The start of something new!

This evening Fran and I met at 6:00 at the Oaxaca Learning Center, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to prepare young indigenous people from the outlying pueblos for higher education.  I had been looking everywhere for this kind of help and it was right under my nose...only 2 blocks away!

Tonight Fran sat down with a wonderful young woman named Sonya, and three very smart and (parenthetically) muy guapo young men who really took their time with her.  They explained the program, asked her questions about herself and her ambitions, and signed her up for her first classes, in math and English.

They are going to assess her skills and prepare her for the entrance examinations, but they also have counselors to talk to her about school and career ambitions (which may change as she progresses), and a psychologist to help her with any adjustment difficulties.  It is possible that they can help find her a place to live too, either in the house of a Norteamericano/a that might have an extra bedroom, or with a female friend from the Center.

I have reiterated a few times to Fran that it is more important for her to feel confident and prepared for the exams than to take them too soon and feel defeated.  She told me that she is going to try to be ready to take them because apparently this September is the last year she will be eligible to receive the $1000 pesos per month (about $79 dollars) from CONAFE.  I told her that even if she misses this opportunity to receive that monthly stipend, that shouldn't change anything.  Hopefully we can make up that amount in donations.

I also found out (I will confirm this) from Fran that it costs about $700 pesos (about $55 dollars) to take each examination.  She was told tonight by Sonya that many people take the exams more than once before they pass.  So the cost of the exams will have to be added into the cost of her education too.

Fran seemed very grateful, amazed, and determined to focus hard on her studies.  She will quit her job tomorrow!  Then the next day she will move in temporarily with me until she settles down to her studies, finds another job, and a place to live.  I told her I hope she likes soup!  She said no problem, her last employer only fed her once a day.  Grrrrrrr!!!!

I believe Fran is about to enter an unfamiliar but very friendly world of people close to her own age, and in a similar situation.  She is leaving a world of unpleasant people who used her and held her back.  I can't wait to watch her flower!!!