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Published: August 14th 2007
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View from the bus
Hazy view of Popacatapetl (one day i´ll learn how to spell it :) Ok, where to start? The first 2 days were a blur of bus journeys (not forgetting one incredibly long and uncomfortable flight), before i made it to my first destination: Metepec in Puebla (about 2-3 hours from Mexico City). This is where our orientation camp was held and it couldn´t have been nicer. It was a bit like a v classy Butlins (minus the chavs) set high up in the mountains and in the shadow of Popacapetal (sp?!), which periodically spewed out clouds of ash from its snow covered peak. The landscape around Puebla is really beautiful, with a massive contrast between plateau and huge mountains and volcanoes.
The camp lasted for 5 days and consisted of the following 3 things....team building games (no, i don´t want to pretend to be a flamingo), some useful information and some tequila. As the week progressed it is fair to say that our enthusiasm for the games decreased as the tequila consumption increased. I have to say I´ve never liked tequila but there is something about drinking it in Mexico that makes it ok (top tip...mix it with lilt - me gusta mucho).
There were about 30 volunteers at the camp and
Taking a break from tequila
Marta, Emma, Gemma, Diana, Maki and Christina at Camp I am one of 6 in Chiapas state, way down in the south of the country. On friday after saying goodbye to everyone the 6 of us embarked upon a 10 hour bus journey to Chiapas. This actually turned out to be much more enjoyable than i could have imagined as i was treated to good company, amazing views and a constant supply of films (both in English and very badly dubbed in Spanish). We finally arrived at 1am where we were met by Bety from Siijuve and some of the host families. I went with Bety as i am living with her aunt in the centre of Tuxtla Gutierrez. It is always difficult to know what to expect when you are moving into someone´s house for a year when you don´t share the same culture. It is worse when communication is almost impossible save for a lot of miming and bad spanish (incidentally both on my part).
Over the last few days i have already grown to love the place and all its eccentricities. Like the fact that if i want a shower i have to boil a pot of water on the stove before mixing it with
Flying the flag...
Me, Eduardo, Gemma and Emma at the International Party collected rain water to pour over me (lets hope there isn´t a drought anytime soon), or the parakeets which start swkarking at 7am in the morning and the cat who sits and watches them in the hope that one day he will does us all a favour and eat them (although judging by some of the food i have proudly been shown we could be eating them sooner than i think).
My family is small and huge all at the same time. In the week it is just me and Alba, however the house is always recieving visitors and everyone comes to watch the soaps (bloody love them and their overly dramatic completely unbelievable storylines...think Joey from friends in Days of Our Lives). At the weekends the place becomes packed with family and this sunday i was treated to my first birthday party. It was overwhelming to say the least when you are confronted with about 40 cousins, aunts and their children (i have already fallen in love with one of the kids who is ridiculously cheeky and sits and pretends to understand when i talk in English by nodding her head and say yes in a very grown
Emma
Emma was very proud of all the postcards she stole from work :) up way). There don´t seem to be many men in the family and as a result most of the conversations revolve around the latest gossip and soap related antics.
I started my project (www.sos-childrensvillages.org) this week which could turn out to be interesting once the random misunderstanding and miscommunication subsides. Today however i sat with all the staff for 3 hours as they inspected handbags and stuff from the Mexican Avon lady. They seem quite excited that i trained as a physio, but they seem to have grand plans for me such as setting up a horseriding for the disabled scheme....errr any ideas?! The centre is pretty well resourced (although lacking in physios 😊 but everyone seems lovely and I have already struck a deal with the music teacher...i teach him a bit of English in exchange for xylophone lessons. much more useful (and interesting) than a straightforward language swap 😊
And as for my Spanish, well, I am totally exhausted and at times frustrated. People have been patient with me and others just laugh at me (its all good though) and i start lessons next week so hopefully it will get better, though it will take a
loooong time.
But so far, so good. there are more family festivities this weekend, so i´ll keep you updated...
Nic
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This is all very good to hear Nic. It sounds very exciting and I'm glad you're doing alright out there!