Chocolatadas are a very popular tradition here in Peru. They are essentially Christmas parties, which range in extravagance: from a simple end-of-term school prize giving ceremony where chocolatadas (hot chocolate) and panetón (a traditional Christmas fruitcake) is provided, to full-on parties f[...]
Posts Tagged ‘children’
Pregnant in Latin America – Now What?
My husband and I found out a few days ago that we’ll be parents next July. While the fluctuating emotions swarm our thoughts, we are trying to maintain the balance of excitement and concern for having this child as expats. Finding out you are pregnant in another country can be difficult on many le[...]
Teaching a Violent Past
What did you learn about U.S. foreign policy towards Guatemala during 7th grade history class? You probably don’t remember reading about the Guatemalan national heroes Juan Jose Arevalo and Jacobo Arbenz or the U.S. led coup d’état in 1954. Of course you don’t — the United States ed[...]
Two Weeks into a Year’s Worth of Photography Classes
I’ll never forget watching my first group of photo students in Solentiname walk away from me to shoot some of their first pictures. I was standing inside of the poorly lit classroom with a massive smile on my face – I could hardly contain my happiness – and reminded them one las[...]
How to Fundraise With No Funds
This week I was really impressed by another volunteer here at Tashirat. Some of us (myself included) are intimidated by fundraising events, by the thought of all the time, energy, and resources spent resulting in little or no money raised. And, being in a rural community in Mexico, one may think: If[...]
The Perks of Being a New Volunteer
I’ve been at the Tashirat orphanage just outside of Tepoztlan in the state of Morelos, Mexico for about a week and a half now. Tashirat is a very interesting place, because not only is it an orphanage, it’s an ashram and a school as well. They are also beginning an ambitious garden/greenhouse pr[...]
Children, Saints, and Jiminy Cricket
On Sunday, I was walking down the street when I observed some shocking, yet familiar behavior. As I passed in front of favela Santa Marta, children were playing and adults were similarly scattered around the plaza talking, selling food, and waiting for the bus. Business as usual. I noticed a woman d[...]
September 23rd, 2009 - 11:27 am § in Belize, Good Ideas, In the Field, Looking for Opportunity, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Belize Volunteer Opportunities
At the big Independence Day party in town, I ran into Alexis, one of the kids from Holy Cross. I mentioned I saw him in pictures from a field trip to the mainland, and I asked how he had enjoyed it. His face lit up and he was all excited to tell me about the [...][...]
Hello, Mundo Hermoso!
Having spent the last month and a half in what, to me, feels like the most remote farming town in all of Central America, it is hard to believe that people all over the globe could (and will) be reading my words! I am excited and honored to be a new Idealist blog “contributor” and [...][...]
