Our Last Day

On our last full day, we moved out of our Ocotlan homestay, traveled to the black pottery village (look for pieces for sale at Watkinson), and returned for a last day in Oaxaca City.  Apparently, President Obama's daughter Malia, here also on a school trip, has been a few days behind us at several sites...including the Dona Rosa's black pottery center.  A great endorsement of Oaxaca's culture, people and safety!!

While the kids are exhausted, they were amazed by the treasures in the last museum of the trip, the Belber Museum.  Lunch at the Zocalo and our last bits of shopping have kept us busy!!  But while one group of kids had gone shopping, the remainder asked to go one last time to Casa Hogar!! Rather than shopping, hanging out or sleeping, these kids could't resist the urge to make make one more trip to Casa Hogar.   So Mr. W and I took the group across the city in a bus for an unplanned Casa Hogar visit.  While Coco and most of the older kids were not there, it allowed us a few more hours of play and an opportunity to say good bye to the babies and toddlers!!

On a side note, today is my birthday and the group has showered me with love, frog themed gifts, a tres leches cake AND a mariachi band!!  The real gift has been their devotion to the work and the endless laughs they have given me!!

Tomorrow, we fly out leaving behind hundreds of children we have taught and loved!! Thank you Oaxaca for being so welcoming and awe inspiring!!

Toddlers are everywhere at Casa Hogar!!

The kids who got me a mariachi band for my birthday!!

A last visit to Casa Hogar

A final good bye with our homestay family in Ocotlan

Really, they enjoyed the museum!! 

Benito Juarez and Ocotlan

After a long week with Casa Hogar, we headed up the mountains to the village of Benito Juarez!!  Hikes, eating at Casa de Piedra (a restaurant by a local family that makes unique local foods including the best locally, mountain raised trout ever...everyone loved it!) and a zipline over a deep ravine in the mountain!!  We also were able to heavily tip a local girl, Lucila, who served us lunch using the few dollars left over from David M.'s donation to Casa Hogar.  She is working extra jobs to be able to go to Oaxaca City and go to high school and eventually college.  With tears in her eyes, she accepted our support of her education.

We also played basketball and soccer in the town square, and met with the town leaders to give them a donation of basketball nets to support the towns endless games of bball in the concha (town square).  After their hospitality last year and willingness to let us form a team in their local bball tournament, it was the least we could do!!

In Ocotlan, our Amazing Race has continued.  Here is a run down of the challenges:

Teach 240 children English in 2 days

Sign our names hundred of times to the scores of children who surrounded us at the school

Read and act out 4 books to four different classes

Killing one massive scorpion

Ride in the back of a police truck (the town took us out to lunch again)

Soccer at our homestay

Paint 12 alebrijes (wood carvings) during our Wed afternoon excursion to Efraim Funetes's studio

Two mototaxi rides (so far)

Tonight's Leg of the Race:  The Plazito (Ocotialn's festival):

Carnival games and rides

Churros and hot cakes (they love pancakes here!!)

Concerts and Dancing

Get to bed at some point to return to Oaxaca for out last full day (shopping & museums)

Some of the kids next to Benito Juarez (the gold head in the center)

The group walking over the bridge to the tiroleza (zip-line).  We zig-zagged across the ravine!!

Enjoying a meal at Casa de Piedra (House of Stone)

All School, Ocotlan-Style- our formal greeting in front of the whole school (600+students and teachers)

Teaching English

One of our classes!!  The most eager students in the world!!

We are rock stars...signing endless autographs

A Post-Earthquake Celebratory Lunch at Frida's (note our chef,  Frida Kahlo in the center)

Painting Alebrijes at Efraim Fuentes' studio

Two Truths and a Lie..."I rode in the back of a Mexican police truck....."

BLOG UPDATE:  In Oaxaca, if you sit patiently long enough and relax, amazing things happen!!!!!
While writing this and chatting with Homero, our host dad, he mentioned that at the age of 8 he worked in a knife making workshop etching knives for 10 cents a week.  Then he asked if we wanted to visit a workshop a few blocks away owned by family members.  WELL..it wasn't just a workshop, it was THE WORKSHOP that made the Conan the Barbarian  and Red Sonja swords!!!!   After showing us how the knives and swords are made, WE SHOPPED!!

This man made Conan and Red Sonja's swords...and a cake knife we bought to sell back at Wat 

Things have come to this....Mr. Werner with Conan the Barbarian's sword and Ms OB with Red Sonja's sword!!!

First Day of Teaching

Ok  for starters I feel really bad  for all my teachers because back-to-back classes one hour each was pretty tiring yet rewarding. Engaging with young and eager students who wrote everything we said was a spectacular experience.  Watching as they repeated and learned words, phrases, numbers and colors in English with a huge smile on their faces made me elated. Who would have thought that a group of students who barely spoke Spanish could teach English to a group of kids who barely spoke English. It was a heart warming experience that shall forever be treasured.
-Brandonlee Cruz

School is Dismissed

School Alert- All students may be excused from the Watkinson School (Oaxaca Branch) if your parents have come to take you home due to the earthquake during last block classes.

Seriously. we are all fine and experienced the earthquake while teaching our last class of the day in the elementary school in Ocotlan.  Suddenly the ´'fire alarm' went off and the floor started shaking.  Calmly the Mexican teacher and the students stood up and exited the classroom to the main courtyard.  We followed...the basketball posts and light posts were swaying, and we all felt like we had legs made of jello.  But as suddenly as the quake started, it stopped.  Before you knew it, parents swarmed the courtyard to check on their children.  One of the sons in our homestay came by to check on us...we were in a mix of shock and excitment (me, naturally!!!).

After about 20 minutes, classes resumed...although we had about 50% attendance after some children left with the parents, our 4th graders jumped right into a lesson filled with 'how are you?', numbers and colors.

The rest of the day was just as amazing, but less shocking...Lunch at Frida's (a resturant in the local mercado where the owner dresses up as Frida Kahlo), nieves (Oaxacan ice cream) in the mercado and then a master class with Efraim and Sylvia Fuentes (a master alebrijes carver and his wife, the painter).

We are currently enjoying the internet at our homestay families' house before dinner!

We are all safe, happy, not sick and wishing this trip with all it has brought never comes to an end.

Oaxaca, me encanta....you enchant me (especially the earthquakes!!!)

Our Last Day with Casa Hogar

After an amazing party at Casa Hogar Thursday night, we spent the last day with the children at the Ethnobotanical Garden, Santo Domingo Church and the Blessing of the (flavored) Waters Festival.   Bonding with the children has been amazing, and despite our bouts with illness, fatique and overheating in the sun at the Festival, the Wat kids want to come right back next year!!!



Enid and Carmen went to Sam´s Club and litterally bought a pick-up truck full of diapers, tuna, laundry detergent, cooking oil, soaps, beans, etc for Casa Hogar using the money Dave M. '12 raised selling the 'Support Casa Hogar' bracelets for his Senior Project.   AGAIN- THANKS DAVE!!




The group at the Cultural Center in Etla today.

 

Gwen and her children enjoying the scenery at the Garden

Samanthan and Mario

We are currently taking a few days to see the sights, visit artists and the magical mountain village of Benito Juarez before teaching English in the school at Ocotlan on Tuesday and Wednesday!!  We will be unable to blog for a few days...but check bak as we update you on our teaching adventures!!

A group picture for 2012 at the Garden

Oh my God!!  Will saving a child from the heat at the Festival.

A hug and a good-bye.



Today´s visit to a paper factory in the hills.



Our last sight of the children until next year.

Here is a video from the party..Just a simple word can make a child happy!!!

Thank you, Dave M. '12

Because of the hard work Dave put into his Senior Project raising money for Casa Hogar, we had an amazing taco, nieves (ice cream) and piñata party for all of Casa Hogar...the adults and children...delivered to all of us.  Tomorrow the bulk of the money will go with Carmen and Enid as they go to Sam´s Club, yes it is here too, to purchase items (food, diapers, etc) that Coco, the head of Casa Hogar, gave us on a long list.  Dave, you have truely shaped your world and the world around you!!!  Unfortunately, I have only one photo of the party right now because my phone died after endless games of ¨Meet Swampy¨with the children on my iPhone.  Once I upload someone else´s photos, I will show you the joy on the children´s faces (as well as lots of guacamole) during the party!!

As for the rest of the day....It was another leg of the Amazing Race...If you haven´t read my last post, please do....it explains it all.  But the take home message is that the kids have done their best to be a part of every moment with the children from Casa Hogar as well as seeing all Oaxaca has to offer...but lots of naps and pepto were needed again today.  Here are some photos to capture our adventures!!!

The one photo of the party so far...9th graders who attend Overlook Farm take note..these children built and maintained a fire with no problem!!

And then there were four....the Survivors...Will, Samantha, Ms OB, Flor (our Spanish teacher) and Mr. Werner at Spanish School on Thursday.  The rest went home to rest up for the big party at Casa Hogar Thursday night

Gwen and the crew at Enid Dollard, our trip coordinator's house for lunch on Thursday!!

Enid´s hospitality was amazing!!

Brandonlee and Samantha plying football at Casa Hogar

Michael and the gang in a (parked) pick-up truck hanging out!

Emily and this little girl showing some style!!

Kate is a rock star at Casa Hogar!!

The homework-dining room at Casa Hogar

I have a nearly identical picture of Will from last year!!

Liz y los estudiantes during Break at Spanish School on Wednesday!!

Tuesday´s field trip with the children to Tule, a beautiful town with the famous Tule Tree...claim to fame....it has the largest base of any tree in the world and is around 2000years old!!

Our Amazing Race

NOTE: Parents and loved ones...everyone is fine. Lots of naps and pepto today.

If you watch the TV show the Amazing Race, you will understand why this day would be a perfect episode challenging travelers to navigate their way through the streets of  Oaxaca. Let me begin by saying this has been by far the craziest day ever in Oaxaca for Watkinson, but because of the chaperones´ability to adjust to the needs of the group and the unbelivable preparation by Enid, our trip coordinator in Oaxaca (thanks for the binders with every possible bit of info), the day has ended well. 

Episode opens to calm, Mexican music...the group is walking to the bus to go to Casa Hogar. 

The bus snakes through the city in an unusual route...the teachers are striking and marching through the city causing traffic to be worse than an I-84 traffic jam.  Eventually, we make it to Casa Hogar to play with the children and help out with chores. 

Cut to one student feeling sick and needing to go back to the homestay.  So I find a taxi, and we ride across town.  Drop the student off...head to my house to grab a back-up supply of pepto and some crackers from the corner store and get the student settled at their homestay. 

This is where things get really crazy...I walk to Chedraui (a Walmart kind of store) to grab a taxi....All of the taxis refuse to take me to Casa Hogar because of the strike and march.  So I walk a few blocks to grab the bus which is not coming. Finally, I find a taxi to take me to Casa Hogar via a detour that takes me through the hills above the city..what a sight- it was breathtaking!!  When he drops me off the teacher march IS IN the road where we are supposed to take a bus to lunch.  Imagine thousands of teachers chanting with signs demanding better pay.   At Casa Hogar, I find the Wat kids totally in love and playing kickball, basketball and helping children with their homework. 

The teachers have moved on and the buses come back to their routes.  We head to lunch...but alas more detours and marches and a man on the bus that plays the classic pan flute song ´The Sounds of Silence´by Simon and Garfunkel.

Lunch is an amazing meal of fish, mole verde and vegetables at Los Danzantes.  By the end, two students don´t feel well.  Mr. Werner (Rob) takes them back to their homestays in a taxi that manages to get lost both to AND from the drop off, and he is late to Spanish class....no Mr Rees to give you a pass:(

By the end of class, the three students feel better, so I take another taxi (that doesn´t get lost or rerouted) to get the kids and head to the Zocalo to meet the rest of the group for dinner at Taco Inn...don´t let the name fool you, this is great food!!

By the end of dinner, two students again feel unwell, and I take them home in a taxi while the rest of the group soaks up a little more of the Zocalo that is full of of music, ladies selling necklaces, children selling candy and protestors rapping on a stage. 

As I write, everyone is safe in bed, feeling better. Tomorrow is another day....hopefully a little less exciting.  All and all, everything went smoothly and all the kids ended up having a meaningful time at Casa Hogar and laughed endlessly at dinner.  The chaperones are tired but inspired by the work and our kids who despite not always feeling well have given their all and can´t wait for tomorrow.  Personally, I spoke more Spanish today that in all my years of high school.  By the end of the day, I was even joking with the taxi drivers.  But without a lot of laughter, a few peptos and a gaggle of niños at Casa Hogar, this wouldn´t be Oaxaca!!

If this really was the Amazing Race, the host Phil Keoghan, would be saying ´Watkinson, you are the first team to arrive´!

Oaxaca is awesome

So first off, this is RobWerner masquerading as Jen O´Brien. Secondly, I just want to let everyone back home that we are having such a wonderful time here in Oaxaca. I'm so incredibly proud of all of our students here. Seeing them work with the children from Casa Hogar, taking them on field trips, and watching as they take on the roles of chaperones blows me away.

And I will even say, as hard as it is for a grown man to admit, I was nearly brought to tears watching the glowing smile on Anacelida's face as Kate Needle began communicating with her in sign language. Crossing the Spanish-English language communication barrier is tough enough for many of us down here, but to watch Kate (who went into this trip not knowing a lick of Spanish) all of a sudden make such a huge impact in this girl's life using her ASL skills was simply amazing. Who would have thought that a hearing impaired girl in Mexico would be able to connect with one of our Watkinson kids in such a powerful manner? I know I'll never forget that, and I guarantee that Watkinson nor Anacelida will either.

I have been having such an amazing experience in Oaxaca so far. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and I have fallen in love with so many children here. One of my favorite experiences so far was being able to communicate with a deaf girl at the orphanage using American Sign Language. I never thought I would have this opportunity, and I feel really lucky for being able to help someone who has such few opportunites to communicate with someone else. This experience was extremely inspiring and I know I will always remember it. There have been so many great adventures so far and I am excited to see what else comes our way.

Here are some other things that I have learned that I thought were worthy enough to share with you guys:

1. Never EVER eat grasshoppers. I thought I was going to die.
2. ALWAYS look down when walking, the sidewalk has a way of jumping out at you.
3. PEPSI > COKE

Days 2 and 3...

Sunday was our last day of being tourists before working with the children from Casa Hogar.  We toured the ruins in Mitla, shopped in the markets, enjoyed stone soup, visited the Cultural Museum and prepared a traditional meal at Socora, the host family coordinator's house.

Monday, we helped chaperone the Casa Hogar children at the Iglesia de Soledad and the Tamayo Museum of pre'Columbian art.  As a reward, we all enjoyed a treat of nieves...Oaxaca´s famous ice cream.  After lunch, we spent 3 hours in Spanish immersion classes...Funny how the students actually enjoyed intensive three hour classes that started at 3pm!!

Tomorrow, we tour the town of Tule with a tree that has the largest base in the world, more nieves and Spanish classes...which reminds me...I need to do my homework...yes, even in Oaxaca WE ALL have homework!!

Below is a video of the most powerful moment of the trip so far....Kate doesn´t speak a lot of Spanish, but when we figured out that one of the Casa Hogar girls, Ana, is hearling impaired AND knows American Sign Language....magic happened....suddenly Kate and Ana were speaking to each other endlessly...Just watch the look on Ana´s face when she realized she had a fellow ASL speaker with her...It brought tears to our eyes!!  Luckily, we have a strong ASL program at Watkinson and Liz and Samanatha can also speak with her!!

Our first moments acting as chaperones for the children from Casa Hogar!



Mike listening to Eugene's description of the church




Emily enjoying time with the girls!!

Enjoying nieves -Oaxacan ice cream!! Beso Oaxaqueno (Oaxacan kiss flavor) for Destiny and Tamarind for Ana!

  


Ruins at Mitla






Some form of pit stop at the Cultural Museum

Gwen and Sam (with Enid´s grandaughter) on cheese and cabbage duty at Socoro´s dinner

Brandonlee and Mr. Werner taking their turn at the grill

Top Chef Quick Fire Challenge:  Guacamole

The First Day in Pictures

A breakfast of chilaquiles (tortillas, sauce and cheese) at Cafe Alex

Will approves of the breakfast!

Sampling Oaxacan gelatin as we tour the streets with our guide, Eugene.

In the Mercado with Eugene, a pit stop for drinks...we tried the 'tuna' flavor...prickly pear cactus, not the fish

Chapulines, chili flavored grasshoppers, for everyone

Mayadormo- Oaxaca's version of the Wonka Factory

Mike, Brandonlee and Emily in front of the chocolate grinders

Lunch in the Zocolo

Finally....Casa Hogar!!

Destiny has already found a friend

Kate is having way too much fun

Brandonlee is also helping our our non-human friends

Tomorrow's Agenda:  Breakfast at Cafe Alex, move luggage to homestays, the ruins and market at Mitla, the State Cultural Museum & making a traditional dinner at the host family organizer, Socoro's house.