Thoughts from Today

I went to the zoo today for my advanced practical spanish class just for an outing. After leaving the zoo I got on a bus that I thought was going downtown, how ever it didnt. Luckily I was sitting next to a woman that could point me in the right direction. I asked her, "Este camion va al centro, o no?" which means, does this bus go downtown or no? She said no so I told her that I need to go downtown so she said, just wait until I see a bus that is going downtown and cross the street on the other side and when I see one, get off and get on the other bus. This woman was such a huge relief! Just kind of like an angel sent when I needed one. =) So, I literally ran off the bus I was on as the bus going downtown was turning the corner and I flagged it down and got on it and headed downtown. It was slick! I'm just glad she pointed me in the right direction before I got any further away. But, I was still able to get to the Patronato on time (not that they pay attention since its on Mexican time) but its just my nature to just need to be early or on time. When I got there, I found the teacher that tells me which classroom to go to since today was the day I needed to switch rooms. I am with kids about the same age but they are more severely disabled than the previous room. All but one of the kids are nonverbal or can murmur little words but even then for me, I can't understand a murmur in Spanish yet, and probably won't by the time I leave.

When I found the teacher, she was moving a jaguar that was very colorful and I told her it looked incredible and asked what it was for. She told me to come back to the same room in a few minutes and I would find out. So I did, and a bunch of media people showed up and took pictures of the kids pretending to paint the jaguar as well as interviews by journalists about what the Patronato was doing. I found out that there is some sort of festival that has 5 different jaguars, celebrating the symbol of the jaguar for the Yucatan. All the kids in some way or another helped paint the jaguar and they are going to put it in an exhibit and once someone buys it, the Patronato will get a portion of that money that can be put toward the institution. I thought it was a great marketing tool for the Patronato but also incorporating the importances of Yucatan's culture. I was in there for over an hour just observing. I was not interviewed...thank goodness because I wouldn't know what to say and would probably fumble with my spanish--haha. But when I got back to my new room, all the kids had huge smiles on their faces. They are all so beautiful and full of personality even though they cannot speak. I was captivated by their smiles, hugs, touch, and laughter. There is one girl who especially caught my attention because her face is deformed and has a lot of problems eating, but I completely understood what she was wanting or trying to communicate through her hand signals. However, I have never seen a smile so big and full of joy than this girl who is also in a wheelchair. I am going to ask if I can start taking pictures of the kids just to have. However, I will not put them anywhere on the internet for their safety and confidentiality. I will just wait to print them off when I get home.

I just hate that sometimes I can't understand the children when they say things because usually it is just a murmur or their Spanish isn't very clear due to their disability so I feel awful that I ask them to repeat things, but they always pay so close attention to what I say back. It is absolutely amazing that they have patience with me in them having to repeat things and then taking interest in what I respond with. I wish I could stay longer to improve my Spanish that much more, but its not really possible for wanting to graduate early. Plus I don't think my family and Neal would appreciate it very much. Merida is really feeling like home now thanks to my ability to communicate with people. I just absolutely the kindess of the Mexican people I have come in contact. Today was a prime example of the kindness of their hearts--the woman who helped me get where I needed to get to. I'm pretty sure that if I was in Europe, that wouldn't be the case. Merida is a place that I could stay for longer, but I know I need to return home to my family, Neal, and the life I had before coming. However, these experiences will never be lost and have shaped who I am becoming. I ONLY have 44 days left here. I'm tearing up just thinking of having to leave all this. I am starting to get over the missing part of being away from people and just completely embracing every second here. It is such a short period of time to do anything. I'm not looking forward to the next 44 days flying by like I know they will...