Wednesday, February 23, 2011
On a tight schedule so this will be short. Great day again. Still on 4th house excavation - about 75% done - a heck of a lot dirt moving are we! Some fabulous local cuisine for lunches at the village - a concoction in banana leaves today. And the family whose house site we are leveling gave us some local fruit in alittle baggies with a brown sweet sauce.
Hi All,
This is my first attempt at blogging with the help of several compadres. If I thought I was computer-challenged in the US, you should see me dealing with everything in Spanish & a different keyboard.
Everything has been absolutely awesome here beginning with boarding our flight @ DIA. Much of this reminds me of trekking in Peru & Morocco. The villagers we are working with are totally delightful & VERY hard working. I cannot imagine what they have gone through this last year. Together we are making progress & friends.
Another really neat thing is getting to actually know all the other Siennas. It has been an unexpected reward.
I would like to wish my daughter, Kyra a ginormous HAPPY 13th. BIRTHDAY on Friday. This is in case I do not make it back here to the cyber place before you leave for your weekend snow-shoeing to the yurt in Northrn CO. If there is a bunch of extraneous stuff at the bottom of this blog it is cuz all the keys are in different places.
Finally, thanks to my family for this wonderful experience. I hope yall get to do something like this someday!
love,
sheri
;
;
-challengede
.
st
This is my first attempt at blogging with the help of several compadres. If I thought I was computer-challenged in the US, you should see me dealing with everything in Spanish & a different keyboard.
Everything has been absolutely awesome here beginning with boarding our flight @ DIA. Much of this reminds me of trekking in Peru & Morocco. The villagers we are working with are totally delightful & VERY hard working. I cannot imagine what they have gone through this last year. Together we are making progress & friends.
Another really neat thing is getting to actually know all the other Siennas. It has been an unexpected reward.
I would like to wish my daughter, Kyra a ginormous HAPPY 13th. BIRTHDAY on Friday. This is in case I do not make it back here to the cyber place before you leave for your weekend snow-shoeing to the yurt in Northrn CO. If there is a bunch of extraneous stuff at the bottom of this blog it is cuz all the keys are in different places.
Finally, thanks to my family for this wonderful experience. I hope yall get to do something like this someday!
love,
sheri
;
;
-challengede
.
st
LARA IS ALIVE!
Today was eventful, I was nausious at breakfast again, so we decided to keep me out of the bumpy and swervy van for another day. They are setting up for market all over the town, I think it is going to happen tomorrow. The street vendors keep telling me I should buy things for my enemies, dunno why I would be giving them gifts. They also mention how I should send things to my boyfriends, I am kind of flattered that I seem that popular ROFLCOPTER! My mom and I got to go on more adventures today, we found a sign that pointed to ´´Jesus and the Fountain of Life¨´. We searched and searched, but the path lead to a dead end. There were a bunch of little velociraptors playing on some stairs, but other than that, no fountains or Jesus. Later we found Jesus in a store window, next to the Angelitos brand diapers, so I feel accomplished. We got some pictures of him (along with some great pictures of Aly from earlier), but my mom and I are so technilogically challenged that we cannot get them off the camera.
No matter what I will go to the village tomorrow! Hopefully this will be accomplished without vommiting.
No matter what I will go to the village tomorrow! Hopefully this will be accomplished without vommiting.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Could not be prouder
Love and compassion, sweat and truth, energy and connection...it is happening in bucket loads here in Nueva Victoria. The youth are working together, moving mountains of earth with the adults to create level foundations for this absolutely amazing community.
With a swollen heart and tears in my eyes, I confess my overwhelm. Sweet children playing patty cake games with each of us. Aly teaching double dutch jumproping. Lara sitting in a circle with Dianne and 10 children playing duck, duck, goose. Kids running and giggling arounds us. Cindy and Gail sitting with village women as they weave the most intricate, beautiful cloth. Stephen setting up photo shoots and printing out portraits of families, teens and smiling children for th em to take home to their parents (yes giggling and hooting all the way!) Charlie and Reese alternating pick axing to remove 1, no 2...3...4 tree stumps!!! Sheri distributing chocolate bars to exhausted workers only to receive a big hip hip hurrah! Dianne taught a class of elementary kids today! Sky, Angie and Lucas are fluently speaking and making connections for everyone. Little hands inside theirs in awe and appreciate. Reese s hair is magical to the children here...los of ooooohs and ahhhhhs when he shakes it for them to their applause. Courtney swinging a pick axe, hauling a hoe and pushing a shovel endlessly proving that 8th grade girls rock! Katy plays soccer with the kids daily running up and down the dirt field. Gail and Rich have adopted the children bearing gifts of pencils and small notebooks songs and smiling faces.
There is more...Dave hovering over plans with the village men constructing a playground. Yes that school is over half built in two days. We ve leveled 4 foundations for homes to the tune of 12 hours multiplied by 18 hard working Sienna Project members. Our faces peek through dirt at the end of the day. Flashing white teeth.
Our thoughts today have been on Lara and Rene who have fallen ill but are pulling through with no concerns. Please light a candle for them in your hearts. Send healthy energy!
As for me, I feel as though my cup is full, every day with the privelege of my life. To see the 17 cohorts of mine toiling, frolicking and sharing their love has brought me to a state of completeness.
Thank you Sienna Project, thank you Katie Covey, thank you Marty and Derek Lavanhar...and thank you Lara Lavanhar for the delcious food. We are being taken care of as we in turn share our care.
Tons of love being sent back to you in the US from each and everyone of us and each villager!
Buenos Noches!!
With a swollen heart and tears in my eyes, I confess my overwhelm. Sweet children playing patty cake games with each of us. Aly teaching double dutch jumproping. Lara sitting in a circle with Dianne and 10 children playing duck, duck, goose. Kids running and giggling arounds us. Cindy and Gail sitting with village women as they weave the most intricate, beautiful cloth. Stephen setting up photo shoots and printing out portraits of families, teens and smiling children for th em to take home to their parents (yes giggling and hooting all the way!) Charlie and Reese alternating pick axing to remove 1, no 2...3...4 tree stumps!!! Sheri distributing chocolate bars to exhausted workers only to receive a big hip hip hurrah! Dianne taught a class of elementary kids today! Sky, Angie and Lucas are fluently speaking and making connections for everyone. Little hands inside theirs in awe and appreciate. Reese s hair is magical to the children here...los of ooooohs and ahhhhhs when he shakes it for them to their applause. Courtney swinging a pick axe, hauling a hoe and pushing a shovel endlessly proving that 8th grade girls rock! Katy plays soccer with the kids daily running up and down the dirt field. Gail and Rich have adopted the children bearing gifts of pencils and small notebooks songs and smiling faces.
There is more...Dave hovering over plans with the village men constructing a playground. Yes that school is over half built in two days. We ve leveled 4 foundations for homes to the tune of 12 hours multiplied by 18 hard working Sienna Project members. Our faces peek through dirt at the end of the day. Flashing white teeth.
Our thoughts today have been on Lara and Rene who have fallen ill but are pulling through with no concerns. Please light a candle for them in your hearts. Send healthy energy!
As for me, I feel as though my cup is full, every day with the privelege of my life. To see the 17 cohorts of mine toiling, frolicking and sharing their love has brought me to a state of completeness.
Thank you Sienna Project, thank you Katie Covey, thank you Marty and Derek Lavanhar...and thank you Lara Lavanhar for the delcious food. We are being taken care of as we in turn share our care.
Tons of love being sent back to you in the US from each and everyone of us and each villager!
Buenos Noches!!
Awesome two days
I haven't been able to update the blog for a couple days - yesterday I was just too darn tired, and the day before I got to the internet cafe too late.
Trying to summarize these past two days will be difficult - it has been an incredible experience. We come to the village as the unskilled labor, so while the Mayans are building the school - getting everything level and putting the walls in place - we're moving dirt. And we're all loving it!
So when we were planning on coming down here, we were only focused on the school - and we have made that happen even if our part of construction is limited. But so far, we have leveled the earth to create the foundation for five families. The feeling of having a direct impact on those five families is indescribable.
Highpoints of today included working side-by-side with the Mayans whose houses we're helping build and a spontaneous photo-shoot of a hoard of teenage girls who all wanted their photo taken. Since I brought a portable printer, I was able to directly give them their photos. :)
Trying to summarize these past two days will be difficult - it has been an incredible experience. We come to the village as the unskilled labor, so while the Mayans are building the school - getting everything level and putting the walls in place - we're moving dirt. And we're all loving it!
So when we were planning on coming down here, we were only focused on the school - and we have made that happen even if our part of construction is limited. But so far, we have leveled the earth to create the foundation for five families. The feeling of having a direct impact on those five families is indescribable.
Highpoints of today included working side-by-side with the Mayans whose houses we're helping build and a spontaneous photo-shoot of a hoard of teenage girls who all wanted their photo taken. Since I brought a portable printer, I was able to directly give them their photos. :)
Hi Sienna's,
Love hearing all about what's happening. The photo's are great! Wonder if someone could post one of Aly at some point...want to see how long she's gone without a shower:) Would love to hear more about the jumproping and to hear more from the youth on the trip. Lara's doing an awesome job providing that perspective and would like to hear from others as well. Thanks for sharing all that's happening with us state-side gringo's.
Hugs to all,
Jan
Love hearing all about what's happening. The photo's are great! Wonder if someone could post one of Aly at some point...want to see how long she's gone without a shower:) Would love to hear more about the jumproping and to hear more from the youth on the trip. Lara's doing an awesome job providing that perspective and would like to hear from others as well. Thanks for sharing all that's happening with us state-side gringo's.
Hugs to all,
Jan
First Day at the Job Site
We left Chichi after breakfast and arrived at the village about one and one-half hours later. The last part of the drive was a twisting dirt road that left many feeling carsick. Once in the village, the people greeted us with fireworks and a very touching ceremony. The highlight for me was the juxtaposition of modern with what is obviously an old tradition. The master of ceremony built a fire in an area that was covered in fresh pine needles. He said prayers and burnt candles that he tipped into the fire. He then poured a 1 liter bottle of Pepsi around and into the fire. I wish I could understand the Mayan language so I could tell you what he was chanting. After he was done with the fire, he moved over to a marimba and began to play a song. While he was playing, his assitant recieved a phone call on her cell--and she answered the call. I couldn't help but smile at the modern world incorporated into the life of people so removed from everything.
The village reminds me of what I imagine the wild west once was. The existing structures are temporary, but the men are busy making cement blocks (one at a time) so they can erect permanent houses. We moved cement panels at the school construction site and then cleared a site for a new permenant house. I laughed hard while I was rolling a huge stumps off the site with my fellow traveler, Sheri, and two small Mayan women. By the end of the day we were filthy and tired. The Mayan villagers are very welcoming and the children are a delight. Our youth played games, jumped rope and entertained by their presence all of the village children.
Today, Lara was ill so we stayed back in Chichi while the others have gone back to work. I, like you, can't wait to hear the stories of the day. What a fabulous life we lead that allows us to be here. ;]
The village reminds me of what I imagine the wild west once was. The existing structures are temporary, but the men are busy making cement blocks (one at a time) so they can erect permanent houses. We moved cement panels at the school construction site and then cleared a site for a new permenant house. I laughed hard while I was rolling a huge stumps off the site with my fellow traveler, Sheri, and two small Mayan women. By the end of the day we were filthy and tired. The Mayan villagers are very welcoming and the children are a delight. Our youth played games, jumped rope and entertained by their presence all of the village children.
Today, Lara was ill so we stayed back in Chichi while the others have gone back to work. I, like you, can't wait to hear the stories of the day. What a fabulous life we lead that allows us to be here. ;]
From Lara, All is well (mostly)
Well it has certainly been an interesting last 2 days, I feel like I am starting to get the hang of this keyboard (finally). We got to go to the Sunday market and I worked on my bartering skills, its really great to be able to finally use my Spanish skills in a place where the people do not speak English. The youth in Chichi speak English better than me! I met 2 of teen vendors named Kevin and Izaih and had good conversations with them, all the while insisting I do not want a bookmark. People here are very persistent, I would say {no lo quiero} and they would reply {Si lo quiere}, this would go on and on until it desintegrated into no, yes, no yes noyesnoyesnoyes....
We went to the village and help build the school. It was very dusty and I was not well for most of the day, so mostly I watched. Even my Spanish did not help us communicate there, most of the people only spoke Mayan (which reminds me a lot of the Ewok language from Star Wars). Even without speaking, we managed to be helpful, leveling fields and moving stumps and panels. I got to cut roots with a machete! Sadly, I have become the first person to get sick, so last night was not fun for me. That is why I am not with the rest of the group working right now. Hopefully I will get better tomorrow.
Less than three, Lara
We went to the village and help build the school. It was very dusty and I was not well for most of the day, so mostly I watched. Even my Spanish did not help us communicate there, most of the people only spoke Mayan (which reminds me a lot of the Ewok language from Star Wars). Even without speaking, we managed to be helpful, leveling fields and moving stumps and panels. I got to cut roots with a machete! Sadly, I have become the first person to get sick, so last night was not fun for me. That is why I am not with the rest of the group working right now. Hopefully I will get better tomorrow.
Less than three, Lara
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Market Pictures
Amazing morning at market look at the colors!!
We are all loaded up with goodies!
Delicious breakfast full of color and fresh pine needle floor!
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