Yucatan News: Obama and Chac
A Request from MEL
Conversaciones Con Amigos will continue throughout the summer but they could use a few more English speaking volunteers on Monday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. If you have a couple of free hours, a sense of community and are looking to make a difference while having some fun in a very casual atmosphere, do stop by the library any Monday evening to participate in Conversaciones Con Amigos. What will you do? Sit around a table and share your experiences, while you learn Spanish and some hopeful locals will be improving their English. We can assure you from experience that it is one of the BEST ways to learn and practice your Spanish.
Expat Girls on the Town
It has been a while since we revisited Expat Girls on the Town in Merida, but they have been as busy as we have been. When we checked their website, we discovered that their numbers have now grown to 80! The name of the group is The Merida 20/30/40’s Expat Girls on the Town Meetup. If you are a younger expat – or a potential expat – this is a great place for you to make new friends and ask questions that are related to issues affecting expats, women, younger children and families. Even if you are "just" looking for new friends to see a movie or grab a burger with, consider joining this group and getting to know the others.
News from Perros & Gatos
Perros & Gatos had a February fundraiser and it apparently was enormously successful. They have already been able to resolve their plumbing issues and are ready to pour the floor. When this veterinary clinic is finished, it will belong to the people of Progreso after a long, uphill struggle to give them this gift of a modern veterinary clinic absolutely debt-free. It might also be noted that Perros & Gatos donates money to the other animal welfare organizations in Yucatan and everyone is proud of all their successes through the years. Perros & Gatos has more good news too! They have moved their bank account to Banjercito, the military bank in Progreso. Banjercito accepts both U.S. and Canadian cash, checks and money orders. You can now mail checks and money orders to Perros & Gatos A. C., Apartado Postal No. 30, Progreso 97320, Yucatan Mexico and they can be deposited. Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to ensure the success of the Perros & Gatos project.
Last Minute Planning
All of us want to donate to any number of causes that are near and dear to our hearts in Yucatan. This past week, YAPA was part of an amazing project designed to spay and/or neuter approximately 2,000 pets in Flamboyanes. At the last minute, they still needed a few supplies and it occurred to us that everyone can put back a little pocket change, throughout the year, for the purpose of helping with some of these last minute expenses. Failing that, watch for some of these things to go on sale and stockpile them for when they will be needed. YAPA’s last minute list for this spay/neuter clinic included the following: paper towels, sandwiches or tortas or some sort of grab and go food, napkins, rolls of masking tape & carton sealing tape, small boxes to put forms in, bristol board or some sort of signage/directional arrows, packs of printer paper, and big jars of peanut butter with some jam and a few loaves of bread to make quick sandwiches. Congratulations to everyone who volunteers for all of these spay/neuter clinics, and all of you who have donated or will donate to support them.
President Obama Visited Mexico
While Mexico turns its attention to developing its own country and strengthening its own democracy, many Americans wail that they should be doing more to stop the flow of illegal drugs, as if that has been happening in a vacuum. President Obama surprised everyone when he stated that not only does Mexico have a right to give attention to the needs of its own nation, but also admitted that American drug problems and gun-running are at the root of much of the drug war itself. Many believe that it is the economy that caused that speech to be made, i.e. Mexico’s economy is growing faster than the economy in the U.S., and exports are part of Obama’s economic recovery program. Who ever would have guessed that Mexico’s status as a buyer of buy American goods and services would result in an American president finally giving Mexico the respect she deserves? Whatever the motivation, we were glad to hear “I have come to Mexico because it is time to put old mindsets aside. It’s time to recognize new realities, including the impressive progress in today’s Mexico.” Read a report about the event from the Washington Post here. In addition, one of the most interesting things to come out of the meeting was a promised increased emphasis on student exchanges between the two countries. You can read more about that in this article from The Miami Herald.
Forbes: Merida Wins More Recognition
Forbes Magazine considers Merida, Yucatan one of the best cities to live, invest and do business in Mexico. The specific qualities that set Merida apart are its quality of life (which includes cultural offerings), safety and value. Having a first-world seaport and transportation infrastructure were the icing on the cake. One of the nicest things Forbes said about Merida is that it has cutting-edge medical services. The other two cities named by Forbes were: Leon, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosi, SLP. Felicidades to all three cities and many thanks to Forbes Magazine for excellent research and great recognition of each of these cities.
Albañiles Receive Training
With a housing boom in full swing in Merida, strong, well-trained albañiles have become an absolute must. In order to address that issue, over 1,000 of these construction workers just completed the first phase of a three-phase project that will result in their being classified as skilled laborers and allow them to reap the rewards of their hard work. Also attending classes in their own areas of expertise are plumbers, electricians, painters and construction management teams. It looks as if Merida’s housing developments are going to continue for quite some time. Congratulations to all of the albañiles who are working so hard to create a better life for themselves and their families.
Kids Will Learn Anything If…
Put children outside and give them something they think is useful to learn and you’ll have an entire school of interested, engaged students. Primaria Candelaria Ruz Patrón just held their Feria de la Ciencia y Tecnología (Fair of Science and Technology). They held it outside and offered experiments that have value to the children. Most of the experiments had to do with methods of recycling and green living. Kids got to see the sun heat water in 10 liter containers made of PVC. Don’t think the cost savings were lost on the children. They all perked up when they realized that using the sun to heat water costs infinitely less than using electricity. The children also learned to preserve meat with salt and smoke. Overall, the science and technology fair was a great success and drew the admiration of school officials from around the state. Congratulations to Principal Sara Alicia Herrera Carrillo and to all of the children who participated in all twelve of the experiments at this fair.
Rain God Chaac Meet Santa Cruz
Whatever one’s religious or scientific leanings, the fact remains that in Yucatan the Rain God Chaac blesses the farmers with rain each year, often around the time of Día de la Santa Cruz (May 3). With his lightning axe, he strikes the clouds, producing thunder and rain. Día de la Santa Cruz is a much-celebrated day in Yucatan, as it is the day of the albañiles. It is the tradition for workers on a construction project to build a cross, decorate it with ribbons and flowers and hoist it high on the building being constructed... much like a lightning rod? We will let you decide.
Armando Manzanero and the Maya Culture Festival
Merida’s own Armando Manzanero has been appointed to chair the Advisory Committee to promote the value of the music of Yucatan. It is said that the summary of Armando Manzanero’s vocational life is Yucatan and music. Anyone who has ever seen him perform knows this to be an absolute truth. Armando Manzanero is a living legend in Merida and his addition to the Maya Culture Festival can only serve to make it better. Our congratulations to Armando Manzanero and to everyone who will be working hard to make this festival a success.
