Friendship leads to scholarship
By Keith Wall

Kendall Butler Linda López McAlister and Kendal Dodge Reynoso Butler were friends for nearly 40 years. They met in a summer program in Salzburg, Germany in 1959, discovered a shared passion for theater as well as language, and would combine German study sessions with the reading of scenes from their favorite plays.

Later, as students at NYU, both worked as tour guides at Rockefeller Center. In the mid-sixties, they lost track of each other, as Kendal moved to Guadalajara and got married. Linda accepted a job as dean of the Imperial Valley Campus of the University of San Diego. Both continued to act, alongside their careers in other areas.

In 2000, thanks to the internet, they found each other again. Kendal had returned to California with her daughter after a relatively short marriage some 30 years earlier and had only recently returned to the city in Mexico where her parents lived and died—San Miguel.

As Linda was now living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it was perfectly natural for Kendal to plan a visit on her next trip north to visit her daughter. She was delighted to learn Linda was involved in theater and in the process of founding the Albuquerque-based El Camino Players. They talked theater and decided that Kendal ought to perform in a production directed by Linda—which she did, two years later in Albuquerque and the following year here in San Miguel. Kendal played Marguerite Bohr in Copenhagen, and the San Miguel performance was Linda’s introduction to this city.

This would be their last collaboration. Linda brought Still Life to San Miguel in early 2007. Kendal was to play Georgia O’Keefe, but had to bow out due to illness, although she made a brave effort to show up and applaud one performance. She died that August of a long illness.

Linda returned to San Miguel in March of this year to produce four nights of the excellent two-character play Kitty and Lina at Teatro Santa Ana. She introduced herself to Atención editor Suzanne Ludekens, who knew Kendal well as a friend and as a superlative writer and editor. Suzanne was happy to direct Linda to the cemetery where Kendal is buried.

During a dinner with Kendal’s cousin, who helped with promotion of her play, Linda learned that Kendal had supported Jóvenes Adelante’s efforts to provide university scholarships to talented but impoverished local high school graduates. She had made a substantial financial contribution and was interested in locating a qualified orphan to be the recipient of a scholarship when her illness prevented further participation. Prior to her departure, Linda discussed the possibility of her next production in San Miguel being a fundraiser for the organization.

Linda was home only a few weeks when she emailed Jóvenes Adelante President Pat Harding, indicating she wanted to sponsor a student in honor of Kendal Reynoso Butler. She said, “I spent five years as dean of the Imperial Valley Campus in Calexico, right across the border from Mexicali, Baja California, and I had quite a lot of contact with the Mexican higher education community there—UABC and CETYS. So, I have some feel for higher education in Mexico. When I was introduced to your website and your work, it just seemed kind of a perfect way to be helpful and honor my dear departed friend of so many years.”

Needless to say, Harding was thrilled with this news, as were the other volunteer officers. Linda’s very generous pledge means one more of the 35 or so applicants for fall scholarships presently undergoing second interviews will receive the considerable benefits of financial and corollary support from Jóvenes Adelante throughout his or her university career.

The organization currently has sufficient funds to grant five-year scholarships to about 20 new students (which will bring the total number of current recipients to over 70.) The organization is engaged in a pledge drive to obtain five more pledges from community members by the end of July, when final decisions must be made. A hundred dollars a month for five years fully funds the education of a talented, hopeful youth for whom a university degree is an impossible dream without major assistance. Several members have co-pledged sponsorships, which is a commitment each of just US$50 a month. The benefits and rewards for both applicant and sponsor are enormous. Consider sponsoring a local student; there could be no better way to foster and participate in the personal and academic success of a young Mexican than to make this pledge and share the journey with the student and his or her family.

For more information about sponsoring a Jóvenes Adelante student, or about mentoring, tutoring or other volunteer opportunities, visit jovenesadelante.org or write to jovenesadelante@gmail.com.  


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Muriel in Mexico 
By Michaella Rodriguez

Walking through the cobblestone streets of San Miguel, one often wonders what lies on the other side of the façades of buildings that seem like movie sets.

Surprises await beyond those walls, just as they do behind the faces we see on the streets. In San Miguel, everyone has a story, whether native or expatriate.

Muriel Logan hasn’t gotten into a routine of leisure and getting up late since she’s lived in San Miguel. I met with her mid-morning, and she told me a typical day for her begins at 5am. She wakes up early and goes to an aerobics class at 7am. By 8:30, she meets her husband and dog at the park for a walk, before starting her day. She says she’s never at a loss for things to do in San Miguel.

Originally from Seattle, Washington, she has lived in numerous countries for a year or so at a time—including France, Greece and Portugal—and spent time in other countries for months at a time. After beginning her career in food-related businesses, writing and editing guidebooks and restaurant reviews, Muriel spent nearly 20 years working in international relief and development.


She started her work in development with a Presbyterian church in Seattle, where a like-minded group of professional people wanted to give back to their community and internationally. There, she was a human resources coordinator and facilitated people getting work in reputable and effective development agencies in projects around the world.

Later, she worked with World Concern, which she describes as “one of the most effective nondenominational developmental organizations.” Muriel was the International Human Resources Director, recruiting and training people to work all over, specifically in the poorest areas of the world, to provide agricultural, veterinary, micro-enterprise development and medical assistance.

Muriel says that she and her husband, Gordon, first came to San Miguel to visit in 2000. They had visited Mexico on vacations over the years and even though they always knew about San Miguel, they just didn’t get here until 2000. They really liked San Miguel, but they didn’t think much of it until a few weeks later.

When Gordon’s company in Seattle took a downturn, they decided to retire early. Gordon suggested they move to Mexico “out of the blue,” Muriel says. They came to San Miguel more than six years ago, “lock, stock and barrel, and never looked back.” She also adds that unlike some expats who try to balance two lives and may feel torn between two places, they consider San Miguel their home now and plan to be here permanently.

They do travel regularly in Mexico, however. Within the last year, Muriel and a partner started a house-exchange and hospitality network for Mexico. She hopes to make travel in Mexico more economical by expanding this network through the entire country.

Now that this venture is up and running, she hopes to get back into development. She says her “real heart and desire” when she came to Mexico was to be involved in that kind of work. Muriel refers to that old maxim, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” She believes that organizations working on an appropriate developmental level help people to become self-sufficient and to truly make their own decisions.

Muriel enjoys her life in San Miguel and her favorite part is the mix of cultures. Here she encounters numerous indigenous groups from around Mexico and a large group of expatriates from all over the world meshing with the mainstream culture. She thinks the people here are wonderful and she also enjoys the variety in topography and climate that she finds in Mexico.

She says she’s never been in a place where it’s so easy to meet people. She’s never lived in a small town before, where you have to leave the house 30 minutes early because you’re going to bump into so many people you know, though she says it’s mostly really fun. She and Gordon take advantage of what’s going on in San Miguel—concerts, plays, lectures, movies. It’s easy to just meet people in the street; she says that’s “probably because people are uprooted and starting a new life and are really open to meeting other people.” Gordon and Muriel met lifelong friends the first month they were here.

When I asked her the biggest difference she notices between life in the US and life in Mexico, she said, “Most of us respond positively to the cultural values—family, people, relationships” here in Mexico. We have to come to grips with the differences between the time- and money-oriented culture of the US and put into perspective the differences we find in Mexico. She says you “learn to roll with the punches or go nuts.”

Just as visitors learn what riches plain façades conceal, residents learn to find what lies behind the faces they encounter. Being aware of the hidden is a way to add dimension to living, here or elsewhere.

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Maryanne Lazinchuk Memorial

Maryanne Lazinchuk Maryanne Lazinchuk, San Miguel resident and educator, passed away in her home on Sunday, May 17. She had been a longtime San Miguel resident and was originally from Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

Maryanne first came to work at our school in the year 2000 and she quickly won the hearts of students and faculty with her intelligence and Canadian wit. One of the things that stands out in our memories of Maryanne was her willingness to be silly and sing show tunes at the drop of a hat. We loved to listen to tales of her childhood in her beloved Canada and were fortunate enough to have her share her vast knowledge of history, literature, astrology and rock and roll with us.

I will miss Maryanne tremendously and never forget our fits of laughter and endless conversation.

Victoria Robbins



Hablar de muerte no es un tema que me guste, pero así es la vida, todos nos iremos algún día, saber que de repente llega la muerte es para mi, muy difícil de entender, así que Maryanne, tu tiempo llego porque así estaba escrito en tu destino, decir lo bueno y lo malo de ti, no tiene sentido. Lo único que puedo expresar es que me parece que como individuo lo mejor de ti lo dejaste en este mundo, por eso llego tu tiempo. Era hora de partir, y en el lugar en que te encuentres deseo con todo mi corazón que estés tranquila y en paz y que tu paso al otro mundo sea maravilloso, hasta otra ocasión en que yo creo algún día nos volveremos todos a ver suerte, mi mejor vibra para ti…

Emma Guerra



Marianne, Safariana amiga, colega hombro con hombro durante varios anos en el difícil arte de trasmitir a los adolescentes el amor, el gusto, el interés por la literatura, por la lectura, por la redaccion, por la poesia, por la historia.

Exigente, dedicada, responsable y absolutamente entregada a atender las necesidadaes de cada uno de tus alumnos para hacerlos brillar, ya fuera declamando o escribiendo textos y poesias, buscando siempre elevar su nivel academico dedicando siempre mucho mas tiempo y trabajo para lograrlo.

Lo que se dice una Buena Maestra.

Los eternos cafes, hablando de los alumnos, de la vida, de películas o novelas siempre los voy a recordar

Ana Maria Maza



El mundo de la enseñanza es misterioso, creativo y mágico. Las personas que nos encontramos inmersas en el, nos damos cuenta que siempre sostenemos entre nosotras una mano y aprendemos a tener esa compañía sutil, demasiado sutil. Después de un tiempo nos damos cuenta que esa unión siempre tiene una fuerza especial que nos acompaña el resto de la vida. 

Y uno aprende que la falta una flor de ese jardín que decoro el alma de la enseñanza construyo caminos para el mañana de muchas semillas germinando. Y entonces aunque ausente, seguimos sosteniendo, en el recuerdo, esa mano que complementa nuestro racimo de flores dentro del amor a la enseñanza.

En memoria a esa flor de nuestro jardín Mary Ann.

Lilia Guerrero Sánchez.



We all lost a bit of light and a bit of madness with the passing of Maryanne. We’ll miss them both.

David Dykes



Maryanne made a lasting impression on all of us who worked with her. Her intelligence, energy and sense of humor will be missed.

Caleb Engler



Maryanne was my history teacher for only one year. Sometimes on Fridays we would sit after school and talk about music, or she would tell me about the times she spent traveling. But more importantly she would always tell me to study something I enjoy (in this case, filmmaking) and I will never forget her advice.

Pancho Munoz



Maryanne was my first English and history teacher. She was the only teacher who was able to make me spell correctly. She was a great and dedicated teacher and I am glad I worked with her for five years.

Jayden Romay



Maryanne was my English teacher for one year and my history teacher the next. She taught me how to play cribbage and I will never forget the long conversations we had about almost any subject.

Josh Ferguson



I will always remember how Maryanne and I would have long, interesting conversations during my tutoring class. I will miss her funny and crazy personality and her random mind.

Daniel Tognazzini



Maryanne was my English and history teacher. She was a cheerful, strong-willed, generous and understanding person. She died before her time and will be missed.

Morgan Hardcastle



She was a very funny person and our memories of her make us laugh. She knew a lot about everything and loved to share it, which was probably why she became a teacher. Maryanne was a kind person.

Ramona Rauh



Maryanne taught many subjects at our school. English grammar has always been a tedious matter for me, but thanks to her it became easy and fun. Thank you, Maryanne.

Iza Wachter 

Maryanne was unique. I will never forget all the wonderfully enlightening conversations I had with her as well as the daily scolding I received. She was a teacher, a friend, sometimes a pain, but always incredible. I will miss her.

The mystery student who forget to include a name.



Maryanne was a very intelligent and kind person. We will all miss her.

Lola Mamjanova



Maryanne was definitely a unique person whom all of us will miss.

Lauren Holly



Maryanne was one of the best teachers I have ever had. More than that, she was also my friend. I feel that a small part of me also was lost with her, but in a way I’m glad for it, as it shows me how much I cared.

Elena Clancy



Maryanne was a great teacher. She always wanted her students to succeed and learn, and I know that we will all miss her.

Emiliano Ludekens



I thought I knew a lot, but then I met Maryanne.

Jennifer Lawrence



Maryanne was an interesting person. She had her own peculiar way of doing things and I will miss her curiousness.

Natasha Tylosky





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Mexico Invitational El Grande Cook-off 
Sat, July 4, noon
Team sign-up: Longhorn Smokehouse
Salida a Celaya 6
Info: www.elgrandecookoffsanmiguel.com 
Vista Antigua
cnr Avenida Independencia and Libramiento a Dolores
100 pesos


Biggest, baddest BBQ cook-off 
By Cathy Cooper Long

Does a bear frolic in the woods? Can James Brown get on up? Do the Fourth of July and barbeque go together? If you answered yes to any of the above, then mark your calendars, put on your apron, dust off your grill and get out your tongs, because you’ll want to attend the first annual Mexico Invitational El Grande Cook-off in San Miguel on (when else?) July 4!

The barbeque bash is hosted by Vista Antigua, Coates/Dolan’s newest private community, located on the corner of Avenida Independencia and Libramiento a Dolores. Gates open at noon, and the fun lasts all day long—or until the last killer margarita or ice-cold cerveza is sold!

El Grande Cook-off—the first of its kind in Mexico—pits top barbeque teams (including you if you want!) in a head-to-head competition for best brisket, sausage, ribs, “open” category, beans and chili. Local restaurants and barbeque aficionados alike will compete.

Barbeque teams can sign up now in the cooking competition. If you can grill it, you can enter it—no restrictions! We’ll have prizes in all the categories. If you entertain thoughts of walking away with the grand prize and the prestige of being Mexico’s best barbeque chef, you can find more information and sign-up sheets at Longhorn Smokehouse, Salida a Celaya 6 (next to Pemex). You also can get forms and everything you need to know at www.elgrandecookoffsanmiguel.com.

In addition to the cook-off, 15 teams will participate in Team Sorting—an exciting, timed, horseback competition. No need for a babysitter! Supervised children’s activities include a petting zoo, crafts and an inflatable Moonwalk.

Top-notch entertainment provided throughout the day features Vudu Chile, Billie Rose, dancing and lots more. Barbeque, hotdogs, and ice cream are on the menu and, of course, cerveza, wine and margaritas aplenty!

General admission is 100 pesos per person and children under five get in free. If you want to feel pampered, be waited on, and eat and drink free all day, a special Patron Tent, with limited seating, is available for 1,000 pesos per person. All the food you want, an open bar and front-row seating for all the fun are just a taste of what you get for a few extra bucks (must be 18 and over).

Tickets can be purchased at Longhorn Smokehouse, Feed the Hungry, Patronato Pro Niños, Vista Antigua and online at www.elgrandecookoffsanmiguel.com. You can pay online with Visa, MasterCard, Amex or e-check.

This event is planned for fun and lots of it, but proceeds go to two large, well-known and highly respected NGOs in San Miguel: Feed the Hungry and Patronato Pro Niños. Both organizations serve a multitude of Mexican children and families every day.

Make plans now to attend the first annual Mexico Invitational El Grande Cook-off and Team Ranch Sorting competition. In future years, you can tell your grandkids you were there for the very first one (and what fun you had!).

Cathy Cooper Long is the Development Director for Feed the Hungry.

Feed the Hungry

Feed the Hungry (FTH) is one of San Miguel de Allende’s oldest and most highly respected charities. It began as a single soup kitchen for the poor in 1987 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Now, FTH operates 35 kitchens in and around San Miguel and serves a hot, nutritious meal to 4,000 hungry children every school day of the year.

Most of the children served by FTH live in poor ranchos, far from towns, paved roads and basic amenities. Many villages are difficult to access, even in a car or SUV. Nevertheless, FTH volunteers use their own vehicles and gas to deliver food and supplies to the schools once a week.

FTH also provides jobs, hiring dozens of local women as cooks and kitchen managers. They are paid a year-round salary with benefits, including health insurance and retirement.

Part of Feed the Hungry’s success is due to its being a nonprofit organization run like a for-profit business, with fiscal responsibility, oversight, flexibility and dedication. FTH relies heavily on devoted volunteers and, as a result, is able to keep administrative costs below 15 percent.

Our goal, even in these tough economic times, is to secure funding for, build and support two new kitchens each year for the next five years.

For more information on how to help Feed the Hungry, call US: (505) 349-3700 or MX: (415) 152 24 02, or visit www.feedthehungrysma.org. 





Patronato Pro Niños



Founded in 1970, Patronato Pro Niños is a nonprofit, non-government organization dedicated to providing free or low-cost medical and dental services to children of low-income families.

Our volunteers seek out needy children in San Miguel and its surrounding villages, then help them get the medical care that can dramatically change their lives. We work with teachers so they will refer children to us. We also reach out through local media so families can learn how to get our help.

PPN’s mobile dental unit goes to communities and schools in the area to provide dental care according to each child’s individual need. As an incentive to promote and maintain dental hygiene practices at home, we give free toothbrushes and toothpaste to the families of our young patients.

Patronato Pro Niños underwrites the majority of the cost, depending on the case, through fundraising efforts, and the support of national and foreign volunteers assisted by our administrative team.

Contributions to the Patronato Pro Niños Children’s Health Program enable our neediest children to receive the medical and dental care they cannot obtain through any other source. 

For more information about the program and where to send a donation, visit www.patronatoproninos.org  or email info@patronatoproninos.org.