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

MAY HIGHLIGHTS AND NEXT STEPS

With less than a month left in my Fellowship here in Mexico, I am starting to wrap things up before taking a much-needed break at "home" in Colorado for the summer. I only have 3 more workshops to present (to Veracruz, Atlacomulco and Pachuca) - and then I am done!

Overall, this experience has been wonderful. The past 9 months have been filled with many interesting travels, friendly people, and fascinating cultural offerings. For these reasons, I have decided to renew my contract with the US Embassy in Mexico while I wait to be "called up" to DC for my training as a Foreign Service Officer...So, come September, I will return for another round as Senior Fellow at the US Embassy/Benjamin Franklin Library in DF. I look forward to exploring this amazing country some more - while continuing to train teachers throughout.

Start planning your visit now - Mi casa es su casa!

Ciao for now,

Daniel

"FERIA DE CULTURAS AMIGAS" IN MEXICO CITY

(featuring my friend Tim and his bluegrass band!):

BRENDA AT THE US EMBASSY'S BOOTH:

BIKE RACE IN FRONT OF ANGEL MONUMENT:

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, CHIAPAS:

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, CHIAPAS:

SEMANA SANTA MEXICANA

HAPPY EASTER! FELIZ PASCUA!

Last week, a good friend of mine from college (Janine) came to visit. Together, we took a road trip to explore the beautiful colonial towns of Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende (about 3-4 hours by bus from Mexico City)...Needless to say, lots of eating, shopping, and laughter ensued!

MANZANILLO PHOTOS

Las Hadas Resort (where the movie "10" was filmed)...Simply Breathtaking!!!

TLAXCALA PHOTOS

MAZATLAN SUNSET - March 13, 2011

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

Los padres Lopez visitan a Mexico!

Puebla Fountains

After returning to Mexico from our Mid-Year Conference in Costa Rica, I was forced off the road for a bit due to health issues. I had minor surgery on my right eye (a growth removed) which made it impossible to stand in front of an audience without looking like a pirate. Luckily, I am fully recovered now, and very happy to report that the medical services here are excellent (not to mention MUCH CHEAPER than in the U.S.).

My biggest work project this month was creating a series of Webinars to train teachers in remote areas of the country (or ones in which the US Embassy forbids us to travel). Yes, that's right, Daniel has gone viral! My first live broadcast, on the topic of "Assessing the Needs of Your Students", was a huge success. I will do 3 more in the months to come. To see the recorded version, click on the link below:

https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/p39898517/

I also gave a workshop on "Teaching About American Culture" to 17 young, bright-eyed Fulbright English Teaching Assistants from Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. (It seems like only yesterday when I was walking in their shoes in Ecuador - but it was actually 18 years ago!)

Along with the rest of my "team" in the RELO office, I took 2 day-trips to Puebla and Pachuca to inaugurate the Microscholarship Access programs there. (These are enrichment classes for disadvantaged youth, and in my opinion, one of the best things the US Embassy sponsors.)

On the personal front, my parents were in town all last week. Together, we explored the sights, ate lots of good food, shopped in the markets, sipped cocktails on my terrace, and went to see the Ballet Folkorico (a "must see" - direct quote from Jack). They even volunteered to attend a meeting of the English Conversation Club at the Benjamin Franklin Library. (Dad mistakenly thought he was there to practice his Spanish, though.) They are back home in Hilton Head now, spreading the word to all their friends that Mexico is nothing like what is reported in the news...During their time here, they never once felt unsafe and didn't even get attacked by Montezuma's Revenge!

Playing tour guide has run me ragged, but I'm still looking forward to the upcoming visits of my good friends, Dana Flor (tonight!), Luis and Noelle (at the end of March), and Janine (hopefully, for Cinco de Mayo). I will also resume my busy travel schedule soon, with trips coming up to La Paz/Los Cabos (Baja California), Mazatlan, Manzanillo, and Tlaxcala. (I know, rough gig, eh?)

Spring is definitely in the air, the purple jacaranda trees are in full bloom, and time is whizzing by!

Hasta el Proximo,

Daniel