Hi All,
I truly dont know where to begin. First, hello! I hope this finds you all well. Second, a big thank you to those of you who have been sending emails and messages; it means a lot. (Thank you, also, for your patience with my response time!) Also, I apologize in advance for the lack of correct punctuation- even Mexican keyboards are different!
Life here in Cuernavaca is good. Ive been officially "on the ground" living and working here for just shy of two months. These past weeks have been intense; a time to settle in and try to figure out just where I fit. It feels more natural everyday, and I treasure both my routine and the surprises. "Andale pues" ("on-duh-lay pwace") literally means "well, go on" or "well, go do it." Andale pues has become something of a mantra for me to stop (over) thinking and just do it.
My initial assessment of Camindo Unidos, the school I work at, as a place of love and chaos has been pretty right on. We have 84 students ages 1-16 from a variety of different situations. The common denominator, though, is that these kids need a safe, loving place where they can eat, shower, learn, and play. There is some formal education for the older students, but there is also a big focus on building self-confidence and taking care of their basic health needs. (This morning we distributed antiparasite medications in between singing and eating breakfast.) The ideology of CU is pretty intense, and it is a really interesting and positive way of approaching things. At times my days are frustrating or overwhelming, but I really feel that I am part of something both wonderful and necessary. That, and there are moments with these little ones that are beautiful or just plain fun.
My host family is great; they are truly fabulous and genuine people. Life with Oli, Vicente, and Caro is a series of fun(ny) adventures that I never could have expected- like spontaneously going to a bullfight and battling huge beetles en route from delivering 1500 baby chicks to a farm in the next puebla, all on a Monday night. I have an enormous extended family here who have also welcomed me with open arms, and I feel very blessed.
I am also lucky to have a great support system with friends and coworkers; it is nice to be on this crazy ride together. Some of the more absurd events so far: eating goat tacos, my host mom getting stung by a scorpion in our kitchen, "camping" in a starfruit warehouse, and inadvertantly being part of a graveside ceremony in an indigenous village.
Well, thats me. Please let me know how all of you are doing! Also, if anyone knows a good "why did the chicken cross the road?" joke, please share it, as this is actually an issue in my everyday life.
Lots and lots and lots of lovin,
Jenny
p.s. Explanation of photos-
1. On a field trip to see the cows with my students; a pretty accurate picture of life at CU.
2. In the Zocolo (town square) on Mexicos Independence Day, awaiting the "Viva Mexico!" shout from the governor.
3. The procession to the graveyard as a part of a festival in Cuentepec, where Katie, Sarah, Heidi, and I also ate mole at 3 different houses.
4. Visiting pyramids in Palapa, Veracruz, with my dear friend Julia.
5. Bathing Araceli. Believe it or not, that baby girl is almost six years old.
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