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Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Caballo


It is about an hour before sunset when I return to my camper, clean and cook fish, and heat up my rice, sweet potato, and black beans.

As I am debating a walk on the beach before sunset, a horse suddenly appears in front of my door with a broadly smiling young man who I do not know but have exchanged smiles with around town.

I am thrilled and pleased, just as he appears to be also! I step up to the horse and she lets me pet her face, her neck. I try to ask him in Spanish if this is his horse, where do they stay?

As I am speaking to him, my friend Elsa appears with about 6 of her grandchildren again. They are so excited to see the horse too, even though they are acting scared and girlish, they get rides on the horse with the young man.

I do not get to speak with him further, as he has exhausted the horse, who is very preggers, and himself I’m sure, and wants to return home. It is also gotten very cold on the beach, with the wind kicking up and the sun going down.

This round of folks leave.

Then the young man Jose I met at the internet cafe, who is the most bi-lingual person I have met here so far, appears with his friend. They hang out with me in front of the truck until a group of girls come by, heading for the ocean. Thank goodness.

As I watch the sun set, another fisherman and his pal come by to say hello and hang with me for awhile. It takes longer for the sun to go down then for them to get bored and leave.

Another interesting day in Mexico, rising and setting with the sun.

I prepare the photos I am going to take to class tomorrow. I write out what I am going to say in english and hopefully proper Spanish. I’m sure the kids will let me know if I’m not correct – providing they can understand me!

La Escuela

I've found internet, to buy, in this tiny fishing village - and the local school teacher profesor has found me!

I spend the morning - from 7am until 1 - hanging out in a classroom with 13 & 14 year olds - 16 of them - and their profesor as he teaches me Spanish and I ‘teach’ them English: that is, I help them with their pronunciation – and between giggles, stares, and puzzling, they help me with mine.

The teacher gives me many gifts while I am there: a notebook, a pen – both I believe he thinks work better than mine which are not new – a chili watermelon lollipop and a tiny bag of Mexican cheetos! The later I do not want but he is teaching me “crujir” crunch, and “taliste”, no cruch.

He buys me 4 fish, even though I tell him (I think) I am vegetarian. He often repeats in front of the children how they have eaten fish their whole lives and how smart they are and how good fish is for them.

I cannot refuse. I will clean the fish and cook for my dinner. And share with the profesor manana.

There are 8 girls and 8 boys in this classroom. They are paired female & male at a desk. The boys constantly harass the girls, who do not appear as annoyed as I feel. The boys go first in everything, although the teacher does prod the girls too after awhile.

The school appears to have 3 classrooms only. I try to ask about the school. Is it public? Yes. Do all the children in the town go to this school? Yes. Are there children who do not go to this school? Yes. Where do they go? Yes.

Okay. I will return tomorrow with photographs of my family and the United States.

Now I post to my blog and erase most of my email!