NEVADA, MO TEAM (BOTTOM ROW: ME, RAUL (MEXICAN COORDINATOR), LUPE (BRICKLAYER), DIANA (ANOTHER VOLUNTEER)
ESPINOSA FAMILY IN THEIR NEW ROOM (BEATRIS, NEIGHBORS JOSUE & ANNETTE (studying to be lawyer, works with HR in las fabricas/manufacturing plants), baby Yatzri 14 months, her grandma Betty, mother of Yatzri- Cristina (23), Cristina's sister, Michelle (red shirt, 10 yrs old, Betty's daughter), little neighborhood boy who likes HotWheels
Yesterday was the first despedida as the Missouri team headed to the beach and then back on home. Before I said my good-byes I did some magazine swapping and the facebook name exchange....
My plans to get up and run were thwarted by heavy eyelids, after breakfast I needed time to digest and before the heat could really start to bear down (giving me a real excuse not to exercise) something amazing happened- the skies opened up and it started to rain. I didn't think that was possible here, but apparently it does happen on the occasion. SO instead I sorted toiletries and men's clothes which we brought back to Casa Migrante. I read on the couch and proceeded to fall asleep, twice. Is that what you do when you're retired? Sometimes it seems too hot to do anything else.
Later I delivered some manicotti and apple crisp to the Espinosa family who's house we had worked on last week. They were kind enough to make the group tostadas, tamales con pollo and lastly a surprise, flautas! The way I chat things up in the kitchen I tried some flautus de atun (tuna instead of chicken) and sopita de melon (a soup that is named for the beans which look like melon seeds, but really it has more of a tomato base). When Beatrice and her mother found out I was here without mother or salary they invited me over for dinner so we will be finding many excuses for which to celebrate from now on. We will have the next group tie rebarb for their ceiling because right now they have no roof and we don't want to leave the room unfinished for the rest of the summer. Hopefully this will be completed soon.
TWO NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN, BETTY'S SON EDGAR, BETTY: testing out apple crisp
We also checked out the tianguis (which KT you'd love, it's thrift store shopping at its best- outside, good food nearby and you can make purchase by the kilo or simply 5 pesos a piece. I walked away with some fun shirts and orange flip flops. The grandmother on the site insisted I try on a pair of army cargoes (after I work the same green pair to the construction site, covered with cement and salsa) and although they are probably made for a 6th grade boy, they fit, albeit a bit short...
We also spoke about the time Beatrice had crossed the river into the United States. Both her children were born there but only attended school there for about two years. I know many Mexicans who have crossed into the US so their children can be born there and obtain citizenship, however many of these families have since then returned to Mexico because it's too difficult and dangerous to survive without papers. She said she came with the clothes on her back and a dry pair to change into after crossing the Rio Brahva/Grande. Three to a tube there were approximately 5 other people she crossed with, but almost didn't make it. She was pulled underneath but fortunately pushed back up to the surface and made it across. Once on the American side she was lucky to be held back by a friend before a migra truck passed right in front of them. A generous homeowner invited them in where they were able to bathe and offered some soup and directions on where to make a phone call. Beatrice crossed when she was about 42 and stayed for 3 years. Her mother, who has seventy-pico anos crossed 5 years ago and remained for 3. Now she jokes she won't cross again because the alligators snap at her feet.
Beatrice much preferred the US educational system for her daughter, Michell who enjoyed learning English. Many times here with inscription fees, uniforms, schools materials and 'supposedly' voluntary donations (they won't provide grade completion certificates if money is not received) school fees are too much to provide schooling for one child let alone 4 or 5.
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