Wednesday, July 8, 2009
4th of July
Not a whole new and exciting this past week. I continue to give my interpretation class to a group of about 6 ecotourism providers in the park. We are also getting very close to installing the first stage of the education center. Unfortunately, the trail work is on a prolonged stand-by mode as we await funds.
Wedding planning has been considerably more productive. We finally have a few proposals in from caterers, I think I found a limo to rent, we picked out our rings and I found a few tuxes I like. Now if all my groomsmen show up I will be happy.
In a departure from the norm, I celebrated the 4th this year. Normally I do not when I am out of the country. Somehow it just doesn't feel right. Unlike years past, this year was not celebrated with camping trips, a day at the beach or the obligator drunken botte-rocket fight (that last one is probably for the best).
We did have a BBQ at the park with most of the staff, a few of our volunteers and three gringos. One of our friends and fellow volunteer from Tlaxcala came up for the weekend to share in the fesivities. Lots of food, friends and later in the evening... beer. Good times.
Wedding planning has been considerably more productive. We finally have a few proposals in from caterers, I think I found a limo to rent, we picked out our rings and I found a few tuxes I like. Now if all my groomsmen show up I will be happy.
In a departure from the norm, I celebrated the 4th this year. Normally I do not when I am out of the country. Somehow it just doesn't feel right. Unlike years past, this year was not celebrated with camping trips, a day at the beach or the obligator drunken botte-rocket fight (that last one is probably for the best).
We did have a BBQ at the park with most of the staff, a few of our volunteers and three gringos. One of our friends and fellow volunteer from Tlaxcala came up for the weekend to share in the fesivities. Lots of food, friends and later in the evening... beer. Good times.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
And I thought we banned torture...
Things picked up once again this past week as several events seemed to coincide at the end of the week. The designs for the first round of museum signs for the education center came in with a bunch of format and technical errors. On Thursday we called the designers in for a sit down with the whole park to go over ever sign with a fine-toothed comb. That was a good 5 hour process involving projecting the designs on the big screen and going around the table discussing (and arguing) every detail, but it seems like they are on track for making all the changes we requested and that this will definitely a first-of-its-kind education center for Mexico.
Later that day Peace Corps staff and volunteers arrived at the park for the final two days of the mid-service training for the group that came after mine. Throughout the course of these two days the other volunteer in the park and I got the opportunity to show our progress on the various projects on which we are working, or at least a sampling of them. I briefly presented them our designs for the new education center, showed them a sampling of the interpretative trail signs and the education signs at one of the campgrounds, and introduced them to the members of our ecoclub to whom they were able to pose questions about their motives and projects.
Leti came home Friday night, as usual but, as usual, was swamped with her studies and tired from a long day at work and then traveling to Pachuca. This schedule really appears to be taking its toll on her. Her health was failing her the previous week due to stress, according to her doctor. This was actually good news because her parents thought she was pregnant and her aunts thought it was because she was not eating meat (and, hence, were ready to start forcing her to eat it again). Leti’s blood work came back and the doctor told her, in front of her aunt, that she was perfectly healthy and that everything was well within normal and that she had absolutely no cholesterol. Needless to say, her aunt now leaves her alone about the whole vegetarian thing.
Unfortunately, knowing what is making sick does not always mean you can prevent it from happening. Leti was up until 3AM Sunday morning working on an assignment for her class and at 6AM we were up and getting prepared for what would turn out to be the most boring 12.5 hours of our lives. We spent all day Sunday in “Premarital Classes” listening to the Catholic Church tell us why homosexuality is bad, sexual positions are OK (like I really wanted graphic sex advice from the Church) but birth control is not (except for the rhythm method… need I say more?), children are an absolutely necessary product of a good Catholic marriage (and that is why the world is now overpopulated) and these children must be indoctrinated into the Church so that it may continue (because apparently the “word of God” does not speak for itself), that the women should learn how their husbands like their food cooked and clothing ironed (Leti doesn’t cook, I am definitely getting ripped off on that one), they should also be understanding when he comes home from a bad day at work (I suppose they should also have his martini waiting), that women should also not expect too much and be happy with whatever amount of money her husband gives her every week (come on now, I’m a teacher… so if she earns more than me?), that the couples should not live with either of the in-laws (ah… duh!) and someone should be in-charge of the finances (1,2,3… not it!).
It was hands-down one of the most sexist and condescending experiences of my life and to top it all off there were religious songs and games interspersed throughout the classes and an exam at the end (right before the required mass) which asked you to describe the importance of the Church and prayer in your marriage and rearing of your children. Obviously, I did not answer any of those questions and, surprisingly, they still gave me certificate of completion even though they stated in front of the whole class that they wanted to assure that these “seeds” have been planted – while holding up my exam as an example (I guess mine were duds).
Oh well, at least I have a two-month break before having to return to the Church again.
Later that day Peace Corps staff and volunteers arrived at the park for the final two days of the mid-service training for the group that came after mine. Throughout the course of these two days the other volunteer in the park and I got the opportunity to show our progress on the various projects on which we are working, or at least a sampling of them. I briefly presented them our designs for the new education center, showed them a sampling of the interpretative trail signs and the education signs at one of the campgrounds, and introduced them to the members of our ecoclub to whom they were able to pose questions about their motives and projects.
Leti came home Friday night, as usual but, as usual, was swamped with her studies and tired from a long day at work and then traveling to Pachuca. This schedule really appears to be taking its toll on her. Her health was failing her the previous week due to stress, according to her doctor. This was actually good news because her parents thought she was pregnant and her aunts thought it was because she was not eating meat (and, hence, were ready to start forcing her to eat it again). Leti’s blood work came back and the doctor told her, in front of her aunt, that she was perfectly healthy and that everything was well within normal and that she had absolutely no cholesterol. Needless to say, her aunt now leaves her alone about the whole vegetarian thing.
Unfortunately, knowing what is making sick does not always mean you can prevent it from happening. Leti was up until 3AM Sunday morning working on an assignment for her class and at 6AM we were up and getting prepared for what would turn out to be the most boring 12.5 hours of our lives. We spent all day Sunday in “Premarital Classes” listening to the Catholic Church tell us why homosexuality is bad, sexual positions are OK (like I really wanted graphic sex advice from the Church) but birth control is not (except for the rhythm method… need I say more?), children are an absolutely necessary product of a good Catholic marriage (and that is why the world is now overpopulated) and these children must be indoctrinated into the Church so that it may continue (because apparently the “word of God” does not speak for itself), that the women should learn how their husbands like their food cooked and clothing ironed (Leti doesn’t cook, I am definitely getting ripped off on that one), they should also be understanding when he comes home from a bad day at work (I suppose they should also have his martini waiting), that women should also not expect too much and be happy with whatever amount of money her husband gives her every week (come on now, I’m a teacher… so if she earns more than me?), that the couples should not live with either of the in-laws (ah… duh!) and someone should be in-charge of the finances (1,2,3… not it!).
It was hands-down one of the most sexist and condescending experiences of my life and to top it all off there were religious songs and games interspersed throughout the classes and an exam at the end (right before the required mass) which asked you to describe the importance of the Church and prayer in your marriage and rearing of your children. Obviously, I did not answer any of those questions and, surprisingly, they still gave me certificate of completion even though they stated in front of the whole class that they wanted to assure that these “seeds” have been planted – while holding up my exam as an example (I guess mine were duds).
Oh well, at least I have a two-month break before having to return to the Church again.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A Productive Week...
This past week I started up a new, two-month long course in the park to train the park staff and a few ecotourism service providers in how to design and implement interpretative programs. I have about a dozen students and the first two classes have been well-received. This will be the first in a five part series of courses that will lead to a certification as a park naturalist, which the park staff will need as part of their training and the service providers can use to distinguish themselves from other service providers.
The local chapter of Ecoclub International which I started up in the park has created a mascot and is now in the process of designing anti-littering messages using the mascot that they will paint on our trash cans around the park. We also starting planning a two-day camp for them in which the local office of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources will provide a leadership workshop, we will paint recycling bins and garbage cans and one of the local ecotourism companies is going to provide rock climbing lessons and a workshop on Leave No Trace.
I also recruited five more students from a local high school to do their community service in the park. They will help us build large cages to store recyclables and a worm-composting bed, both of which will be incorporated into the education center I am designing and constructing.
We also did a walk through on a new trail route we scouted for one leg of an interpretative trail circuit. The director and the forest engineer approved the route so now we are working on getting government money to help pay local workers to do the labor. I have also been busy helping Peace Corps prepare for two workshops that they will be having in our park. The first is in June and is the mid-service training for the group that arrived after mine. The second is a biodiversity monitoring workshop that will be in August. The director and I have been arranging lodging and food for the visit, which was not as smooth of a process as I expected but all is taken care of now. All in all, it’s been a fairly productive week for me.
On the personal front, Leti and I spent the weekend at home this time around. We ordered the invitations for the wedding and stopped by the church to drop off some paperwork. I also put a deposit down on the reception hall, though now that I have seen the lodge in the park I really want to have it up there. Unfortunately, it can only hold about half the number of people we are expecting so it is not feasible. Oh well, still holding out for my civil ceremony on the beach.
The local chapter of Ecoclub International which I started up in the park has created a mascot and is now in the process of designing anti-littering messages using the mascot that they will paint on our trash cans around the park. We also starting planning a two-day camp for them in which the local office of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources will provide a leadership workshop, we will paint recycling bins and garbage cans and one of the local ecotourism companies is going to provide rock climbing lessons and a workshop on Leave No Trace.
I also recruited five more students from a local high school to do their community service in the park. They will help us build large cages to store recyclables and a worm-composting bed, both of which will be incorporated into the education center I am designing and constructing.
We also did a walk through on a new trail route we scouted for one leg of an interpretative trail circuit. The director and the forest engineer approved the route so now we are working on getting government money to help pay local workers to do the labor. I have also been busy helping Peace Corps prepare for two workshops that they will be having in our park. The first is in June and is the mid-service training for the group that arrived after mine. The second is a biodiversity monitoring workshop that will be in August. The director and I have been arranging lodging and food for the visit, which was not as smooth of a process as I expected but all is taken care of now. All in all, it’s been a fairly productive week for me.
On the personal front, Leti and I spent the weekend at home this time around. We ordered the invitations for the wedding and stopped by the church to drop off some paperwork. I also put a deposit down on the reception hall, though now that I have seen the lodge in the park I really want to have it up there. Unfortunately, it can only hold about half the number of people we are expecting so it is not feasible. Oh well, still holding out for my civil ceremony on the beach.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Pics from Weekend in Cuernavaca
Ok finally posted pics from last weekend but just discovered that when I try to change the title of the post it loses its link to the album. This a new phenomenon no doubt thanks to photobucket deciding to redo their website (this didn't happen before). I also see that Spanish characters do not appear and the names got screwed up on the titles. Lesson learned for next time.
Monday, June 8, 2009
It's always interesting with me...
Thanks to the swine flu, a mountain of work at the park and Leti’s graduate studies it has been a long time since we have been able to escape for a weekend. Everything fell into place for us, though, this past weekend. The flu has fallen by the wayside for the time being and we are once again free to roam about the country. I am running light at work while I wait for the rest of the team to catch up. And Leti finished her latest class on Friday.
We took advantage of this rare opportunity by heading to Cuernavaca, Morelos for a few days and it could not have been more needed after a stressful week of wedding plan and a director who, even after attending a training workshop, still does not seem to understand the difference between a Peace Corps Volunteer and a civil service volunteer. Unfortunately, as most of you reading this have come to expect, a weekend getaway with me is never a simple one.
After leaving work in a mad-dash down the mountain Friday afternoon, I grabbed a small backpack of clothes and jumped on a bus to Mexico City’s Central de Autobuses Norte. Leti and I were going to meet at 8:30 in Central de Autobuses Sur so I had to jump on the Metro (subway) to get across one of the largest cities in the world. For some odd reason I thought that would only take half an hour. Long story short, it was 9:30 before we were finally on a bus heading out of the city, but that is barely a minor inconvenience compared to what followed.
When boarding the bus we were forced to put our backpacks in the storage compartment below the bus. We purposely travel with small backpacks so that we can easily carrying them onboard and Leti argued that her computer was in her backpack, but they assured us that they would be safe below but that we could not board the bus with them. Normally, first-class buses will give you a baggage claim ticket when you check your luggage below. This one did not but the porter continued insisting that we check our bags and tht the hatch would not be open until we arrived in Cuernavaca.
We arrived in Cuernavaca around 11 at night and we were the last ones off the bus as we hurriedly gathered up our travel pillows, snacks and carry-on. When we went below for our backpacks, mine was missing. Considering our interaction with the porter before we left, we were understandably livid. The porter at the station in Cuernavaca basically said that there was nothing he could do and that they were not responsible for lost luggage. That set both Leti and I off and the poor man had it coming at him in both ears. I informed him that I had $3600 peso in my backpack, all my clothing and an underwater camera housing (obviously he did not care). Leti reminded him that this is exactly why every other first-class line has baggage claim tickets and porters and that he sure was responsible for stolen luggage.
Another hour was spent at the station filling out reports and tearing a new one into the head of security (who also really did not seem too concerned). So in keeping with my promise to him, I am advising anyone reading this and travelling in Mexico to avoid the Pullman bus line.
Now almost midnight, we were pointed in the direction of the city center and the nearest ATM and sent on our way. It was only a few blocks to the zocalo (center plaza) but we were now tired and stressed and wondering why does this stuff always happen to us. We found the ATM and crossed our fingers in hopes that I had not maxed out my withdrawals for the day with the $4000 I took out earlier (and then left in my backpack). Thankfully we got the cash and then found a friendly stranger in the plaza to point us to a nearby hotel. We did not make reservations ahead of time as the majority of hotels in Cuernavaca with an internet presence are out of our price range and the hostels are not much cheaper.
Luckily, it was a clean and secure hotel. We looked at a second one that was recommended by a friend but returned to the stranger’s recommendation. Once we dropped off our remaining luggage, we did the only thing you can do at 12:30 in the morning in a strange city with no change of clothes and very little money… went to a nightclub in the zocalo and got our drink on. There we met a young drunk woman and her even drunker aunt who were inviting us to go jet skiing and every other thing imaginable under the sun. They would not let us escape the conversation so when the younger one went to the bathroom we quickly excused ourselves from the drunken aunt and stumbled our way back to the hotel at 3:30AM.
The next day we woke up around mid-day and decided to take a walk to the bus station. Things starting turning around for us at this point as my backpack had actually been returned and I was extremely thankful I had the foresight to put luggage locks on it before I left. Though Leti went off again asking why they did not call either of the two numbers they had for us to let us know. So now I was able to shower, shave and change in time to catch a bite to eat. We walked around several blocks looking for a vegetarian restaurant that was recommended by the drunks (first mistake) and even more turned around as every stranger we asked (second mistake) gave us different directions. Finally, we ended up a few blocks away from the hotel (but different street) at what everyone insisted was vegetarian restaurant, though you would never had guessed it by the meat-laden buffet. In the end, we found a real vegetarian restaurant almost in front of the hotel.
The rest of the weekend was awesome and, thankfully, uneventful. We ate in hip little cafes on the zocalo, listened to live music and public concerts and visited three parks within the city. The first was a gorge in the middle of the city with mult-leveled walkways that carry you past small cascades and lush vegetation. Next was the former garden of Manuel de Borda, a silver mining tacoon. It was small but lush and a haven for local artisans. We had some interesting conversations and Leti took an hour long painting class.
Finally, we hiked across town to visit a waterfall with concrete-banister walkways that lead behind the water and around the gorge, though the path behind the falls was obviously closed while we were there. It was still a great, romantic weekend and a pleasant surprise for me (I prefer more natural vacations, and the beach). After one final meal on the plaza it was back to the real world once again.
We took advantage of this rare opportunity by heading to Cuernavaca, Morelos for a few days and it could not have been more needed after a stressful week of wedding plan and a director who, even after attending a training workshop, still does not seem to understand the difference between a Peace Corps Volunteer and a civil service volunteer. Unfortunately, as most of you reading this have come to expect, a weekend getaway with me is never a simple one.
After leaving work in a mad-dash down the mountain Friday afternoon, I grabbed a small backpack of clothes and jumped on a bus to Mexico City’s Central de Autobuses Norte. Leti and I were going to meet at 8:30 in Central de Autobuses Sur so I had to jump on the Metro (subway) to get across one of the largest cities in the world. For some odd reason I thought that would only take half an hour. Long story short, it was 9:30 before we were finally on a bus heading out of the city, but that is barely a minor inconvenience compared to what followed.
When boarding the bus we were forced to put our backpacks in the storage compartment below the bus. We purposely travel with small backpacks so that we can easily carrying them onboard and Leti argued that her computer was in her backpack, but they assured us that they would be safe below but that we could not board the bus with them. Normally, first-class buses will give you a baggage claim ticket when you check your luggage below. This one did not but the porter continued insisting that we check our bags and tht the hatch would not be open until we arrived in Cuernavaca.
We arrived in Cuernavaca around 11 at night and we were the last ones off the bus as we hurriedly gathered up our travel pillows, snacks and carry-on. When we went below for our backpacks, mine was missing. Considering our interaction with the porter before we left, we were understandably livid. The porter at the station in Cuernavaca basically said that there was nothing he could do and that they were not responsible for lost luggage. That set both Leti and I off and the poor man had it coming at him in both ears. I informed him that I had $3600 peso in my backpack, all my clothing and an underwater camera housing (obviously he did not care). Leti reminded him that this is exactly why every other first-class line has baggage claim tickets and porters and that he sure was responsible for stolen luggage.
Another hour was spent at the station filling out reports and tearing a new one into the head of security (who also really did not seem too concerned). So in keeping with my promise to him, I am advising anyone reading this and travelling in Mexico to avoid the Pullman bus line.
Now almost midnight, we were pointed in the direction of the city center and the nearest ATM and sent on our way. It was only a few blocks to the zocalo (center plaza) but we were now tired and stressed and wondering why does this stuff always happen to us. We found the ATM and crossed our fingers in hopes that I had not maxed out my withdrawals for the day with the $4000 I took out earlier (and then left in my backpack). Thankfully we got the cash and then found a friendly stranger in the plaza to point us to a nearby hotel. We did not make reservations ahead of time as the majority of hotels in Cuernavaca with an internet presence are out of our price range and the hostels are not much cheaper.
Luckily, it was a clean and secure hotel. We looked at a second one that was recommended by a friend but returned to the stranger’s recommendation. Once we dropped off our remaining luggage, we did the only thing you can do at 12:30 in the morning in a strange city with no change of clothes and very little money… went to a nightclub in the zocalo and got our drink on. There we met a young drunk woman and her even drunker aunt who were inviting us to go jet skiing and every other thing imaginable under the sun. They would not let us escape the conversation so when the younger one went to the bathroom we quickly excused ourselves from the drunken aunt and stumbled our way back to the hotel at 3:30AM.
The next day we woke up around mid-day and decided to take a walk to the bus station. Things starting turning around for us at this point as my backpack had actually been returned and I was extremely thankful I had the foresight to put luggage locks on it before I left. Though Leti went off again asking why they did not call either of the two numbers they had for us to let us know. So now I was able to shower, shave and change in time to catch a bite to eat. We walked around several blocks looking for a vegetarian restaurant that was recommended by the drunks (first mistake) and even more turned around as every stranger we asked (second mistake) gave us different directions. Finally, we ended up a few blocks away from the hotel (but different street) at what everyone insisted was vegetarian restaurant, though you would never had guessed it by the meat-laden buffet. In the end, we found a real vegetarian restaurant almost in front of the hotel.
The rest of the weekend was awesome and, thankfully, uneventful. We ate in hip little cafes on the zocalo, listened to live music and public concerts and visited three parks within the city. The first was a gorge in the middle of the city with mult-leveled walkways that carry you past small cascades and lush vegetation. Next was the former garden of Manuel de Borda, a silver mining tacoon. It was small but lush and a haven for local artisans. We had some interesting conversations and Leti took an hour long painting class.
Finally, we hiked across town to visit a waterfall with concrete-banister walkways that lead behind the water and around the gorge, though the path behind the falls was obviously closed while we were there. It was still a great, romantic weekend and a pleasant surprise for me (I prefer more natural vacations, and the beach). After one final meal on the plaza it was back to the real world once again.
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