On Monday, there was a ceramic workshop at the school where a blind ceramacist taught us how to sculpt. On Tuesday, after our dance class we travelled by bus to a wood carving workshop. We got to watch animals being carved out of logs and we also got the opportunity to paint the crafts. Wednesday, we went to a knife maker's hut. We got to take home our own mini knives with our names engraved on them. Thursday, we went to a backstrap weaver's house, where she taught us how to weave and we were able to buy some of her handmade works. It has felt good to support the local artisans.
Despite Mary's absence, the group has remained close and talkative. We have learned that we need to be more cautious with what we eat and drink. Our home is nice and our host family is very hospitable. We will be sad to leave in two days.
Adios, buenos noches!
Rebecca y Patrick

Home.

hey guys I hope you all have a great rest of the trip. Don't worry Sandy I made it home fine, thanks for seeing me off in Oaxaca.

Airport Limbo

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Patrick and I made it to JFK with no problem and were dropped off with our 4 enormous bags at the Delta International Terminal. We waited in a long snaky line for 20 minutes just to get into the doors of the terminal. I was a little worried about the length of the lines to check in, but Patrick, intrepid as always, consented to try the self-check-in kiosks, and we sped in after that. Now we are waiting to board our plane for Mexico City.
Later that day 5:15 pm, our flight was awesome, because we had exit row seats with unlimited legroom. When we arrived in Mexico City with everyone else who decided to travel this week, we waited at the enormous line to get through immigration. Due to the time it took to get through immigration we missed our connecting flight to Oaxaca. We scurried around trying to find where our bags were located and interestingly enough, each person “knew” that they were all in different places. Our biggest adventure to date was attempting to call Enid Dollard and Ms, Garcia to let them know we missed our connection. The phones required a specific “Ladatel” card that we purchased from the pharmacy, then needed instructions form the international operator to try to call Oaxaca.
We finally connected with Mrs. Garcia as she realized that we had not connected, and we hope to take a later flight. We can't wait to reunite with the group and experience our new adventure.
MHPowell

Oaxaca Day two

First off im going to say that learning how to use this key board is really hard. there are so many keys and leters that we are not used to it makes it a little complicated but is not that bad. The compuer we have been using is located in the loby right now i hear all the empolyes yelling to eachother..it is about time to start cleaning the rooms, we just had a wonderfull breakfast made by the staff hear at the hotel. Yesterday after we hadbreakfastour tour guide whom was a good friend of Inid showed up with his son. He told us about the history and culutre here in Oaxaca, it was fasinating. After he lead us around the ctity to the Zocolo wich is like a center square or downtown we may have in America. On our way we stoped at the market it was buzzing. It was a place for the senses the diffrent smells of the foods, drinks, spices, and even the leather we passed were all very strong. The colors of the clothes and other goods were vibrant and amazing all over. All around us was the sound of spanish, everyone was speaking it besides us. I think it amazes all of us how much we have really learned already on this trip, i hve become much better with my spanish in just two days and already have carried on basic conversations around the town. Although yesterday before we left on our venture we all decided that we were going to go across the street to the interent place, while we were there we had two interesting exsperiences with our native language. A older ma walked up to us and asked me to look over his english workook, he showed us his ID an told us he was trying to learn english, it was a really amzing exsperience. Also it was the first time that we noticed American music, the song Apologise by One Republic came on, the more we walked aroud the more english music we heard.

Yesterday was also the end of the teachers protest here, so when we were at lunch we saw the protest in action and we also saw it end. Later that night we went back to the Zocolo to have dinner ata diffrent resutrant and we saw the clean up process of the protest , huge water trucks with large hoses attached power washing the sidewalkstha ver the past few weeks have become caked with tash and dirt. Although as we were at lunch a group o students came up and asked us if they could interveiw s about our opinions on the protest, we had Sandy translate our opinions and tel the children, it was really interesting.

That pretty much sums up yesterday today we are going to go esplorea little more and then we are off the the air port to pick up Mary Hills and Patrick. Once we do we are off to Otoclan where the school is.

So far the trip has been amazing-Mary

Arival

We arrived safely in Oaxaca yesterday afternoon. While driving to Sta Helena Plaza , (where we´ll be staying until we move into our host families on Sunday afternoon) we began to notice the sights of the city. The stores are all set up in sections. For example, there is a block that sells mostly music electronics and another block where mostly mechanics work. The streets are narrow and the town small, but there is a lot of automobile traffic. Locals flood the streets, making their living any way they can. I was reminded of a modern Latin American version of the market place scene from the musical Oliver as I saw a man weaving between the cars selling limes and a woman a little ways away selling chocolate. Like any city back home, graffiti adorned buildings and shops. I don´t know what it says since it´s in Spanish, but Mrs. Garcia explained to us that when there was political unrest in the city three years ago, many people used graffiti as a form of protest.
Today we are going to visit the Zocalo where the teachers are currently holding their annual strike. Today is supposed to be their final day of protest for greater local union control and better pay.
We all tried a typical breakfast with Oaxacan coffee (with cinnaomon), hot chocolate, tortillas, black beans, eggs with chile, tomatoes and onion, fresh squeezed orange juice - not a bad start at all!
So far we are still getting our bearings, but we´re happy and looking forward to meeting the kids we´ll be teaching on Monday. (this morning´s writer in residence - gracias a Gaby)