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

RANDOM PHOTOS FROM JANUARY 2011

Michael and Bardo's Visit to Mexico City:

Frida Kahlo's House in Coyoacan:

TOT Workshop in Cancun:

Workshop in Ciudad del Carmen:

Horschman Family in Atenas, Costa Rica:

BRINGING IN 2011 IN PUERTO VALLARTA!

FELICES FIESTAS!!

(Access students in Oaxaca and I wish you Season's Greetings!)

After almost 3 months of constant travel, I finally get a break! I am looking forward to spending Christmas and New Years in Mexico City. (My good friends Michael and Bardo are coming down from the US to keep me company. Que bien!) On January 2nd, we will fly to Puerto Vallarta for a few days of R & R at the beach…Then the “teacher-training road show” begins again with trips to Cuidad del Carmen, Cancun, and San Jose (Costa Rica) all during the first month of 2011.

May your holidays be filled with much love & joy,

Daniel

Views of Puebla:

The RELO Office Staff (Brenda, Jose Manuel, Kitty and I):

Where's Waldo (I mean Daniel)? Somewhere among the Access Students at FES-Acatlan! (We were celebrating Thanksgiving.)

Tree in Oaxaca:

VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910 with an uprising led by Francisco Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Diaz. The movement was characterized by socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist and agrarian expressions of malcontent. Over time, the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order to all-out civil war, eventually producing the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The Revolution triggered the creation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929 (later renamed the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, in 1946) which held power until the general elections of 2000. On this centennial anniversary, Mexicans all around the country are pouring into the streets to commemorate the special occasion through demonstrations, patriotic speeches, and by dressing up in “guerrillero” outfits (sombreros, ponchos, large moustaches, rifles, and silver bullets criss-crossing their chests).

Professionally, I have been traveling quite a bit lately. (Most recently, giving teacher-training workshops in Villahermosa and San Luis Potosi, and presenting at the annual MexTESOL conference in Cancun - see photos below). The next two weeks will be spent in Mexico City (DF), however, preparing for upcoming trips to Puebla and Oaxaca.

Many of you have asked where to send holiday cards/gifts, so here is the Embassy’s pouch address (if you feel so inclined):

C/o Kitty Johnson
PAS/RELO/BFL
PO Box 9000
Brownsville, TX 78520-0900

FYI - Only domestic US postage is required. Also, put MY name in the return address, since this is officially my boss’ diplomatic address. And ABSOLUTELY NO LIQUIDS OR POWDERS! (Trail mix and M & M’s are most certainly allowed, though! Ha!)

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS & ALIBRIJES

For Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Mexican families honor their deceased loved ones by creating altars in their homes. They put out food, drinks, toys, candy, ceramics, and lighted candles to beckon the dead to return on this special occasion. The offerings include things representing every natural element: water, earth (fruits), air (cut up pieces of paper that are dispersed by the wind) and fire. The altar may also display candy skulls (“calaveras”) with the names of the departed written on their foreheads. The custom supposedly dates back to the various indigenous cultures in Mexico: Aztecs, Mayas, Olmecs, etc.

On October 31st at midnight, bells ring in cemeteries all over the country so the disoriented souls can find their way home, guided by paths of candles & bright orange marigolds, and the scent of “copal” (incense). On the night of November 1st, the bells ring again to call the spirits back to rest. The cemetery doors are then shut and the feast begins. Banquets include everything from “pozole” (corn with beef, chicken, pork and spices) and “mole” (special chocolate sauce) to “chiles rellenos” (stuffed peppers) and “dulce de calabaza” (pumpkin dessert). “Pan de muerto” is also served – a delicious sweet bread baked in a circular shape to represent the cycle of life & death. And of course a bottle of tequila or mezcal to wash it all down! Despite the seemingly morbid theme, it is actually a very joyful celebration.

The famous Mexican painter, Jose Guadalupe Posada, depicted the most famous representation of death, “La Cantrina”, as a skeleton dressed in elegant clothing of the Revolutionary era of the 1800’s. Modern popular art has created the amazing “alibrijes”, colorful figures combining mythical and political characters, which line the main avenue of Mexico City all this week (see photos below). How’s THAT for a quick lesson in Mexican culture?

Needless to say, this continues to be an endlessly fascinating place to be…Next I’m off to Cancun for a conference (and a large dose of US culture, I imagine!) Ciao for now!