trips and fireworks and nail polish

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while! Tonight I decided to record a little video update because that's easier than writing things out, but the file is too large and it won't let me upload it! Ah! 

I have had a great week and a half but am currently very worn out...hence the lack of updating. 

Last weekend we took a whirlwind trip to Puebla and Oaxaca. It was really fun to get out of Cuernavaca! Edith and I had dinner in Puebla at a lovely Italian restaurant and enjoyed the Zocalo (center) until Erika arrived later that night. We had to leave Puebla really early in the morning for our bus ride to Oaxaca, so I want to go back to explore! Puebla was so lovely- it had gorgeous architecture. Oaxaca was exciting as well! Highlights were meeting ex-NPH volunteer Tamara who was there as well has her friend and an Austrian guy and two girls from Denmark in our hostel, who we spent some time with. We went to Tule and saw the Tule tree, a 2,000 year old tree. There I got rose-petal nieve (ice cream, minus the cream, I guess like shaved ice) at the mercado...it was soo yum! On Sunday we went to the ruins at Monte Atlan and I was impressed! It was a beautiful day and the ruins were humongous...how had I never heard of this place? I'm low on my Mexico knowledge! We also went to visit a small town where, according to them, is the only place in the world where black pottery is made. We went to the store where the family who invented the shiny black pottery still works and I bought a couple of beautiful, cheap pieces! I got a medium-sized piece of pottery for 40 pesos! That's $3.15!! Such an insane steal. We also got to watch them demonstrate how they make the pottery, which was very neat. We tried the famous Oaxacan chocolates and Mexcal (creamy liquor) before leaving on the bus at 11 pm that night. That's right- we travelled through the night and got in around 6:30 Monday morning! We took a cab and got back around 7 am, just in time to hop in the shower and out the door to get to work at 8:30 am! I was pretty worn out this week, but I'm still glad we went on our trip!

This week has been super fun! I'm getting to know the kids even more and enjoy spending time and joking around with them. They like to ask me for favors, and I like to comply, when I can. I know some of them are pushing to see what my boundaries are, so I'm trying to bend over backwards for them (because that's part of why I'm here, right? ...to show them I care about them) without reallly bending over backwards too much, because boundaries are our friend. :) For instance, a couple of times I put on movies to watch with some of the kids but they started to ask me to watch movies every day. I explained to them that it's not as special if we watch movies every day..and we should do other activities! 

Speaking of making things not special anymore...Mexico really likes celebrating with fireworks and parades. Every freaking day. What began as an observance has become a pest, because there are loud booms and wayyy too perky parades at 7 in the morning and 12 at night (and at any random time in between) pretty much every day here! I have been told they are celebrating different saints' days, so I feel intolerant to complain, but that doesn't really stop me. It's not a party if it happens every day. Nor is it a party if it just sounds like gunshots suddenly and happens several times a day. I'm starting to tune it out.

Another random story from my week---I have made friends with the deaf/mute kid here at the house. He is not completely deaf because he always has his headphones blasting his rap in his ears, but he can't hear you if you talk to him. No, Mom, he's not deaf because of his rap. He is obsessed with Lil Wayne though, it's pretty funny. I shared some of my music with him so I had a good time trying to communicate through slow and repetitive Spanish (he can read lips) and lots of hand gestures...such a challenge, but definitely worth it! Also, he is not completely mute, he can say "Gracias", but that is pretty much the extent of his speaking ability. Can you imagine how hard that would be? Juan Manuel is a really funny and easy-going guy. He even let me be on his team for pool tonight....I tried to explain to him that probably wouldn't be good for him because I'm bad, but he was quite the caballero, haha. I love watching the kids play pool and waiting for my time to play...which is always short because I lose so fast! 

As for painting nails, I bought some new colors this week...emo colors because the kids requested them. The girls love painting their nails and hilariously enough, several of the boys ask us to paint their nails, too...black or blue, though, because they're manly like that. I get a kick out of it. 

Tomorrow we are planning to do karaoke and I can't wait! Some of the kids said they are too embarrassed to sing but I told them I'd sing a reggaeton song and will make a fool out of myself, hopefully they enjoy that. 

That's about all for now, I gotta get to bed! I really do feel like I'm living the dream, the more time I spend with the kids, the better things have gotten. Of course, it's not all rose nieve, but the good stuff is definitely out-weighing the bad and I'm enjoying my life here. I think having a schedule helps, although today I was thinking about how strange it is that our life (more like their life, but I'm going with the flow) is determined by the ringing of a bell...for meals, bedtime, events, etc. 

K, as always, I send my love! And come visit!!! I probably think about my brother's upcoming visit 100 times a day because I'm so excited! We are going to have so much fun! 

Love,

whit

La convivencia...and all that comes with it

Seeing as I spend up to 5 hours some days translating letters the kids write from Spanish to English, I have seen my fair share of words and I've started to establish a rhythm. One word I come across all the time in the letters, however, is a word that doesn't translate with ease, and it's become a word that I frequently think of when reflecting on life here at NPH. "Convivir," which means "living together" or "sharing life together," holds a connotation in Mexican Spanish with strong emotional ties. I like to think of it as "living life together with _______ "(insert someone's name here, because it's all about relationships). Now that I'm starting to get my bearings, I am really appreciating what it means when I see the kids (and really everyone connected to the NPH-Mexico family) conviviendo. 

Speaking of sharing life, this past weekend was NPH-Mexico's 56 year Anniversary party in Miacatlan. It was a fun and exciting time where everyone connected to the house was invited for a day-long celebration. Families of grown up ex-pequenos came back and it felt like a huge family reunion. I LOVE visiting Miacatlan...and being able to come back to Cuernavaca, haha. There are moments at the ex-hacienda when I like to just stop and try to take in everything that is going on: a million ball games, countless kids walking, talking, and playing together, sports competitions, face painting, a wedding booth for the kids (ha!), puppies and paletas, etc. It is barely-organized chaos and a really beautiful sight. When I was there, I couldn't help thinking about the future letters to godparents I will translate describing the fun events through the eyes of a little child.

Besides making several little friends and watching many very official and intense sporting events (there were soccer, basketball, and volleyball tournaments going on all day long), I enjoyed getting to see the Miacatlan volunteers, talk with some grown-up ex-pequenos, and 

even met some UNC dental students who came down for the week to work on kids' teeth! That was a fun surprise- you can bet I dashed over there when I saw people wearing Carolina t-shirts on the other side of the court! After mass and a special lunch, I had to complete a delightful task for my scholarship office work: briefly interviewing each of the kinder kids! The kinder group consists of eight little ones aged 2 to 6, and they sure are sweet. I asked them what their favorite food, favorite toy, and favorite color was, among other questions. They are pure muffincakes.

On a different note, while I have been really loving getting to spend more time with these kids (specifically the high schoolers), there are always moments where I'm saddened and humbled by the hurts that many of them carry. Something that comes with conviviendo and getting to know people more, is knowing about their pasts and their current struggles. This has been really tough for me at times. I am constantly blown away when I think about how each kid who is here is not in their biological family, for whatever reason, be it death, poverty, or abandonment. Sometimes I think about how pain is so sacred, you have to handle it gently because it is so personal and real. I have treasured the few times a couple of kids have opened up to me, but sometimes I am at a loss for words. The kids definitely fill my prayers at night.

That said, the tough stuff makes the fun times that much better because it's so great to see them thrive. Monday we (Casa Buen Senor, the hs house) went on our THIRD water park excursion. This week was to Ixtapan de la Sal and it was my favorite by far! I had an absolute blast, and I think a lot of the kids had fun, too. I built up the nerve to go on the scariest ride 

3 times, and I think I may have earned some of the guys' respect. When I went up to the top with several of the hs boys, they were waiting when I made it up and said "ladies, first!" I, of course, laughed at them for being scaredy cats, said "gracias, cabelleros," and proceeded to scream as loud as possible when I went down the drop. 

On a normal weekday, the kids have a lot of free time since it is summer and the other volunteers and I are brainstorming special games and activities to do with the kids. Painting nails has been a hit, along with Jane has started tennis lessons for a few kids who are interested, and that has been fun. I'm toying with the idea of starting some sort of glee club but I'm not sure it's the best idea, considering how little I know about singing, haha! Edith and I want to plan a water balloon fight and water games for our next work weekend.

This weekend I'm headed with two friends on a trip to Puebla and Oaxaca! I'm very excited to get out and see more of Mexico besides Cuernavaca, Miacatlan, and water parks! I'm hoping the long trip doesn't wear me out and is super fun and worth it. I'll be sure to take lots of pics. That's all from me for now, I hope everyone is doing well! I love and miss you all. I really hope to have some visitors this year (seeing Kat Bossi was a HUGE highlight and I can't wait until Matt comes to visit next month)! This place is worth checking out. :) 

paz afuera,

whit