Wednesday, April 6

Wednesday was a day with the dignitaries. And we were in their ranks! Our “limousines” in the form of red firefighting vehicles escorted us from our hotel to the town hall in Soledad de Sanchez Graciano (this small town in the “official” sister city right next to SLP).

We were greeted by the mayor & director of tourism (both strikingly handsome gentlemen)and people with titles too much to keep up with; then escorted into a courtyard to be seated in chairs marked “special guests”. There we heard speeches about friendship between the cities and saw the most wonderful group of happy folk dancers who spun around the floor in yards upon yards of brightly colored materials.

 Then officials dressed us in rebozos – our gifts – the beautiful hand made scarfs which take some three months to make. We also toured the room where the rebozos are made and later visited the little restaurant serving the original enchilada potosina. Of course we had delicious samples and I volunteered to make one, but I didn't have the touch.

Special comment here: While waiting for the program to begin (that courtyard was filled with townspeople) I spoke to a gentleman behind me, who turned out to be a well known artist named Jose Cruz. He and his family live on a ranch about 30 km outside the city. Here is a picture of him which we took later, with his son (our guide) outside Soledad's church.

We had just seen two of his very large oil paintings inside the church. Hopefully the next Sister Cities group can visit there.

 

Later in the day we gathered in a wonderful Brazilian restaurant, as guests of the mayor, and that's when everyone shed the formality and had quite a good time! Grilled meats (about 20 different kinds) were brought out on long skewers and sliced with super sharp knives.

Ben referred to this event as a “tsunami of meat”, and when we translated this to our Mexican hosts they laughed since they too use this word.

Monday April 4th

Meeting in the morning with students at the other university, “Tec Superior” a four year school, with many students studying mecatronics, a combination of mechanics and electronics. One of the students dances for the famous Ballet Folklorico which I saw years ago in Mexico City; another invited us to a baseball game on Sunday.

Disaster strikes!!! The camera is lost. Don't know how we will add pics to blog from here but we haven't given up.

Our afternoon visit to the CASA DEL MIGRANTE was poignant and sobering. Run by a Catholic church, we toured this way station for migrants from countries south of Mexico who make their way through the country and up to the US by train, by foot, etc. We saw their crammed dorms, dining area, place where they keep their shoes (sanitation), and medical room where doctors sometimes treat them. It's one thing to hear & read about these people but quite another to meet them. Many jump trains and are victims of the Zeta – Mexican gangs which abuse them through kidnapping/ransom – even though they hardly have a cent to their name. They can only stay for an overnight, with some exceptions. There were boxes of clothes & shoes and food donated by Mexican stores, including WalMart. They come for the dream to make money for their family. One man from El Salvador left 5 children to find work. I had a very frank talk with another young man from Honduras, who wanted either to wash dishes or work in the field, but hardly spoke English, so I wrote those words on a little paper for him. He had facial bruises from being pushed out of a train by the Zeta, before he could escape. I was frank about the difficulty at the border and and the attitude of illegals with our present political climate. I asked permission to take his picture (now lost) along with the three university students who helped with translation. It seemed like the only moment he looked a little happy. I said with this picture I would remember him and pray for him. (Good thing I had on my dark glasses).

Sunday, April 3rd

We met up with the Burlington group at the hotel where we are now. From there we visited an arts center featuring dance, graphics, art of all kinds

Very impressive.

That night another gathering of teachers, this time with games and music and some played scrabble in Spanish.

Saturday, April 2nd

Alejandra went to her second job and we relaxed at her home with her boys. Eddie is a cute10 year old, but Raoul is quite the talented boy with remarkable English.  He wants to study electrical engineering. Late afternoon the teachers we've known in the past came to Alejandra's house for a party. Two of them now have the cutest little boys.

  

                                                                                    

Friday, April 1 - A WHOLE DAY OF ENGLISH CLASSES??????????

Thursday evening we arrived on the tarmac and into a balmy and welcoming evening air. Customs were so polite and spoke excellent English. Then onto enchiladas potosinas, a local specialty, with our friends, Alejandra and Claudia (both of whom have been in Burlington), Alejandra's two boys and Ale's mother, Elena.

Friday was full up and fun: Here are pictures of the new buildings and gorgeous cacti at Universidad Technologica

         

 and students in the English classes. In two classes, we got an intro to zumba and “hay fi:, the newest dance in Mexico. Shot it on the video shown here.

 You say, what's that to do with English, and the answer is that the students just love to share their culture with us and we are happy to oblige.

By late afternoon we went to what can best be described as a high energy and deafening smoke & body- filled disco with blasting pulsating music, which would strike fear into the heart of any firefighter. Fun to see but, as you may guess we didn't stay long.

Later that evening we strolled on the Plaza de Armas, where folks of all ages were dancing tangos, cha chas and pasadobles under the stars; then watched a super talented local group dancing to African drums. Still hoping the video will work, but here are some pictures.

Dare I say that the majority of people in the US have no idea about Mexico beside dreary border towns, beach resorts and a few hours off the cruise ships. Mexican workers in the US mingle too little and food in "Mexican" US restaurants taste nothing like those in Mexico. When folks hear where we're going, we hear gasps and "be careful".

The Burlington Sister Cities Program with San Luis Potosi (SLP) presents us with another opportunity to appreciate the culture, see the beauty and love the people. Our hearts are drawn for the third time to this week- long English teaching project in two universities.

In addition to "life" on the campus we'll be visiting small towns, people's homes, a "safe house" for immigrants coming through Mexico from countries to the south; staying in a nice hotel in the historic district with its museums and Colonial period churches and dining in a restored 16th Century Augustinian monastery, now a 4 star hotel..

Come along with us as we fly about 500 miles into the very middle of the country - the Sierra Occidental to our west and Sierra Oriental to our east. We'll land in this high desert city of about a million, perched some 6,000 feet above sea level. Looking over this rugged terrain it's hard to believe that old Cortes and his fellow Spaniards and horses could have made it up half a hill.

Oh by the way, it's not Cinco de Mayo but September 15th (1810) that marks the real holiday of independence, to honor the the ragtag Indian peasants who lined up with a brave Catholic priest to overthrow these gold grabbing Conquistadores. (can't resist a little history)

New trip to Mexico

Cranking up the blog again for a new trip. This time it is San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Here are some pics of the art and humor from a previous trip.