Back in School

 October 11, 2020

Hola!  Buen Dia mis amigos!

I realize I have not posted anything in a few weeks.  So many things have happened it is hard for me to keep up!  Many things have gone well, but I have had a lot of challenges.  I just want to tell you about the things that are going well, but I will touch on some of the others...

First, we survived the hurricanes just fine.  It has been more than 15 years since a hurricane has actually hit the Yucatan Peninsula.  We were completely prepared at home and at the school.  The school as you can see from the pictures, has no walls, except the Kindergarten classrooms.  To prepare for Gamma, we closed up the rooms, and then put them back together and then turned around and really battened down the school for Delta.  Then turned around and had to put the rooms back together again.  The school did not suffer any damage.  Just trees down and lots of fallen branches. The children did not come to school all last week.  We had enough time to clean up, and do some art with our staff.  

I have seen a tarantula, a scorpion, a fox (they are silver here, with a bit of red on their head), a snake, lizards, and lots of butterflies.  I heard a monkey, but I didn't get to see it :-(

And I rescued a baby lamb!  The school is on land that is shared with a ranch.  The ranch has cows (giant female cows with horns), sheep, goats, ducks and chickens.  And lots of dogs.  Anyway, the shepherd, who rides a motorcycle, lets the sheep out to graze near the school.  We came back from a trip to the cenote, and I heard this little bleating sound.  A baby lamb was sitting in the grass all alone.  The kids and I went to it and we had to 'corner' it so I could pick it up.  It was so sweet!  All white and super soft.  But, she had a limp.  And clearly got separated from Mom.  One of the parents drove us over to the ranch house and we returned the sweet thing to them.  I love a baby lamb!!

I have a car!  Hurray!  One of the teachers, Jaime, bought a car for me before I even got down here....  Long story short, the first time I got to drive it was August 31 and it died, on the way to my first day at school.  It has been at the mechanic's shop ever since!  (yes i do see the irony!)  Anyway, I just decided since the mechanic would not respond to me anymore, just Jaime, I bought ANOTHER car!  yes, I did!  And  I must tell you that it takes a village, or an entire school staff, to buy a car for the American teacher.  I am learning endless patience here.  I mean, I kind of thought I had some patience, but I now have tons.  I have to!  

 I drove to Tulum, a little town about an hour from here, that reminds me of Santa Cruz.  Very hippie vibe, lots of yoga, lots of Americans.  Beautiful beaches.  And, I have finally spent a few days going to the beach here in Playa.  Swimming in the sea here is amazing,  The water is warm, crystal clear and so blue.

Those are pictures of the beach here in Playa.  

I have not been taking many pictures so that's about all I have to share.  Oh!  Have I told you about Mr. Clean?  The amazing thing here is laundry!  Yes, laundry.  It costs very little to drop your laundry off and have it done for you.  This is something I would never do in the US.  But, I do not have a washer and dryer.  When I was talking to one of my colleagues, and she told me I can drop it off.  I said, what?  I mean, I need to go to the laundromat (which I was dreading) and do it myself.  She said you can, but you can also have it done!  Well, I went one better and found Mr. Clean - they PICK UP AND DELIVER!  It comes back all clean and folded.  I love it!  I have never had anyone do my laundry for me.  *Sigh*. and it doesn't hurt that Mr. Clean (Trevor) is a gorgeous Jamaican man :-)

 

I will try and take more pictures, and post more often.  I love this sign!  (see below). Adios!