CHACALA 19 MARCH

PHOTOS: Children's Project, Mexican Girls, Luc & Pinyata, Angelica & what is left of pinyata
Today is our last day at Mar De Jade – I cannot believe that the time has flown so fast! We are feeling sad about leaving, but I guess life goes on. Spends the morning getting working on MAB stuff (early), getting a pedicure whilst having a work session with Angelica and the last Spanish Class. We get a lift with Janet to Las Varas – she drives with her 11 month old baby on the lap, breastfeeding! There is a whole group of volunteers at the clinic and we decide to do my post card project. All the kids eagerly start drawing and the most beautiful artwork is created (The idea is to sell the postcards to guests at MDJ and buy the kids things they need). Anastasia had gotten a “mucho grande” cake for our farewell – one thing they really do well here – cake!!! On our way home we get Luc a pinyada. He finally decides on the purple horse. All the girls are appalled that they also have little girl pinyadas – so much for trying to stop woman abuse! We get three big bags of sweets to fill the pinyada and Luc is happy. Back at the resort we go for a quick last swim in the sea and the pool, then it is dress up time. We all agreed to wear our Mexican dresses and I feel somewhat exposed in my see-through red dress. In the end we got lots of compliments and I must add, we looked fabulous! Luc is so excited about the Pinyata that he was not interested in eating. After dinner Jorge & Angelica get all the kids together (and all the adults) and it was time for the pinyata. Luc was blindfolded and then told to hit the pinyada (whilst Jorge is pulling the rope to get it to move up and down. Luc does not have great success and it is only when the Mexican kids get a turn that the things start to happen. Within a few hits the head bursts open and it is sweets everywhere – of course the kids all run to get sweets. At the end of the evening we have 5 lucky kids with hands full of sweets. I hang out with Carol, Mindi, Anastasia and Rodolpho at the bar, before going to the room to finish packing. I did not buy a lot, but really struggle to fit everything in the backpack and suitcase – have no idea how we are going to travel with all the heavy stuff! Finish reading my book and eventually get to bed after 12.

RINCON DE GUAYABITOS 18 MARCH 2007

Start the morning by working a bit, but seems that Angelica and Jorge is sleeping off another late night (some friends of Jorge came down for the long weekend). Feel very sorry for them – another late night! Take Luc for a swim at the pool and Angelica surfaces - we get some work done. Just after lunch we hear Doug and the girls talk about a Volkswagen show in one of the other towns. We join Doug, Betsy, Carol and Mindi for the outing to Ricon De Guaybitos. It is a run down town on the other side of La Penita – with a glorious white beach, stunning little island in the distance and hundreds of Mexicans. The Volkswagen show on the square turns out to be fun – with all shorts and shapes – all modelled up, from a Volkswagen limousine to Herbie (Luc shyly poses for a pict with Herbie!). There is all sorts of curio stalls – most of them have Chinese junk, but we get some nice local stuff, including hot Mexican dresses for all the girls! We wander down all the curio shops. Ice cream is next on the list and then off to the beach. We chill out at a restaurant on the beach front and finally I get my plate of French fries – a massive one which we all share – it was so good!!! We get home at 7 and go straight to more dinner. Angelica invites us to join the friends table and Luc connects with Rodolopho (another one), who entertains him with magic tricks. After dinner I try to get some packing done – cannot believe it is such time. Luc falls asleep half way through Cars. A really nice day!

CHACALA 17 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS: View of Chacala from the volcano, Anthony & Luc digging to China, On the boat, Luc & Ananstasia.

I can feel the tequila when I wake up in the morning and is seriously thinking of cancelling the trip up the volcano – but it was a promise to Luc. So we all suffer up the many hills to the top (Luc of course makes sure that Anthony and Chris are close to assist – on their shoulders!). After an hour (although it felt like hours) we are in the crater, which is now a meadow where the goats roam. It is about another 30 minutes down to the other side, where we eventually reach a little private beach set in an alcove. It is so beautiful. The water is crystal clear and we can see the schools of little fish swimming around. We swim and tan and chat. By one we are all starving and there are no signs of the water taxis. By 1.30 Doug organises with a local to take 3 of us on his little boat back to the resort. About 5 minutes later the water taxis finally arrive. By this time we are really hungry. Back to the harbour and still the 10 minute walk to the resort! Luc goes off with Chris so show him his school. When the eventually get to the rest, I hear that Luc told Chris how great the ice creams in town are, so they both ended up with an ice cream! One of the guests earlier said to me that she thinks Luc is going to be a president one day, because he can persuade you to do whatever he wants to do, but in such a way that you think it was your idea! The power is off and we cannot work, so we opt for an afternoon sleep. I go up to the office and do an hour of writing text for the brochure. Dinner is very quiet, the new pilates group has arrived and there are some serious bodies in the group! We watch the most beautiful movie, Baraka (meaning blessing). It is a cinegraphic tour of scenes all over the world with no text, just amazing music. Luc is wide awake so we watch another movie and eventually get to bed very late.

CHACALA 16 MARCH 2007

PHOTO: Luc, his majestro & amigas!

Luc’s last school day and we hand out all the gifts to his amigos. Great excitement! I hoped to do some more work with Angelica, but she is really busy, so I try and sort out my bookings and do SA emails. The ADSL line is really difficult because it keeps on cutting off all the time. Jorge works on the bar menus and it comes out really nice. The painting is nearly done and it also looks so much better. I pick Luc up from school and the two of us go for a quick swim in the sea. I feel bad, because although I am with him most of the time, there is very little quality time together. After lunch it is back to work. Luc is happy to watch DVD and even joins in for the Spanish class – by the way, our Spanish is still limited to Hallo and goodbye! Really difficult language, although I can understand a bit more. We decide to dance after dinner and eventually the party moves down to the beach where there is a bonfire. In true Mexican style the Tequila is brought out (I think I had my last tequila 20 years ago!!). I eventually retire to bed, but Luc is on a roll and persuades the rest of the group to go and watch Napoleon Dynamite with him!

LA PENITA 15 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS : Luc & Chris on the roof, Luc doing yoga

No school for Luc today, as we decide to go back to La Penita market for some curio shopping. I do a good 2 hours work before we leave at 10. We end up in the taxi with Chris (who is on the yoga retreat) and Mindi (doctor who is volunteering) and Carol (another volunteer for the Children’s Project). They are full of fun and play a game where they fall all over each other. Of course, Luc immediately joins in! Most of the morning is spent finding Luc a pair of cool cowboy boots and buying the sweets and gifts for this school farewell party. We also get a few pieces of curios, but everything is really expensive (actually the jewellery that we got at the Mexico stand at the Epcot Centre was cheaper than the jewellery at the market!). On our way out I fall for a really beautiful bedspread – no idea of how I am going to get that into a suitcase!!! It is very hot and we join the rest of the group for a beer. Chris takes Luc for a swim when we get back to the resort. I work with Angelica in the afternoon, whilst Luc watches DVD. I see him leave the office with a yoga brick. When I eventually go looking for him, I find him in Anthony’s yoga class, doing yoga!! It is so sweet, seeing this little body next to all the adults, and also doing it so well. I call Angelica and Anastasia and they are in stitches with lots of “how sweet”. I leave him too it and when I go looking for him later, I find Chris and him climbing over the roof (second floor). I nearly have a fit, but Chris explained that they were watching the sunset on the sundeck and were locked out by someone. Boys will be boys! After dinner I do another talk and then watch The Last King of Scotland and Perfume (we read the book in the jungle!) in the room.

CHACALA 14 MARCH 2007

PHTOTS : The new coffee area, Luc's new shop & his customer, Angelica

A bad night for us, as Luc gets sick and vomits the whole night (possibly the 1 day virus that everyone in Vallart has!). He is much better in the morning and we set off to school, planning his shop on our way there. More during the morning and I am also managing to finalise most of our bookings for the next 3 weeks, which we had to change because of Semana Santa – which is the Easter holidays where you want to stay off the beaches! On our way home from school we buy some sweets and shells for the shop. During lunch Luc makes flyers to market his shop (with the help of his mother). He hands them out and gets really upset when one table laughs (because they thought is was really quiet) and runs off! He then has an unhappy experience with a curio seller (which I think was due to him misunderstanding the man), and then refuse to go to the Spanish class with our teacher, Janet. He all of a sudden has become very sensitive about every one and experiences that everyone is nasty to him. (I am really puzzled by his behaviour – but I also think he is still a bit under the weather!). We do the light fittings in the bar area and displays of statues and it looks really stunning – very proud of what is happening! I help Luc doing his “thank you” cards for the shop and we set up shop just before dinner. The guests are really fab and he sells all his goods (shells and sweets) by the end of dinner! His income in total is $48 (pesos) – a profit of $13 (pesos not dollars)! He is not quite going to buy the camper van for himself and the Porche for his mother, but at least we can get him something in the market tomorrow! He is out by 8 and his mother follows suit soon after that!

REFLECTION: As you all must have noticed, very little time for reflections nowadays! One important thing that I have come to realise is that there are other great people in the world, except South Africans. Perhaps it has more to do with people wanting to make a difference, and there are a few around here…. It will be really sad to go.

CHACALA 13 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS : Our new room, Sunset from the dining area & Luc's first shop, with first customer!
Our time is Chacala is fast coming to an end – and so much work to do! Angelica is really a go-getter, so we work well together and some things are now coming together. The painting is happening and the colours look really fab. Also the tiling of floors look really great! The wonderful thing is that we all work together, so there are no shortage of ideas and no challenge too big! The other good thing is that we like the same things, so it is really falling in place fast!
Today Luc is more happy to go to school. Jorge also sets off to Guadalajara (which is 3 hours from here) to sort out his magazine’s printing – so we loose a few days without him! Luc is more happy to go to school. We work in the morning, but all the other things and projects is distracting us from the pr and marketing. I pick Luc up from school and all his friends walk with. Gilberto loves right next to MDJ. Most of the time in the afternoon is spending working and I am really beginning to feel bad about the little quality attention I am giving Luc – although we are together so many hours, it is not quality time. The two of us sneak off to the hot Jacuzzi just before dinner. During dinner we discover that Luc has taken a few flowers, broken them into pieces and is selling them off to the guests. I offer to help him the next day to do a proper shop. (We also discover that he added some of the flowers to the salad – hope no guests get sick!). Beginning to feel like part of the family – we all eat together and chat together. A movie night again and this time the four of us watch Pan’s Labyrinth (won Oscar for best foreign movie) – also very depressing, but not as bad as Babel!

LAS VARAS 12 MARCH

PHOTOS: Luc, Teagan & Talis & Our project (with our paintings!)

Today Luc has to say goodbye yet to more friends – Teagan and Talis is leaving! We nearly miss them, but the kids spot Luc on the way to school and run down to give him a very special gift – a photo of them with a special message. This gift eventually rescues the day, when Luc decides that he does not want to go to school (at the school gate!). I tell him to show all his school friends the photo of his other friends. This does the trick, but he is still sad when I leave him. Work on the Children’s Rights for the Children’s project (Munro, Glendine, Hanlie and Elsbeth – your work are now up in Mexico!). Also work on SA stuff. I pick Luc up and we are off to Las Varas to the Children’s Project. It takes me nearly an hour to get the rights printed and laminated, but it looks really great. Luc is really playing up – don’t know what is wrong with him. It is as he is pushing the limits and challenges me on everything – this ends up in him getting a hiding in the shop (something I strongly oppose – but it has great results and he is much better behaved after that!) We feel like locals when arriving at the project. Get hugs from everyone and a basic meal from the two “angels” who feed the kids. My concept of dividing the kids in groups, giving them identities (sun, moon, water and fire) is really successful. We can control them much better and they really try much harder. I do voice training with them and it works very well! Some of the yoga guests, who came for a visit, join us and we have a lot of fun. Have dinner with Angelica, Jorge, Anastasia and Rodolpho – we are really becoming a little family! We look at Jorge’s logo designs – they are very good and I think we are finally getting to a point. Later have a movie night – and watch Babel (hectic and depressing!) and we all go to bed feeling pretty gloom!!

CHACALA 11 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS : Pink sunset, Luc & cocktail, Africa (Luc) & Jorge (Mexico) football game

Nothing comes of my plan to take the day off. Jorge (the graphic designer) arrives and we do some work in the morning, whilst Luc plays on the beach with the twins and swims a bit. They painting is also coming along fast and it looks really good. Anastasia decides to clean up the entertainment room and we join in to help and reorganise. We finish a about 2 and decide to go for lunch. Bump into the Mace’s at the restaurant and Luc is very happy – he has someone to swim with. We start lunch with “grandes” Pina Coladas (where is Liz!!!!). I finally get to eat some red meat for the first time in weeks! Food is great, cocktails great – Angelica and Jorge joins us and it turns out into a great afternoon on the beach. I even join Luc in body surfing, Jorgio takes him to play soccer and Africa wins 6 – 3! We only leave as the sun is setting to the most beautiful pink sunset I have ever seen. Anastasia has to go on bar duty, but the four of us slip up to the spa and into the big hot Jacuzzi pool. It is so beautiful, we look at the stars and just chill out. Dinner is a quiet affair. Everyone is wasted, even Luc is not keen for too much socialising, so we are in bed by 9!

CHACALA 10 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS : The Bodybuilders (Luc & Alana), Dancing party

Anastasia decides that we have to go for a canoeing adventure. Rodolfo offers to take Luc in the boat with him, but his wife and child falls sick, so he has to leave early in the morning. Luc decides to stay at home and watch video, but then thinks his dad will be really impressed if he hears that he has been canoeing on the sea. We get the canoes and getting to the sea, I have serious doubts – the waves look massive. So does Luc. Whilst I get knocked around by the waves, he cannot make up his mind about giving with or not. Eventually my legs are bleeding as the canoe is knocked against them. Luc decides to not go and runs away – shame I must say the oncoming waves are intimidating. We manage to get through the waves, not falling off once. The sea is calm on the other side and we set off. About 5 minutes into the canoeing I hear lots of voices calling me. It is group doing yoga on the beach. I turn around and see Luc in the sea trying to get to me. I paddle as fast as I can and shout to him to go back – not having the energy to have to go through the waves again. He does not listen and I have no choice. When I get to him all he says is “I want to know what I must eat from Breakfast” (!). It is another struggle getting back into the water and this time I get knocked over with the boat. It is all worth it – we have a wonderful trip out into the bay. See whales in the distance and lots of fish. The ride back is great fun – right at the end a massive waves takes us and we shoot through the air! Most of the young boys are leaving today, so Luc swims and plays with them. Alex and Alana(with their twins, Teagan & Talis, who are 4) is still here and I baby sit for them whilst they go off. The power also goes off, so Angelica and I sit on the beach with the kids and chat. Later we all go into town for an ice cream and shows them where Luc’s school is. Alana offer to look after Luc, whilst I go off to work with Angelica. We spent the rest of the whole day working on the weak points and pr program. So much work to do and so little time – I only have one more week left here and fear we are going to run out of time! After dinner we decide to put on Johnny Clegg and play some African music. Alex, Alana, Teagan & Talis join us for dancing and by the 3rd song (Grease Lightning by this time), we have some Angelica, Anastasia, kitchen staff and even some of the yoga group (who was in bed already and then heard the music!) join us.

CHACALA 8 & 9 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS : Sunset at Mar De Jade & the kids making "yoga" music
These two days are spending by working with Angelica. We look at the refurbishment of the entrance hall, dining areas and bar. We walk the site and look at possible solutions. A whole afternoon on the weak points and finding solutions for them – poor Angelica – lots of work for her! The painters start painting and it looks really great (my contrast colour is a bit too light, but the rest really like it!). On Friday evening the men put on some dancing music and the kids absolutely love all the dancing – they do rock-and-roll, salsa and Luc teaches them the break dancing the village kids taught him! Do a motivational talk on Thursday evening to a small but very interested audience. Luc loves having all the kids around. He joins in the kids group (the parents are here for the yoga workshop). This time there is about 4 boys his age and they are in and out the pool, on the beach, running and playing all sorts of games. The lady who takes care of their programme compliments me on Luc’s really good behaviour and him being a real diplomat (don’t we just know that one – especially if his about to be punished!). We also get bumped up to a nice big room – not so sure I like the idea – really enjoyed the simple life! But Luc is ecstatic – his new room has a bathroom, and within minutes he is having a bath.

PUERTO VALLARTA 7 MARCH 2007

PHOTO : Puerto Vallarta

Today I make an effort to do something about my body that is so rapidly expanding. Supposed to meet Anastasia for gym, but she oversleeps. I manage to do 15 minutes of gym and then I just about died – high impact version of body for life with all the exercises at once! Thank goodness there was no one there to see my suffering!! Luc off to school. I spent the morning working – sorting out colours etc for our big shopping. In the afternoon we set off with Laura and the driver to Puerto Vallarta for the shopping. Got great paint colours, beautiful fabric and we are all set to go. Puerto Vallarta is the most beautiful town and are looking forward to staying there. Luc sees the pirate ship and a massive cruise ship – 3000 people! The town reminds me of towns in Spain with nice shops and cobblestone streets. It is dark when we finally leave. Laura stays behind – she is going to a friend for a week. Luis does not speak English, so I put my walkman and speakers on and we listen to Ill Divo (he understands the Spanish/Italian) and loves it. It is a scary 1 and ½ hour drive (in dark, lots of trucks, roads like Malawi). We are exhausted when we get home, but really enjoy the plate with pasta and prawn sosaties that await us! It was a very successful day and I cannot wait to get the guys going with the painting!

CHACALA 5 & 6 MARCH 2007

PHOTOS: Our hideaway on the bottom level at Mar de Jade. And a sneak photo of Luc.

School for Luc and work for me. I spent Monday working on the PR program. Luc is doing really well at school. Gets “moy bien” with all his homework and a blue star on the forehead every day! So proud of him. A new bunch of kids have arrived and Luc is very happy (he was missing his friend, Beckett, a lot). They play non-stop and on Monday night the two of us watch the movie, Zoolander. Running late on Tuesday and have to run to get to school on time. Morning I have meetings with Laura and Angelica, discussing PR programmes, paint colours for building etc etc. I also take some time working on the support group for women file. Luc went on a school “excursion” – they collected garbage off the streets. And he discovers the house of our Spanish teacher! More work in the afternoon, but take off later to swim with Luc in the sea. I finally discover the attraction – really great beach and surf – he is very happy to have his mother with him. (Think he is really missing Callie!). All the kids get crowns and Luc looks like a little prince – all dressed up! Have dinner with the girls and we end up staying up until late.

ONTDEKKING:
In die laaste 2 dae het 3 mense vir my kom vertel wat ‘n pragtige kind Luc is – mooi oe, selfversekerd, intelligent, baie persoonlikheid, leier – so trots op hom! (Maar moeilik as mens die enigste kind in ‘n familie is, dan moet jy maar entertainment gaan soek!). Hy is so mooi bruingebrand en die hare word al hoe ligter.

CHACALA 3 & 4 MARCH 2007

PHOTO : LUC THE PARTY ANIMAL - THE MORNING AFTER!!

We decide to take the weekend off and do fun things (to Luc that means swimming and swimming and more swimming). We have a Spanish class on Saturday morning – Luc really struggles to concentrate and Janet decides that I must go. This works and all of the sudden he is keen to learn. We spent the day on the beach, where we have a decadent pineapple filled with fruit. On Saturday night Bruno organises for a fire on the beach. I work on my book, whilst Luc goes off with the other Luke to sit next to the fire. We discover that one of the guests is the mother of the female star in Blood Diamond, Jennifer Connely. She talks about her time in SA shooting the film. (She also won an Oscar for Beautiful Mind). Of course I am so typical me and cannot remember her name when her mom asks if I have seen the movie!!! I decide to do some work on Sunday and work on the PR programme. Luc sits with me and we also work on his homework and a bit of the home schooling. The rest of the day we go to the beach. He got a tube yesterday and I cannot keep him out of the water. He is a real beach bum. Tanned with his long boxer shorts (which always falls off when he “surfs” and then you see this white little bum sticking out!). His hair is also going blond and the eyes are just getting more blue by the day. We had an exercise session planned for the afternoon, but then Laura had to go to town and Emily had to run after the new guests – so I end up having a chocolate and drinking a beer!

MOMENT OF THE DAY: I decide that I have to start learning how to deal with a Spanish menu and we went for drinks. Got mine right (Cerveza – beer), but poor Luc ended up with soda water instead of flavoured mineral water!

CHACALA 2 MARCH 2007

PHOTO : PARTY ANIMAL LUC WITH HIS SMOKING FRIEND!!!!

Off to “escuela” for Luc, whilst I spent the morning catching up with emails and working on the PR program. I pick Luc up from school and luckily the “collectivo” is there when we get to the town centre, so no hour wait this time. We are in Las Varas early and decide to have lunch at Anastasia’s friend’s little take away (we met him last week). Order tacos with chicken (up to now we have always had buffet at the resort, so never needed to order food!). We have a conversation in Spanish – and glad to say that we are beginning to understand some! From there to Laundromat for washing and then off to clinic. The kids are really happy to see us. Anastasia has made cards to divide them into the 4 groups we had painted on the walls – fuergo (fire), agua (water), le sol (sun) y la Luna (the moon). The kids are very excited about the groups. I end up with the girls in La Luna. Luc wants to be here, then decides to be with the boys and then, after not understanding their conversation, comes back to us. We give them tasks to create a song for their team. I get the girls going in my terrible Spanish. We set the pace with our spirited song, and I use all my old school cheer leading skills to keep my team going. It finally catches on and, with the help of Anastasia and 2 students the groups do stunning work! They are much more controlled – the plan is working! We do some games and then use the last 30 minutes to give them a brief background on the play – Themba and the lion (which I am not done with!). We leave the project a much happier crowd! Although Luc disappointed us with a few tantrums and even hitting a child! We meet Stdephan – a photographer who also works as a volunteer at a school, in the collectivo. He desperately needs camera cables, so I offer him mine – if it works. He tells us about the party in the village. It is the celebration of the “coming of age” of a young girls ( ). The word “party” gets Luc going and he decides that we will go. After dinner we chat with Anastasia (who is on bar duty), Rodolpho teaches Luc to salsa (did not last long, as Luc now prefers break dancing – the in thing in this part of the world), the yoga group has a birthday party and Dr Bruno’s group is dancing salsa. By 10 we are all dead tired, but Luc is wide awake and ready for the party. Two girls from the yoga group decides to go with us. I am a bit nervous to walk in the dark and Luc has 1 minute of terror attack, but the moon is full and it ends up being a really nice walk. Luc immediately recognises his school buddy (his sister’s party!) and is in 7th heaven. We are welcomed, each gets a sweet tequila drink and join the very slow (!) party. There is a big “wedding cake” and another big cake – Luc digs in. The main attraction is the karaoke singer! I ended up having an amazing conversation with Kris, who lives in Seattle and lost a friend who drowned in her basement. It is a real tragic story and one that makes one rethink life… We get home at midnight and Luc is so dirty (after rolling in the sand) that he has to take a shower.

MOMENT OF THE DAY : The complete discuss on Luc’s face when he told us that his 5 year old school friend was smoking! He immediately went on a crusade to find Anastasia to get her to tell him not to do it!

LAS VARAS 1 MARCH 2007

PHOTO : Church in Las Varas.

Today we discover real people goodness. Drop Luc at school and from there to Chacala main street (small dirt cobble road) to wait for the local “collective” to take me to town. Extremely frustrated with my poor knowledge of Spanish, but the shop owner understands me and tells me where to wait. I am joined by Mary and Alain from Tuscon, who has sailed down on their yacht. He is from France, but has live in the USA for a long time. It turns out to be a long wait, but their company is really great. They invite the two of us to come and visit them on the yacht! It takes me an hour and 15 minutes from dropping Luc off until I am in town. The paint shop is at the taxi stop, and thank goodness we manage to sort out the language barrier. (One of our first Spanish classes at home was “coloures”, so I know all the names of the colours!). It comes to more than R 700 and the shop does not take credit cards. I ask where the “banco” is and within minutes I am in the front of the shop owners pickup and we are on the way to the bank! He mixes the paint by hand and proudly tells me he has been doing it for 15 years! It takes 2 hours to get the order and then he offers to drop me at the centre! I run to get the taxi to be in time for Luc’s school coming out. From there we grab a taxi and back to Las Varas. Luc uses the opportunity (of missing lunch at the resort) to order all sorts of sweet stuff. Everything in Mexico has sugar in – from the fruit juice, to the dried fruit. Or chilli and salt (even on the fruit). I order some watermelon from a fruit seller (with a bicycle like an ice cream man). By this time Luc has developed an urgent need to go to the loo – always in the middle of a place where there is no loos or pace to do your thing! But his actions speak a universal language and an old man sitting in front of a shop calls the shop lady and the offer Luc the use of their toilet! We eventually get to the centre and start painting the murals. We are joined by one of the kids who come to the centre, Daniel. He works really hard. Later some of the students arrive, but they are slow and lazy! They leave us halfway, but 2 little girls join us. At first we have major language barriers and I misunderstand them, thinking they are Daniel’s sisters and here to pick him up. Then, half an hour later, I discover they also want to paint! We finish at 5 and we take Daniel for a snack and a “refresco”. A bit worried that we will not find a taxi back. But after half an hours wait, it arrives. We meet Tracy on the taxi – she is a volunteer at the primary school, and invites us to come and speak to the kids about Africa. We are exhausted at the end of the day and hit the bed early.

REFLECTION:
Now getting into real Mexican time – what would have taken me 30 minutes in SA to do, today took me about 3 hours. Will the people at home understand if I tell them that we will only be back in 9 months and not 3 as originally planned!

MOMENT OF THE DAY:
Our first car accident in Mexico. The taxi driver on the way home, drops 2 ladies and their babies at their home. And reverses into a pickup parked behind him. He gets out, looks at the pick up, gets back in the taxi and drives off. Everyone in the taxi (and the neighbour sitting on his veranda) is in hysterics – laughing – NO ROAD RAGE HERE!

CHACALA 28 FEBRUARY 2007

PHOTOS:

Luc doing homework in dining room. His school is on the opposite of the bay - seen in the background. Luc at his school.

The walk to the school and back x 2 a day is a good hour workout. I desperately need this, as we are eating way too much. Really stunning food. Fresh salads and fruit, chicken and fish – but then (oh, too much of it!) tortillas and beans!! Spend the morning working, then pick Luc up and more working. Luc once again does not listen, climbs in a tree and the branch breaks. This happens in front of everyone having lunch! Don’t know what was more hurt – his arm or his ego! After dinner a long chat with Angelica about their SA trip and all the SA politics. Must say – the SA politics (especially those of the SAPS we are working with) is beginning to get us all down!