LAS VARAS 26 FEBRUARY 2007

The planned working session with Angelica is moved up, as she is alone in the office. We have a really nice breakfast with Emily (who also work in the office) and discuss possibly assisting in upgrading the den. I use the time to finish off emails and to work on the flyer for abused women. Just before twelve the three of us (Anastasia, Luc and myself) set off to Las Varas to the children’s project. We walk to the main road and then hitch a lift (on the back of a bakkie!) to town. Drive pass fruit stalls with amazing fruit displays (would love to stop here!). The town is a quaint village, with cobble stone main streets and interesting little shops. One of the best items on sale in Mexico is the hand made Los Lados (icecream). There is a few children at the project already and Anastasia also shows us the medical clinic. Within minutes Luc is doing flips on a mattress with Pepe, a young boy who was brain damaged at birth. Lunch is served and by this time there are lots more children. We manage to work in an hour of Spanish lessons whilst they are having lunch. Luc is very lazy and just wants to play. Then it is time for drama class. What chaos. Most of the children have never seen a play and does not know what an actor is. To add to the chaos, they cannot understand me and Anastasia has to translate everything! To get them focused and disciplined is an enormous task, but we push ahead and have great success in some of the exercises and very little is some of the others. Realise that they work much better as a group and really struggle to do things on there own (shy???). At about 3.30 we are all exhausted and give them a break. We use the time to cast the main characters for our play and start working with them. On the way home we stop at a little sweet “caravan” in the plaza (town square). Here we buy another delicatessen – caramelised nuts! Take a taxi home and go for a swim with Luc. He gives me a big hug and says “Mommy you are so special, thank you so much for bringing me here.” Later in the waves he screams “Dit is vrekken groot golwe die – ek laaik dit!”. By 8.30 we are exhausted. Have a long chat with Renaldo (the Argentinean masseur) – he loves talking in Dutch and about rugby!! Luc tells him all about the Blue Bulls! In bed by 9!!!!!!

REFLECTIONS
Too tired to think up anything wise…..

MESSAGE TO URI
My wonderful state of relaxation was shuttered by the Children’s Project today!!!