a poem ...

Human Family

By Maya Angelou

I note the obvious differences 
in the human family.

Some of us are serious,

some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived
 as true profundity,

and others claim they really

live the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones

can confuse, bemuse, delight,

brown and pink and beige and purple,

tan and blue and white.

I’ve sailed upon the seven seas

and stopped in every land,

I’ve seen the wonders of the world

not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women

called Jane and Mary Jane,

but I’ve not seen any two

who really were the same.

Mirror twins are different

although their features jibe,

and lovers think quite different thoughts

while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,

we weep on England’s moors,

and laugh and moan in Guinea,

and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,

are born and die in Maine.

In minor ways we differ,

in major we’re the same.

I note the obvious differences

between each sort and type,

but we are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,

than we are unalike.

trabajo nuevo

In December, Marion (MCC Country Rep) came to visit me and La Buena Tierra. After school, we hopped on a ruta and headed to the zocalo. We picked a place right by the bus stop with phenomenal tortillas made with blue rice to eat. As we were enjoying the delicacies of Mexico, Marion asked me the following two questions: 1. Are you bored at La Buena Tierra? (to which i responded with a fuerte YES!) 2. Do you like history? (to which i also responded YES!) She then told me that Lizy had told her in their meeting about her desire to have a written document about the history of La Buena Tierra. Marion had the brilliant idea to have me work on it (considering the boredom/history questions described me to a T), and decided to talk to Lizy about it once January rolled around.

Well, long story short, Lizy was stoked about it, as was I, and was Marion. So...I wrote up a project proposal and off I went! If anyone wants to read the whole proposal, in spanish that is, let me know and I can send it your way. If not, I will try to give a basic rundown here, so you all know when I am spending my time doing these days!

The objectives of the project are to:
1) explain the history/story of La Buena Tierra, how it got started, how it functions, what it offers, etc.
2) note the changes in the community as a result of the school, and what all the school has accomplished in its ten years of existence, and
3) serve as a model for others who have interest in this type of work and who may want to start a similar school/project elsewhere.

Basically, I am going to be spending the rest of my time here interviewing everyone that is or ever was related to or associated with the school, and writing up a final project with all the information I gather.

I am super excited about this new work. To begin with, I was feeling rather unneeded and purposeless here, and this project has given me not only "things" to do during the day, but also a sense of purpose. I am also happy to be sort of working in the world of academia again - researching, organizing, writing, etc. etc. Call me a dork, but i really enjoy it. I am also really looking forward to getting more into the community of La Via, getting to know the people and their stories better, and learning what life is like for them. I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous to go door to door asking all these people if I can interview them, but I think it is going to be an incredibly humbling and learning-filled experience that will help me better understand so much of what I live every day at La Buena Tierra with the children of that community.

Okay, in classic natalie form, i've rambled enough. I just wanted to give a little glimpse into my new work. Monday starts the interviewing....we'll see how it goes!

my dearest elena marie

Two weeks ago today, I walked away from my dear friend Elena at the Mexico City airport as she passed through the security check on her way back to Kansas. As I walked the trek back to the metro, I thought back about what a phenomenal experience it was to have her visit. More than the things we did, it was just the comfort of having such a good friend by my side that had made those ten days such a blessing.

I thought about the great conversations we had, just sitting around and doing nothing. I realized how much I have truly missed having deep, meaningful discussions with people who value my opinion but stretch me at the same time. I thought about the fact that I had probably laughed more in the last ten days than in the last 3 months combined. I again returned to my thoughts of how silly I was to move so far away from all the people I love and have such deep relationships with. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad I am here and am learning more than words can describe, but at the same time, I sometimes question the logic of leaving behind such phenomenal relationships! I thought about all the fun things that Elena and I had done during her time here, especially those that I might never have done on my own...

We climbed big old aztec pyramids (Teotihuacan)

We explored the Jardin Borda and all its beauty.

We found a great part of town, that included a beautiful waterfall, right here in Cuernavaca!

haha, best memories here i'd say ...
we went to a National Park: Las Lagunas de Zempoala.
It was beautiful!
(Though apparently more dangerous that it appeared...)

and our time at the park included HORSE BACK RIDING up a gorgeous mountain, with trickling brooks and the whole nine yards!

have you noticed a theme of nature yet? good old elena :) here i am rock climbing (i took a wrong route...) up to the top of a mountain in Tepotzlan.

Here we are at the top of the mountain, overlooking the view of the town.

And of course, we enjoyed lots of delicious Mexican food.
Here Elena is enjoying a sope and some agua de jamaica.

We had had a delightful time together, filled with lots of joy and the occasional little brawls that best friends are bound to have :) I loved it all. It was a time filled with lots of nature, great conversation, delicious food, and unbeatable company. I was sad to be leaving my dear Elena at the airport, but had a smile on my face recognizing the blessing it had been to have her here with me.

My wandering mind was quickly shook back into reality when I entered the metro station and saw the THOUSANDS of people trying to cram onto the trains. Luckily, Mexico City has something right, and during peek hours divides metro cars between those for men and those for women and children. I was very grateful for this fact as I spent the next hour with my body smashed up against several women. Luckily, being tall, at least my head is above everyone else and I have the chance to breath, albeit the most polluted air in the world. I arrived safe and sound back at the MCC Office and soon headed off to take care of some things for my Visa.

who knew "rain days" existed

it started raining at about 9 am yesterday. more like a drizzle most of the day yesterday... made me take taxis instead of walking, but other than that, not too bad. but last night it picked it up a notch. i woke up several times to the beauty of the rain, but it was seriously coming down. after a rather stressful day yesterday, i really appreciated the soothing sound of rain to sleep to. but when i got up to go to school this morning, it was POURING. i realized the unfortunate fact that i had no clean socks to wear, so threw on my sandals instead...bad choice. i was FREEZING all day long. okay, by freezing, i don't really mean it, i just mean cold and rainy. i covered my feet with paper towels and my coat to try to stay warm for most of the day...

so, when i came to work in a school in mexico i'll be honest, the following thought did go through my mind - "bummer, no snow days for me this year." little did i know things like "rain days" would exist! we did not have school today. we canceled classes because of the rain. most of the school is outside, minus the classrooms (which themselves leak water through the ceilings). and to have to carry child after child after child to the bathroom in the pouring rain is not exactly fun. the school is right in the middle of La Via (the street/community) and the students from the one side of the Via could hardly even have come if they had wanted to: the "street" was a giant mudhole that was basically impassable. So given all this, the director decided to cancel school for today. The hilarious part is...only three students ever even showed up that we had to turn away! The last time it was rainy only 15 of 45 students came....today only 3. I never knew rain could have such an impact on a school day.

needless to say, when i got home i took a warm shower and take a mug of hot tea. i intend to spend the rest of the day under my covers reading or watching a movie. it shall be delight. (even though i still don't have clean socks to keep me warm...) stay tuned for a blog about the delightful last two weeks with my first visitor!!!