méxico: week three

[Mariela]
[Mariana]
[Veronica and Marcela]

[Evening teeth-brushing: Fernandito, Mariela, Veronica, and Abel]

[Three naughty (and loveable) little boys: Fernandito, Fernando José, and Abel]

[Jesús and Essie: brother and sister]

[Swimming at the river]

[Maria Inez, Marcela, and Grace]

[At the plazuela]

[View of the plazuela from the clocktower]

[Rach and I at the top of the clocktower]

WARNING: the following paragraphs contain some disgusting events of life at the orphanage.

Sunday, April 18, 2010.

Since Brittany was sick, I was in charge of her five children during church. The younger four have unlimited amounts of energy; if I didn't realize that before, I sure did today! I went to the store after church to get some juice for Brittany. Mariela didn't feel good either and I made her sit still (a nearly impossible task!) and read books instead of playing volleyball outside. After lunch and a short naptime, a group of us left for the service in San Pedro. Unfortunately, we were unaware of the service's time change and we arrived an hour early. We sat for a long time. I had a headache and zero energy, but being in San Pedro was good as always. When we got back to the orphanage, we scarfed up the supper leftovers and hung out with the kids until their bedtime.

Monday, April 19, 2010.

I wish today would never have happened. I know tomorrow I'll laugh, but I'm too tired to laugh now. Let's see... in the morning I started Rosalina and Essie on their schoolwork so Rhonda could take them out in the afternoon. Of course, the last part was a surprise so I couldn't tell the girls why they had to do their schoolwork early. When they hounded me for answers, I told them that maybe it was a surprise and maybe it was a punishment. "¡TriiiiciA!" Rosalina wailed. I helped Brittany with lunch and we discussed classic literature. She told me I talk like I read classics... whatever that means. And then [*drumroll!] the after-lunch incident happened. My four remaining students (the other two had already left for their "surprise") started on their schoolwork. Abel, Fernandito, and Fernando José asked to go on the bodega roof. Since their caregivers had let them up on the roof earlier, and since I was in charge because no one else was around, (I have to put in my defense) I let them up on the roof again. So this is what happened, although it took a good part of the afternoon to sort out: Fernando José dared Abel to poop on the bodega roof... so Abel did. Then Fernandito dared Fernando José to jump off of the roof... so Fernando José did... spraining his ankle in the process. For awhile, everything was mass confusion as the kids discovered what had happened, laughed uproariously, tried to find Abel (by stomping through the freshly-mopped kitchen), and climbed up the ladder to the bodega roof to confirm the story, etc, etc, etc. By then, Rebecca was done changing all three diapers and took charge; I gladly let her. I realize that boys will be boys, but why are they especially naughty when I'm in charge? Just as I was ready to concentrate on school, I had to chase Chuy down and discipline him and fish Chayo out of the mud... and the list goes on. School lasted literally all afternoon. The neighbor boys came over before soccer and distracted my slow-working students even more. Yet, by mid-afternoon, I had decided that I would indeed survive the day. During supper, Abel was back to normal, rattling off all sorts of ridiculous comments including one about his "beautiful little head." Rach and I had another long talk in the bodega when we should have been sleeping.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

I went into Choix to make lunch for the Yoder family. Donna gave me some quick instructions before she caught the bus to San Pedro. Kyle helped me clean out the refrigerator. Mario came to the window and scared me half to death... and then had the audacity to laugh at me. I made Janessa's request: red rice and bean burritos with guacamole. I had been planning on lunch for seven, but we had some unexpected visitors who trickled in... Reina and David... then Rodriz... then Aile... then Mario... and then Reina's sister and the sister's daughter. I started washing up dishes, but Loren took me out to the orphanage to do school with the girls. Roxy took up most of my time. She was frustrated with a spelling test. When the others were done, I worked with Mariela; she is so smart, but doesn't want to concentrate on schoolwork. I tried to take a nap in the afternoon, but ended up just thinking of ways to help Roxy and Mariela with their learning. After supper, we played ball tag. I had a growth; Veronica insisted on my carrying her. With her face right next to mine, I kept getting wafts of guamuchile breath. Yuck.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

Today I did not feel good, but dragged myself to town to buy some yogurt. But we forgot the grocery list and had to make two trips. I did schoolwork with Mariela in the morning so I'd be able to spend extra time on her. I made sure that I had some time off to lay down in the AC and try to make myself feel better. At lunch, I put too much hot sauce on Marcela's food and she kept panting and shooting me disgusted glances. After lunch, I accidentally watched Jorge throw up in the lawn. Shocked, I couldn't look away except to check if Johan, Bryant, and Scott were seeing what was happening. They were all looking the other way, deliberately ignoring the scene behind them. School went quickly, for which I was thankful. Maria Inez needed some one-on-one time, but the others sped through their work. After school, someone accidentally locked me in the bodega and I tried not to panic until I was rescued. Just before supper, Christa told Rach and me the bad news of the day: Scott and Rod wrecked motos. Scott was okay, Rod's knee hurt, and the motos were toast. That was the supper topic for everyone except Cata, who had just been told that she could buy a coke after prayer meeting. I skipped the beans and ate quesadillas and yogurt. Diego saw my plate and disdained the fact that I was on a "diet" although I was already "skinny" (I'm not on a "diet" or "skinny", btw). After prayer meeting, I took a very excited Cata to the store for her coke. The evening was uneventful as we went home and the children went to bed.

Thursday, April 22, 2010.

The milk on my cereal was warmish. Rach paled when I said that it tasted like it was straight from the cow. "Just stop!" she insisted. I went with Rach to town for groceries. On the way back out, I saw someone I knew before he saw me and I didn't feel like being seen or giving an obligatory wave... so I ducked down in the passenger's seat. Rach made fun of me. I did school with Mariela, but the rest of the morning was uneventful. Afternoon school was fun. Afterwards, I tried to take time off, but Roxy and Essie came into the bodega to root around for a tool. Rach made delicious taco salad for supper. We played ball tag again, which soon became boring. So I decided to sit out and Brittany gleefully handed Mariana over to me. Diego stole Mariana away and entertained her by walking her around and calling her fat to see if she would cry. The younger children had a "singing" on the back patio. I loved listening to the them sing at the tops of their voices. Pepper wandered into the center of our circle and was startled when we yelled out "¡GLORIA A DIOS!" as part as one of the songs. Then she sat down and began to scratch her fleas. Such is life in Mexico. As the kids got ready for bed, I spent some quiet time of the swings, praying for the children. Then I went inside to have yet another good talk with the other girls.

Friday, April 23, 2010.

Rach is sick today. I heard her get up in the middle of the night... I won't finish that thought. The day picked up pace as it went on. We had been planning a day at the river and the girls were excited. We went to a different part of the river this time... a part that was down a long dirt road. The place was gorgeous with huge trees and rocks. The girls had a blast. I didn't spend much time in the water... just enough to wade to the other side and reach the shade. We got home around 2:30, wet and dirty. I napped after we got home and then I walked over to Mochiqui to visit Ana. As I neared the village, I smelled the tortilla fires burning and remembered just how much I love Mochiqui. Ana was home. We sat in the shade and talked until I lost all concept of time. I had been planning on helping with supper, but I got home during supper cleanup. Whoops. I quickly ate and then hung out with Veronica and Maria Inez and kept an eye on Diego who was giving Mariana wild rides in the stroller. I did laundry and hung it out in the dark as the kids got ready for bed.

Saturday, April 24, 2010.

I woke up without any real ambition for my day off. Saturday school went well. While I was "working" by passing out crayons to the kids, Kedric asked, "Isn't today your day off?" I left early to walk to Rod and Christa's to use the phone. We had some house key issues which eventually meant that I was locked out of the house, but I at least had the phone. I walked to Marlen's house. She had a friend visiting so I didn't stick around long. I wandered around uptown with my strawberries 'n' cream (of course). I ended up at the plazuela where I sat and enjoyed the beautiful weather and read my book. Then I decided to be a tourist... I took pictures in the plaza and climbed the clocktower to take more pictures. I visited my former landlady and then Vanessa's family. A man was visiting Vanessa's family as well. When asked what crops he would grow this year, he calmly listed, "Sesame seed, marijuana, peanuts, etc..." I was taken aback and then reminded myself that, good grief, I was in Mexico after all. I caught a ride back with Johan and Bryant in the van. After supper, Rach and I were hanging out with the kids when the inspiration hit us to do something fun since we were both feeling good for once. We secured permission and soon were on our way to Choix. We climbed the clocktower and laid on our backs, staring out at the night sky... and we talked and talked and talked. When we saw a group of guys who looked like they were about to climb the tower, we dashed to the bottom only to find them strolling down a nearby street, never having any intention of climbing the tower. We took a walk and "toured" the "house of culture" which was nothing but a few pictures on the wall. Finally we climbed into our "cool" green van and headed home.