Year two at the fair - impressed again

If you read the post 'impressed by an eight year old'(August,2009), you'll know that last year, we took 4 kids (2 kids from 2 families) to the fair in Antigua. I've since met all of the kids from both families and so our trip this year was with 7 kids.

It was a little more difficult this year to arrange because we needed to coordinate with the parents a day we could take them all together. What made it a logistical nightmare was that the older kids had to work (I'm talking about 11 and 12 year olds here selling ice cream and shining shoes)and so the weekends were not an option. During the week, the parents were OK with our taking them when they should be in school (only 2 go to school) but I wasn't. So we ended up settling for a Tuesday evening after school and a slow work day.

There's always something about these kids that impresses me. This time, when we arrived, all rides but two were stopped because the generator wasn't working and they'd had to go to Guatemala City for a new one. There were two manual rides where the operators physically spun them - a small ferris wheel probably no higher than 10 feet and a carousel - both really meant for children younger than the group we had.

Like last year, they were all allowed to select 2 rides. Since there were only 2rides available, and not the fun ones, I thought that they might prefer to leave and return the next day. I know kids are into immediate gratification and tomorrow may never come but what I expected was a little bit of sulking followed by agreement or disagreement. Well, no sulking and emphatic disagreement. They rode the carousel, threw their arms up in the air as if they were on a roller coaster and immediately settled into Plan B.

Lessons Learned during the rainy season

1) Do not get lulled into a false sense of security based on your prior year's experience. Just because last year's rainy season was unusually dry, remember that it actually rains and rains a lot during the season.

2) Make sure you have food in your house.

3) If you find yourself in the grocery store during a drizzle do not say "I'll go to the mercado tomorrow to buy my vegetables and fruits as I normally do” because it may rain, rain, rain - and you may not get to the market. See number 2.

4) Do not wait until the last minute to take a shower before needing to be somewhere. If the electricity goes out, you need enough time to allow your hair to dry naturally – especially if you are going somewhere where you need to wear a dress.

5) When the electricity does goes out and you think it's just that your lightbulb needs to be screwed in a little tigher, beware of your stress level so that you do not break it as you are tightening it. This is especially important if this is your last light bulb because you just broke one two days ago by knocking over your lamp during a breathing meditation.

6) Take your flashlight with you as you walk to the restaurant so that when the streetlights go out, you can find the stepping stones in the river that was the street.

7) Remember to laugh.

Who has lessons to share? Post your comments.

Too late to do what you were going to do.....

Sound Familiar? Last weekend, Antigua lost a Personaje - someone that is a part of the city - someone that everybody knows. Her name is Marcia and she died of peritonitis. Marcia was born with very short arms and non-functioning hands and feet. But, instead of finding her on the corner begging as most disabled people here do, you found her in the square, painting beautiful pictures with a paintbrush in her toes and a smile on her face.

Last month I said to myself "I am going to take a photo of her to share her inspiration with you and I'm going to ask her to paint me a picture".

I was "Going to do it ......". Another lesson learned many times over but not always lived.

Gina and Kris of San Antonio Aguas Calientes

Since returning, I've picked up where I left off and continued to visit the small local towns close to Antigua. Saturday, my new housemate, Gina, and I went to San Antonio Aguas Calientes. This is a town known for its textiles and embroidery.

You might think that since it has textile shops and is so close to Antigua that they would be used to tourists. You would be right. We barely entered the park when the children - OK, just one boy at this point, followed immediately by his friend - were climbing a cement structure in the plaza and asking to have their photos taken. Generally it's the other way around (No, I didn't mean it's usually the tourists who are climbing on the cement structures. I meant that it's generally the tourists asking if they can take the picture). I do not pass up requests for pictures since I like to share them with you. After the first picture, the rest of the kids came swarming. Kids are kids no matter where you go. They love to look at themselves in the camera.

After having a little fun with the young ones, we went into a shop and met Maximilliana. Gina and I weren't shopping but we enjoy looking at the craftsmanship and after talking with Maximilliana, she suggested that she dress us up as if we were from San Antonio and that we take a picture. This was honestly her idea, not ours. She dubbed us Gina and Kris of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. The headcloth protects your head from the sun and serves as a covering for church.

What a pleasant afternoon. In some way, I felt like the local townspeople were the tourists and we were the ones of interest. Maybe since they outnumbered us to the extent that they did on that day, things did shift a bit.



p.s. Maximiliana has six children ranging in age from 8 to 22 and every one of them is in school. That's so rare and absolutely fantastic to encounter.

Traditional Maya Ball Game

This past weekend I went to a local coffee finca to see a presentation of a traditional maya ball game - it was to benefit the organization ChocoGuateMaya.

The game is a combination of basketball, soccer and volleyball and dates back to at least 2500 B.C. It was the first sport in the history of humanity and central to the Maya religious beliefs. It is believed to be a reenactment of a myth where the Hero Twins had to battle the gods of death of the underworld by playing a ball game. The goal of the game was to pass the ball through the ring (top right picture) without using hands and feet - hips, thighs and forearms were allowed. It not only doesn't sound easy, it doesn't look easy, but I saw it with my own eyes.

There is disagreement as to whether the losers went to sacrifice and some even say the winners went to sacrifice. Neither sounds too appealing to me.

Things you see every day become normal, even when they shouldn't be

I came to Guatemala after learning that the average years of schooling in this country is four years and that 3 out of 10 children graduate the sixth grade. This is their normal. Niños del Lago is working to change that.

Niños del Lago is an educational recreational facility that gives children, who rarely see outside thier villages, the chance to experience first hand that their life is not the only life available to them. It may be the first time that the idea seeps into their being that it doesn't have to be this way.

Ninos del Lago works with the neediest children who don't have the resources to attend the public schools and are educated in local school programs offered through social development agencies. Unfortunately, many children end up leaving these classes. We incent them to stay in these schools by making it a requirement of our program. They return year after year as long as they stay in school and in their home programs and they take the lessons they learn at Camp Niños del Lago back to their peers in their community.

We're in our second year of major construction. Last year, I created the structure of the organization while Arlaine, our Founder, focused on construction. We completed cabin foundations, camp roads, roof structures and a storage facility. Together, with the help of our generous sponsors and donors, we brought Niños del Lago to the point where we can open in as short as 18 months if we stay on track with our funding.

This year, we begin construction on the main building and complete a minimum of 2 duplex cabins so that we can provide services while continuing to build to full capacity. When complete, we will receive more than 3,000 children per year.

I know many of you have met Coco before, but take another look and tell me, after you see his smile, if you'd like to help create "a new normal" for him. If someone like me can do this, we all can and you don't even have to come to Guatemala (though I would love to see you - it gets lonely sometimes). Please consider making a donation of $25 and pass this along to someone you know who wants to help make the world a better place for the children.



Let's begin 2010 by changing these things that should not be normal so that Coco can thrive and break out of his cycle of poverty! Donate

**All donations through KrisforKids through the end of Feburary, will be matched dollar for dollar to a maximum of $3,000.

En Español:

Las cosas que vemos todos los días se convierten en normales, incluso cuando no deberían serlo.

Vine a Guatemala después de enterarme de que la media de años escolares en este país es de 4, y que solo 3 de cada 10 niños terminan el 6 grado. Esto aquí es normal, y Niños del Lago trabaja para cambiarlo.

Niños del Lago es un campamento educacional y recreacional que da a los niños, quienes raramente han salido de sus pueblos, la experiencia de primera mano, de que las vidas que llevan no son las únicas vidas que se encuentran disponibles para ellos. Es posible que sea la primera vez que se encuentran con la idea de que no todo tiene que ser como actualmente es.

Niños del Lago trabaja con los niños mas necesitados, quienes no tienen recursos para acudir a las escuelas públicas y son educados en programas escolares locales llevados a cabo mediante agencias de desarrollo público. Por desgracia, muchos niños terminan por abandonar las clases. Nosotros pretendemos incentivarles para que permanezcan en la escuela haciéndolo un requerimiento del programa. Podrán volver año tras año siempre que permanezcan en la escuela y en sus programas, así como que lleven lo que han aprendido en Niños del Lago de vuelta a sus comunidades.

Nos encontramos en nuestro segundo año de construcción. El año pasado cree la estructura de la organización, mientras Arlaine, nuestra fundadora, se centró en los trabajos de construcción. Completamos los cimientos de las cabinas, las carreteras del campo, los tejados y el edificio del almacén. Juntas, con la ayuda de nuestros generosos sponsors y donantes, hemos traido a niños del lago al punto en el que podemos afirmar que abriremos nuestras puertas dentro de 18 meses si seguimos recibiendo donaciones al mismo ritmo.

Este año, hemos comenzado la construcción del edificio principal, y completaremos un mínimo de dos cabinas, de modo que éstas puedan empezar a alojar niños mientras continuamos construyendo para alcanzar nuestra máxima capacidad. Una vez en este punto, recibiremos más de 3000 niños por año.

Sé que muchos de vosotros habéis conocido a Coco ya, pero por favor, volved a mirarle y decidme después de ver su sonrisa si no os gustaría contribuir a crear un nuevo concepto de “normal” para él. Si alguien como yo puede hacer esto, entonces todos podemos, e incluso no es necesario venir a Guatemala (aunque me encantaría veros, a veces se hace un poco solitario). Por favor, considerad haced una donación de 25 euros y pasadlo a cualquiera que sepáis que quiera colaborar para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor para los niños.

Worldview 1/28/2010

Worldview Interview 1/28/2010

This is a revised posting which includes the link to just the Niños del Lago portion of the 1 hour Chicago Public Radio program. Thanks to my friend Jean you can now click on the link and go directly to the interview.

If you like what you hear, please share with a friend by clicking on the picture of the envelope.

What I don't take for granted

I recently received a cool link to vintage ads and found a 1950's ad set in the foreground of the Antigua Arch, probably the most photographed spot in Antigua, Guatemala. I wanted to show you a then vs. now photo and realized that I didn't have a current picture. I have pictures of many things Antigua, but not the famous arch.

I'm not an avid photographer who likes to capture everything I see. I often rely on my mind's eye in exchange for being in the moment. It's just that it hit me that I'd been taking that arch for granted. I know the arch itself isn't a big deal. You get what I'm saying, though, don't you? I ran right out to get a picture.

Antigua Arch 1950's

p.s. Here's what I don't take for granted: everyone who has offered me a room to sleep and a meal during my recent visit to the states (especially Jean's most comfortable bed in the whole world); my renter in the U.S. - she is the absolute best; my new renters here in Antigua - they also are the best; baking cookies with friends; KrisforKids readers; Niños del Lago donors, volunteers and the entire Niños del Lago team; good leaders who move things forward; my family - snow days with my sisters, dinner with my brothers, Christmas Eve with the whole family, and especially the 4th generation; my enduring friendships, new and old; the list goes on......

The Children - Yes!

Have you read "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, an Indian Elder? I recently ran across it while cleaning files on my computer and preparing for 2010 (I keep poems etc. in a file to look through when I need some inspiration). Here's an excerpt which especially speaks to me --

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.

Yes! (Full poem below)

En Español:

Los Niños - Si!

Habeis leido “La Invitación” de Oriah Mountain Dreamer, un anciano indio? Lo encontré hace poco limpiando archivos en mi ordenador y preparándome para el 2010. Guardo poemas y citas en un archivo para echarles un vistazo cuando necesito inspiración. Aquí hay un fragmento que me inspira especialmente:

No me interesa donde vives o cuanto dinero tienes. Quiero saber si puedes levantarte después de una noche de pena Y desesperación, cansado y sin poder moverte, y hacer lo que
Ha de ser hecho por nuestros niños.

Si!

Full Poem: The Invitation, May 1994, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know
what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your
heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you
will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the
adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I
want to know if you have touched your own center, if you've been
opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know
if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with
wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to
remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true. I
want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to
yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not
betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be
trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's
not pretty everyday, and if you can source your life from ITS
presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and
still stand on the edge of a lake and shout "YES!"
to the silver of the full moon.

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I
want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have
studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when
all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with
yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty
moments."

Good bye sandals and sun; Hello coats and clouds

I've had recent technology issues and that has kept me somewhat silent, but I'll be live and in person in the coming months.

A family visit:



Last week, my parents and 2 of my aunts visited me here in Guatemala. Besides visiting the camp site they met some of my friends from the park - Juliana who sells jewelry, Domingo, the shoe shine boy you've seen in prior posts, and Carlos a shoe shine boy in Panajachel who is a little more fragile than the others. His situation is a different story and one that I hope to learn more about and share with you when I return to Guatemala in mid-January.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I arrive in Chicago on 11/4, attend a fundraising event on 11/20 at the Irish Eyes (click on Child's Play for children's Day), and then move on to Philadelphia area on 12/2 to spend Christmas with my family, meet with a church group, and talk to a group of school children about Niños del Lago. While there, I make a side trip to Baltimore to visit with some very close friends and donors. I return to Chicago the day after Christmas, take a another side trip to Minneapolis to share progress with a group that is being coordinated by one of our donors, and then return to Guatemala on 1/17. Are you tired yet?

Before I forget - our latest Newsletter:

Lots of great photos - worth a look.

Good Bye sandals and sun; Hello coats and clouds:

Hasta Luego (see you later) to all my friends in Guatemala and Hola (hello) to all my friends in the states. Thank you for your support this year!

YEAH!!

I had a personal goal to reach $5000 before returning to the states. Thanks to my monthly recurring donations and my good friend, Micky, today - 3 days before my departure - I've met that goal. Can you see my smile?

Day of the Dead - November 1st
And now I hope to make you smile with some beautiful pictures from today's kite festival - held annually on the Day of the Dead. These are from a small town, Sumpango, about 20 minutes outside of Antigua.

What's on your list?

I moved to Chicago in 1991 and my two sisters, Rhoda and Joanna, drove with me from Pennsylvania to help me move. On our way, we created lists of what we wanted to do in our lives - you know, jump out of an airplane, learn to play saxaphone and find my soulmate.

One of the things on my list was to get involved in a cause and make a commitment to it. Within the first year of living in Chicago, I became involved as a volunteer in the children's group for Sarah's Inn, an organization that serves families with domestic violence. I volunteered off and on with them for more than 10 years - a year or two at a time depending on my work/travel schedule. I realize now that my cause is 'çhildren' and I wanted a much larger commitment than showing up once a week to talk to the kids for an hour and a half. I wanted to make something happen.

I had forgotten about this and it hit me recently when Arlaine and I exchanged lists. It was amazing that we had so many similar items and even more amazing that I was doing something on my list without even realizing it. What's on your list? Vote to the right or send me an email. (Poll closes and disappears July 5th)

En Español:

¿Que hay en tu lista?

Me mudé a Chicago en 1991, y mis dos hermanas, Rhoda y Joanna me llevaron en coche desde Pennsylvania para ayudarme con la mudanza. De camino, creamos una serie de listas con aquellas cosas que nos gustaría hacer en la vida, ya sabéis, saltar desde un avión, aprender a tocar el saxofón y encontrar a mi alma gemela.

Una de las cosas que había en mi lista era participar en una buena causa y comprometerme con ella. Durante el primer año de mi estancia en Chicago, comencé a colaborar con el grupo para niños de Sarah´s Inn, una organización que ayuda a familias víctimas de la violencia doméstica. Colaboré como voluntaria con ellos durante más de 10 años. Ahora me doy cuenta de que la causa que me atrae, son los niños, y siempre quise un compromiso mucho más grande que aparecer una vez a la semana y hablar con los niños una hora y media. Quería hacer que algo ocurriera.

Había olvidado todo esto cuando recientemente Arlaine y yo intercambiamos listas. Fue apasionante ver como teníamos tantos elementos similares, así como ver que estaba haciendo algo en mi lista sin ni siquiera ser consciente de ello.

Semana Santa

This is a little bit of old news but I've been under the weather. Here, Easter is celebrated more than Christmas and with much fanfare. Semana Santa, Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. During this period, there are solemn activities replicating the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. There are processions day and night with images such as Christ on the Cross, Christ laid to rest, Mary in mourning - all on floats carried on the shoulders of devoted followers. So that you don't miss this point, the float you see in the air is not motorized, rather is carried by lines of residents on their strong shoulders. Alfombras (carpets) with colored sand, grass, wood shavings and other materials are constructed by residents in the path of the procession, timed to be completed just before the procession is due to arrive. Carriers of the main float are the first to walk on the carpet, followed by the rest of the procession.

On a completely, different note, I can't sign off without mentioning my latest house guest, Aura. Aura, referred to as Indiana Jona, is our natural architect who came to Antigua to review her construction estimates with us. Are you noticing a trend here? Honestly, it's the warm and nurturing culture of the Mexican people (Aura too is from Mexico). I am not asking to be fed (though I am thoroughly enjoying it)!

My first guest

Mayan Weavings

Last week, I went to Chichicastenango, a large Mayan indigenous market in Guatemala, in order to buy weavings to decorate my house. I am intending to rent out two of the rooms (they're beautiful and awaiting your arrival - hint) in order to help with the rent. Por eso, I'm warming them up with some beautiful weavings.

On the way home, I met Raquela, who was befriended by Arlaine, the Queen of befrienders. She was sitting between us and wouldn't you know, she'd not made her arrangements to stay in Antigua. As such, she became my first paying guest (My rooms are very economical in case you really are planning to come to the beautiful city of Antigua - 2nd hint). Raquela is from Guadelajara, Mexico. She does not speak English and so we communicated only in Spanish.

In actuality, I should have paid her. She hung the flags for Semana Santa (more to come on that next week) and in borrowing the hammer and nails, introduced me to my neighbor, Sergio. She also cooked us the most delicious dinner of Chile Rellenos. My first faux paux was when she asked me for help and I said 'no thank you' thinking she had asked if I wanted help. It did turn into a laugh after her initial shock -- what do you mean 'no thank you'? Raquela is also a photographer and after dinner, we walked the city and took pictures of pretending to put gasoline in a motorcycle at a 60 year old gas pump (you had to be there - it really was fun). I thoroughly enjoyed her company and look forward to more guests (you don't have to cook dinner if you don't want to).

Muchas gracias, Raquela. Que eres siempre bienvenida!

Let's get interactive and have some fun!!

You may not know this -- I began KrisforKids for three reasons:

1. Keep in touch with my family and friends while I'm away. I may be hundreds of miles away but for my long distrance family and friends, I can actually be in touch with them more frequently through the blog. It's different of course for the people that I used to see regularly. The blog is meant to keep me close to the people I care about and hopefully vice versa. Of course you could do like Carl, and have a picture of me (not my best) sitting on the sofa, propped up on the sofa - very clever, no? To borrow his quote "'It's like you never left - I just look over and there you are"' (that's a joke - of course it's not the same).



2. Expand awareness about Guatemala and the Niños del Lago project so more and more people realize that it doesn't take much to have an impact in this world and that we really can help others build a better life for themselves. I hope to help facilitate this by sharing observations and stories about my time in Guatemala and the people I meet.

3. Raise money for Niños del Lago so that I can help accelerate their progress. Your support is what is allowing me to do this. Without me, Niños del Lago will surely be built. I like to think that my prior involvement in the project and my work experience, is just what's needed to kick us into high gear and allow us to keep pace with the construction. We are working to develop the infrastructure while we are building the camp, so that we are ready with children when the camp is complete.

Help me build the excitement -- Let's get interactive. Take a look after you read this and notice that you can make comments and email me by clicking on the picture of the envelope. I will reply to all emails and I welcome productive comments that will help create the involved atmosphere needed to move this project along and create fun along the way. Muchas gracias, mis amigos.

Transitioning

I’ve stepped away from writing in order to take care of the logistics of my move and while it’s been a very hectic two months, it has all progressed to the point of my departure. It’s here.

What a journey! I’ve rented my condo, moved my furniture, set up this blog, said good bye to close friends and just drove from Chicago to Pennsylvania to drop off my car for my little sister to use while I’m away. I spent the night at a Comfort Inn in Barkeysville, PA (never been there before so don’t ask) and thought about how my room is a palace as far as accommodations go for many Guatemalans.

While I’m so glad to have the hard tasks of rearranging my life behind me and am excited to be a part of something that I know is going to have a positive impact on some children who need an introduction into a different world, I feel really sad. Sad to walk away from people I love and sad to know that I will miss sharing experiences with them.

So this is the time to say thank you to all of you who have supported me these past couple of months and helped me to make this transition: my mother, the very first donor to KrisforKids (of course, I know, but still much appreciated); VISANOW, my former employer and first Corporate Sponsor who supported me and made it easy for me to transition out of the company and into an exciting new direction; my friends who are storing many of my belongings while I’m away; my family for just being my family and lastly, Carl for selflessly supporting me during this transition.

I’m back in my hometown now doing some final visiting with my parents and brothers and sisters and some non-Chicago friends. I fly to Guatemala on the 16th of this month. I’ll see you then. In the meantime, take care and stay tuned for Round Two and when the real work begins!!