travels

so here i am, two weeks later and getting settled into life a la mexicana. things are going well thus far, i have been travelling quite a bit and will probably be doing so for the next month or so. after 14 hours or so on the bus, mike feely and i made it to colima the first week that i was here to check out a children´s home there that has only been in existence for about 12 years but has already grown to house almost 100 kids in 5 different buildings. they have done so, it seems, by rallying support in their community and by having a supportive church that provides volunteers, raises money, and is quite simply involved in the lives of the children and staff there. tonight, i am headed to ciudad mante to another casa hogar (¨mama paulita´s¨) both to meet and talk with the directors there and also to interpret for a team that is coming down from the u.s. i am looking at another all night bus ride with such quality films as ´crossroads´ and ´the lizzie mcguire movie´ playing late into the night... i have felt very much at home in the casa hogar in the week or so that i have actually been here, which has been encouraging. and from talking with the directors, it seems that, while my main focus will still be on the transition plans for the children when they leave, another big part of my job will simply be a liaison between the directors and everyone else involved in the life of the casa hogar, including the amigos de la familia, the methodist church in mexico, and others...