La Canada De La Virgen y Mas Talleres

Up with the sun to get an early start to our day.  This morning we visited La Canada De La Virgen which is an Otomi archaeological site near San Miguel de Allende.  It has only been open for four years and you must book ahead.  We went in two groups at staggered times as the site only allows so many people visiting it at a time.  The ruins date back to somewhere between 500-1000 AD.  They do not know the name of the ceremonial site, only that it was found near the Hacienda La Canada de la Virgen- thus the name. We spent a few hours on a walking tour seeing three temples: La Casa de los Trece Cielos (The House of the 13 Heavens), La Casa de la Noche Mas Larga ( The House of the Longest Night), and La Casa del Viento ( The House of the Wind).

Afternoon was rain, rain, and more rain.  Quite a treat for our drought kiddos! The talleres have been moved indoors, one music class has given a final performance, and we are reflecting on an amazing week so far.

El Molino y Escuela

Our morning began with the students from Silao singing a traditional Mexican birthday song to Sophia and Mario ( one of the counselors).

This morning our students went to two different schools and performed their skits (adapted from Spanish children's books), sang songs, and danced with the elementary school students. Everyone was shy at first but by the time we left there were hugs all around.

As the week progresses there is less Park Day/ Silao and more El Molino.  In free time chess games are being played, new Frisbee tosses shared, a quiet moment for reading, showers and friendships being formed.  It is wonderful to see the growth in our students and their willingness to take risks with speaking a second language.

This afternoon everyone has a class before dinner and then on to the evenings activities. Last nights evening event was dance lessons in the empty swimming pool under the stars.

Welcome Students From Silao!

Monday February 9th

 The weather has officially warmed up and everyone is comfortable in the day to day routine at El Molino.  This morning our camp-mates arrived before breakfast.  They are students from Silao, a city in the state of Guanajuato.  Within minutes there were conversations being started, finding topics of common interest, and games to play together ( can you say futbol???).  The Silao students joined into the talleres and it was wonderful to see the inclusivity of our Park Day kids. We are now a larger community.

A typical day  consists of an amazing breakfast (to help everyone get energized for the day), followed by two different talleres before lunch . Before and after lunch there is always free time for showers, futbol, playing ukelele, snacks, sharing stories of the morning classes, and discussing what comes next.  It is so wonderful to see the campers NOT following as strict a schedule,  being able to "go with the flow", and find time to just take it all in. After lunch ,in the late afternoon, there is time for one more class before getting ready for dinner.  Evenings are filled with activities from camp fires to skit practice, and night hikes to dance lessons.  We are officially in the El Molino Groove and loving it!

Sorry the post is a day late-  we lost power ( and thus internet) yesterday afternoon and just got it back at 10:30 this morning.  Everyone will celebrate as they can now take showers!

On to another day of classes and adventures-

If One Picture Speaks One Thousand Words...

Un Domingo en El Molino

The mornings are warmer, and the language more familiar as we settle into El Molino.  Today students began their talleres.  They  are taking classes in ecology, traditional cooking and candy making, farm animals, and studying cactus, to name a few. Everyone immersed themselves into their classes, and the sounds of  excitement and learning filled the air. El Molino is all about hands-on learning and our students are embracing it!

We spent the afternoon visiting Dolores Hidalgo- the site of the start of the Mexican Revolution. Students got a history lesson, and a chance to see another city in Mexico.  Conversations later that night centered on the differences between the two cities, what students noticed about the people, buildings, roads, stores and transportation...a crash course in urban geography!

El Molino y San Miguel de Allende- Our First Full Day!

The day started late for our weary travelers.  They slept in and had panquequis y mermelada (homemade) for breakfast.  Then everyone went outside to practice the skits they will be performing at the local school later this week. The sun felt warm and wonderful, sunscreen flowed like water and our travelers reconnected to the skits they began at Park Day.  The there was the daily game of futbol, petting bunnies, playing a game in the bottom of the empty pool, singing, and continuing taking in the experience of being in Mexico.

We  had a camp meeting before getting ready for our first field trip- to San Miguel  de Allende.  Students spent hours wandering the cities streets, mercados y tiendas in small groups.  They got to practice converting pesos to US dollars as they purchased a few items and experienced cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, limestone churches, and public spaces filled with people enjoying the day.

This evening, after another amazing meal, everyone wrote in their journals and then shared out some of their observations before going outside for the evenings activities-  a campfire!  Tomorrow our campers will sleep in again ( better rested than tired) before beginning their first talleres ( classes).  In the afternoon we will visit the site of the beginning of the Mexican revolution- Dolores Hidalgo.

El Molino At Last!

The sound of laughter, music and volley balls being served ring across the camp.  After 15 hours of travel we are here.  One student took in a deep breath, exhaled and said "I needed this"!

 We were met at the airport with bottled water and snacks, got on a bus to El Molino, ate a wonderful lunch (tamales, sopa de vegetales, pepinos con limon y gelatina) and started the difficult task of relaxing.

Today is for resting, catching up with where we are, and grounding ourselves in the reality that we are indeed in Mexico.  We are a group of world travelers and first time out of the country people and it is amazing to see everyone support, encourage and help each other seamlessly.

Tonight will be an early bed time and tomorrow our first field trip.