June 27, 2008, Every little bit helps, By Kirby Feagan, What you could do this summer, English and culture shock in Vancouver, By Jerry Davis, Niños gala features fabulous auction, By Gene Crane & Ann Mauzé, Open up your hearts & minds to Science Camp, By Alicia Rivero, Give San Miguel to a friend & give to the Casa Hogares, By Robin Loving

At the beginning of the school year last fall, my mom suggested that I do something for a charity. I had previously volunteered at the SPA, walking dogs and playing with cats, but this year I wanted to start a new project.

While researching different charities, my mom and I heard about a library being built out in the campo for a community that has no library. I decided that was a project I’d like to support and came up with a plan to raise money. Since I love to bake, I decided to do “Dessert Days” and sell baked goods at my school, Victoria Robbins’ School.

I talked to my friends and many of them were interested in helping me. We sold the desserts on Fridays during lunch break. Melissa Lawrence, Maya Rudloff, Natasha Tyloski, Savannah Cooley and Lauren Rodriguez all helped me bake desserts such as cakes, cookies, pies, and brownies to sell to the other kids and teachers. Every week all our desserts sold down to the last crumb. We ended with one final Dessert Day the last week of school and earned a grand total of 1,200 pesos. We presented the money to the Biblioteca Pública, specifying that the funds go to this new library project.

The new library is being built in the rural community of Cruz del Palmar in the space of an old church building, which had also been a school and a police station. So far the library has been coming along well with the help of residents from the local community and from San Miguel.

I am really happy with how our Dessert Days turned out and glad we were able to raise money for an important cause. It feels good to help even in a small way. Next school year, when the Cruz de Palmar library building is finished, I think I’ll organize a book drive.

Kirby Feagan is 13 years old and goes to Victoria Robbins’ school. She has lived in San Miguel for almost seven years and loves to spend time with friends and to take dance classes.

Do you want to donate to the Cruz del Palmar project?

The Public Library project in the rural community of Cruz del Palmar is making progress. Since last year, the Biblioteca Pública has been supporting Professor Magdaleno Ramírez, representative of the Cruz del Palmar community, in this project.

If you have chairs, tables or white paint for the interior walls and façade, your donations would be welcome. The children and youth of Cruz del Palmar and nearby communities would thank you. To donate, please contact the Biblioteca Pública, 152-1210 or 152-0293.

San Miguel comes alive in the summer with festivals and activities. Here’s an overview of major events—check Atención articles and Que Pasa for specifics as the date nears.

Vino y Paella, the third Festival Gastronomico de San Miguel de Allende, is Saturday, June 28, 1–11pm, at Rancho San Luis Gonzaga, Carretera a Querétaro. It’s 700 pesos, but benefits Centro de Crecimiento. Information: (415) 154-4496 or www.festivalgastronomicodesanmigueldeallende.com/index.

Fourth of July celebration, hosted by Democrats Abroad, is Friday, 1–3pm, at Los Milagros restaurant, Reloj 17. Hot dogs, burgers and cold drinks are 150 pesos

The Sounds of the Supremes™ concert is Thursday, July 17, 8:30pm, at El Alamo, across from Hotel Angeles on Salida a Celaya. Tickets to the Patronato Pro Niños benefit are US$75–200 and they auction some serious goodies.

Expresión en Corto International Film Festival is so big it sprawls over two cities. This eleventh edition is in San Miguel July 18–22, and Guanajuato July 23–27. Since screenings are free, it’s best to arrive 15–30 minutes early. “Movies with Mummy” at midnight in local graveyards are hugely popular; assume a two-hour wait. Erotic movies in the Guanajuato tunnels also are well attended. This year’s Spotlight Country is India, home of Bollywood and the world’s biggest film industry. The official website after July 8 is www.expresionencorto.com.

Doc Makes a House Call to benefit Sociedad Protectora de Animales and Amigos de Animales of San Miguel and Guanajuato. The concert with Doc Severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida is Tuesday, July 22, 6–10pm, at Casa Jazmin (1,000 pesos).

Festival de Música de Cámara (Chamber Music Festival), July 31–August 17, is the 30th summer San Miguel has been graced with world-class performances. The Ahn Trio, three glamorous young Korean sisters, play only works by living composers and sometimes join forces with dancers, pop singers and painters.

The Synergy Brass Quintet, Ying Quartet and La Catrina string quartet also are on the bill. Information: www.festivalsanmiguel.com.

Casa de Los Angeles daycare and community center moves into its new colonia Santa Julia facility on August 9. Auction of unique rocking chairs especially decorated by local artists. Information: casadelosangeles.org.

Summer Literary Festival, August 19–21, Hotel Real de Minas. Guests are novelist Tom Robbins and editor Alan Rinzler. Workshops, receptions, dinners, screening of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Information: sanmiguelauthors.com.

Religious festivals

El Señor de la Columna pilgrimage in early July leaves San Juan de Dios church in the morning and arrives at Atotonilco around noon.

Feast of Atotonilco in mid-July draws pilgrims in native dress, conchero dancers, music, fireworks.

Feast of the Virgin of Carmen is July 16 and the whole month is devoted to her.

Feast of St. Anne is July 26; the grandmother of Jesus is honored at Santa Ana church, next door to the Biblioteca.

Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was executed July 30, 1811, in Coahuila (anniversary).

There were so many “firsts” for Remedios when she had the wonderful opportunity to live and study in Vancouver, Canada, for three weeks last month. It was her first time on a plane, her first separation from her parents, her first long trip and her first time out of Mexico.

Readers met Remedios Hernández Mancilla (“Remi” for short) last month in a brief Atención article that told of her experience becoming a lawyer with the help of a scholarship from Jóvenes Adelante, a San Miguel organization that currently is helping 42 other students achieve university degrees.

Remi is fortunate to have a generous mentor. All Jóvenes Adelante scholarship recipients enjoy a relationship with a mentor who befriends and advises them. Remi’s mentor Gene Randall, recognizing her strong motivation to learn English, sent her for a three-week course at a language school in Vancouver. There, mingling with Japanese, Arab, Argentinean and Brazilian students, she quickly discovered that other countries prepare their English students better than Mexico does. But characteristic hard work quickly placed Remi in the forefront. Within a few days, she was promoted from a basic class to a higher level. The course, six hours daily plus plenty of homework, neglected conversation to focus on verbs and adverbs, comparisons and linguistics. It was from her fellow students that she learned to say, “I dunno” and “I’m gonna” as well as “excusez moi”!

Perhaps it is difficult for us to imagine the degree of culture shock experienced by a young person who has lived in a tiny Mexican hamlet all of her life. A short list of discoveries includes elevators, escalators, Scotsmen in kilts, Arab women in veils, Jews wearing skullcaps, the ocean, the Beluga whale show at the aquarium, three weeks of cloudy skies and rain, giant trees, lakes everywhere and dinner in a Brazilian restaurant where she sampled venison, duck and even ostrich for the first time. Of course, Vancouver has its towering buildings, and Robson Street its cosmopolitan shops, but for Remi the best part was Canada Place, where she saw cruise ships sailing off to Alaska. Fascinated, she could not tear herself away from the thrilling vista of passengers climbing aboard enormous ocean liners which, one by one, majestically embarked on the voyage through the inside passage, north to Alaska.

The home where she stayed had a “no shoes inside” rule, as did other homes she visited. People ate at strange hours and Remi was always hungry between 2 and 3pm, her normal dinner hour. “The citizens are very law-abiding, stopping for red lights instead of trying to run them. There are even traffic lights for pedestrians, and people wait for them to turn green before they cross, unlike us Mexicans,” she marveled. The consumption of coffee amazed her, as did the chilly weather and the spectacle of beds of tulips in full bloom. One afternoon a fire in the school led to its evacuation. “The students didn’t scream and become hysterical like we would have done here,” she said, “but quietly marched out onto the street and waited while the firemen efficiently put out the fire.”

Her landlady, a Filipina, insisted that Remi explore on her own. “Out! Out!” she would say. “You have your map, you have your dictionary and you can speak English. Out!” So, in addition to the school-sponsored weekly excursions, Remi also explored on her own, losing her way only once. The University of British Columbia, which was “as big as a city,” and its art museum were one destination. Her visit to the Supreme Court was mind-boggling, especially seeing the library with its mountains of books, many computers and space for lawyers to work and do research. She saw court in session with witnesses testifying in open court, unlike the Mexican system where evidence is presented to a judge in a written affidavit and there is no jury.

Mother’s Day was May 10, and it can be difficult for a girl finding herself for the first time thousands of miles from her mom and family. Remi was feeling a little blue. Yet her mother had sent her off with the admonition not to write home. “You are going away to learn English,” she said, “not to cling to your mother’s skirt.” That afternoon, John and Sharon, friends of Gene Randall, called to invite Remi out on an excursion. They took her to the waterfront where they enjoyed dinner at an elegant restaurant and a tour of Stanley Park and its aquarium. This gesture was deeply appreciated by a young girl far from family and home.

Her mother, Lola, says that Remi now seems to write in English with more ease and confidence. When asked if she saw any changes in her daughter, Lola replied, “Not really, except that she is like a single-minded burro looking straight ahead and concentrating harder than ever on her studies to the exclusion of everything and everyone else.”

On the day Remi left Vancouver, the sun shone for the first time in three weeks, but later, upon her arrival in San Miguel, there was a storm of tears. “Tears and more tears. Everyone cried and cried,” is how her homecoming was described. The entire family was there, even the kissing cousins, plus many friends and neighbors who, between crying bouts, enjoyed bowls of pozole and celebrated the return of a pioneer, one of their own who had successfully ventured out into an unknown world. That little kid they had known since babyhood had changed her life forever, broadened her horizons and learned there are different ways of thinking, of doing things, of learning, of governance and social organization. “I am extremely grateful to Gene for making this experience possible,” said Remi.

Jóvenes Adelante can be contacted at jóvenes adelante@gmail.com. Contributions may be sent to Jóvenes Adelante, Box 49A, 220 N. Zapata Highway #11, Laredo, TX 78043, or may be delivered in town to La Conexión, Box 49A, Aldama 3.

A former teacher, Jerry Davis is an enthusiastic Jóvenes Adelante volunteer who will begin mentoring a new scholarship recipient this summer.

Niños gala features fabulous auction
By Gene Crane & Ann Mauzé

Concert
The Sounds of the Supremes™
Patronato Pro Niños benefit
Thu, Jul 17, 8:30pm
El Alamo
Salida a Celaya
US$200/150/75

Poised for Takeoff. Luisa en Cucillas (63x60x64 centimeters). Typical of Jorge Marin’s style, the face is disguised to emphasize the body’s expression. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City.

Patronato Pro Niños hosts “The Sounds of the Supremes,” three talented entertainers who will take you back to the sixties and seventies with the arrangements that made the original Supremes unforgettable.

The famous Patronato Pro Niños auction will differ this year in its selectivity. Among the choice items will be a bronze sculpture by Jorge Marin of Mexico City, valued at US$8,500, and a multi-course banquet for 12 at chef Donnie Masterton’s newest venue, The Restaurant at Sollano 16.

Some bidders will win two nights and breakfasts at the Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel or at the Orient-Express Maroma Resort on the Riviera Maya.

Others will enjoy stays at three vacation homes—a palatial casa on the Pacific coast, a spacious beach house on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, or “Le Plaisir,” a dream house in France. Someone will take home a unique, elegant ring designed by San Miguel jewelers Kelli Brown and Wayne Smith. Many will contend over a collection of rare vintage wines.

Each winning bid helps Patronato Pro Niños continue its mission of providing medical and dental care to thousands of children in San Miguel and out in the remote ranchos.

Platinum and Gold preferred reservations include cocktails, seated dinner, wine and the mini-auction. Platinum tickets are US$200 per person for 6pm seating at tables for 10. Gold tickets are US$150 each for a non-reserved dinner seat. Silver tickets at US$75 each are available for the performance and dancing. Silver ticket holders are admitted at 8pm for seating at a cabaret table for four, with one beverage bottle and setups. The performance begins at 8:30pm at El Alamo, across from Hotel Angeles on Salida a Celaya.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Patronato Pro Niños office at San Francisco 1, second floor, or online at info@patronatoproninos.org. For phone orders, call Lily at Niños development office at 152-7796 and arrange to have the tickets delivered (credit cards accepted over the phone). From Monday, June 30, to Friday, July 11, tickets for the concert will be on sale in the Jardín, 10:30am–2pm.

Support the dental van

One of the many healthcare services provided by Patronato Pro Niños is dental care to children in the campo. Our dental van goes into a village and returns daily until all children are treated, or referred to other providers for appropriate care. During school summer vacation, PPN’s dental van is stationed in San Miguel to provide the same services as those offered in the country.

The dental van will be parked at the Jardín at Portal Guadalupe July 7–25, 8am–1:30pm. Eligible children in San Miguel will be able to obtain dental examinations and basic care along with dental hygiene instructions. For appointments, call the Patronato Pro Niños office at 152-7290.

Open up your hearts & minds to Science Camp
By Alicia Rivero

For those of you who’ve been wondering, Science Camp is on for the summer of 2008. We are excited to announce that Science Camp 2008 will be held at San Miguel’s main public library, the Biblioteca Pública, from July 14 to August 1. After an incredible adventure moving up to El Charco del Ingenio (San Miguel’s botanical garden), the summer of 2007, we have decided to integrate the science camp program with the library’s long-standing education program by creating a 3-week summer course that will be adapted as a year-round “Science Club” after-school program for San Miguel children. Then, in 2009, Science Camp will return to El Charco for a full summer program to be called Campamento de Ciencias El Charco where a full day summer camp program will be installed in what will be El Charco’s newly enclosed and fully equipped boveda.

Needless to say, this is a very exciting step for the Science Camp program as it means that the educational program will continue to have further outreach to San Miguel children by being offered as a year round curriculum teaching the scientific method through fun activities that include electricity, air pressure, biology as well as nature studies. For three weeks this summer, Rita DeBrito will train and work with five volunteers at the library and, together, they will design a Science Club curriculum that will be documented and include all the materials necessary to continue the program throughout the school year. The library has an ideal space on its upstairs terrace where a classroom and exhibit space will be set up. Once a week, the campers will have a chance to visit and hike en El Charco as part as the nature studies program. And, of course, campers will learn to look-up and use the nonfiction resources at the library to support their learning on a variety of topics in the sciences.

The program this summer will be a half-day program, or 3 hours a day, designed for 20 campers a week. As part of the continuing commitment of Science Camp, as well as the Biblioteca Pública, we seek the means to be able to provide this program to many of the San Miguel children for whom any cost would be prohibitive. The Science Camp program for this year, 2008, will be 500 pesos a week for each camper. This means a minimum budget of 30,000 pesos (or US$3,000) to be able to establish the program with a curriculum, materials, support as well as transportation to and from the El Charco each week. If we are able to raise more funds (up to 60,000 pesos or US$6,000), our goal will be to purchase and, thereby, extend the library’s nonfiction, juvenile literature collection. As we know well, nonfiction collections are integral resource to primary education and consistently require updating. The Biblioteca Pública has a wonderful collection of books and resources already. However, as an added plus to the establishment of a Science Club at the Biblioteca Pública, we aspire to be able to augment their nonfiction collection with books that reflect and support the science program and enhance children’s learning about their local environment, the flora and fauna that they are surrounded by as well as books that bolster their understanding of the many phenomena that takes place around them though not so obvious to the naked eye.

Once again, we are reaching out to our community of neighbors, friends and parents to ask for contributions (a sponsorship of one child a week is 500 pesos or US$50) to help get this exciting new program launched. We also ask for those parents of children who are visiting San Miguel this summer and are interested in the program for their child, if they would be willing, in addition to enrolling their child, to defray the cost of another child for the period during which their child attends. This way we can ensure that the program sticks to its commitment to be available to all children.

Additionally, the Science Camp program will be holding fund-raisers throughout the summer and be asking for support from our community members of actual materials and time (from egg crates and paper towel tubes to computer programs and volunteer support). It is our goal that by the end of the summer we will have generated the materials, the volunteers as well as developed a classroom space that will ensure the continuing success of Science Club at the Biblioteca Pública.

Last, but not least, we would like to inform all those in the San Miguel community interested and involved in the Science Camp project to feel free to stop by the library during camp dates, July 14 to August 1 to see what’s going on.

Campers will be holding a Science Fair on August 1 where they will have a chance to display their work and talk about what they have studied. The science fair project will then be on display for additional week so that it can be shared with the San Miguel community, in general.

Alicia Rivero, along with Rita DeBrito, is the co-director of Science Camp San Miguel.

Would you like to know more?
Biblioteca Pública
http://www.bibliotecasma.com/

Science Camp San Miguel (currently being updated)
www.sciencecampsanmiguel.com

El Charco del Ingenio
http://www.laneta.apc.org/charco/index.htm

Give San Miguel to a friend & give to the Casa Hogares
By Robin Loving

The Madres at Santa Julia girls’ home are identifying with the Mother Goose rhyme these days about the woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she didn’t know what to do. With 44 girls and only 32 beds, almost everyone is doubling up to get any shut-eye.

The Will Carlton Family of Fairhope, Alabama, and the Dr. Lou Vogt family of San Miguel have a vision to get these gals seed money for expansion while promoting tourism to San Miguel. They are selling US$50 raffle tickets for a US$5,000 trip for four from the US to San Miguel including airfare, ground transportation from León, and a week’s stay at Casa del Angel, Vogt’s luxurious bed and breakfast inn (www.silbadorsanmiguel.com).

“Every penny of the proceeds, US$25,000, will be dedicated to helping solve the problems that come with overcrowding for these girls from dire family circumstances who are cared for by Dominican nuns who rely on community support for all the girls’ needs,” said Will Carlton, Sr., who is working with his children and grandchildren to leverage these funds.

“We are expecting our population to grow to 80 or 100 within three years,” said Madre Maria de Jesus Ortiz Balderas, who is the director at Casa Hogar Santa Julia Don Bosco, A.C. Madre Chuy, as she is known to the girls, is one of only four nuns serving the 44 Santa Julia girls, most of which have special needs due to the special circumstances from which they came.

“We’ve begun a chapter of Friends of Santa Julia in Fairhope,” said Carlton, “and we are eager to have other Friends of chapters and groups such as Rotary join with us to get these girls and the nuns who care for them adequate support,” he continued. His goal is to have the first US$25,000 raised by mid-August.

Raffle tickets may be purchased locally by contacting Robin Loving Rowland at robin@robinloving.com, 152-3709 in SMA, and 925-418-8003 in the US and Canada. The raffle will take place August 1.

“We thank God for people like the Carltons and the Vogts who recognize our needs and work so diligently to provide people incentives to help us help our girls,” said Madre Chuy. “Together, we can!” she concluded.

NOTE: The traditional Mother Goose rhyme refers the woman in the shoe mistreating her children, so Jordan Riak has updated it, and his version is more reflective of how the Madres work with the Santa Julia girls, as follows:

Old Woman in a Shoe
By Jordan Riak

There was an old woman
Who lived in a shoe.
She was a kindhearted mom
Who knew exactly what to do.

She raised all her children
With patience and love.
Never once did she give them
A spank, shake or shove.

Her children all learned
To be gentle toward others,
And good parents too
When they became fathers and mothers.

From their days in the shoe
They learned this about living:
Kindness, not force,
Is the gift that keeps giving.