The Cathedral in central Guadalajara, Mexico

The main reason why I visited Mexico this time was to condole with my colleagues over the sudden tragic death of Daniel Leon. There is a general sadness.

Daniel was a key man in setting up our successful medical programmes in Mexico, and Marco has arranged for some of his responsibilities to be taken on by our old friend, Dr Jesus Navarro. Jesus is known as “Chewy” – apparently this is universal in Mexico – anyone called “Jesus” gets “Chewy”. The great thing about Chewy is that he can develop something like our Village Clinic programme in indigenous villages around Guadalajara – this will be great for the villagers and a wonderful experience for volunteers. Chewy even speaks the indigenous language, Nahuatl, which is not easy.

I just don’t see how we can have a volcanology programme as such. We used to, but it wasn’t gripping. The volcano was spectacular but volcanologists actually spend most of their time staring at seismographs or analysing pieces of ash or lava in great depth. Volcanoes are exciting places to live and work, especially if they explode from time to time like the Colima volcano, which we’re based right next to at Ciudad Guzman. So we are going to set up an experimental two-week project in 2008 doing a little scientific work, climbing the volcano, doing environmental work and making trails for eco-tourists. I think this will be great – and it will be in the safe hands of Jose Soltero – known as “Joes” and an expert at making didgeridoos and finding ponds to play them by.

Jonatan has had some problem assembling his band recently and has cut a lot of his hair off. However, he is still determined to produce his cd and I’m sure he will. Volunteers and a lot of other people still love him.

Peter Slowe

Check out this new movie, thanks Kelsy!

A lot of my job as the blogmaster is to chase our many staff members around the world for blog posts. I am sure they dread getting emails from me thinking that they are being hounded into writing something for the blog. It’s ironic, nay hypocritical, that I was lucky to visit our programs in Mexico in early February and I haven’t put up a blog post until today. Whoops! But since there has been some time between being in Guadalajara and coming home, I think I was able to process everything a little better.

I must admit that after reading in a guidebook that Guadalajara was the home to mariachi music, tequila, and rodeo riders, I rolled my eyes thinking I would be walking into a living stereotype, but boy was I wrong! So instead of a post about what I did in Mexico I am going to write about some of my favorite memories.

Tom with baby turtle, Tecoman, Mexico

The turtle camp by the Pacific Ocean: It’s hard to describe the feeling of scooping up baby turtles as the sun sets behind the expansive Pacific Ocean and then releasing them into the sea, it’s incredible. Although only one in a hundred make it to adulthood, you can’t but help to root these little guys on as they try their hardest to make it into the sea. Coming from New York City where it is basically impossible to see the stars, I saw the clearest stars I have ever seen while gazing up at the sky around 1:30 AM after patrolling the beach for turtles with the crashing surf lulling me to sleep.

Some more memories after the jump

Daniel with kids, Guadalajara, Mexico

The Staff: As a former volunteer and now an employee, I have always known that Projects Abroad staff members are one of our greatest resources but it was great to finally meet all of the staff in Mexico (Marco, Daniel, Jonatan, Jery Lee, Chava and Carlos) and they couldn’t have been more hospitable. It is no wonder that there are so many happy volunteers in Mexico since the staff does such a great job of showing everyone around and making you feel welcome and comfortable in Guadalajara. Gracias, amigos!

The Tacos!: Anyone who thinks that the slop they serve at Taco Bell are real tacos, you need to get down to Guadalajara or anywhere in Mexico stat! I have never had tastier tacos than the ones I have had in Guadalajara. On every street corner you can find a taco stand that will serve you up a warm, soft corn taco(s) with different fillings and topped with whatever kind of salsa you would like and a little squeezed lime if you want it. The fillings range from carne asada to more exotic ones like cactus and cow’s tongue. It’s a little taste of heaven.

Orozco Murals: One of Mexico’s best known artists, Jose Orozco, has some of his most famous murals in Guadalajara. Walking into the neoclassical buildings of the Hospicio Cabanas, you expect to see the paintings typical of a chapel but instead you see the dark, fiery and arresting images of a modern world soaring above you. It is definitely real interesting stuff and every volunteer gets to see them at least once since a visit to the Cabanas is included in the volunteer’s induction.

Suzi, a huge fan of Mexico and Central America, recently visited our team in Guadalajara, Mexico and was kind enough to send along a post, enjoy!

Hola from Mexico.

I’m currently in Guadalajara, the hub of our Mexico programme. I love Mexico so much, I could quite happily stay here for a few months. It’s great getting back into the language, the food and catching up with all our Mexico staff, many of whom have visited us in the UK. However, I´ve also ended up speaking some French this visit, as one of the Spanish teachers here is currently giving Marco the Mexico director and some of our other staff French lessons four times a week at 8am, they must be keen! We have several French and Swiss volunteers here at the moment, so it is useful for the staff to expand their language skills.

I’m here doing some staff training and taking the chance to visit some of our Mexico placements and meet some of the volunteers. On Monday I went along with Daniel to take a new volunteer to the Animal Care project. I couldn’t believe how many different types of animals they care for, they have raccoons, warthogs, eagles, snakes, iguanas, owls, parrots, spiders and the cutest tiny deer, that hops around the site. It’s awful that so many of the animals are bought as pets when they are tiny and cute, then are abandoned once they grow bigger. The volunteers are certainly kept busy helping look after them all.

Yesterday I also went to visit our Arts and Crafts project which is currently focusing on working with ceramics. The volunteers have a monthly schedule which takes them through all stages of production from learning how to make simple tiles to hand painting designs on the finished tiles, basins or signs.
We also called in at one of our Care placements, a centre for children whose parents are in prison. The centre is run just like an orphanage and is home to all ages of children from babies to teenagers. The kids were incredibly friendly with the toddlers instantly wanting to be picked up and I had fun with a group of girls who must have been about ten, who wanted to see my blue eyes, then thought they were only blue as I wear contact lenses - the idea of wearing clear contact lenses so I can see, seemed to be a new one!

I´m leaving Mexico this afternoon, to fly on to Costa Rica. So whilst I’m sad to leave the team here and miss the legendary salsa night that staff and volunteers go to each Thursday, I’m looking forward to meeting Luis our Costa Rica director and experiencing some Pura Vida in Costa Rica - will let you know what it’s like!

Suzi