New Year's Eve 2009

End of the year 2009! What can I say except that it has been quite a year one full of adventures and changes! Started 2009 living in our van and we are ending it living in our van. Meanwhile we have moved out of our house, moved 3 times in Mexico and have been staying with family and friends since September. 2010 should be interesting.

And the beat goes on

We have been back in the states now for about 2 months. And we are still visiting family and friends. It has been great to see everyone so far and we look forward to seeing more. Being back with no house, destination, "cosas", or time limits has been freeing and frustrating. There are so many possibilities for places to relocate and we are torn about where to be or whether to "be" anywhere. I feel a little like a hummingbird hoovering around trying to decide where the best flowers are. It took a while to decide about the Peace Corps and I think it will take a while to decide where to land again.
We have visited family in Arkansas, family in Michigan,friends and doctors in Indiana, friends in Florida and family in Texas so far. Been hiking and biking, even alligator sighting. Next we are off to visit Anne's sister and soon to be 98 year old mother in Arizona.
Sooooo in the meantime look for us here, there and everywhere.

Personal reconnect

Hugs from grandchildren
Newest one just arrived Kyla Patricia Moll 10/01/09
Driving again
Completing projects
Sewing again
Cell phones
Grilled steak
shopping for clothes that fit
Fond memories of Mexico

Over and Out again!

Well, we are still over 60 and probably still out of our minds but our service in the Peace Corps is over and we are out of Mexico. It has been a hard decision but a lot of events have lead us to terminate our Peace Corps experience early. We have learned a tremendous amount and would not trade the experience for anything.

What we know is:

• people all over the world are alike
• we all just want the best we can achieve in life
• good friendships last forever and
• there is a time for everything.
  

We look forward not backward and hope to see all the friends we have, both new and old, in the near future.
We will continue to blog as we resettle.

Final days in Tehuacan

We observed some interesting events in Tehuacan these last few days. We watched the fireworks and the parade, saw both museums and went to a movie. Here are some thoughts:
1. Watch out for the mime in the square, he might just steal your wife away.

2.Walking after dark is more comfortable, but also more peligroso (dangerous) as you can't see where the dog left his "deposit".
3. When a large tree branch breaks in the zocalo, how many machetes does it take to chop it up? or how much gas is there in the chain saw?
4. If the place you are planning to stay is out of gas and has no water, what should you do?
5. "Taking the dog for a walk" has a new meaning if you carry the dog. Then who is really getting the exercise?
6. There are some really delicious appetizers out there. (jitomate, aquacate, queso, crema de queso y oliva)

Dia de la Independencia en Mexico

This week Mexico celebrated their day of Independence. Next year 2010 there will be a mega celebration of 2 Independences for Mexico 1810 and 1910. A lot of planning has been going on toward that event so we did not know what to expect this year. As luck would have it we are in Tehuacan and happened to go to the Zocalo Tuesday night to see what was going on. Found a table at a restaurant on the square and watched the crowd. Lots of street vendors selling all kinds of Independence Day cosas. Everything decorated in rojo, blanca y verde! Lights everywhere! reminded me of New Years' Eve in NYC. Then at 11 pm the cathedral bells rang and the fireworks began. It was spectacular!











The next morning we took a walk to get some breakfast and low and behold we found ourselves at the staging center for the parade. That was fun too. Watched most of it and were surprised at the number of schools who have drum and bugle corps. Seems they start young learning to play instruments. And use whistles to keep in step. Sorry no pictures of that part. It was neat though. One school was dressed up to depict the history of Mexico.

Last weekend in Oaxaca

Eric, Jen, Anne and Roger
Roger, Anne and Cole
Chiles en Nogada
Margaritas Grande
Arbole del Tule
10% the MX-PCV's in one place! Chris, Cole, Maggie, Anne, Roger and Stacey



Our last weekend in Oaxaca.
The last three weekends we have traveled to Oaxaca (an easy trip for us) and met up with some of our fellow volunteers to explore the city and the area. It has been great to see our friends and taste good food, see interesting sights and collect the necessary hand crafts for which the artisans are known.

And the rains came down

Well, it is rainy season down here in south central Mexico and now we know where the water comes in!!! Heavy rains each of the last 7 days and we are hoping to escape any real water inside the apartment. So far it is just creeping in under the door and staining the ceiling. Good thing!

Funny things

1. If you don't have a cell phone, it is acceptable to stop in front of a person's apartment and honk til they come out or until you decide they aren't coming, then you might try to get someone to let you into the courtyard so you can knock on the door. Or if you can't do that try throwing rocks at the windows. However it takes a pretty good throwing arm!
2. When you lose your cell phone and your computer gets stolen, you don't have to communicate with anyone! Just show up and hope they are there.
3.There is tortilla delivery 24/7. They run their noisy motorcycles up the street every 15 minutes from 4 am until 7am and other times too. Who, I ask is eating tortillas at that hour?
4.To start your engine coast as far down hill as you can before popping the clutch, it saves lots of gas, oh, but don't turn off the engine if you are not on a hill, it might not start again. That includes dump trucks.
5.NOT all trucks are meant to carry tall Americans.
6.After school band practice: go drum line! you rock!

Anniversary Weekend

We spent last Friday getting our FM3 visas picked up. It struck me odd that here we were signing 4 documents that have changed our lives on the same day we signed our marrige certificates 38 years ago that also changed our lives!
Here are some pictures:
We had our shoes shines! You can't be in Mexico and NOT get a shoeshine in the zocalo!
We watched a "parade" complete with fireworks, we visited a convent/museum and looked down on the "jardin de nativos".
We ate Pizza for dinner!
We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing, walking around, seeing some sights and even enjoyed getting caught in the RAIN!!!
Some other thoughts:
1.Today's adventure was if the truck makes it up the hill, will the brakes would hold going DOWN?
2.If you fill the gullies with garbage will it eventually stop the erosion?
3.Living in Mexico is HARD work.

Art Gallery

We have added an art gallery to our apartment walls complements of our almost 4 year old and 2 year old grand daughters. Can't beat that for priceless!

R and R at the conference




B. Ball and V.Ball


And Rock and Roll

Ex-Hacienda de Castillo

Just Pictures
Ex-Hacienda de Castillo






























Security- peep hole and door lock

Adventures in traveling

We had an opportunity to try out the bus system from our small community this past week. We had a conference to go to in Queretaro, which is a state capital so has a large bus terminal. Our town however has a SMALL one. there are 6 buses a day that stop here. 3 go north 3 go south. The times are very early, mid day and very late. In order to make connections in the bigger cities, it might mean leaving at the crack of dawn, traveling on an overnight bus or a layover in another city. Logistics, right?! So, thinking we had a ride to the conference from Tehuacan, we left Saturday so we could attend a Quince-anos (15th birthday party) in Tehuacan on Saturday night. All went well. The bus to Tehuacan dropped us at the "autopista" or highway, we walked up the exit ramp and caught an inbound "city" bus to the mall. From there we caught another bus to downtown. The party was lovely and we spent a relaxing Sunday in conversation with family on SKYPE.
Monday we arrived at the office to catch our ride to Qro. and after about an hour found out the person wasn't going to the confernece! Now we needed to get to the big bus station and make the trip from there on 2 routes. Got a ride, made the bus connections just fine, got a cab and arrived at the conference before dinner. Challenge one accomplished!!
The conference was like any other conference. Presentations, round table discussions, more presentations......ONLY IN SPANISH! To say I was lost most of the time is an understatement! I did get the jist of it though especially when I realized I had become the person responsible for getting a piece of information to EVERYONE else! And I hardly opened my mouth.
So, knowing the trip home required some exact timing to catch the bus from Tehuacan, we left the conference Thursday afternoon and went to the station. No problems, made good connection and arrived late in Teh., got a room and had a good nights' sleep. Left for the Autopista at 10 thinking the buses were at 11, 12 and 1. Well, busdriver #1 said, NO we don't stop there. Wait for "otra autobus". Starting to get a bit anxious as the clock ticked and no bus. Finally another bus stopped and kind of agreed to go into our community. We did get "home" at 2 pm. Only 24 hours. I think that might be good by volunteer standards!

We have spent most of the last 2 weeks walking around our community and trying to observe the issues they face and process how we might respond. The soil erosion is deep and widespread. Some in the community are working on planting trees and practicing better farming methods.

Meanwhile there is this restoration of the 400 year old convent which is a work of art in progress all by itself! We like to go watch the stone masons carve the stone with a hammer and chisel! There is a small museum inside the restored part that shows the pictures to-date of the work. The restoration began in 1998 based on the information that we have viewed and there remains years of work before it is complete.

We attended our first "XV aniversario" last night. It is the 15th birthday of young girls in Mexico. Unfortunately we FORGOT our camera! Duh! So sorry, no pictures.
It was quite the event! It began in the church with a beautiful service and words from the priest to follow your heart and listen to your parents. That could be a conflict in one's life. I think it means what our parents told us, "give your children roots AND wings".
Following the service we went to a reception hall for toasts, music, conversation and finally "cena" (dinner) by that time it was 9:30 or 10pm. We left at 12:30 still waiting on the cake, oh well I did not need those calories! The music was loud but exuberant. It was much like an American wedding and probably costs the same.

Things to know

Chiles in the market in Oaxaca






Dental floss is the new duct tape! I have found it can do amazing things. I used it to tie up the shower caddy, hang a new light pull for the bathroom light AND find it is standard operating procedure for replacing the chain in the toilet when it breaks. Oh yeah and you can clean your teeth with it. I recommend using it that way first.

We acquired a USB for our computer, after jumping through many hoops this week, and sort of have internet connection from our apartment now. It is slow and somewhat unpredictable, but workable. We can skype talk to our family but no video. Always good to hear their voices! Ah the "frustracion o desesperacion" of technology!

Apoala

Got the chance to go to Apoala this week. We hiked DOWN to the falls and what an awesome sight. However remember what goes down MUST come up! It was very tiring for two oldies! But worth the trip. Anyone wanting to visit, let us know. There is also a canyon the other direction and a cave with antique paintings (from the Mixtec that populated the area I think). We did not take that hike huff, puff!!!!

Esta un verde valle con cabanas bonita por durmiendo y guias por su experiencia especial. El lugar es una hora y media donde nuestras casa.

There are remants of pre-hispanic terraces and some are still in use in the valley.

Home Sweet Home

Here are some pictures of our new place. Eat your heart out Martha S.

Patio hammock
Great room








Study



Master bedroom




Guest bed

Settling in
Peace Corps calls it settling in but I think Creative living might be more like it.
We are finally in a place of our own and making it home. Here are some short thoughts.
Curtains out of sheets (they match!)
Bread toasted on a gas flame
Laundry done by hand in 3 buckets with cold water
Wooden crates for end tables
Buying only the immediate needs
Cambio, cambio, cambio

Our move was actually pretty smooth considering we got started about 2 hours late because we had to wait for a second vehicle to move it all. Got all but 2 items in and they arrived on Monday. After getting some supplies and ordering 2 tables, scouting the community, checking bus schedules and finding an internet café on Sunday, we headed for Oaxaca City on Monday morning to do the necessary cambio de domicilia (address change) ONLY to find out the office was closed because of a festival! Who would have thought?? So we explored the Monte Alban, the market found a hotel, checked out the festival and stayed the night. Early Tuesday, back to Migration and another stumbling block! Not the correct letters. Found an internet café and made changes, got addresses, and breakfast and returned to Migration at noon. Finally got the paper work mostly corrected and were given permission to bring the last piece when we return in 2 weeks to get our visas back! Headed back home. It is challenging but not impossible to travel to Oaxaca from here and it did not require getting off the bus on the highway, it is however a little expensive. We have yet to figure out how to get here from the north.
On the way back we encountered a HAIL STORM! That was weird!
Tuesday we sent Stacey back by bus and Roger went to the field while I caught up laundry (Well started to, the clothes line is not long and I am doing it in small amounts).

Last week in Tehuacan

Red tape! It seems that even here, renting an apartment requires a certain amount of paper work! We are trying hard to get a place rented and moved into in the next week or so. Patience! and a little Scarlet O'Hara goes a long way. (I'll think about that tomorrow).
In the meantime we spent the weekend collecting items we will need to get settled. In some ways that is fun, in some ways it is a hard work! Knowing we will be walking away from everything we get now when we leave in 2 years requires much thought. Plus the space is more "college dorm" like than "house".

Just when you think everything is at a stand still, something moves again. We made a trip to Tequixtepec this week and went in search of palma trees that the women use for weaving different things. It was 15 km by truck and 40 minutes up the mountain side. I didn't know I would need to be a mountain goat! We even had a picnic Mexican style. Here are some pictures. The white dot in the middle of the last picture is our truck.