Supporting Monkeys take on the World!

There are always so many people in need, it is hard to know where to start.  Here in Mexico that challenge is even bigger

than what I was familiar with in the USA.

As an ExPat I'm often confronted with the question of 

exactly what it means to be American.  While I may not have an answer that is complete or even true for everyone, I have found some answers that ring true.  I believe Americans are empathetic and caring.  I believe that we, just as all people, get caught up in our day to day, and may not notice everything that is going on in the world.  However, once we are made aware, once we see a problem, we are moved to swift action.

We have always been taught that we can and must make a difference. One starfish at a time! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Thrower

It is our obligation and our delight to find a need and take steps to fill it.  It makes me proud to be an American.  Unfortunately, most of my European and Mexican friends don't know this about us.  I guess it is because they pay more attention to the loud mouth spring breakers or the news about other less than sparkling accounts of what we are, or what we aren't.  Many of those stories are true, but I am going to imagine that the reason that they don't know about all the good things we do is the same reason that we don't know all of the good things our neighbors do.   We are busy and that news, and it most certainly doesn't grow taller as it moves down the line, in fact it doesn't even make it to the line to get passed down.

Well, these hard~working generous souls quietly go about their lives lending a hand when they find one in need.  They rarely mention these acts to anyone else.

My mom's family has always been on top of this in a major way!  I'm so proud of them and I am so proud of all my monkeys for caring about their fellow human beings.

Last year (I taught 3rd and 4th grade) we read about public service projects and they started planning to collect and donate things to kids at a low~income special needs pre~school here in Cuernavaca.

Unfortunately, we were in a situation where the school no longer wanted to take on the responsibility of taking our kids on field trips because of the safety concerns here in Mexico.

The moment things settled down my kids sprang to action.

The had 3 weeks to collect what they could.  They started making beaded bracelets, friendship bracelets, and other small items to sell in exchange for a donation.  This is

not a very common thing to do here in Mexico.  No one can trust that those who say they will donate the money will not actually pocket any cash they get their hands on....

My kids raked in $500 pesos.  Which is a BIG DEAL! $45 may not seem like much, but $500 pesos, which is roughly the equivalent, is!  They kept the records, they did the math, they gave change... they did it all!

The class preside took the money, bought some class supplies, and brought back the reciept.  (open books is another rather new concept)

Here they are with the things that they purchased!

They also collected clothes, shoes, food and toys from the rest of the school.

On Thursday we took the donations to the preschool across town and had the chance to stay and play with the class for an hour or so.

It was beautiful to watch my monkeys bond and enjoy playing with the little ones. 

 They would ask questions about why the children had different things going on.... but accepted the children very easily.  Most of mine got close very quickly to one of the smaller children and took responsibility for getting them water or taking them to the bathroom.  It was so sweet.  They were so happy, and I am so proud of them!

The two groups of children were lovely and happy.

My students also commented on the fact that many of the children have some sort of orthodontic work done.  The reason why is because this Mexican Orthodontist donates his time to visit the school once a month or so in order to help these kids and their families with something that would otherwise not be a priority.

So congrats to my monkeys!  I love them very much and I am soooooo proud!

Mucho Monkeying

This week has been a wild one!

Many of us never consider what a bunch of Americans might do 

if they found themselves in a new world.

In this case Mexico!

I lived here in Cuernavaca for about three years before I found ¨them¨  the ExPats....I found them through my desperation 

for an American style library.  My daughter asked

me (about 2 months after moving to Mexico)

¨mommy, where are all the

libraries?¨ My heart

broke.

Had I made a mistake 

coming back here?  She was

six and she was accustomed to infrastructure.

What an important word that has become to me.

Well.....  finally after several years of searching I found

the ¨American style library¨ my words, not theirs!  From there

I got on the list serve and another world opened up 

to me....  who knew?  So just a word...  before I 

share what I just posted on the listserve...

The foreigners in Cuernavaca

are known as wild (spring 

breakers) to many.

However,

we are also known

as a charitable, generouos

caring, and thoughtful people.  In a

time where everyone is always repeating how

much Americans are despised everywhere we go, I 

want to say that I don´t think that this is true, or at least not

a complete picture.  Many people do seem to have a love-hate relationship with us....  but even that ¨haters¨ seem to recognize

the excellent things we (Americans) do when they are pressed.

So, I for one, am attempting to carry on this tradition with 

what I think is a pretty incredible project with 

my 5th and 6th grade monkeys...  I 

simply copied and 

pasted!

oh, and a heads up... a barranca is a ravine, and 

a tope is a speed bump....

Hello Community,

My name is Lucy  and I have been living and working as a teacher here in Cuernavaca (this time) since 2008.

I have 5th and 6th grade at Excelencia Bicultural in the Pradera.  I have always been proud of the Ex-Pat reputation at places like the Salvation Army.  Our community is known for continueing the traditions of volunteering and giving outside of our home countries.  I have always wondered why more people here don´t lend a hand.  So over the years my students and I have tried different ideas... clean up the barranca (too much work) donate to Haiti... success....  I have seen my students really get motivated to help others... many of the kids and their families simply don´t know how or where to start.  Until now.

My 5th graders identified a federal school for children with special needs whose famililes don´t have even the most basic supplies.  My students decided to go along with the SEP (secretary of public education) calender´s value of the month which is generousity. They are accepting donations of all kinds and with the goal of going to the school at the end of February to donate the items and to play with the children.  My students are also making friendship bracelets and keychains to collect money to buy school supplies.  It is incredible to watch as I have put the project in their hands and simply guide when the hit the proverbial tope!

My 5th and 6th graders are starting an ongoing campaign of ¨adopting a classroom.¨ The director at my school is also a teacher in a federal school.  He has identified 3 families whose children often miss class because they are searching for cardboard in the trash in order to get a few pesos to buy food.  My students are attempting to provide these 3 families in particular with some food each week.  As well as donating toys, school supplies, clothes, shoes, etc. to the children and their families in a 5th grade class at the same school.

I am writing to invite all of you to make donations at my school for the same purpose!  I know my kids will do a great job but as my great aunt always says ¨many hands lighten the load!¨  

Fruit from your trees, items from your homes that are in good condition, yet no longer useful to you.  Really, these families are in need of everything.  However, I do not feel comfortable with cash donations. If this is your intent, maybe ordering basic staples from a grocery store that delivers could be an option?

The office at Excelencia Bicultural is awaiting your donations between 7:30 and 3:30.  I apologize in advance that I am unable to make pick ups, but honestly I am spread rather thin as it is.  I am taking this project on with my students for as long as possible....  maybe years?

In the interest of clarifying, I don´t believe in enabling people, but I personally don´t feel like that is what we are doing.  I feel that these kids need help and that they don´t have a way to get what they need without someone stepping in.  When I asked my bosses for permission to contact all of you, I was quite proud to feel that I had back up from so many people, even though I don´t personally know many of you.  If you are able to stop by my school, please consider asking for me so I can introduce you to my students.  They would LOVE to speak to you in English, and I would love for them to see that we have a strong community here as well.  Not to be redundant, but fruit from your trees as well as anything else you can spare will be greatly appreciated.  I plan to post pictures of the kids in action so you can see the  ¨fruits of their labor¨ (yes, the pun was intended)!

Thanks for all you do! So what do you think?