First day in Chiapas, Mexico

Friday, March 5, 2010

Three girls, a beautiful city and one hell of a task – to take it all in!

We stared today’s Quest with a delicious breakfast and a list of directions around the breath taking city of San Cristobal de las Casas in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The three of us worked together to figure out these directions, find our way in an unfamiliar area, we worked together as a team and encouraged each other. We explored not only what was around us but what was inside of us.

We saw numerous of the beautiful churches and cathedrals around the city, spent time in a public library, purchased groceries in a foreign grocery store, walked through the peoples market and the Zocalo. We spoke with strangers, encountered street kids and even ran into mutual friends of people on the trip who we would later be introduced to. We tested ourselves in more ways than we knew and it wasn’t until we got back to the hotel and started talking about it that we started to see the big picture by connecting all the dots.

We did more than just ‘navigate around this city.’ When we sat down to talk about it at our debriefing session, as we like to call them, it took more than 3 hours. We talked about our challenges and our observations, what was difficult, what we saw, what we heard, three hours later we had talked about not only what we had encountered that day but what it all meant.

We talked about indigenous rights, colonization, NAFTA, the Zapatista’s, women’s rights, children’s exploitation, education, health, social justice, individuality and personal growth. It was a conversation at home we probably never would have started but here never wanted to end.

This task brought us together and metaphorically speaking, took us from standing in the field and seeing what was right in front of us to flying over it and seeing the big picture. We started to understand how everything is connected and what roles we play.

Today was exhilarating – so full of life, learning and growth. Not only as an individual but as members of an organization and as a team. In ways it was even more than that, the day was full of positivity and filled me with good energy to continue believing in the power of people and positive change.

On our Quest today we met another group of vibrant young people. We exchanged contact information and met up later in the evening.

They are a group of about 20 travelling from the United States to Costa Rica in two vans, a truck and are pulling a trailer. The group consists of young radical people from the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica, perhaps others but those we did not meet.

They are all members of a Christian organization called Youth With A Mission. Their goal is to bring supplies and equipment to a community center called Foundations of Community Development in San Jose, Costa Rica.

It was awesome to sit down with people, exchange stories and learn from one another's experiences. I find that on adventures such as this every encounter is special and holds a certain magic.


They were a great group of people and I wish them all a safe and happy journey, enriched with adventure and well being!

Early morning, short flight, pretty bus ride, new city and new adventures!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

There is something powerful about the women at the Abbey in Cuernavaca. Something about their purity and spirit always makes leaving difficult for me. After we enjoyed our last breakfast and loaded our bags into Neil’s dirty truck to be taken to the bus we all gathered together for one last photo and then met each other in a circle. We all joined hands and Sister Alejendra said a prayer for us. She wished us all a safe and happy journey, no matter of destinations and told us they would keep us in their thoughts and in their hearts. She thanked us for our laugher, eagerness to learn and for our youth. They said they were sad to see us go, and so were we. We hugged everyone goodbye and headed to Mexico City where the majority of the students would be heading back to the Toronto airport in Canada and myself, Lynne, Chrissy and Gary would be heading off to Tuxtla, Chiapas to start the next part of our journey.

With only minor complications, Melanie’s seat being dumped, Kristin having to take a separate flight, one member losing their Visa and a broken tequila bottle in a bag, everything went ‘smoothly’ and things were taken care of.

When we landed in Chiapas I was surprised to see the trees blowing in the mind. It was a windy day and not too hot. Long time friend of Gary’s and founder and director of Arthur Frederick Community Builders Paul Poirier was there to meet us with his van, it was a comfortably interesting sight to see an Ontario License plate on the back of a GMC van waiting in the parking lot. Paul and his wife Diane have drove to Mexico together, taking them eight days, and have been here since January.

The drive to our hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas we drove through winding roads overlooking valleys and hills of corn fields. We stopped at a stand beside the road to pick up some pop and chips and continued on. On the drive we discussed our last two weeks in Chiapas, different past experiences, mutual friends, some politics, controversy and things we will be doing during our stay.

We arrived at Hotel Baron de Las Casas, unpacked, had a bite, discussed tomorrow’s tasks and fell asleep. One thing I always find about ‘travel day’ is they are always long and exhausting. We were all in our rooms reading, writing or sleeping by 9:30 pm.

Our last night in Cuernavaca - a true Mexican Fiesta

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

When North Americans think about a night out or a party it usually consists of nice clothes, fancy cars, loud music, flashing lights, dance clubs, beer and booze. Today we did it a little differently.

For our last night at the Abbey members of the celebration committee got together and planned a fiesta of a life time. All members of Quest met in the dining hall around four o’clock and sat down with the Sisters of the Abbey and shared veggie trays and soda. Quest leaders and facilitators said thanks to the Sisters, to each other and to the group. We shared stories and jokes, laughed together and sat down to eat breakfast for dinner – something we thought the Sisters would find interesting and enjoy. It was fruit salad with French toast and bacon.


We had about an hour intermission for students to clean up the dining hall, do the dishes, do any last minute necessities and prepare for the second half – the talent show!


We all met again in the larger hall down by my room on the other side of the Abbey, to our surprise the Sisters had spent the day decorating. They had Canadian flags, and Mexican flags, sombreros and balloons. They had even set up a projector to share a slide show with a song of the different states of Mexico and their importance. Some of the girls in the group sang and so did the Sisters. Sister Guatalupe sang a song she performed in front of Pope John and all of Mexico. Other members of Quest danced, played the guitar, we even did camp games and two other Sisters performed a skit.



It was the most fun I’d had in a long time. To get such a great group of from different dynamics together to share such a special evening was phenomenal. Everyone was laughing and singing, sharing stories and making new ones. It takes a special group of people to get together and enjoy these activities as much as we did and I’m so grateful I was able to be part of it. Its times like these that strangers become friends and friends become family. I can honestly say I will miss the presence and company of every person in that room when Thursday comes and it is time to leave.

One blue rose

Written Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Today a close friend of ours and member of Quest lost a family member from home. Unfortunately she will no longer be able to join us on the rest of our adventure to Chiapas. This experience was not something anyone had expected and was not something anyone was prepared for.

Our professor told us that when someone passes, even if they are not related to you, it is natural for people to think of death and to remember people they’ve loved and lost. It’s difficult to explain the sadness one feels when they know someone they love is hurting and at loss.

Gary told us how when people pass their spirit stays on Earth for at least 24 hours and is present to anyone who is thinking of them and keeps them in their thoughts. He told us of how in Italy there are women who are actually professional weepers and they show up at funerals dressed in black and morn outrageously at the funerals. We talked about how some cultures have a wake and celebrate life.

Today was a day that changed many people’s lives and for them we mourned. For myself I thought of those in my life I love and have loved and how each individual have made my life that much richer.

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

That you can’t live without them

That their smile brightens your day and their beauty opens your soul

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

Their thoughts count

Their opinions matter and the world wants to hear them

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

That they’ve changed your world

Made it matter, made it count

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

They will never be forgotten

That they are thought of often and are always in your heart

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

That life isn’t always easy

It isn’t always simple

But it is ours, this we own and it is worth it

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

That you need them

Now and always

People make us stronger and pain makes things real

Tell everyone you’ve ever loved

Not to give up, not now, not ever

Because everyday

They touch someone’s world

Make someone smile

And make it all worth while

Tell them they’re loved.


I love you <3

A visit to Silver City

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Winding cobble roads, streets the size of sidewalks, constant honks of passing cars, beautiful cathedrals, shops on every corner, people of every colour, this is Silver City.

Taxco is a small city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It is the largest producer of silver in the world. There is a silver mine there where the silver is taken from the rocks, mixed, melted, shaped and sold.

Many people throughout Mexico and across the globe base their livelihood off the sales of silver while the rest of the world may be more concerned with where to get it. From a consumption point of view, Taxsco is a consumer’s delight. Silver on every corner, silver bracelets, silver necklaces, silver rings, silver rattles, silver cups, silver plates, silver toothpicks even silver lined and plated horse saddles.

Loyalist students and Quest participants planned a visit to this shiny city and paid a visit to the silver plantation where they learned about the creation process and how to tell real from fake.
“If it is shinny, supper shiny, it is probably fake,” they said. “Real silver is shiny but not compared to the fake and all real silver will be stamped somewhere with the percentage of silver, 9.75 means it is all real silver. The lower the number the higher the percentage of bronze mixed with the silver.”

Silver is flexible and not very sturdy and so it is mixed with copper to make it more durable. Many street vendors and stores will claim their silver to be real and sell it at a high prize, especially to tourists and new comers who are not familiar. In certain circumstances, the place where you purchase your silver can be extremely important because it is common for people to use stamps on their jewellery to claim it is still silver but it still may not be, or may only be silver plated.

“But not in Taxsco, here it is the real thing,” they said.

A night to remember

February 26, 2010 ---- catching up the past weeks blogs to start you all on new ones :) !!!!

Today after visiting with Kelly at Little Brothers and Sisters in a near by town of Cuentepec (for more information on this organization copy and paste the address below into a new window http://www.ideals.nu/?q=node/258 ) we met with Gary at Carol’s house for dinner. Carol is a good friend of Gary’s who he met many years ago during his adventures in Mexico. They’ve worked on many projects together, attended the same church and have become great companions over the years.

Carol says in her past she has lived many lives, she has been a school principal, a world champion triathlon champion, a social justice lawyer, a wife, a mother, a teacher and a friend.

She currently lives in Cuernavaca and works at a small English school for international students. Tonight we met with four of those students and discussed culture and language, hardships and friends, different housing systems and interests and desires. It was interesting to get such an incredible group of people from all different backgrounds around one table and see how much we actually have in common. We talked about life lessons, listening to people and helping others, about marketing and politics. We discussed our pasts and what we hope for our futures.
I feel that in every person there is a story waiting to come out and change the lives of those who hear it all you need is the time to tell it.

Together we explored Carol’s home, which is also a bed and breakfast, learned some of the history of Mexico through Carol’s art collection, met her massive dog named panda and her donkey Petunia. I took a moment to myself and went outside to sit and reflect. I looked at the sky with next to no stars and saw this big, beautiful house in front of me, listening to the voices and laughter of those inside.

This for me - the house, the laughter, the donkey, the art - was tangible proof that magic can happen if you follow your dreams.

It was a beautiful night.

A day with the Lopez family

A visit to VAMOS and a dinner out with the group!

Monday, March 1, 2010

As always, today was a learning experience and another opportunity for us to grow. Just as we did last year, the Quest group met with members of the Lopez family. The Lopez lives in a small village with no running water or toilets and all work as street vendors, selling jewellery and baskets. Each year Quest meets with this family to discuss their life circumstances, conflicts and experiences and to sell us their work.

Similar to last year we met in a public place and sat with the family. There was the father, mother their oldest son and his wife and children, their younger daughter, son and his wife and small child. Unlike last year I walked away from this experience feeling more frustrated and overwhelmed than empathetic. The family began by telling their story, same story as last year the only difference was it seemed that this time they were focused more on the negativity of their circumstances and offered small amounts to hope.

The father spoke of how neither he, his wife or daughters could read and how their entire family shares a one bedroom home with dirt floors and a tin roof in their small pueblo.

The oldest son spoke of how he had spent time in Canada working on a farm to make money for his family as many Mexicans do, but had to come home because of complications with his wife’s pregnancy. He spoke of how he can now no longer return because he has spots in his lungs and cannot afford treatment, he said he was hoping to pay for it with the money we spent on bracelets and jewellery but now could not because he didn’t think we were going to buy any.

Of course their situation is unfair and there is no doubt they live in sufferable levels of poverty, but there meeting with us this year definitely gave a different experience. This year they were invasive and pushy. They were handing things off to you and pressuring you to buy them. They would up the price and change them around, take the money and not return the change. At one point one of the daughters said to me, “please buy this so I can eat.”

Many member of the group did not feel comfortable with this for many reasons, some being we had already pre-ordered over 50 bracelets from them at 30 pesos each guaranteeing them at least that as a minimal sale. On top of that people were purchasing necklaces, baskets, hair wraps and rattles. Many members of the group had chosen not to buy off other families because they wanted to wait and give that opportunity of sale to the Lopez family. Many people felt that they were taking advantage of the situation by forcing people into things they didn’t want and that they were not respecting personal limits.

Other members of the group walked away with a deeper picture. They recognized the disparity in their actions and even though they didn’t enjoy or agree with the way they were presenting themselves and exploiting themselves and their children as useless, they recognized that for some this the way of life. In economic crisis and less and less tourists visiting they are desperate and none of us can say how we may or may not act if we were put in the same situation.

After the visit we went to see a non-profit organization called VAMOS. It is an organization working with street children in literacy, artisan skills, health and nutrition and among other things. We spoke with the director of the home in Cuernavaca, received a tour of the building and were introduced to the children. Many people agree this is a great organization who promote family inclusion and use a different systematic approach then organizations as Casa Hogar and Little Brothers and Sisters. VAMOS encourages families to stay together and work together. They offer meals for the children and mothers in the morning, health care and skills workshops. They have an open door policy and understand if and when the children come and go as they please.

This day was filled with many different things and people were given the evening off to process and reflect. A group of us went for dinner at a restaurant called Maninita’s. It was nice to sit down, relax and enjoy the company of the group. We discussed the day’s events and shared our opinions. For some people it was difficult to go out for dinner and spend money on an expensive meal when just that day they were faced with the Lopez family who have next to nothing. We were reminded of balance and how acknowledging the circumstances of others, respecting them and growing from them are different than taking them on and living them yourself.

Pequeños Hermanos y Hermanas

Day 8. Friday, February 26, 2010

“No child should go hungry,” Reverend William B. Wasson.

Pequeños Hermanos y Hermanas, or Little Brothers and Sisters, was created by Reverend William B. Wasson with the hopes that no child should suffer or go hungry because they are poor. It officially became an organization 55 years ago.

Little Brothers and Sisters is a non-profit group home for Mexican children whose parents are unable to take care of them or are orphaned. Although some children are put into the group home by their parents in hopes of a better future for their children, some children come from broken and abusive homes and have been sent by the state. There are currently 500 to 550 children being housed by Little Brothers and Sisters.

Little Brothers and Sisters has two houses in Mexico, five Loyalist College students met with an International Volunteer from the United States named Kelly for a tour of one of the homes.

Kelly explained that many of the children who have been sent here come from abusive families. Some were victims to prostitution, torture and child slavery and many arrive with social, mental and physical disabilities.

“Little Brothers and Sisters offers the children help, we have psychologists, sociologists, doctors, dentists, volunteers and teachers to work with the children in hopes of giving them a better future,” Kelly says. “Sometimes the children will choose to talk with us about their abusive pasts.... my response is always I am so sorry and I am here for you.”

The organization offers all 500 to 550 children free education, regular check-ups, self-esteem workshops and encourages them in sports and all other areas. The properties housing is inside a gated community with all school, dental, health, fitness and extracurricular activities on the premises including basketball nets, pools, soccer fields, play sets and an area for group bonfires and sing alongs.

The organization is self sufficient in the way that there is a farm on the property where they harvest their own corn and crops in the fields, grow fruits and vegetables, have ponds for fish and pens for pigs and goats. There are paid workers specifically for the farm and the volunteers and children are also given chores to help out where capable and necessary.

Kelly says the school has an open door policy, meaning once you have stayed at Little Brothers and Sisters you are a member of the family and are always welcomed back. There have been times where children decide they want to leave the home, usually around the age of 16 to 18 Kelly says, sometimes they will end up homeless and within a few months return. When this happens they are given a place to stay and accepted back into the group home community, they are given chores around the property like the rest of the group and volunteers and paid staff help them try to find work and let them stay until they are ready to leave again.

“We never leave our family out in the dark,” Kelly says.

Volunteers work closely with the children, teaching them English and playing smaller supervisor roles. Even though there are so many children Kelly says you make special connections with all of them and although everyone might not always get a long, it is like a family.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m a mother to over 30 children,” she says. “You can’t help but love them all.”

Little Brothers and Sisters receive the majority of funding from sponsors in the United States, Canada and across Europe. They also have numerous homes in other countries including Haiti, El Salvador, Peru and Guatemala.

A controversial issue that arises from this organization is the difference between being referred to as an orphanage or a group home, as some of the children still have parents and there for are not orphaned. Some people feel this is a marketing scheme and is not right. They feel that organizations such as this, and Casa Hogar, are fragmenting a system that has worked for years; family. They are taking children away from their mothers and fathers and putting them into a group home.

Others say it is giving these children an opportunity for a better life and a stronger future, one their parents could not offer without the support of this organization and organizations like it. Kelly says the children are the main priority, and although there is over 50 paid staff at some of the organization the focus is always on keeping the children happy and healthy.

“We really are brothers and sisters... we take care of each other and care about each other,” Kelly says. “Sometimes there are problems but these children are looking for love no matter what.”

The school also offers education to children living in squatter settlements outside of the gated community. They send buses to pick the children up from the garbage dump, now turned into a landfill, where they live and bring them to Little Brothers and Sisters each day where they are given the opportunity to shower, given something to eat and are part of the daily classes by trained educators.

Friends in beautiful places.

Day 9. Friday, February 25, 2010

Mountains, badgers, pizza, silver and car ride conversations ... what a good weekend!

Something I’ve always liked to do is get to know people living in the town I’m staying. When I was 18 and living in Europe I used a common website called CouchSurfing to help me find people in the area who are willing to get together, show us around and share the secrets of their city. Wonderful experience after the other, it was obvious why I kept going back. I used this with my best friend while backpacking through 10 different European countries and still have nothing but good things to say about the people I’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared.

Naturally I decided to check it out in Cuernavaca to see who was on and how popular it was in Mexico. To my surprise there were over 1,000 people signed up on the site in the town of Cuernavaca, Mexico. I did a refined search; female, close to the city center, etc.

This is where I found Aleta. A Mexican girl living in Cuernavaca who’s lived in Canada, speaks English and would love to meet new people! PERFECT! I messaged her telling her about myself, what I’m interested in, why I’m in Mexico, which days I’m available and my email.

Turns out she lived in Oshawa, Ontario for five months as an Au Pair, which is the town my father lives in and what I was doing living in Europe. She brought two friends and her boyfriend along and we headed to Tepoztlan which worked out since I had missed out with my group.

Like it usually is when you meet new people, the conversation is small and a little uncomfortable but this shortly ended. We grabbed a bite and as a group headed to the top of the beautiful mountain in this magic town.

Huffing and puffing me and my new friends did the trek, stopping for air and encouraging each other the whole way up.

“I remember it being easier last year,” I’d say laughing and half dying.

People would pass and then we would pass them, its a beautiful climb and something you have to do at your own speed. A friend of mine told me a life can be like climbing a mountain. You have to take it one step at a time, push yourself to the top but know your body and know when it needs a break to rest. If you just keep pushing and pushing and never stop you’ll get tired and you may not make it. But if it you take it slow and one step at a time you’ll make it.

Aleta and her boyfriend Sergio were behind us, one friend in front and Rodrigo and I in the middle. I’d stop and he’d reach for my hand and help me up. I’d stop and he’d wait. Two older women were headed on their way down, Rodrigo asked them if we were close.

“If they can do it...” he’d say.

“I can do it,” I’d laugh. And we would continue the climb.

Reaching the top of that mountain was one of the most rewarding feelings. Dripping with sweat we all sat down, waited for the others, had a look around, made jokes, took pictures and tried to figure out the English work for these badger-raccoon-mountain-creatures.

It was difficult to believe the pyramid at the top was once used by a culture of people we’d never meet. They’d wake with the sun as it’s light woke the city below from darkness telling the people a new day has arrived.

We slowly began the descend back to reward ourselves and confirm our new friendship with a bite and a beer.

Street Friends are made.

February 25, 2010

Walking up and down the crowded Mexican streets stopping to look at goods made by street vendors, who knew the adventure it would begin.

We paid them to do hair wraps for us and we got to talking and sat with them for a talk. By the end of the afternoon we had gathered a crowd of about 12-15 people around two tables in a crowded street.

Five Canadians. The rest Mexicans.

We were smiling and laughing and having fun, people wanted to be part of it. We made friends with the waiters, were invited to a beach house for lunch, sat with a young Mexican model, made friends with the street vendors, got invited to a concert, met two homosexual women, which was huge for Mexico because it is not looked upon with light eyes. We shared experiences and stories from home and traditions of our cultures. We exchanged contact information with most of them and perhaps will one day see them again.

We talked about culture and language, they asked why Canadians and Americans have tattoos on their feet.

“Nunca in Mexico,” Juan said.

We laughed.

We were given a card with a picture of a Saint, they said to keep it in our wallet or close to our heart. They warned us not all people in Mexico are friendly and we should be careful. They said the Saint would protect us.

It was refreshing to sit in the sun with a group of people and watch relationships change from strangers to friends. The best way to learn about Mexico is to emerge yourself in the culture, surround yourself with the people and open your soul.

When you do, the possibilities are endless and the experiences will last a life time.