First Visit to the Centre

Today, we went into the Tepehua Centro Communitario with Moonie. She gave us the grand tour. It is a very bright and large space. It was already full of hustle and bustle with the gals preparing rice and bean burritos and juice for the breakfast program. The kids were happily hanging out playing with toys, waiting. The kitchen was fully equipped with 2 beautiful stoves and a fume hood. It was expanded and built by a Rotary Club. Soooo many Rotary Clubs from all over North America have helped expand the building and it's resources.



There is a plaque for each rotary club who has helped make the Tepehua Centre what it is today.

 

Other rooms included a pantry, and a more private eating area for the moms. An outdoor play yard separates the dental clinic and women's health clinic. The Dental clinic was in full swing. The Intern was there and there were a few nurses too. The facility is new and very professional. The women's clinic was quiet. A new expansion is being built now which will concentrate on maternity care.
Upstairs there was a storage area, the sewing room and a computer room.
I identified some small repairs and fixes and organizing I could help out with.
Moonie was meeting someone to discuss new solar panels being installed so I met Dian. She is the Education Coordinator. When we walked through the Centre and the kids all vied for her attention and waves, she had my envy. I knew that she and I had a lot to talk about! And we did! I feel like I've known her for forever!


She is leaving for Texas for a week, so I will run some of her programming until she returns. And it will all begin tomorrow.
I better decide on a craft project and learn some related Spanish words!


This is Fatima. Someone stuck the sticker from her sucker on her head, ha ha. She let mom take her photo and then gave mom a big hug. Of course, I had to get one too. Her brother then seemed obliged to give us a hug too. Adorable!



Our First Day

When we arrived last night, Trudy's dad and wife, Bud and Sandy Gallagher, picked us up. Although we hadnt met in person before, with Facebook correspondence, we recognized each other easily. Bud provided a wealth of information throughout the months leading up to our trip. He and Sandy took us to a wonderful local restaurant called Cinco Podrillos (5 Stallions) where the bought us an authentic Mexican meal. It was so yummy. (I think I was still recovering from the experience at the Mexico City airport to think of taking photos.) We talked a lot about the food, the area and the culture here.
They drove mom and I to Moonie's with some groceries, water, blankets and a map. I'm looking forward to our next visit with these fabulous humans!

Today, our first full day, consisted of a leisurely morning of exploring Moonie's beautiful home and befriending our dog-away-from-home, Kelly. We learned what a Casita is. Her and her husband have 3 Casitas as part of thier home. They are guest accomodations. Ours is fully equipped with a livingroom, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. It is lovely.



Our Casita is the last door on the right.



There is also a games room, a pool and an outdoor bar. The gardens are spectacular, although we are told that it is the cold season and everything is much more lush in the summer. How is that possible!?
Moonie took us out for lunch with her friend Gin. There was much chatter and laughter with these two lovelies. Afterwards we helped pack up some belongings from an estate that were being donated to the Community Centre and sold at thier shop. Two other volunteers joined us and afterwards we gathered for a glass of wine with more chatter and laughter.
Moonie cooked us a pork roast for supper. She is an incredible woman. I am going to love getting to know her.
Tomorrow morning we will go to the Community Centre and visit Chapala to explore the town and get some dinero.

The Travel

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All our flights today departed and arrived on time but we had challenges at both Airports. Arriving 1.5 hours for an International flight is not ok. But we made it! 3 hours pre-flight is suggested. If we had of flown strait from Halifax, I'm sure this would have been a mute point.
From Toronto we sat next to a couple who season in Mexico each winter. He was sure he knew me from somewhere.
Although our bags were checked to Guadalajara, we had to get them in Mexico City. So, when you combine International arrival, customs, picking up luggage, re-checking luggage, finding the AeroMexico counter, getting our Boarding pass to Guad, taking a Skytrain to an entire different terminal and going through security again, then finding the gate which is inevitable a mile away, all while not speaking the language....yeah...a tad bit nerve-wrecking.
A wonderful woman tried to help us. She determined right away that we were on the same flight. But with the language barrier she couldnt understand that we did not have our Boarding passes. We went our separate ways but met up again at our gate and again in the Guad airport.
Coolio and odd experiences:
-airport personel wanting to learn how to pronouncd my name properly.
-the train in the sky that we took!!!!
-the woman muttering Spanish to me for several minutes before she realized I was not her grand-daugher
-me telling security that I did not have a speaker only to find out that mom did indeed pack a speaker! (I made her leave the sardines in Toronto!)
Here's mom getting into Mexico. Can you take photos at the Foreign Immigration Security Gate? Probably not, but I couldn't resist!

Here's the first art we saw. the entire wall was filled with this colorful mural. This part looked as Canadian- well, except for the animals!!!!




Travelling with my Mom

This is going to be fun at customs in Mexico!

A Video of the Tepehua Community Centre

This is a short video about a new project that the Tepehua Community Centre took on recently in December 2015. 
It's a good peek at the Centre and where mom and I will be volunteering.
Click this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx5_V1VA7Z0

The Drawings, The Thank You's

These are some the drawings I did as Thank You's to all the people who supported my artsy journey.
It was a entire feeling of giving and giving back. What a great way to begin!

A Description of My Adventure to Mexico

This describes my project. This is how my GoFundMe campaign (gofundme.com/gailhodder) reads:

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to teach art to thousands of children in Prince Edward Island, Canada and it's time to pass on the Joy of Art to a group of less fortunate children. 
Plans are in motion to fulfill a journey to the Tepehua community of Chapala, one of the poorest in Jalisco, Mexico.
I am ready to give back to a very poor community and will volunteer for one month to teach art to children. In Chapala some parents cannot afford to send their children to school.  While parents try to provide the basics of living, children are often left on the streets. Luckily, the Tepehua Community Centre , is providing assistance through education of all facets and they would greatly benefit from having me volunteer there to teach visual art and craft. Studies have shown that arts education improves reading, writing and math skills, improves social skills and is motivational, especially to those in poor communities. But, perhaps more than this, being creative and making art and crafts brings great joy to children. While we Canadians may consider drawing and coloring a natural occurrence in our children’s growth and development, for some children in the Chapala region, having a piece of paper and a pencil, and an opportunity and place in which to create and have fun makes a huge difference to their day. My plan is to teach a group of older children a technique first, and then have them teach the younger children the same technique. We will explore many aspects of making art and creating but concentrate on the motifs, colour palate and images from their culture.
Part of my time with the Tepehua Community Centre will also be spent teaching the organizers some art skills, so that they can feel confident teaching and passing on these skills. The Community Centre will provide me with free accommodations. Yay!
Here's a short video of me discussing my profession: Gail Hodder - Visual Arts Educator
To show my appreciation, each contributor to my GoFundMe campaign will receive an original charcoal drawing from me! 
Funds raised will be used towards my transportation to Mexico, art supplies for the children and my meals.
I will be starting a Facebook Page/Blog to promote my Fundraising Journey and to post lots and lots of videos and images of my time in Mexico with the kids!
Let's do this together!!!!! Be a part of this journey with me!
Thank you,