Two giant steps forward! No steps back!

Fran has jumped over many hedges since we last spoke!

Hedge #1:
Last week she PASSED her first exams in Math, Chemistry and English at the Oaxaca Learning Center.  There's an interesting story connected to her Chemistry exam, one that indicates the added burden she carries as one of the few female students at the Center.  She is the only female in her class of 3 chemistry students, and when the exam was graded the first time around, she was the only one who passed.  The two males accused her of cheating and demanded that the test be given again.  A few days later, the three of them took the test for a second time -- and Fran saw this as an extra opportunity to practice test-taking, not as a problem. During the second test, Fran observed that both of the boys were peeking at their notes, but she didn't tattle.  She knows that if they succeed like this in the Learning Center, when it comes time to take the real exam later on they will not be able to slide by.

Hedge #2:
She had the stitches removed yesterday from her dental surgery yesterday.  No more wisdom teeth to bother her.

Hedge #3:
I told her she could live with me for another year, rent free.  One less big worry.

Hedge #4:
She got a REAL JOB, part time (6 hours, 6 days a week ... I wish it was less, but she says she can do it) at the Soriana grocery store chain as a cashier!!!  Of course she PASSED their math test, and today she waded through 3 or 4 interviews and an online questionnaire with 400 questions!  Tomorrow she has to stand in line to get her social security number, have her picture taken, and she's ready to start!

That's enough hedges for now!  Fran is excited and encouraged today.  Right now she is preparing herself a meal before running off to class to share her good news with Sonya, the director of the Learning Center.

Here are a few photos of Fran taken during a visit to the ruins at Atzompa last week: