Short But Sweet

WE HAVE A SCHOOL: After 4 years of visiting a mishmash of structures referred to as Las Joyas, I am extremely pleased, even excited to report the completion of a real, honest-to-goodness school building. Three classrooms are now complete with floors, ceilings, doors and barred-windows (tradition in this area because there is no air conditioning). I am told the rooms will be occupied within 2 weeks. Three remaining rooms are scheduled to be built by the start of school in August.

Classrooms with doors, floors, ceilings and windows ... finally!

School Supplies: Thanks to your generosity, an order of school supplies was purchased and delivered in January. Javier, the school’s on-site director assures me that this latest delivery is sufficient for the remainder of the school year (with a good start on notebooks for next year). Thank you again to all who contributed.

Kids At Work (storing school supplies)

Money, Money, Money: A very special shout-out goes to the extended Ratter Family (led by special Zihua supporter Missy) for their generous contribution toward paying the teachers. Thanks should also be given to a Canadian woman named Helen who has taken it upon herself to fund raise just for the teachers. She is making monthly contributions. Thanks to the “Ratter Bump”, the five teachers made just about what a regular teacher downtown would make for a month. Unfortunately one month does not a year make; but the teachers are finally getting some money and all are very grateful.

Payday for Teachers (one absent)

Memo’s Kids: University student Karen has applied for an exchange program at UCLA. This week she high-hurdled the first of two major steps. Her application was accepted by the University of Guadalajara. She now must apply to the exchange program at UCLA. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed.

Teacher Lucy has been tutoring my 8th grader Bernabe for 4 months. His grades have gone from “C’s” to “B’s”. Way to go Bernabe and Lucy! Unfortunately for Bernabe but good for Lucy, she has a fulltime job offer pending. She may soon be moving out of the teaching profession, which is a great loss for Bernabe and children she might have taught. But we wish her well.

Lucy tutors Bernabe

I dropped Lizbeth from the sponsored program. She repeatedly failed to even show up for the opportunities given to her. I now have a 7th grader named Brayon from an extremely poor family. The kid is as sharp as they come. I visited his school and the supervising teacher for the school told me he is the best student in the 7th grade. I saw his report card. Tis true!

Finally, for this week, a personal note: I live on a street named Adelita. It runs through the heart of an area near the beach called Madera. The sewers had to be replaced, so this main area road has been torn up. The sewers have been replaced and the city is in the process of tearing out all existing road structures in preparation for paving. The destruction process has proceeded rather quickly. Thank goodness the jackhammers have moved on! But the merchants are upset with the time it is taking. Removing the debris is taking longer than expected. I captured the picture below yesterday. It offers a hint why getting rid of the rocks, bricks and other rubbish is taking so long.

Removal of bricks and concrete taking longer than expected!

Lots happening over the next 8-10 days so will give you another update soon. Hasta luego, Memo