Tidbits

Progress continues on certificates for our students. Now that we are getting our school registered, we are allowed to prepare certificates. All of our students from 2011 now have signed and stamped certificates and transcripts. This is a huge step forward and allows us a real measure of relief.

We continue to try to meet with the Ministry of Education for future planning. However, the conflict between the government and teaches continues. It is really a stalemate of sorts as in reality, the government does not have the money to fund the teachers and the pension system that was set up.

Chicken, Rice and Vegetables in Coconut Milk

Santa Rita Hot Springs - So ... come visit already

In addition, because of the ongoing conflict, the Minister is a potential shuffle or chop candidate. There are, evidently, seven ministers in jeopardy of losing their posts. As long as the Deputy Minister keeps her position (she has survived once already) we will not have to look at starting over with Ministry connections. It is frustrating to wait ... and wait.

This morning is the first day of school in the public system and streams of fresh white school uniform shirts and blouses were headed to school. The 'big, know-all-the-ropes' Grade 5 and 6 students were striding along on their own but the little ones all had mothers shepherding them along. All the shops and sidewalk stalls have been stocked with school supplies the past couple of weeks.

Carlin's trip to Las Delicias went well. She was treated well and ate several times a day - all good food. A lesson in making tortillas was part of her education. She had lots of fun with the students and so that was great. Her return trip via rapidito went well. With only two days left in her stay, she is realizing just how quickly six weeks can go by.

We have shown hay basket cooking to a number of people. We now wait to see if anyone will take up the practice on their own. We showed one man how to cook rice with the box. He was really amazed but, I think, was sure there must be some sort of magic trick that we weren't telling him about.

Had a reminder of what it is like living without access to money or education Saturday night. Marlen, the wife of one of my workers in Santa Rita took sick. Gabriel, her husband, phoned me at 3.30 a.m. because he had no idea what to do. Without any knowledge, there is no ability to differentiate between emergency or 'wait-till-morning'. We talked a bit and I said I could make it there by 6.00 a.m. Fortunately, the problem was just gastritis (bad enough). We found the clinic and were able to have her back home by 8.00 a.m. I know how panic tends to set in when I get sick in a strange country ... but I have some knowledge and a "Where There Is No Doctor" to read. It must be truly frightening to be without transport, knowledge or access to help.

Our Learning Centre in Santa Cruz

Carlin's English Lesson

One of the English Classes in Las Delicias

Manuel is late today - the driver of his bus was pulled over and found to be driving without a licence. So all sit and wait. Yeni is seeing a judge today in a custody battle for her new baby - the grandmother of the baby's father would like to have access to Yeni's salary more than anything. It is a bit like a Soap Opera right now.

Have a good day.

TTYL

BB