The BG Experience

Two official days of classes under our belt and the students are already sipping coffee in the afternoon to give themselves a ‘lift’. Is this a good sign??? LOL!

As an FYI - many children drink coffee in the village. It is a way of life in el Yalu. There is a coffee plantation right down the road from the feeding center.

We are NOT advocating that this is good for you. Only sharing that it is a common practice in the village.

And let’s be honest - how many of you drive back from work and stop in at Tim Horton’s for a double-double and Boston cream donut? Yep - that’s what we thought…BUSTED!  

Remember when you got all excited for the start of school? New backpacks, clothes, school supplies, etc.? (Well Barb does…NOT Gerry! Does that surprise you!?)

It’s no different in el Yalu as the scholarship kids came in to get their supplies for the new school year.

New to this year is the recently installed internet router, which the kids were super excited about. As well, we took the time to play a board game as the students went up to receive their supplies.

As this was the first official day of the school year, we took time to pray for all the students. Some are nervous as they enter a new year, knowing that it will that much harder to pass their grade. However they are so grateful for the support of the ministry, as well as the laptops that were donated by a supporter and of course the internet router that Rob installed.

A powerful moment today was when Rob took time to share some of his life story with the kids. He explained to them that even though they are at or seem to think they are at a disadvantage in comparison with others, they can accomplish whatever they want to in life if they put their minds to it and believe they can do it.

Three of the kids shared afterwards about their tough family situations, and how they are persecuted and ridiculed in the village for their choice to continue their education beyond grade 5 or 6, and strive for change in their lives and families.

Please pray for these kids as well as the village, for change, positive change. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

There was excitement all around as the kids prepared to exit the building and head off to another school year.

Remember to pray for the doctor and us as we try to be as effective as possible in teaching / mentoring  the students.

It’s such a blessing and encouragement when we receive or host visitors, and more so when they are good friends.

Rob & Jodi were no exception and it was a treat watching them get involved in the ministry the days they were in the village.

Rob’s forte are computers and we, as well as the staff and students, were thrilled when he offered to install a router so that the kids could surf the internet and complete their homework.

WOW! What a difference a few months make!

Two laptops were donated to the scholarship homework club, enabling our students to complete their homework individually. Internet router was installed so that the students could surf the net and NOT rely on us or the doctor to complete their homework and limit the instances of copying between students.

Thanks Rob & Jodi for coming to el Yalu and not only encourage us but the staff and students as well!

Next time - you gotta bring the family along!!! Volcanoes are beckoning to be climbed…

There are no car washes in Guatemala like we are used to in Canada. You know - the automatic ones? Instead, as you drive most of the major streets you will see many signs promoting car wash services. Dirt cheap too. Like 30-40 Quetzales ($3.75 - $5.00).

There are normally 2-3 men that are waiting to wash your car inside and out - spic and span clean. And it takes only 10-15 minutes. These guys are fast…and gooooodddd.

How good you ask? Believe it or not they polish right down to the door handles. You read that right - THE DOOR HANDLES!!!

And here is the kicker - on Thursdays it’s half price. That’s outrageous!

By the way - we feel terrible paying half price. We pay full price no matter the day. However…we only wash the car once a month because it gets so filthy from traveling to and from el Yalu. Dust dust dust…YIKES!

We’ve learned that when you live in a foreign country, forget about having access to the brands you liked or purchased back home. It just does not happen. You have to adapt to what is available, experiment and determine if it is worth purchasing again or not.

(Pork and beans are just NOT the same here - believe us!!)

Check out this brand name. Even the scholarship students chuckle at this one!

And say what??? Some comfort foods from Gerry’s home province? Could Old Dutch potato chips be far behind? (We only wish!)

We are not sure if this product gives you some spring in your step. If not, we still like the brand name…

And if this does not make you want to get up and dance then something is wrong. Who cares if you are in the middle of WalMart?

The renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s family home, the Casa Azul, or “Blue House” is where she grew up, and where she returned in her final years. Built in 1907 by Frida’s father, Guillermo Kahlo, the house was home to the Kahlo family and also served to house Leon Trotsky when he first arrived in Mexico in 1937.

The Casa Azul was converted into a museum in 1958, four years after Frida’s death. It is decorated with Mexican folk art and contains Frida’s and her husband Diego’s personal belongings from the time they lived there.

Having watched the movie “Frida” we wanted to visit the home and were not disappointed by the house nor the surrounding neighborhood.

Ahh yeah - Frida and Diego we are NOT. Hey - we tried right?

Built between 1948 and 1956, the Latin American Tower, with 44 floors, was for many years the highest building in Mexico City. While it was being built, many people felt that a tower of that height would not be able to withstand Mexico City’s frequent earthquakes, however this was put to the test in 1957 and again in 1985, and the building suffered no damage in either major quake.

Most of the building is rented out as office space, but the upper levels are accessible to visitors.

On the 38th floor there is a museum with historical photos of the city, information about the construction of the tower, and archaeological pieces that were found on the site when the foundations of the building were being dug.

The 42nd and 43rd floors are observation decks where you can take some great photos of the city/landscape. The 44th floor is an open terrace, which can be windy (and a little freaky!).

Mexico City is built on top of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. In the South East corner of the Zocalo is the spot where Hernan Cortes is said to have met Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, in 1519. After the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs, Cortes had the colonial town plan traced according to Spanish tradition, with the square at the heart of the city, surrounded by buildings which represent the colonial powers: the church and the government.

The official name of the square is the Plaza de la Constitucion, but it’s commonly called the Zocalo. It is one of the largest public squares in the world at 830 feet by 500 feet. It’s an important gathering place for festivals, cultural events and even demonstrations.

Palacio de Bellas ArtesPresident Porfirio Diaz ordered the construction of this building in the early 1900s. He planned to inaugurate it as part of the celebrations of the centenary of Mexico’s independence from Spain. The Revolution broke out in 1910, interrupting the construction, so it was not completed until 1934.

The building’s marble Beaux-Arts exterior with Art Nouveau elements reflects the Italian architect Adamo Boari’s original plans, whereas the interior, designed by Federico Mariscal, has Art Deco elements. The theater’s main attractions are a Tiffany stained glass stage curtain portraying a panoramic view of the Valley of Mexico with its two volcanoes and murals by famous Mexican artists such as Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco.

Palacio Nacional

The government building is located on the East side of the square and it is said to have been built on the grounds where Moctezuma’s palace had stood.

To celebrate Mexican independence, every year on September 15th at midnight, the president of Mexico rings a bell from the central balcony of the National Palace and shouts: “Viva Mexico!” The crowd gathered in the square responds: “Viva!”

In the National Palace there are murals that Diego Rivera painted between 1929 and 1952. These colorful murals show Mexican history from prehispanic times to the workers’ movement of the 1930s.

Catedral Metropolitana

The construction and decoration of this cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, took nearly 3 centuries. Construction began in 1573, and the building was dedicated, although still unfinished, in 1656. The cathedral is host to a mixture of styles, a result of being built over such a long period of time.

The cathedral, like many buildings in Mexico City, is gradually sinking into the ground. Various factors contribute to this problem: the city’s soft clay subsoil, the considerable weight of the cathedral, and uneven foundations due to being built on top of prehispanic structures.

Sophisticated restoration works begun in the 1990s have stabilized the building. Although restorers have been unable to halt the sinking altogether, they have corrected the tilting towers and ensured that the cathedral will now sink uniformly. (Now THAT is reassuring eh?)     

Check this out - they monitor the movement of the building as it is sinking. EEP!

Talk about a taste of ‘home’. Smack dab in the middle of the square - - - a public skating rink. FREE! If there wasn’t such a long line-up we would have gladly skated for an hour with the locals. Man - we miss Nathan Philips Square or Gage Park in the winter!

Most markets in Latin America are super busy. We’ve visited some that were massive (Chichicastenango), and some that are local markets (fruit, vegetables, some other items, etc.).

NEVER have we experienced a market like the Bodegas de Atizapan de Zaragoza and to boot…it was Christmas Eve. EEP!

Vendors are everywhere and shoppers are everywhere. Despite the variety of vendors available it seemed that the shoppers had their preferences on who they would buy what item from. No doubt based on availability, freshness, price, relationship, etc.

We just wanted to gawk and buy a few items to try out.

Pinatas were a hot item as many families were picking one up for their Christmas celebrations. Another item that is popular in Mexico is mole and numerous vendors sold it off their tables.

Bored/tired of waiting for your wife to finish shopping? Check out the arcade and play some old school pinball machines or other video games from way back when.

Gerry and Bill were offered some carnita outside the bodegas building. Basically a huge pot or drum of stewing meat in a consomme. Reluctantly Gerry accepted, because it is always better/polite to not refuse anything that is being offered to you.

As he prepared to chow down on the free sample, he asked the vendor was inside the pot. There was so many cuts of pork. OK let’s be honest the whole darn pig was in there. The head. The ribs. The legs. Eyes were in there. Etc.

Barb thought - he is going to be sick. Then she changed her mind: I am going to be sick! LOL!

Gerry and Bill did survive the sample to the point that they were tempted to buy some of the safer cuts for a home meal (pulled pork sandwich anyone?). The wives did not concur. * Sigh. *

This was a nice surprise side trip that the Henrys took us on. This city is located 115 km northeast of Mexico City. In Aztec times the area was the center of dominion that negotiated to keep most of its independence in return with being allied with the Aztec Triple Alliance. Later the town became a major educational center during the colonial period thanks to the Jesuits.

In fact the school complex that grew from its beginnings in 1580 would remain an educational center until 1914. Now it houses the Museo del Virreinato with one of the largest collections of art and objects from this time period.

The city is funky and also colonial - a nice mix for all tourists.

We stopped for a bite to eat and Barb was able to purchase a ‘real’ Caesar Salad - her first in many months. We wondered if the preparation time (right beside her with fresh ingredients) would match the taste? If the salad would be all sizzle and no steak so to speak?

WELL! It’s too bad we do not have a picture of Barb savoring every single bite of her salad. Talk about enjoying a meal. She wanted a second one…and another one for take out. We convinced her that there would be other salads another time. Trust us…