The First Month In Mexico

Hello Everyone! Waving! Sending big hugs to you from across the seas!

So, l arrived in Puerto Vallarta on Saturday 7^th July 2012, after spending four fabulous days in Los Angeles with the Wilks- Keyishan ladies, l felt ready to step into whatever was going to be thrown at me, and now before l know it a full month has passed. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone, how intense some days have been, how my Spanish fluctuates every second from being barely passable to horrendous, and just how unbelievable it has all been! The experiences keep coming and in ways l could not of imagined. 

It began with the wonderful Greta helping to smooth the whole process of buses, food, health, family,  project etc. and guiding us through our first few days. From there we were on our own, however we knew if needed Greta was only a phone call away and the families were always so helpful that you always felt set to overcome any problem. The first few weeks were BUSY, full on and GREAT! With a full day at the project and then Spanish lessons for two hours in the afternoons you can imagine it was pretty tiring acclimitising to weather, language, culture, everything! So the first few weeks were a bit quiter of just finding my feet, getting a bit of confidence and into the routine of this Mexican seaside town.

I have had times in the last month of missing family, friends and boyfriend terribly. Feeling quite little and alone after a hot day of trying to learn a different language, forge new friendships and sometimes just figure out what the hell is going on. Then typically, out of nowhere will come an amazing moment of Mexican generosity, kindness or humour.  My heart stops straining for home and familiarity and l am emersed again in the experiences of the day. Invitations to fiestas, ranches and rivers, to booze filled nights at the clubs or a transvestite show, to lunch and coffee with people's mothers, to zumba classes in the park or Mexican karaoke on a Saturday night (the Japanese still win that battle l think!?). Or simply someone teaching me how to cook something Mexican and delicious or explaining something basic like the buses or just taking time to talk to me in Spanglish. The moments come frequently (often with some aspect of surprise) where l realise in the middle of a sentence that l am so lucky to be here, and honestly there is nowhere l'd rather be than in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico exploring a country and it's culture and inevitabley myself.  So much has happened over the last four weeks that l don't even know where to start. So let's start with the project and the additional photos can tell the rest. 

Here in Vallarta l am at two projects. Proyecto Pitiall (Rehabilitation and Day Centre for Children with Disabilites) and another project at a school for children with disabilities. However, l have not started at the school as it is summer holidays so l currently spend from 9-3 at the centre. This will change in a few weeks, but it has been really nice to settle in one project first.

 

Proyecto Pitial

Proyecto Pitial is a totally donation funded organisation and was set up approximately 20 years ago by the fabulous Marta, a mother of a child who still attends the centre. She decided to found the centre to allow other parents the opportunity to go to work and know that their child is recieving good therapy and care. They solely depend on donations and sponsorships, and finding enough money to keep it all going is a daily preoccupation. It began in one woman's house and what resulted was an evolution to the current state. A three building centre that has a pool, a horse and some amazing resources with 2 physiotherapists and permenant staff of about 8 very dedicated and caring people. Most of the kids at this centre seem to have either cerebal palsy, paralysis from an event post birth, down syndrome or autism/ intellectual disability. The caring goes beyond the staff as numerous of the older children who are able provide support for the others. They assist with meals, occupying/ calming children in busy times and just generally helping out. It is a wonderful atmosphere, that takes a little while to settle into and find a groove, but once dancing is a daily joy to be there. 

Warming up for some high fives and boxing with two of the kids and the fabulous Marianne!

I am working closely with the physiotherapist to complete daily exercises, sensory involvement/ integration, and increasing concerntration and participation. We see approximately 12 of the children each day, a second physiotherapist comes in the afternoon, so everyone has at least one session of therapy. At present physiotherapy is the main focus, this is because occupational therapy is relatively new in Mexico. I have been told that if you want to study OT in Mexico you have to go either to Spain or America as there are no schools in Mexico. So as you can imagine it is difficult to trying to find/explain where occupational therapy can fit into the centre, especially in a language that you are far from mastering. Regardless, I am learning so much that it is irrelevant, l feel it is a bonus offering little bits here and there that would be considered more OT as an addition to the children's regular therapy. I also help with meals and at times with personal care, and sometimes just sit and natter with the teenager girls. So that is how l spend my days, problem solving and learning, sharing and enjoying. I am typically greeted at the door by some of the kids and hugs and greetings ensue. The hugs (albeit sometimes taken by surprise in a gridiron-esque manner!) continue through the day with laughs and many humerous moments.

So to outside the project, it has really relied on the generosity of those here in Vallarta, l have started Spanish classes again just one day a week and the other afternoons are taking with spending time with Ivan and his family or people from the project and simply exploring Vallarta. Below are some pictures of just a few of these moments!

One of the bars on a big night out with some of the other volunteers resulted in a curious, extremely strong free cocktail with a giant cow, enjoyed on a print mattress suspended in the air!?

Domingo a El Rio

An impromptu phone call on a Sunday lead to me jumping on a bus to Ivan's mother's house, where on arrival l dived into a ute loaded with people, food and music blaring. Here l was whisked away to a river just outside of central Vallarta. Many of the locals go to the river on the weekend and sit and relax, cook lunch, have a few beers and enjoy life. We had to drive across said river to get here but found a quiter spot to enjoy the fresh mountain water! The rain started to fall and we retreated to the river bank, sitting under a tree canopy for a BBQ lunch of chorizo, bistek, tortillas, frejoles and beer. The day passed, albeit a little soggily, but was refreshing and relaxing from the unrelenting heat, l was actually cold for the first time in Mexico!

Chillin with the family under a gorgeous tree canopy by the river as we cook our lunch!

Yes, I am Australian, and BBQ is my spirital homeland?!

So once the BBQ was fired up (and fuelled literally by fan force) l decided to offer my services in meat management. I was relagated once the serious eating was required, but had my day in the sun for just a little bit. I did emerge with a substantial blister on my right hand from too much fan action, however was too ashamed to say anything about my delicate Australian hands!

On another afternoon, l came home from the project (my zumba in the park date had fallen through due to motherly commitments and rumours of big rain, which is pretty much every afternoon in Vallarta!) and once in the door l was greeted by Ivan, who stated we were heading to his mum's house for dinner. Again with little notice we jumped a bus and headed over many a bumpy cobblestone street to Juistinas, which has become my second home away from home! Once at Juistinas, we were informed that we were heading up the mountain to Ivan's aunty's ranchito (area of land that they use for donkeys, dogs, chickens and growing produce). I was told the view was amazing...understatement!

The view of Vallarta from El Ranchito. My poor photography skills can be noted thus.

The Viewing deck at El Ranchito, where standing here l had another surprise moment of realisation; How did l get here? How am l so lucky to be seeing this? Tears began to well however before female hormones could take over l was whisked off to search for fruits to eat and animals, flora and fauna to see!

Ivan and his amazing family - Lis, Christine, Nauli and Juistina on the viewing deck!

Demanded to strike a pose, l do my best following the gorgeous Lis, but for heavily drenched in sweat we will take what we can get! Luckily an eleven year old designer comes my way to deck me out in the latest of Mexican Ranchito Accessories!

Ranchito earrings, flora! Yes that is a flower that has
 been put through my ear piercing!

Pretty Flora Ring made in less than a minute!

 Ranchitio fashion designer and l showing off our latest line!

The view in the other direction, mountains upon mountains!

And the sun begins to dip, l feel like one of the luckiest people in the world. We pile back into the Ute and head down to the river, where fully clothed we jump in, and there we stay until the sun is completely to bed. Second time l am cold in Mexico.

So we returned from the Ranch for dinner, where l had one of the most amazing meals of my life. It may not look great but it was delicious! Capsicum, tomato, cheese and egg soup. Topped with lime and avocado. Amazing! But that is for another post as l have ALOT to sayon all the amazing food of Mexico!

So there is a few moments of my first month in Mexico, far from everything. I am already so fond of the people and place here in Vallarta after a month, what will happen over the next four l can not imagine.