We have had a busy weekend with the girls. We had taken them on Saturday afternoon. We came here again. We had pizza, but none of them ate much; they seemed more interested in the hot sauce than the pizza. We got them into their bathing suits, but the wading pool seems to be waning in interest. They spent more time running around with the hose, spraying each other and a great deal else. However, we heard that Tobolandia (a water park just 4-5 blocks from us) not only has a big pool and water slide etc., but also has a pool for little kids. Alternately, we may get plastic air bags and use the pool next door. Steven has left us the keys and is urging us to use his pool. We are planning to do so and maybe the kids would get used to it. On Saturday, after the water games and ice cream, we decided to take them to the malecón (water front). Barb suggested that we take them to the malecon in Jocotopec as it would take longer and would be different for the girls. It is just over 20 kms. However, by the time we got to Jocotopec, Fátima was asleep. Barb took the twins for a walk while I stayed with Fatima. On the drive back, all 3 fell asleep.
A circus is in the area; in fact it is just on the Libramiento (the short highway that we take to get to the highway to Guadalajara) and thus about 6 blocks from us. They were giving a special deal for kids from Love in Action--two free tickets for kids with each adult ticket. However, initially we heard that the shows were at 6:30 and 8:30. We thought that that would be a little too late for the little ones. We then found out that there was an afternoon show at 4:30 on Sunday. Thus, we called to say that we would take 4 kids (our 3 and another). Eventually, we ended up with 5. A couple of guys from Canada, who are godparenting 2 boys in the 6 - 9 age group, had taken 6 of the boys to swim at Tobolandia yesterday. They said that they had been determined to take only their 2 to the circus today, but when they got to LIA, the others wanted to go so badly that they couldn’t refuse and ended up with 8! We all sat together so there was a small LIA section. The circus was quite good. I’m sure that it is not as spectacular as the ones in Las Vegas, but the kids were enthralled and Barb and I enjoyed it too. Of course, watching the excitement and enjoyment of the kids was a pleasure in itself. There was a little rough spot at the beginning. Dariana, who is the shiest, was upset and started to cry at the beginning. I think the loud music and voice of the announcer, plus the lights, frightened her; she is the one who cried at the puppet show also. However, Barb held her on her lap and gradually she got calmed. There were an elephant and a tiger as acts; the kids' eyes were as big as saucers. Surprisingly, all 3 girls rushed forward (we were close already) to get a closer look at the tiger. It was a very successful outing.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Puppets and the election
There are not a lot of new things to report. Barb and I have volunteered to gather information on each child in Love in Action and then make up a one page fact sheet (including a photo) for each. These will then be sent to the respective godparents and sponsors. It is a bit of an undertaking. However, fact sheets should be very useful for the godparents and sponsors. Otherwise, with all our friends from up north gone, we have a very quiet life. It is much cooler now that the rainy season has started. We have not had any big rains, but we have been getting frequent short rains of half an inch to an inch. The mountains are green again.
As the photo shows, we did take the 3 niños (plus Sara, a 13 year old girl from LIA who came to help) to the puppet show. It was a bit different from what I expected. I include a photo showing the scene. It involved a good deal of arguing back and forth between the 2 main characters. However, they kept doing songs and music between the spoken sections. Our girls did not seem very interested or absorbed by it. I don’t think they understood what was going on; as it was all in Spanish, I didn’t understand everything that was going on either. In fact in one section the fellow in the chicken costume used a little whip to hit the other character who then made a big show of crying loudly. Dariana got upset and started to cry; Barb had to take her outside. There were a number of other kids from LIA there and the older ones got into it, shouting back and even getting up on stage to dance around. In fact at one point one of the puppeteers led a line of kids all around the auditorium. After the puppet show, we got a pizza and went to our house. Then, the little girls again had a ball in the wading pool. Steve next door invited Sara to swim in his pool (it is too deep for our little ones). Sara enjoyed it. Thus, I think the afternoon was a success.
There are election campaigns on in Mexico with voting day on July 5th. This is the mid-term elections (no presidential election), but representatives in both state and federal congresses as well as mayors and state governors are up for election. All sorts of walls and billboards have been painted touting candidates. We observed another approach to campaigning on Sunday. As we were walking to Open Circle, we noticed a big crowd gathered where the horses congregate on Camino Real about 3 blocks from our house. There was a band, lots of people with bright red t-shirts and a lot horses. We didn’t find out until later what it was about. During Open Circle we heard the band parading down the street. When we finished brunch we noticed a big parade on the street next to the plaza. There were a few young men dressed in women’s clothes and dancing in front of the band. There was croud of people with the red t-shirts; then we could see that they had the name of one of the candidates for mayor. There were also large numbers of horses (over 50 at least). There were also people carrying flags with the PRI banner (Insitutionalized Revolutionary Party). This was the party that dominated Mexico from the late 1930s until the later 1990s. During that time Mexico was virtually a one party state under the PRI. There were other small parties, but the government and the unions ensured that the other parties never got more than minuscule numbers of votes. It has changed in last 10 years or so. Although the PRI still tends to be the largest party, there are 2 other major parties which make elections quite competitive.
As the photo shows, we did take the 3 niños (plus Sara, a 13 year old girl from LIA who came to help) to the puppet show. It was a bit different from what I expected. I include a photo showing the scene. It involved a good deal of arguing back and forth between the 2 main characters. However, they kept doing songs and music between the spoken sections. Our girls did not seem very interested or absorbed by it. I don’t think they understood what was going on; as it was all in Spanish, I didn’t understand everything that was going on either. In fact in one section the fellow in the chicken costume used a little whip to hit the other character who then made a big show of crying loudly. Dariana got upset and started to cry; Barb had to take her outside. There were a number of other kids from LIA there and the older ones got into it, shouting back and even getting up on stage to dance around. In fact at one point one of the puppeteers led a line of kids all around the auditorium. After the puppet show, we got a pizza and went to our house. Then, the little girls again had a ball in the wading pool. Steve next door invited Sara to swim in his pool (it is too deep for our little ones). Sara enjoyed it. Thus, I think the afternoon was a success.
There are election campaigns on in Mexico with voting day on July 5th. This is the mid-term elections (no presidential election), but representatives in both state and federal congresses as well as mayors and state governors are up for election. All sorts of walls and billboards have been painted touting candidates. We observed another approach to campaigning on Sunday. As we were walking to Open Circle, we noticed a big crowd gathered where the horses congregate on Camino Real about 3 blocks from our house. There was a band, lots of people with bright red t-shirts and a lot horses. We didn’t find out until later what it was about. During Open Circle we heard the band parading down the street. When we finished brunch we noticed a big parade on the street next to the plaza. There were a few young men dressed in women’s clothes and dancing in front of the band. There was croud of people with the red t-shirts; then we could see that they had the name of one of the candidates for mayor. There were also large numbers of horses (over 50 at least). There were also people carrying flags with the PRI banner (Insitutionalized Revolutionary Party). This was the party that dominated Mexico from the late 1930s until the later 1990s. During that time Mexico was virtually a one party state under the PRI. There were other small parties, but the government and the unions ensured that the other parties never got more than minuscule numbers of votes. It has changed in last 10 years or so. Although the PRI still tends to be the largest party, there are 2 other major parties which make elections quite competitive.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Jim Cook's blog
Tomorrow, there is a puppet show for kids at the Auditorio just a few blocks from us. A number of the godparents from LIA are going to take their kids and so are we. All kids love puppets and this is also a benefit for Niños Incapacitados (a charity for handicapped children). I’ll give a report in a subsequent post.
I am really enjoying the Spanish conversation class. As I get further into Spanish, I grasp more of what is being said although I still need to learn a great deal more before I can fully understand and follow all the topics. Also, I am almost as far along as other members of the class, so that I don’t feel so out of place. Although we have had different backgrounds and different experiences, we all seem to share the same values and attitudes to politics and to social mores; we also share curiosity and interests. I guess it is not surprising that people who are interested in and willing to put the effort into learning Spanish and Mexican culture are very similar. For such people Mexico is not just an inexpensive area with a great climate to retire to. Moving here is an opportunity to learn and experience a very different world and provides very different ways of looking at ourselves and where we came from. Our conversations in the class range far and wide. For example, one of the couples lived in and moved to Mexico from Oregon. Someone then brought up the fact that Oregon allows assisted suicide for people with devastating, terminal illness. That launched us into a discussion of that.
The couple from Oregon, Jim and Carole Cook, recently joined the conversation class. They like to travel and have been doing excursions since they moved here in 2007. Jim keeps a blog and used exactly the same term and idea for their actions as we have for ours--Mexico Adventure. The blog is truly outstanding. Jim is a really good photographer. His commentary also gives the background and context for each photo. As I looked at the blog, it was like looking at one of those expensive, beautiful coffee table books. He has developed quite an archive of different places and topics. My impression is that he and Carole research and plan their excursions very extensively before hand; it is not a casual tourist approach but one that includes an effort of study. Mexico has so much of interest. People north of the border are really ill-informed and ignorant about Mexico and that included me before we arrived here. Cities are much older here and have an extraordinarily rich architecture, art and culture. As I am learning, there are huge differences between cities. Thus, getting acquainted with one city or area in no way allows one to assume that he/she knows all about Mexico. Jim’s blog (http://www.cookjmex.blogspot.com/) is an excellent way to get introduced to some of this richness and diversity.
I am really enjoying the Spanish conversation class. As I get further into Spanish, I grasp more of what is being said although I still need to learn a great deal more before I can fully understand and follow all the topics. Also, I am almost as far along as other members of the class, so that I don’t feel so out of place. Although we have had different backgrounds and different experiences, we all seem to share the same values and attitudes to politics and to social mores; we also share curiosity and interests. I guess it is not surprising that people who are interested in and willing to put the effort into learning Spanish and Mexican culture are very similar. For such people Mexico is not just an inexpensive area with a great climate to retire to. Moving here is an opportunity to learn and experience a very different world and provides very different ways of looking at ourselves and where we came from. Our conversations in the class range far and wide. For example, one of the couples lived in and moved to Mexico from Oregon. Someone then brought up the fact that Oregon allows assisted suicide for people with devastating, terminal illness. That launched us into a discussion of that.
The couple from Oregon, Jim and Carole Cook, recently joined the conversation class. They like to travel and have been doing excursions since they moved here in 2007. Jim keeps a blog and used exactly the same term and idea for their actions as we have for ours--Mexico Adventure. The blog is truly outstanding. Jim is a really good photographer. His commentary also gives the background and context for each photo. As I looked at the blog, it was like looking at one of those expensive, beautiful coffee table books. He has developed quite an archive of different places and topics. My impression is that he and Carole research and plan their excursions very extensively before hand; it is not a casual tourist approach but one that includes an effort of study. Mexico has so much of interest. People north of the border are really ill-informed and ignorant about Mexico and that included me before we arrived here. Cities are much older here and have an extraordinarily rich architecture, art and culture. As I am learning, there are huge differences between cities. Thus, getting acquainted with one city or area in no way allows one to assume that he/she knows all about Mexico. Jim’s blog (http://www.cookjmex.blogspot.com/) is an excellent way to get introduced to some of this richness and diversity.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The right to own guns in Mexico
Well, the rainy season seems to truly have started last night. It had been hot and (for down here) humid. About 6, there were a couple of real claps of thunder, but the only dark clouds were at the eastern end of the lake and we were still in sunshine. However, about 2 a.m., we had a dandy thunderstorm. I was sound asleep and Barb had closed most of the windows by the time I got up. It rained for over 2 hours. However, the power went out and didn’t get back on until 11:15. However, the air was fresh and free of dust today.
BTW, a couple of weeks ago, Jeff got a web cam. Our computers have built in cameras so that we can now have video conversations using Skype and see the grandsons, Blake and Aiden. It is certainly not the same aa being there, but it is wonderful to be able to see them when they seem to be growing so fast.
One of the things that came up at the Human Rights lecture last week was the right to possess firearms. It is possible for foreigners to have handguns as long as they are .32 caliber or smaller and are kept in one’s home. It is possible to get a license for rifles or shotguns if one belongs to a registered gun club. However, as it was explained, any permit requires quite an elaborate procedure (and lots of persistence) to get the license; having a gun without a license brings a very long prison sentence. What was fascinating to me were the reactions of many Americans in the audience. This particular article in the constitution is a very short one; however, it took an inordinate amount of time to deal with it as the Americans were asking endless questions. There was one woman who must be at least 80 who kept asking questions and going over the details as if she were planning that very day to begin the process. There were older men also who were equally avid in asking details. The gun obsession is really deep in many Americans. They never pay attention to the fact that fairly high proportions of possessors of guns are injured or killed with their own weapons! Having guns gives a very false sense of security. While many Americans express profound shock at the high murder rate in some border cities of Mexico, a large number of American cities have significantly higher murder rates than Mexico. I just read an article that says that Phoenix rivals the worst cities in Mexico when it comes to murder and kidnapping. However, I have seen no travel advisories or warnings about going to Phoenix! I guess the reference in the Bible to seeing the mote in the other person’s eye has a good deal of validity. Many Americans are vocal about faults in other countries without being aware of as bad or worse in their own country; however, end of sermon for today.
BTW, a couple of weeks ago, Jeff got a web cam. Our computers have built in cameras so that we can now have video conversations using Skype and see the grandsons, Blake and Aiden. It is certainly not the same aa being there, but it is wonderful to be able to see them when they seem to be growing so fast.
One of the things that came up at the Human Rights lecture last week was the right to possess firearms. It is possible for foreigners to have handguns as long as they are .32 caliber or smaller and are kept in one’s home. It is possible to get a license for rifles or shotguns if one belongs to a registered gun club. However, as it was explained, any permit requires quite an elaborate procedure (and lots of persistence) to get the license; having a gun without a license brings a very long prison sentence. What was fascinating to me were the reactions of many Americans in the audience. This particular article in the constitution is a very short one; however, it took an inordinate amount of time to deal with it as the Americans were asking endless questions. There was one woman who must be at least 80 who kept asking questions and going over the details as if she were planning that very day to begin the process. There were older men also who were equally avid in asking details. The gun obsession is really deep in many Americans. They never pay attention to the fact that fairly high proportions of possessors of guns are injured or killed with their own weapons! Having guns gives a very false sense of security. While many Americans express profound shock at the high murder rate in some border cities of Mexico, a large number of American cities have significantly higher murder rates than Mexico. I just read an article that says that Phoenix rivals the worst cities in Mexico when it comes to murder and kidnapping. However, I have seen no travel advisories or warnings about going to Phoenix! I guess the reference in the Bible to seeing the mote in the other person’s eye has a good deal of validity. Many Americans are vocal about faults in other countries without being aware of as bad or worse in their own country; however, end of sermon for today.
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