Ms Culbreth's sad goodbye, Day Lights savings time, and winter weather

Last night was a bittersweet time for us.  Ms Culbreth's time here in Mexico came to an end.  So last night around midnight she returned to Cancun by bus to catch her flight back to the US.  Having her here was such a pleasure.  She brought so much value to our trip with her wisdom, compassion, resourcefulness, knowledge, patience, wonderdul conversation, and great personality.  This list can go on and on.  She is going to be deeply missed and that makes us sad, but we are happy to have had her while we did and will cherish the memories that we've created with her over this last week.  Thank you Ms Culbreth, you are awesome and welcomed to help chaperone my trips in the future.  We love yooooooou!!!!

Last night was Mexico's Day Lights Savings Time.   At 2am all the clock were moved up an hour like our "doing forward" tradition.  We've all lost an hour of sleep.  We all may be a little sleepy today... We they probably will be... Not me *wink*.  I've been running them ragged, like they need to be to keep themselves out of trouble.  One of the chaperones (Mr Swann!) has accused me of being a slave driver, Because I "allegedly" don't give the kids enough down time.  I'm only trying to maximize limited time here, and each year they come back for more, so I must be doing something right. 😇

Another morning change is that it's only 72° here right now.  To you all that probably sounds pleasant but for me (I can't speak for everyone on this just yet) it feels cold. Our bodies have adjusted to deal with a week of 100°+ weather. So to from filthy hot to spring cool feels like winter.  I hope the sun comes out ASAP.  I hear that's what makes the underground cenotes so beautiful.

I'll update the blog later on with lots of pix and fun stories.  Thanks for keeping up with our journey!!! 

Playa Progreso & Kung Fu Panda 3 en Español

After leaving Dzibilchaltun we went to a restaurant at Progreso Playa.  We ordered drinks (non alcoholic strawberry coladas, lime coladas, non alcoholic strawberry daiquiris, and strawberry daiquiris), with these drinks came free appetizers.  So many came one after another... tacos, nachos, calimari, baby shark, potatoes, refried beans... We had to ask them to stop bringing the food.

Videos:  http://youtu.be/D7IEpxbecl4

After the food and drinks the boys played football on the beach, buried themselves in the sand and took pictures with everyone who asked for them.  These boys are like rock stars and everyone wants their pictures.  You all are going to have to live with these enormous egos when they get back so consider yourselves warned!!! 

After hours of play in the sand. We got back on the bus back to the AltaBrisa mall next to our school for dinner.  After dinner we went to see Kung Fu Panda 3 all in Spanish with NO SUBTITLES!!  The boys complained about it being a "baby movie" and how they wouldn't understand anything if it wasn't in English... Yea yea blah blah blah... I let them know before they came here that they would watch a Spanish language movie, that it was one of their World Language standards and that they will understand more than expected.  And guess what?  The main complainers were laughing at the jokes and really into the movie.  Some even admitted that the movie was "fiy" or "fire" meaning great.  They can choose their next movie as long as it is voiced over in Spanish, if it's in English with Spanish subtitles their brains will block out the subtitles not helping the objective of them learning Spanish. 

An amazing day at Dzibilchaltun

Dzibilchaltun is on of the Mayan ruin complexes outside of Mérida, Mexico.  It was beyond blazing hot and beyond freaking amazing.  

The bus picked us up from the school and we had a 30 minute drive to get there.  The bus had plenty of room, so we just chilled out and relaxed listening to music and talking during the ride.  Jose Luis and his son joined us. 

Here are some videos of the tour: 

Entering Dzibilchaltun pt 1
http://youtu.be/jRGHs-8VMx8

Dzibilchaltun pt 2

http://youtu.be/JO2etDDZf0A

Dzibilchaltun pt 3

http://youtu.be/jNTePmZLdog

We had soooo much fun!!! It was just so incredible to see what ancient civilizations did thousands of years ago.  The Mayans observed the movements of the entire universe and build sundials and observatories all over the place their whole culture was built around how energy flowed through the universe and how it effected heir daily lives.  

After all the amazing pyramids and stadiums we saw THIS!!!

These are cenotes.  They are fresh water swim holes and we will see 3 underground tomorrow. My next post will show you what we did after Dzibilchaltun.

Excursion time & probation

Today we have lots to do.  The leader of the 3 stooges was handed over and he has humbly admitted his crime before the court of Pereira.  They will join us, but are still on probation. 

I'll keep you updated as the day progresses.  Love you all!!! 

The amazing game Pok Ta Pok

We all (minus the 3 boys on lock down) arrived at el centro historico at 7pm.  The game didn't start until 8 so we had an hour to walk around, get ice-cream, and hang out.  

Before leaving the house I let our 3 locked down boys know that their ticket to freedom was to give up their leader... Meaning the person who started their sentence with "Let's _____" NOT the two who said "OK".  I talked to their host mother and she was extremely sad because they were so pitiful "just sitting in the hot house with nothing to do but play the same card games over and over."  I reassured her that a night of boredom and sadness would help them grow as young men and there was no need to worry.  

The rest of the boys were even more thoughtful about following instructions and checking in... That's all I ask.  The show was amazing.  If you are not familiar with the ancient Mayan Ball Game (called Pok Ta Pok) here is a link with some info. 

http://www.examiner.com/article/pok-a-tok-the-sacred-ball-game-of-the-ancient-maya

Basically two teams had to get a ball through a hoop... but the hoop was made of cement and positioned 20 feet off the ground, the ball was made of 6lbs of hard bouncy rubber, and the players couldn't touch the ball with their hands or feet.  They mostly used their hips, calves, and forearms to hit the ball back and forth.  It looks as impossible as it sounds here are some pix. 

Here are some videos!!! 

The game explained in Spanish, English, & Mayan. http://youtu.be/wibWyXq-O6c

Presenting the teams: http://youtu.be/zqpMVv8ZYaE

The game!!!

http://youtu.be/ErnrkT-3ZWY

After that they played a variation of the game where they had to get the ball through the hoop using ONLY their hands... But this time the ball was on FIRE!! You gotta see this!!! 

http://youtu.be/RWjxocWHuRg

After the game the audience could take pix with the players

After taking picture we hung out at the park talking and joking.  By then the hot lonely locked down boys called and apologized, named their leader, and texted apologies.  They missed a night's fun and can join us tomorrow but they will have earn special unwanted attention from me and the other chaperones. 

One of our students stunned his toe badly, his host mom patched it up, while visiting the ruins tomorrow we will be sure to have him stick his foot in the nearby beach to help heal his minor wound.  His mom has been notified (sorry for the late text, mom!) tomorrow will be a full day of ruins, cenotes, and a pass by the beach. After that it's a night at the movies.  

Mrs Pereira's warning *shots fired*

I've made the behavior expectation very clear, but I do understand group dynamics very well. For those who choose to test me, they will get what they are asking for, they better be ready because I AM! 

This message/ threat was send to each student household.... This is the warning shot for those who haven't been caught in the crossfire already... Perhaps they need a little reminder 🤔

"Some of the boys have been placed on lock-down.  Make sure your household is doing the right thing, so you don't have to join them."

Parents thank you for your support... They gone learn today... 

Classes and punishment

Yesterday we figured out an additional bus that can get most of us to and from home and school.  With the additional option most of us got to school at a reasonable time!  Woohoo!  Classes began and I tried my best to hand out the Afterschool All-Star T-shirts, we didn't have the correct sizes for everyone, but we tried our BEST.

While the kids were in class I went to Western Union.  My name has been flagged for frequent transactions and I probably won't be able to withdraw more money until tomorrow. 

After classes I put all the kids on their buses and gave them specific instructions to go straight home, eat, rest, then meet up for our event tonight at 7pm.  One group of boys' host's mother has been concerned because they came home very late yesterday, they blamed the bus... Which is believable.  As smart as these three boys are, they weren't smart enough to realize the I put them on the bus and timed them today and asked their host mother to call me when they arrived.  It "somehow" took them over an hour to get home it's a 15 minute ride.   They allegedly stopped to get something to drink, why would they do that? They had drinks a day home.  Don't play with me little boys, your safety is my first priority and if you can't follow simple instructions I will revoke your freedom.  These young men will now have reflection time at home (without wifi), they will not participate in the activity tonight and if I'm still pissed they can stay home tomorrow too. 

Tonight we will watch a Mayan ball game match.  This sport was played thousands of years ago.  The ball weighs 30lbs and must be put in a hoop that is 13 feet off the ground.  You can't use your hands or feet to move the ball though.  We are all excited to see it.  I'll keep you posted.  

All parents with sons on lock-down have been notified via text message.  If you haven't been notified don't worry, it's not your son.  But you may want to reiterate to your son that they need to be responsible and follow my directions exactly as they are given... No deviations.  Even when they don't see me I still see them. There is a network of people looking at them and they all report back to me.   

I'll post lots of pix and video from tonight's show as soon as we get back.