me? play basketball?

Word of the Day: tirar
Meaning: to shoot (as in basketball)

You're pointing to me? Somehow, I've been recruited for the Casa Buen Senor women's basketball team for the tournaments this weekend to celebrate NPH's 55th anniversary. Yesterday I participated in my first ever official basketball training session.

Lesson: how to shoot a ball.
Success? I'm 1 for 20 on my shots.
I knew there was a reason I stuck with soccer all those years.

At least I've got the American thing going for me:
1) People think I'm good because basketball is from my home land, and
2) I'm taller than all the girls and can jump higher than some of the guys.

FYI: baloncesto is NOT how you say basketball here. It's basquetbol. Duh

Concert + Beer = FIGHT

Word: Motel
Meaning: my favorite new band

Corona Extra MusicFest. 25 ticket donation for the kids. 5 chaperons and 20 screaming primeros ready to rock to Motel, Alex Sintec, and Fobia. Unknown to me before, my new favorite bands now.

Five hours of standing. Worth it? Yes. Almost died when a fight broke out right next to us at the end. One of the most bizarre things I've ever seen when a perfect huge circle formed somehow within the dense crowd around these guys. No punches thrown, thank the lord.

Have now experienced a concert in Mexico. Check.

P.S. Happy Birthday (yesterday) bro.

Wait, the bus already left?!

Word of the Day: brincar - to jump on

Ohhhhh tiempo mexicano (Mexican Time). Friday was the excursion to Las Estacas, another water park. The night before all the kids were told that the buses would leave at 7am. In tiempo mexicano, that means anywhere from 7:15-8. Not yesterday. When Sophie and I arrived 10 minutes to 7 to catch the bus, we found the dorms deserted, the patio silent, and the lone portero (doorman) who told us the buses had left at 6:30am.

Of course we didn't get the memo.

Luckily we were able to catch a bus that returned at 9am (which had the breakfast anyways) and enjoyed the day as nothing had passed.

Conclusion of the day: no swimming stroke I do will ever be as efficient as my 15 years of experience doing doggy paddling.

The Balancing Act

It's been a balancing game. The pequenos I work with are all 16 or older. Just like any teenagers, they don't need someone to constantly watch over them. They don't necessarily want non-stop activities to do, but are content with just sitting on the patio with their friends or watching TV. They don't need someone to tell them to do their chores, or to help them eat, or tell them where to go. They're too cool to go on field trips, to participate in group activities, to pray before the daily dinner prayer.

I feel like a mom who's not sure how to deal with her daughter or son's growing independence. Too afraid to push too hard so they end up pushing away from me. Too afraid to do something that will make me "uncool" in their eyes. Unsure of how to be there for them, if they need me at all.

But I can also relate to them so much. Many of these kids are right around my age. It really wasn't too long ago when I was caught up in the gossip of high school (or even college), when I was unsure of who I was or what I wanted to be and what that meant. Or when my mood was affected by whether Sally was hanging out with me or preferred her other friend Jane.

I find it hard to separate myself from them. When the pequenos are being reprimanded, I sometimes find myself bowing my head down in shame. When the kids are given instructions, or a director starts to lead a group, I follow along like one of them, forgetting that I have been given the position of their mentor, their leader, their activities organizer.

I'm having to "grow up" here in a whole new way that I didn't know. I thought I had matured, that I could place myself in the "adult" generation. But I find myself getting caught up in that high school mentality. The one where it matters about being cool, about being good at what you do, and looking good. For the first time, I need to be aware of all of my actions, because the kids pick up on it. If I look bored, they ask me why I find whatever activity boring. If I yawn, the kids ask me why I didn't get enough sleep. I need to be enthused, involved, and aware at all times. I'm not used to be an example. I'm not used to being responsible for how my actions affect others.

Now I'm the adult.

Whether I'm ready or not, I'm going to have to grow up a little. I'm here to be their friend, but not in that buddy buddy kind of way. It's like, as a mother, balancing a disciplinary role and listening ear role.

How long will it take to learn to balance the scale?

Oops, I forgot to bring my chihuahua

Field trip with the primeros (those just entering high school) to the town of Tepoztlan to hike up the Tepozteco mountain. None of us new what we were getting into. The girls wore flip flops and flats and the boys, jeans. When we arrived to the town and saw the hike waiting for us, despite being dressed in unflexible clothes, the primeros tackled a 45 minutes intense hike up the mountain. The steep ascent (1200 ft in less than a mile) combined with the altitude (6700 ft) made the hike the most intensive cardio workout I've had in a while. The view waiting for us, as well as the Aztec pyramid on top, was well worth the hike.

As for the title of this post -- apparently looking your best and bringing along all your possessions is the way of the hike in Mexico. On the way up we passed people carrying small dogs, months-old children, and guitars. I felt rather underdressed in my soccer shorts and t-shirt compared to those decked out in dresses, designer jeans and expensive shoes.

Next time I'm wearing Michael Khors and bringing my Chihuahua.

Arry Puter

HARRY POTTER!!!!!! Today (Saturday, 7/18) I had my first day off, and where do the volunteers decide to go but to see one of teh best blockbusters of all time. The group and I wanted to make sure that we could catch Harry Potter VI in English, so we asked around. "Oh, yeah yeah," people said, "of course it's in English in all the movie theaters." We arrived for the 8pm showing only to find out that only "Harry Potter and the Misterio del Principe" was showing. But hey, when in Mexico do as the Mexicans do. And despite only understanding half, having to whispter to my friend the whole time as we recalled the book together, and missing Daniel Radcliff's British accent, the experience was amazing. Props to Warner Brothers. Arry Puter (as I have to say Harry Potter here for the kids to understand me) was worth it.

And who cares - I've got a pirated copy of the English version waiting for me on every street corner in the center of town.

El Rollo Aquatic Park

When Sophie told a co-worker in the office who had made many visits to the United States that we were going to El Rollo water park today (7/17) he said we would experience a water park like we had never before. Why? Because"Mexican water parks don't have rules like American ones do." Running across wet sidewalks? No problem. Twenty people at a time sliding down a ramp into a rushing river? Sound like fun! And it sure was fun, though my heart definitely raced a few times for fear of my own life.

El Rollo is kind enough every year to give free passes to all 800 kids at NPH. It really is a wonderful day for the kids to experience. Even as high schoolers, the kids were so excited to show me around and explain the rides such as:

1. The Pendulum: a giant U-shaped slide that you slide up and down on endlessly, much like the Ram ride a amusement parks.
2. The Mammoth: a huge, winding slide for 6-person rafts
3. The Snake: a skinny dark tube slide that send you into darkness until you splash into the light.
4. The Lazy River: puts American water park lazy rivers to shame. The river carries you through rapids, waves, and turbulent currents.

And the best part of the day was the amazing opportunity to meet more of the pequenos.

Moving In

Sophie and I were supposed to move into our permanent housing last Friday, but the place had not yet been cleaned. We took the initiative ourselves and tackled the 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom and kitchen apartment. Over the week we came cleaned in our free time dusting, mopping and scrubbing until our biceps became bigger than the world's strongest man. The kitchen proved to be the toughest challenge. Imagie: a fridge never defrosted, but just unplegged and left for 3 montsh closed off to the world. Let's just say I saw colors in that fridge that I never thought were naturally possible.

But it's done and we've moved in (as of 7/16).

The one obtstable thought that will likely never be conquered: COCKROACHES. They have an entire colony under our patio. We've presented them with the gift of bleach many times, but that doesn't do a thing. FUMUGATION OPERATION hopefully sometime this week. As much as Sophi and I appreciate company here, we prefer guests with slightly fewer legs.

Documentary Filming

As part of my office job, I visit Miacatlan (the other home location for the younger kids) once a week. Today (7/16) was a special week, as two film students from California arrived to make a documentary about the Tae Kwon Do program at NPH. The Tae Kwon Do program was started 5 years ago by a volunteer from Iceland. He built up the program so much that now he brings students every year for an international competitio in Chicago. Awesome to see the filming live and great to meet the two film students (who are actually friends of a current volunteer) Maybe you'll see me in the background ;)

Picture on top left: the kids being filmed for a 25th anniversary present for Father Phil

Picture to the right: the captivated kids

Karaoke

The kids are on summer vacation until mid August, so the days are filled with activities. Tonight was karaoke, and Sophie and I as the only Americans were requested to sing "Stayin' Alive." We did so to an enthusiastic audience. As far as the Spanish songs though - complete fail. For even the ones I did know, I can't produce the words fast enough for them to make any sense.

In other news, Sophie got sick! She's the first of our group to do so. When she continued to feel sick yesterday, we found a thermometer to check her temperature. In Celcius her temperature came out to 39.5 degrees. No big deal right, until I find the Celsius to Farenheit converter scale online and saw that 39.5 degrees C = 103.5 Farenheit. Well at that point we looked for options for doctors and luckily the maternity doctor next door to NPH agreed to see her. After much rest and a dose of anti-bacerial drugs, Sophie is almost back to 100%. Thank the Lord.

And So It Begins

First full day "on the job." Sophie and I went on a field trip with the "primeros," the pequeños who have just moved into the house here in Cuernavaca to start high school. Since they've just moved to a new city, they had a kind of orientation. It was just as much an orientation for me, as I know far less than the kids do about Cuernavaca. Now, through an activity that I supposidly was supposed to lead, I have learned where to get the bus to go to other cities, where the market is, where to get the cheapest bread, etc.

Spanish will continue to be a challenge. It's a little frustrating that I can't completely understand the stories some of the kids tell me. Sometimes I miss the entire point. But I'm running on the picture I have of myself a few months from now when I'll be at a far higher level of comprehension than I ever have been. And I have an awesome group of pequeños to help me along. The pequeños as well who are in their year of service (as each child, once they complete high school, needs to give back to NPH by serving for a year as a caregiver, cook, driver, etc.) are very hospitable.

Played a little "futbolita" (foosball) and watched a little Harry Potter. Thankful for the English movies with Spanish subtitles. But somehow I found myself reading the Spanish subtitles instead of listening to the English. All in the Spanish mindset :)

No More School

Friday - end of language school. Much needed review but man was it hard to be in school again and focus. I thought I was done with that back in May. Today was officially our last day of orientation. The six other volunteers who will be staying in Miacatlan with the younger children moved out and onwards. Sophie and I are on our own now, ready, or in my case not so ready when it comes to my language ability, to face the world.

Visit to Faux Ruins

Sunday had a free afternoon so we decided to take advantage of the nearby archeological ruins at Xochicalco, a pre-Mayan community from 300-700 A.D. Xochicalco was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fun to climb up the stairts of the temples and see the spectacualr views of the surrounding towns. Little of the original stone work was left, but the 20th century restorations gave us somewhat of an idea and something more to look at than a pile of rocks.

Here's about half of the volunteer group for the year atop the pyramid:

Arrival in Cuernavaca

Starting up my year with Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos with an orientation in Cuernavaca with seven new volunteers. Our orientation is filled with tours of the orphanages in Micatlan and Cuernavaca, and graduations of the kids from kindergarten and primary, secondary, and high school. Thursday was the last day of school, and we headed over to the high school for thier final presentations. After presentations each vocation (NPH has a vocational high school in trades such as child caregiving, accounting, and tourism) had a dance off. Here's the technology vocation kids in one of their stunts:

The graduation cermeonies were beautiful. All the children are honored and congratulated for their achievments with dtraditional dancing, a mass, and ceritificates. At the high school graduation on Saturday, the day concluded with a dinner and dance. The volunteers' awkward American dance moves definately entertained more than a few graduates.

Language school began today. A much needed review before diving into workin gwith the kids this upcomign weekend. I'll always have a funny acccent, but hopefully I can weed out teh grammatical errors more consistently.

The first five days have been a whirlwind. Already I'm in love wtih the state of Morelos. The daily rain, as expected in what is now rainy season, has made the moutinas burst with green. We're all in limbo. We've been introduced to our responsnibilites, coworkers, residences, etc., but don't officially start until this weekend when current volutneers ending their year here move on and we've completed our orientation.