Fran's class trip to San Sebastian de las Grutas

Hi all,

Fran's school activities have certainly changed since she switched from computer science to agronomy! She didn't want to be stuck at a desk behind a computer, and she hasn't been!

Last Friday she went with 3 busloads of students and their teachers to a destination 3 hours southwest of Oaxaca to explore a very large cave.  One of the purposes was to discover what was underground -- the composition of the land.  There was a deep pool in this cave that could only be reached by lowering one person at a time through a black hole, and the teachers smartly decided to cross that off their list of things to explore.  Enjoy the photos!

We so thankful to those of you who are helping, and still a bit close to the edge financially.  We are looking for ways to widen our support circle a little as Fran's requirements for materials are getting a little pricier, and our living expenses in Oaxaca are rising.  

Specifically, she is attending Cambridge Academy for English classes.  The quality of this school is very much higher than any school she could attend, in terms of learning from native English speakers.  They offer the TOEFL exam at the end of her studies, which will be an extremely important key to her professional success in the future.  However, it costs $900 PESOS per month (about $60).  So I am looking for donors who could commit to blocks of 3, 6 or 12 months at a time to allow her to finish.  It will take 2 years.  Please consider if you can help, or know someone to approach for help.

I also wanted to announce that Fran will be pursuing her Master's degree in Agronomy.  Her financial outlook requires at least this much education.  And because she is an indigenous woman in a male dominated (and I hate to say it, but somewhat racist) culture, it's become clear that when she walks out the door of this protected environment, she is going to need CREDENTIALS.  Staying in school will give her this, plus a chance to reap the benefits of her networking skills -- people like and respect Fran because she is a no-nonsense, focused, bright, energetic person.

OK, here are the photos!

Second Semester of her Sophomore Year!

Fran started back to to school only yesterday after her Christmas break…the educational system here in Mexico is rather desperately in need of many changes, but we work with what we can get.  I could go on about that, but in another blog, perhaps…

She is flourishing within her small network of supporters (THANK YOU!) and continues to grow and learn in so many ways despite the educational system here.  She is now committed to taking English class at the Cambridge School for the next two years to complete a requirement for graduation.  Becoming fluent in English, I'm sure, will be as important to her future as her degree.  She is beginning to talk to me in English, and seems to understand just about everything.

The third pillar of her education, is reading.  It is said (including by Mexicans themselves) that "Mexicans don't read," and while that is a generalization, it is generally true, unfortunately.  Sr. Luis Rene, (El Dentista) and I have been working on changing this situation in Fran, and it seems to have taken hold! He has told her repeatedly that all the things he knows and talks about, he learned from reading, and that his favorite thing to do at night is to get in bed with a good book. (He is happily unmarried, like me.) This made an impression on Fran, since she is constantly amazed at how much he knows!

A couple of months ago, I bought her a rather long book written by Malala about her life (translated into Spanish, of course).  I think she was a bit staggered by the task of reading it, and it took her about a month.  But then El Dentista -- who had been talking to her constantly about the power of reading in his life, and what it could do for her -- lent her a book and she read it in less than a week.  She's now read 3 books, in one month, and seems to be on her way, reading for pleasure.  I just borrowed four skinnier books from the Oaxaca Lending Library for her, in Spanish, at the YA (young adult level).  We are getting her started reading by making it as pleasurable as possible, not a chore.

El Dentista has also exposed her to art, some great films, intelligent and far-ranging conversation, and excellent advice on many subjects.  He gets mad at her on occasion when he thinks she has done something stupid, and she gets mad at him too, so it is a true family relationship!  I feel like I have a "surrogate parent partner" only a few blocks away.  Not to mention a great dentist!

Fran continues to be amazing.  She came that way, partly, but because she is open, enthusiastic, BRIGHT, adventurous, strong -- she always gets the most out of life.  People adore her.  Except for the many native Oaxacans who would use her and abuse her if they could, because she fits a certain niche on the color line, is young, is female, is "from the pueblos," is usable and useful, and comes at a rock bottom price  They will feed her bad food and have her sleep on the floor, a couch, a dirty mattress.  We all plan to protect her from that as long as possible, and partly by giving her the best advanced education we can possibly give her.  I still hope that by the time she finishes her Master's degree she can go to the States somehow -- take a few courses there, increase her skills, perfect her English, and become more broadly educated about the world.  I think she is a leader waiting to happen.

Fran looks around her and sees the rut many young women are in here, as objects for men to play with. She is older than her peers at school (23 to their 18) so she watches them spend most of their time and energy on their appearance to get boyfriends.  They don't understand why Fran seems totally uninterested.  Instead of socializing, she goes straight to the front of the class and sits as close to the teacher as possible so she won't miss anything.  In her village, she is an incredible anomaly, since all the girls there are married by about age 15, and start having babies. She should have three by now, and they keep reminding her of that every time she visits. Her father told her that it is better to learn how to be alone than to get married too young and start having babies.  He is an amazing exception in his village too.  He helps his wife with housework and taking care of the children, and the other villagers make fun of him for this.

Fran's mother is trying to learn Spanish (she, like 95 percent of the other villagers, speaks only Cuicateco, a dying language), another indication of how unique her family is.  Her oldest younger brother is hopefully on the same path as Fran; he has a lonely and difficult road ahead.  Her youngest brother is languishing in the village, getting a miserable education, more miserable than you can imagine.  The tendency in isolated villages like Fran's is to actually hold people back, to sustain the cycle of poverty and ignorance by making sure that everyone stays at the same level, doing the same thing, thinking the same way.  It pains me to think of his young brain being deadened by his surroundings, especially because I know he is energetic and precocious, like Fran.

It is worth mentioning again that pueblo life is not the ideal some people think it is, especially in remote areas where roads do not extend, where there are no health services, stores, internet connection, schools beyond primary.  The young girls who start having babies at fifteen find their hair and teeth falling out because of nutritional problems, a drain on calcium and protein.  Fran's mother, in her fifties, has only a few teeth left. The young men (and sometimes women) become serious alcoholics, abusing their wives and children, doing nothing to help them survive. The food they put in their mouth is gathered from plants, mostly beans and corn.  There are virtually no animals to eat -- because it is too expensive to feed them.  There is no plumbing, and very limited electricity.  It is a 7 hour walk to town, or a 3 hour collectivo ride, if you can catch the only one that leaves about 4 in the morning.  And if the road hasn't washed out from the rain.  There is one person in the village who has a car, the mayor.  There is one burro, and possibly one horse.

One step at a time.

Your continued support is much appreciated.  Fran now has to start buying more expensive supplies for her coursework, and her one working computer is limping along.  I can see the day coming when it will go the way we all inevitably go, which would be truly a disaster since she gets and fulfills class assignments on it regularly.  Of course, she can use mine, but mine is headed for the great toxic waste dump in the sky itself.  So we need to save, as well as pay the bills.

Another thing we are keeping an eye on is that the landlord's son is moving in upstairs, which may have large consequences, since he doesn't like us to rent our our rooms.  If it gets to that, we will have to move.

The best way, the only way to move forward is … one step at a time.  I'm learning not to worry.  Not there quite yet, but having Fran along makes it more fun!

News and New Photos!

Fran's birthday was September 13 and I am just now getting around to posting the photos from that day!  Note:  This is when Fran was still wearing her glasses.  When she started playing basketball, Luis Rene, El Dentista, decided he would get her some high quality contact lenses for her birthday.  You can see the change below.

Zanunga (mine) and Mole Negro (Fran's) at Biznaga Restaurant

September 13 is Fran's Birthday, September 15 is Independence Day

Cuautemoc poses with Fran on her birthday

A friendly policeman (he was smiling until I raised the camera) and his dog helping Fran celebrate

Tehanas helping Fran celebrate her birthday (we were walking to Biznaga up the Alcala)

But wait!  There are more photos!  A few days ago her father and elder sister and nephew visited.  I wanted to take portraits, going for a more focused view, rather than being distracted by color.  Here are some of those:

My favorite picture of the bunch -- and I caught Fran's dad cracking a smile.  This is her dad, her sister, and nephew.  I will add their names as soon as Fran gets home and reminds me!  My worst disability is remembering names.

He looks very solemn, but that's just the way many men behave in front of a camera!  Fran is not wearing glasses because she was just gifted with contact lenses for her birthday by her friend Luis Rene, El Dentista

Fran, her father, and Lara Medina, our new friend and supporter from Los Angeles.

Fran, her father, and me.

Father and Daughter

Fran's family, minus her mother (who has never ventured beyond Cuicatlan, the closest city to her remote pueblo) and her two brothers.

Now for the progress report!  Fran is not regretting that she changed her major.  She is more engaged with the material and seems to have more in common with her fellow students.  As usual she is learning as much, and probably more (life skills), outside of class.  Lara Medina is staying with us for six weeks through Airbnb, and she has been a wonderful influence.  A professor of Chicana/Chicano studies at CSU Northridge, she has exposed Fran to many new ideas and taken her to many places during her stay.  They also paint watercolor pictures together in the evening.  Their growing friendship is a beautiful thing to see, and I can see the effect it is having on Fran.  I bought her the book written by Malala and she is reading it and discussing with Lara.  Fran will be reading one book every couple of months to get her started, and hopefully to develop her own pleasure in reading.  Lara will be Skyping her every so often to discuss the books, and to check in.
         Lara also started a campaign for Fran because her expenses are rising, and there are 4 ½ more years to go.  Donations are falling off a little, so I am reaching out again to make sure Fran is covered until the day of her graduation!  Here is the website Lara started,  and here is the Weebly website where you can also contribute.  If each of you could reach out to a friend or two with this information, we would appreciate it so much.  We are hoping to expand our network.  And please don't forget to subscribe to this blog, and comment.  It helps to know who is out there watching! 
         I'll be checking in a couple of times at least before the holidays.  Days of the Dead are coming up fast, this weekend!  Peace and Seasonal Greetings to you all!

Fran's Progress

Fran and her friend Jazu in the Agronomy Lab

Fran changed majors!  Did I tell you?  Yes, of course I did!

She made a wise decision, and is much happier this semester than I have ever seen her.  Part of it is being in a field that she can relate to, and part of it is gaining mastery over her life as a student.

There are three agronomy specialties that she must chose between at some point, animal nutrition, animal care, and crop engineering.  She hasn't taken any animal courses yet, but that will come soon.  She said she was amazed to look through the microscope for the first time, where she could see the amazing details of seeds and plants!

Naturally she feels more connected to this field because she was born and spent most of her life in a very remote and tiny settlement where the raising of food and a few animals is crucial to survival.  When I say remote, Cuicatlan is the nearest town, and her village is an 8-hour walk from her village, and a 2.5 to 3 hour drive over rough and dirt roads that can be inaccessible during the rainy season.  She believes she will be able to contribute something to help her village and her parents succeed better at raising nutritious and healthy crops.

Interesting to note that in the not too distant past, her village was even more remote, by another 2 or 3 hours, so it gradually relocated to the new site.  Only a father and daughter team still remain in the original village site, cultivating their little plot of land.  The father is in his 90s, and the daughter in her 70s.  On a fairly regular basis, people from the new site visit the old site because the land is actually more fertile there, and they are still raising crops such as coffee, that they can haul in to sell.

But back to Fran's world in Oaxaca City.  Last year she studied so hard, and got through almost all of the required math classes.  She is taking the last one, Linear Algebra, and then she will only have a few statistics classes to deal with.  The rest will be more hands-on in her field.  Last year she was determined and serious.  This year she is determined and happy.

And funny!  It turns out she's quite a clown (like I am) so we keep each other laughing.

Our gratitude continues to grow and deepen towards those of you who are included in her circle of support.  It really has begun to feel like a little community.  We have four more years to go to graduation!  

As I'm sure you realize by now our budget is to the penny, so if you are ever thinking that you need to withdraw your support, we would so appreciate your letting us know so that we can plug up the dike as quickly as possible!  :)  I worry.  I am a worry wart.  Ask my children!

One more detail.  Fran is teaching three young women once a week for three hours, and that is going well too.  I see her concentrating in her room, planning her time with them.  She really cares about their future.  It's a beautiful thing to see.

More soon!  Smiles and hugs.

Big News x 2

First, I want to say that even though Fran and I talk all the time about how she is surrounded by a circle of people who care and support her, and how lucky we both are to have you all, I have probably been guilty of not thanking you enough.  I feel that is true, because it is such a huge thing you are doing, and in this economy with so many people struggling, including perhaps some of you, it is truly miraculous to me that this is real!  Know that we talk about you often, and that you are never taken for granted!  Deep bows!  Big hugs!  And I will keep you posted about Fran's graduation here in 5 years!  Or maybe we can have a get together before that.

Along those lines, one of you donated a month's rent to keep us going through October when we will find it much easier to find a renter.  I was up at 2 a.m. last night worrying about it, and just before I went to bed I got an email from Helen.  I hope she doesn't mind that I reveal her first name!  Thank you, Helen!  You know that feeling of your stomach relaxing after you get some good news?  I've had that feeling all day!

And while I'm at it, Fran and and wanted to thank Steven and Leanne for keeping the money straight and flowing, by opening the bank account in Oregon, showing Fran how to open and use her Paypal account, and monitoring the account.  They are the ones that make it possible for your donations to reach Fran, plus donating money of their own.

Thanks also to Sheela, Linda, Kathleen, Cindy, Dean and Mary, Kathleen, Lynn, John and Jo Anne, Lorna & Theo, Ann and Hal, Cara and Eugenio, Coral and I am going to feel so bad if I forgot anyone!  Thank you for helping to provide the foundation for changing this young life.  I feel so privileged that I am the one that gets to witness the transformation, joy, and education of this strong and spirited young woman.  Let me know if there is anything more I can do to inform you of matters relevant to her progress and care.

AND NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS!

Big change and sobering lesson for Fran today…I mean she didn't learn anything new, but she experienced it up close and personal. For a week now we have been discussing with each other and with close friends here in Oaxaca, Fran's desire to change her major from Computer Engineering to Agronomy. I think she started discussing the idea with friends her own age first, before she tried it out on the older generation! We talked to Eugenio and to Cara, who works professionally in the field for a couple of hours.

She had already paid her fees for the Computer Engineering semester, but went by herself to the office the other day to say she wanted to make a change. She was met by a bureaucratic wall, a woman in charge of all the programs who just kept repeating "it's impossible" to her with no explanation. Fran came home discouraged and said she was told that her only avenue was to take one more semester's worth of classes in computer engineering (which would be useless to her degree in agronomy) and start her new field in the middle of the school year -- which would put her at a disadvantage. You know the type, I'm sure. But multiply that x10 to imagine a certain breed of middle-aged Mexicana's who really just want to say NO, especially if you have no visible status or support.

So after I insisted she try again, today she took our friend Luis Rene, our dentist, along with her. She arrived first and stood in front of Mrs. Belligerent repeating what she wanted to do, while Mrs. Belligerent rolled her eyes and treated her like an idiot. Then the dentist walked in in his white shirt and pressed pants, said he was Fran's "Responsable" and without blinking her eyes the woman immediately complied. Then he walked with Fran over to the Agronomy dept. and talked with the head of the program about Fran. So, after all day getting millions of papers signed all over the campus, Fran is now in the Agronomy program! And she understands that alone in Mexico, a young indigenous woman has no say about anything without back up. Of course we intend to back her up….all the way!

Fran was a little worried I think about how her donors would take to this news, but I made it clear to her that we want to make sure she gets an education, not control her life!  I'm sure some of us have both fingers crossed that her course of study will include sustainable agriculture and organics.  The fields apparently wide open and flourishing in Oaxaca.  Fran decided to opt for Agronomy because she decided she didn't like programming or the prospect of being trapped in an office, in front of a computer, for the rest of her life.  I have a feeling that where she came from had something to do with that…the wide open spaces of her home village, where they grow everything they eat (there are no stores).  More will be revealed.  Meanwhile, we send you our best wishes, our thanks, and our love.
Lorena and Fran

Eye of the Needle, Fingers Crossed!

Hi all!
Marisol, my paying roommate is moving out on September 9 and I have already received the last months rent from her.  We need to find another short, or longer term roommate very soon!  Luckily, the tourist season will start to ramp up in mid-October, and I don't think we will have any problems filling the room after that.  It's just getting from here to there!

I've advertised everywhere I can think of, including airbnb, so now it is a matter of spreading the word by mouth and crossing our fingers.

The crunch time could be September 6, when Marisol normally pays her rent (about $218).  So if any of you, or perhaps someone you know, can

donate a little extra to help hold us over that one month, it would be a great relief.  I wish I could just give Fran the room, but we need the rent money to keep our little boat afloat!

Meanwhile, Fran is signing up for classes today and buying materials.  She is still attending free English classes at the Oaxaca Lending Library and studying on her own, with me.  As I may have mentioned, she is now saying things in English and responding in English to some of my questions, so that is a big break through!

She just returned from a week with her family in Cuicatlan and I hope to be posting photos soon

Fran's Summer

Fran usually has no time to cook for anyone but herself, but this was a rare treat for dinner one night last week:  Chili rellenos!

Our friend Sharon at a restaurant in Huayapan.

Fran and her younger brother, P

Fran is about halfway through her summer break, and already there is so much she has learned and accomplished – while managing to relax a little from her rigorous academic schedule.  She has been working pretty regularly in the evenings as a dental assistant for the dentist who put in a full set of braces for her.  It is a way of paying him, and she is learning a lot.  She was working for him when I had some cavities filled about a month ago, and it was exciting to see her in her uniform and responding to his requests very skillfully and quickly.  She has become indispensible to him and she is enjoying the experience very much.  When she comes home about 10 p.m. she is very animated and happy.

She focusing on learning English this summer, including a free class at the Oaxaca Lending Library, a class with me, and serving as an intercambio for an American student at the ICO – Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, where I first learned Spanish in 2005.  To supplement this we have been watching movies every night in English, some with subtitles.  We are about to start watching “Six Feet Under” and will finish the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit series which she loves.  We also watched a hilarious British series “Miranda” and I got to listen to Fran laugh a lot!

This is a big break through for her.  She is finally confident enough to start speaking English with me, and of course she understands far more than she can say.

She has also had some time to reflect about how she can make improvements in her study arrangements.  Last semester she got a little off course, but we had a long conversation about it and she is back on track.  The problem was only with some friends who were pushing her to spend time with them, more time than she should have spent.  Not much, but enough so that she felt she didn’t perform at her absolute best like she did the first semester, when she came in 1^st in her class!!

She is visiting with her brother, Philomen today and this evening.  She has been such a great help to me lately that I gave her some money to take him out to dinner at a nice restaurant downtown.  Philomen is 17 and is attending his last year of high school in a village that is a several-hour walk from his parents.  There is no school in his own village, where most of the people have no more than a second grade education.  There are boys his age that are already married and have two children, have already turned into alcoholics.

Fran and Philomen are unique in their village – a product of kind and wise parents no doubt, but they also have something special inside – ambition, curiosity, and determination.

I am not going to ask Fran’s supporters to also support Philomen when he is ready, but I want to plant a seed.  Perhaps you know someone who would be willing to form a small group for Philomen the way some of us formed a group for Fran.  It really isn’t that much money:  about $1800 pesos per month ($138).  Though it would be more for Philomen unless we can find him free lodging, so possibly more like $250/month.

I have been giving thought to seeking support to Philomen, not only for him, but as a support for Fran.  She is the vanguard of her family, and their well-being and survival weighs heavily on her.  I think it would be fantastic if she had her brother to share her new life, and to share the responsibility they will both feel for their parents and younger brother.  It gives Fran roots here and now, and an important ally in the future.  Philomen is a serious student.  Fran says he is smarter than she is, which is hard to believe. 

Imagine if we could help build such a solid foundation for these two worthy young people and change the life of their family forever!

Peace.