AROUND TOWN

Meetings & Lectures

Was Columbus really all that bad?

Columbus became famous for his perseverance. He was the man who would not give up on his dream, in spite of almost total rejection by the learned men of his day. The myth would expand to include the details that every child would know—like the names of the three little ships, the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa Maria, usually recalled in that order, for some reason. It wasn’t until a few years before the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of Columbus’s discovery that we began to hear that Columbus was no hero, but really a villain. He was held responsible by some for every European atrocity ever committed against the indigenous people of the Americas. Some parents notified their elementary school principals that they didn’t want “Columbus” presented as a hero in the classroom. Was Columbus really all that bad?

The mythology and adventures of Christopher Columbus are the subjects of a lecture by Professor Guillermo Méndez, retired San Miguel resident who also lectures on the ancient cultures of Mexico, Friday, October 12, at 3pm at Teatro Santa Ana.

Meditation lecture from Tibetan nun

Sherab Wangmo, a Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Bon tradition, gives a talk Friday, October 12 at 7:30pm at Hotel Mision de Los Angeles on the basics of meditation. We try to take care of our bodies, why not take care of our minds? Through meditation one can acquire a new philosophical perspective on life. Meditation can help to reduce stress, illness, depression, loneliness, apathy and whatever impedes you from finding your true nature. Bon Buddhism is the indigenous spiritual practice of Tibet. Bon practices can help you find the essential nature of mind and release the boundless creativity and positive qualities that are fundamental to it. Obstacles can be cleared in your body, energy and emotions and help you connect with the sacred aspects of your being. Meditation can help you access wisdom and compassion and cultivate the healing power of your own body. For more information please contact Patricia Gonzalez at 152-6336.

L’Invito at the Green Ranch invites you to a Reforestation day

Four organizations are spending a day in the country, Saturday, October 13, 10am–2pm.

They include CONAFOR (Comision Nacional de Reforestacion) from Irapuato who is giving San Miguel Allende 750 pirules trees, the Secretaria de Turismo y Fomento Economico de San Miguel Allende, SEMARNAT (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales), and Instituto Italiano de Cultura. They will discuss placing the right tree in the right environment—biologists from CONAFOR will teach us how to plant trees in semi-desertic territory; why and how to reforest; the consequences of cutting trees without planning; can we cut trees preserving the environment; and why do we need wood.

We also will have children’s activities with didactical toys from CONAFOR, and Guadalajara Horses—your kids will be able to ride and if you own a horse you can come with him!

If you have a garden of at least nine square meters, we will give you a pirul and teach you how to grow it. The Green Ranch is located on Carretera a Dolores Hidalgo (km 5.3), across from La Candelaria, 01 (415) 110-2080, email linvitoristorante@gmail.com .

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

At this Sunday’s UU Fellowship meeting, San Miguel Unitarian Cynthia Sterling reports on her experience at this year’s UU General Assembly in Portland, Oregon. Each year, Unitarians from around the world meet for General Assembly to review and make overall policy for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. This year’s two-day event drew nearly 6,000 participants with the theme of “Choices That Matter” and concluded by issuing several statements on social justice issues, including a Statement of Conscience titled “Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society.” The liberal religious organization also called for legal protections and rights for transgender people and charged its 1,040 member congregations to work for comprehensive sexuality education, to demand a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and to support immigrant families by calling for an end to immigration and customs enforcement raids on workplaces.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15 and welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch.

Macintosh Users Group

Mac technician Derek Burrows addresses the Macintosh Users Group on the topic “Nearly Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Mac” at this month’s meeting on Monday, October 15 at 3pm in the Bilblioteca’s Sala Quetzal.

The meeting will be an open question-and-answer session. This is your chance to get the answers you’ve been seeking, including backing up, troubleshooting, ordering your desktop, new technologies, running windows on a Mac, software, or whatever has been bothering you. Don’t miss this chance to hear from an expert. Burrows, a recent San Miguel transplant, is a Certified Apple Technician on both hardware and software issues.

Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge. Bring pencil, paper and a laptop, if you have one.

The San Miguel Macintosh Users Group meets monthly in a comfortable learning environment to expand skills, build confidence and explore the creative possibilities of Mac computers.

For more information, contact Nonni Markeset (nonniem@mac.com ) or Jon Sievert (jon@humblepress.com).

Drug and alcohol abuse in San Miguel at Midday Rotary

Drug and alcohol abuse does exist in San Miguel! On Tuesday, October 16, the Midday Rotary club welcomes Robert Uzzo as our guest speaker. Robert is in the process of opening a center for drug and alcohol treatment here in SMA. He will speak about drug treatment programs and rehabilitation therapies, including the Twelve-Step program and its intricacies.

The Twelve-Step tradition is a time-tested method of recovery from various obsessive-compulsive behaviors, which the affected individuals believe have made their lives unmanageable. These simple tools for living have been used by millions of people to successfully change their lives and recover from negative and even life-threatening behaviors. They are based on a set of spiritual (not religious) principles originally created by Alcoholics Anonymous in the United States in 1935. Anonymity as a spiritual principle is the underpinning of the Twelve-Step way of life. Sharing and supporting in groups with like-minded individuals and ongoing fellowship is a major ingredient in the success of the program.

After 28 years of addiction, Robert Uzzo volunteered himself to alcohol and drug treatment in 1986 at a facility in Miami, FL. He then decided to turn his life around and pursue a career in the field of substance abuse recovery. Receiving a full scholarship from the University of Miami in studies of chemical dependency, he interned at several facilities and was employed by the highly respected facility Hanley Hazelton in West Palm Beach, FL for five years. In his twelfth year of recovery, Robert opened his own treatment facility in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, which proved to be highly successful. After nine years, he decided to sell his corporation there and build a new facility here in SMA.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday meets every Tuesday at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel, Aldama 53. Check-in time is 12–12:25pm and the meeting starts promptly at 12:30pm. Visiting Rotarians, those interested in Rotary, and all members of the general community are invited to attend this meeting. Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Lunch follows at 1:30pm in the hotel dining room. For more information, please go to the Rotary Club website www.rotarysma.org .

Lecture on Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca

When the Spanish conquistadores arrived at the great city of Tenochtitlán, they found an empire they could hardly understand. The Aztec pantheon was created from tribal and ancient gods of past civilizations, plus gods adopted from conquered tribes.

Some of these gods experienced a reinterpretation from the western mind. Quetzalcoatl was maybe the richest subject. He will represent the idea of the civilization builder who was the master and provider of goods, as well as the agricultural arts. At his opposite, the dark god Tezcatlpoca would represent, along with the Aztec tribal god Huitzilopochtli, the blood-thirsty guide of warriors and human sacrifice. Tezatkipoca, the smoking mirror, apart from being responsible with Quetzalcoatl for the creation of the last cycle of life within the Aztec cosmology, was also cited as the powerful force that expelled the pious Quetzalcoatl from the mythic city of Tollan.

Carlos Pascual, continuing his lectures at the Academia Hispano Americana, will address the continuing reinterpretations of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca from the Conquest to the present, including the comments of nonacademic figures such as D.H. Lawrence and former Mexican president José López Portillo.

The lecture will be in English, at the Academia auditorium, Mesones 4 on Friday, October 19 at 5pm. Admission is 50 pesos.

Classes & Workshops

Eva Hunter gives writing workshop

From October 16 through November 9, Eva Hunter offers her writing workshop, “Style Workshop for Prose” in San Miguel. The workshop, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm, is designed for writers who are ready to learn the techniques serious writers use to give their work polish. The class costs US$275 or 3,025 pesos and is limited to six people. Space in the class will be held only with full payment to Box 401A, La Conexión, Aldama 3. US dollar and peso checks are accepted.

Beginning as well as experienced writers will learn to utilize specific principles of writing to increase the scope and excellence of their writing.

Hunter, an award-winning writer who has published in venues such as The New York Times, Northwest Magazine, the Boston Herald, The Oregonian and Quii, says that the primary stumbling blocks for those who wish to publish professionally are lack of knowledge about organizing their work and lack of knowledge about the principles of high polish in writing. The Style Workshop addresses both. 

Hunter is a former faculty member at Portland State University, a cofounder of two writing schools and has taught at numerous writing workshops internationally.

Her most recent book, a literary nonfiction/fine arts photography collaboration with Jo Brenzo, is The Lord of the Dolls: Voyage In Xochimilco. Her short story, “Iris Wanted to be a Movie Star: The Kind That Sings and Dances, too,” is included in a literary anthology to be released in late October, Solamente en San Miguel.

For more information about the Style Workshop, Hunter can be reached at 152-6634 or wordhuntermx@yahoo.com .

Computer Obedience Training

Another session of Roger Hind’s acclaimed computer classes for new users and for those who want to better learn the basics will be commencing soon. Roger is particularly well known for his ability to put at ease those suffering from “computerphobia.” If your computer’s behavior frustrates you or if you feel a little intimidated by your computer, this class is for you.

Classes will be in plain English (no computerese!). Student will have their own computers and there will be lots of hands-on exercises to reinforce the principles as they are presented. Roger is a volunteer and the course fees are donated to the library’s scholarship fund.

Classes will run from 10:30am until 1:00pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays over four weeks, beginning October 23. Pre-enrollment is required, including payment in full of the course fee of 350 pesos. Places are limited to 10 people, who must have either temporary or full library membership. A temporary membership costs only 150 pesos, of which 100 pesos is refundable when you leave San Miguel.

Please note that the classes are for PC users—sorry, Mac fans!

To enroll please take your membership card and 350 pesos to the front desk and ask to sign up for the computer classes in English. Note that this class will also be run on the same days and at the same times from November 27 to December 20. Both classes are open for enrollment right now.

If you would like more information about course objectives and content, you may contact Roger by phone at 154-6552 or by email at rogerhind@hotmail.com. 

Tours & Excursions

Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers take a one-stop tour of the San Gabriel talavera factory, located on the way to Dolores Hidalgo. The factory produces talavera pottery using designs from Spain and also original designs. We visit the factory and watch the artists painstakingly apply paint to a cup or plate. We also will visit two family homes, where we will see how they use their beautiful ceramic products not only as decor but also as everyday dishes. Then we make a stop at the “goodies” shop, where you can indulge in the world of wondrous talavera—from tiny salt and pepper shakers to triple-tiered fountains, from huge decorative plates to sugar bowls and whole sets of lead-free dishes in colorful designs. Tiles, basins, plaques: whatever you need is here!

The tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.

Calling all hikers!

Audubon San Miguel will hike on Saturday, October 13, to Boca de la Cañada, a stream in a beautiful canyon on the other side of the dam.

The trek is of moderate intensity, over a flat trail, crossing some streams over rocks, and of a reasonable length. Figure on two hours in, with a stop for the light lunch you bring for yourself, and two hours out. Remember, San Miguel’s weather is hard to predict, so choose shoes that can survive getting wet.

Hikers meet at 8am in the parking lot of the shopping center on Stirling Dickinson, with or without cars (four-wheel drive not needed). We hope some people will arrive with extra room in their cars for those who arrive with no car at all.

Audubon members hike free, while nonmembers pay 100 pesos. Remember, yearly membership in Audubon is only 300 pesos, so if you like hiking, bird watching, or any other of our regular events, membership (which also supports environmental activities in San Miguel) could certainly be worth your while.

To make reservations, email Al Lerner, docalerner@yahoo.com, Saul Whynman, vellum1@mac.com,  or Fen Taylor, fenlt@yahoo.com . Please include information with your email on whether you need a ride or have space to share in your car.

Botanical Garden events

Learn about the reptiles and amphibians of the Botanical Garden and see live examples. Raul Hernandez, a biologist and herpetologist with lots of experience and knowledge of the animal world of this region, will give the audiovisual presentation. This lecture is on Saturday, October 20 at 10am in the library at the Botanical Garden. Cost is 70 pesos for members of the garden and 100 pesos for nonmembers. Please reserve a space by emailing nzerriffi@yahoo.com .

Walter L. Meagher will give a presentation on ecology and sign copies of “Inventory of Spontaneous Flora of the Charco del Ingenio” This scientific publication in Spanish is part of the series Flora of the Bajío and Adjacent Regions issued by the Institute of Ecologia of Patzcuaro, Michoacan. Meagher, resident of San Miguel and enthusiastic supporter of El Charco, studied botany at the Horticultural School of the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, the University of Michigan and the Kellogg Biological Station. His principal botanical interest is in community studies, especially of wetlands. He writes in several magazines and publications, and is a member of the BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) and the ASPT (American Society of Plant Taxonomists). He will speak on the ecology of El Charco and sign copies of the book on Saturday, October 13 at 10:00am in the library of the Botanical Garden. The book cost 50 pesos. Technical director Mario Mendoza also will attend.

Every Tuesday morning, discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Mario Mendoza, vice-director of the Garden. Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the Garden. The tour is in English and starts at the main entrance at 9am and lasts about 2.5 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com .

Performances & Events

Dog Show in San Miguel

The San Miguel Kennel Club is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary with their annual Dog Show at Unidad Deportiva. The club was resuscitated 20 years ago by Lascelles de Premio Real, a Canadian who relocated to San Miguel after living in Mexico City for many years. The San Miguel Kennel Club competes under Federación Canófila Mexicana, established by FCI from Belgium. All dogs are broken up into 10 groups for competition—herding, guard dogs, terriers, dachshunds, primitive dogs, hunting, small animal hunting, retrievers, companions and sight hounds. Each group is awarded a Best in Show; then from the 10 Best in Show winners, one overall Best in Show is selected. The club expects to have over 300 entries vying for the trophy and Best in Show ribbon. The Saturday show starts at 10am and the Sunday show starts at 9am. Entrance is free and there will be tents set up on the show grounds with refreshments and beverages.

Films & Videos

Meditation Center film on Buddhism

On Thursday, October 18, at 5:30pm, the Meditation Center of San Miguel screens Wisdom & Compassion, a dialogue filmed in 2005, between two renowned and beloved Western teachers of Buddhism. With humorous stories and joyful interaction, Pema Chödrön and Jack Kornfield share their perspectives on meditation, generosity, karma, compassion and transforming suffering.

Pema Chödrön is an ordained Buddhist nun in the Tibetan vajrayana tradition and a teacher in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa. The goal of her work is the ability to apply Buddhist teachings in everyday life. Author of Start Where You Are, When Things Fall Apart and The Places that Scare You, among a number of other widely read works, she has conducted workshops, seminars and meditation retreats in Europe, Australia and throughout North America. She is resident teacher of Gampo Abbey, a monastery in rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Jack Kornfield trained as a Theravada Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. A founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Center in the US, he has taught meditation internationally since 1974. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. His many books include A Path with Heart; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; and The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace.

The Meditation Center, located at Callejon Blanco 4 near Quebrada, is open to all forms of silent, still meditation. (See the Religious Meetings box for times.) All meditation sittings and most presentations are offered freely to one and all in the Buddhist tradition of generosity; a donation of 20 pesos is suggested to defray costs of film presentations only. Please try to arrive early as seating is limited, and arrivals after 5:30pm disturb others.

Gila Almagor in Shalom SMA’s film series

Shalom SMA presents a special treat this week, and also for our following program on November 5: a film duo based on the prize-winning Israeli novel by Gila Almagor.

In The Summer of Aviya, a mother and her daughter attempt to go about their daily lives in the early 1950s after surviving the Holocaust. Ten-year-old Aviya (Kaipo Cohen) and her mother, Henya (Almagor) live in a small Israeli village.

Gila Almagor (also starring in Munich), the biggest Israeli actress of all time, gives one of the best performances of her life, which is worth watching by itself!

The Summer of Aviya is based on Almagor’s autobiography, memoirs of herself as a little girl. She portrays her own mother in this movie, saying that only she would know how to do it accurately, as she had to live with her and deal with her madness as a little girl. It is an amazing life story that makes this woman even more intriguing and fascinating. The movie deals with the psychological problems from which a majority of Holocaust survivors suffered, either by experiencing the horrors firsthand, or by losing all their families in the Nazi death camps.

This movie’s sequel, Under the Domim Tree, scheduled for November 5, stars the same two actresses. This time Almagor is in a much smaller role and the amazing Kaipo Cohen, who was about 10 years old in The Summer of Aviya, becomes a full-grown teenager.

Join us at the Hotel Quinta Loreto TV Salon, Monday, October 22 at 5pm, and stay to participate in the lively post-showing discussion!

Volunteer Opportunities

Does your nonprofit need hands? Send your short requests to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org  with “Volunteer Opportunities” in the subject line.


“Leading With English” needs volunteers to teach English in Jalpa

Forgotten Child International has had such a positive effect on school children of the Jalpa community, that we have been invited to be a part of the Elementary School curriculum. This program focuses on leadership skills through English language acquisition for 3rd through 6th grade children. “Leading with English” uses a unique combination of interdisciplinary, experiential and hands-on approaches to teach English which are reinforced by teams of English speaking volunteers. It’s rewarding, for the children and volunteers. We are looking for a 6-week commitment of volunteering on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 3:00pm starting October 2. This includes driving time out and back. We can help with transportation. Please get in touch: info@forgottenchild.org. Jalpa is a small community of about 1,500 people about a 30 minute drive along the “Road to Independence” (the old road to Queretaro) nestled in a beautiful valley full of wild flowers this time of year. We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify leadership amongst underprivileged, rural children living in central Mexico by working with community leaders to develop alternative paths toward economic, spiritual and educational wellbeing http://www.forgottenchild.org .




Save A Mexican Mutt 

(SAMM) is a charitable organization that rescues, spays/neuters, provides veterinary care, socializes, and transports highly adoptable Mexican street dogs to the United States for adoption. We need volunteers to foster dogs for up to six weeks and to transport dogs to the United States. If you live here full or part-time and can provide a temporary loving home for one of the many dogs in line to be transported to their forever homes or are traveling to Texas, New Mexico or Colorado by car and can transport one or more dogs with you, please contact Kelly Karger at info@saveamexicanmutt.org  and see our website at www.saveamexicanmutt.org . (Save A Mexican Mutt is a US 501c3 charitable organization. Donations to SAMM are tax deductible on your US federal tax return.)



Hosts needed for Jovenes Adelante fundraiser

Jovenes Adelante, a local non-profit providing university scholarships to low income students from the San Miguel area is sponsoring a “Get to Know San Miguel” trip for residents of the Ajijic-Lake Chapala area over the weekend of November 23–25. All proceeds will help fund additional university scholarships.

A bus leaves Ajijic on Friday morning, with a Jovenes Adelante member as host, arriving that afternoon in San Miguel, and the guests will return Sunday afternoon. This will be an event-packed weekend with entertainment, accommodations in local homes and meals included.

For more information about the trip, or if you are interested in being a host family and providing guest accommodations for Friday and Saturday night, and breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings, email jovenesadelante@gmail.com  or write to Jovenes Adelante at La Conexión Box 49A, Aldama 3, San Miguel de Allende or call Nancy Dobbs at 152 7353 for more information. Tell your friends in the area that tickets will be available at the Lake Chapala Society ticket booth.



Field volunteers needed for Patronato Pro Ninos

PPN, one of the oldest and most vibrant charities in SMA, is looking for a selective group of volunteers who would be willing to dedicate two or more mornings per month to go out to the outlying areas of the municipality of San Miguel de Allende to visit schools, talk about the work that PPN is doing to assist children with medical and dental problems, and to invite those children who need medical attention to the office of PPN for evaluation and assistance at little or no cost to the family. The volunteers ideally would either be reasonably fluent in Spanish and/or have a car/truck/SUV which can withstand the back (mostly unpaved) roads of the municipality. If interested, please contact Steve Livingston at steve@stevelivingston.com  with your name and contact information. 




Feed the Hungry looking for screening volunteers

Feed the Hungry is looking for volunteers to help with the preventive medical screening of our school children. We are looking for persons with one or more of the following skills: Bilingual persons, drivers with access to vehicle with high ground clearance willing to drive out to the ranchos, computer data input persons. This medical work is being conducted in cooperation with Patronato Pro Niños for the children our organizations serve. For more information please contact us on 152-2402 or contact@feedthehungrysma.org .