End of 2011 Wrap-Up

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

My last month of 2011 was spent...

...Celebrating Christmas in San Diego (after crossing the border from Tijuana) with the Newman/Moore Family:

Dylan in his "lucha libre" mask (gift from Mexico):

...At a Pre-Christmas Celebration with the Access Students in Puebla: ...At a Hanukkah Celebration at the Benjamin Franklin Library (courtesy of Brenda and Rachel, my fellow "half-breed" colleagues): ...Giving a Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop at Universidad Regional del Sureste in Oaxaca: ...Enjoying the visit of my good friends from Colorado/Guatemala (Haviland, Ken, and Sam) and celebrating the annual Virgen de Guadalupe Pilgrimage:

I Am Thankful For...

1. Getting to spend another year in this endlessly fascinating country.

2.. Having the opportunity to work with incredible teachers (like these in Frontera, Tabasco).

3. Watching the joy in my brother and his wife Nicole's faces when meeting the US Ambassador (before taking a "Green Bike Ride" through the streets of Mexico City, sponsored by the Embassy).

4. The Diego Rivera Murals at the Palacio Nacional.

5. Celebrating an early Thanksgiving in Richmond (VA) with my parents and grandparents, and...

6. ...Being there at the peak season for Fall colors. Simply breathtaking!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Back in Mexico...

...Since the end of August. Sorry I haven't had a chance to post anything since then, but I hit the ground running once I got here, and am finally coming up for air!

S0me of the highlights from September and October include:

* Re-connecting with my colleagues at the Benjamin Franklin Library (Brenda, Michael, Jose Manuel, Elenita, Claudia, Rachel, etc).

* Eating fresh mangoes again.

* Being the keynote speaker a conference at Universidad de la Mixteca in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca.

* Having lunch in Mexico City with 2 of my Peace Corps volunteers from Bolivia, Jana and Mike.

* Giving a workshop on Service-Learning in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.

* Getting a private tour of the world-famous Anthroplogy Museum in Mexico City.

* Presenting on Human Rights Education at a conference in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur.

* Seeing the "alibrijes" and all the colorful "altares" for Dia de los Muertos. (Getting a day off!)

* Volunteering at the Embassy for their annual "Trick or Treat" Halloween extravaganza.

* Welcoming my brother and sister-in-law to Mexico, and touring the city until we couldn't walk anymore. (They even got to meet the US Ambassador while taking an Embassy-sponsored "green" bike ride around town.)

* Making some new friends and contacts.

Some of the bummers:

* Having to renew my visa and dealing with the dysfunctional Mexican bureaucracy.

* Not being allowed by the US Embassy to travel to Michoacan due to security issues.

* Not getting to see mi amigo Michael Dean when he came to DF.

I am heading to the US (Richmond, Virginia) next week for a family reunion and early Thanksgiving. After that, I have trips to Tabasco, Oaxaca and Puebla to look forward to before the holidays are upon us again. How time flies!

Hasta Luego!

20 things I did on my summer vacation...

Llama Trek to Thunder Lake:

Santa Fe:

Colorado Wildflowers:

Pancake Breakfast with the Stephens Family in Golden:

Rafting with the Lopez's on Clear Creek:

Yurt Trip to Golden Gate Canyon With Brett:

Weekend in Breckenridge:

At Arts Festival in Boulder with Mom:

1. Spent quality time with friends & family in beautiful Colorado.

2. Attended many art and music festivals.

3. Hiked through fields of wildflowers in the Rockies.

4. Celebrated Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

5. Went whitewater rafting along Clear Creek Canyon, guided by brother Mike.

6. Spent a weekend in Breckenridge maintaining trails with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.

7. Hung out with friends Brett and Mike in a yurt in Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

8. Trekked with llamas to Thunder Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park to spread the ashes of my dearly-departed friend, John. Saw a black bear in the middle of the ceremony!!

9. Took care of Mom after her shoulder surgery.

10. Ate great food with Luis/Noelle, Nicole/Ethan, Sandy, Milly/Gladis, Lynn/Mike, Jenn, the Bloom's, Ellen/Scott, the Fagan family, David/Shai/Aliza, Stevan/Mark, Cathy/Kelly/Lucas, the Faye Family, Lisa/Kendall/Kerri/Kim, Susan/Nate, Harriet/Susan/Peter/Denise, and Phil/Greg.

11. Caught up with Anne (while listening to Wendy Woo) at the Boulder Brewing Company.

12. Ate blueberry pancakes and watched the Buffalo Bill Days Parade with the Stephens Family.

13. Watched fireworks on the 4th of July over Lake Dillon from my brother's boat.

14. Bought a new computer.

15. Celebrated my 43rd birthday eating Vietnamese food with Haviland, Ken and Sam.
16. Spent a week in Washington, DC training new State Department Fellows.

17. Took Mom to see the play "A Touch of Spring" at Miner's Alley Playhouse.

18. Led an outing to Windy Saddle Park for the Sierra Club.

19. Stocked up on "essential supplies" (trail mix, hummus, wheat thins, magazines, peanut butter, chai tea, red licorice, M & M's, and thai noodles).

20. Re-charged my batteries!

Now I'm back in Mexico - and ready to embark on another intensive year of travel & teacher training. In the next 2 months, I am looking forward to trips to Los Cabos (Baja Sur) and San Cristobal de las Casas (Chiapas) - as well as a visit from my brother and his wife.

Onwards! Seguimos Adelante,

Daniel