The SPA

Sammy and Sadie in the usual moring sunspot.

My current Project at the SPA, Lucy a 2 yr old, Golden/lab who has been at the shelter for at least a year.

















Another Project, Copal, who has been at the shelter since a pup. Very cute with an adorable overbite.

The last several nights I've been thinking about all that has happened since I came to Mexico, and the funny instances. Between them all, there is rarely a dull moment. The video above was taken at a talent show at Casa Ayuda. This week I went to Board meeting for the SPA, seeing the way that the organization has been run, and the changed that many board members are proposing are interesting to see. The thing that frustrated me about the meeting is that when I would talk to a board member, and they found out I was a volunteer, they suddenly felt I was beneath them. Even, when I talked with the woman who coordinates some of the logistical planning for one of the programs and asked if I could help- I was told that I was not at the level to be able to help. I also took a dog to the jardin on thursday that needed adopting, and the SPA is there every thursday morning. I got the sense that even though my presence was "permitted", and they all knew a new person was coming to start helping, I was unwelcome. They feel that only board members can be the active ones doing things for the shelter. The idea that one board member had for me to take over the volunteer training and coordination for thursdays was shot down and a proposal was made to search for a person on the board who had the time. (Just as a side note 1. Many of the people hardly know the shelter policies, 2. they have no idea which animals need to be adopted, 3. they don't know the dogs or volunteers, 4. They only approach and talk to Americans, any mexican that came up to ask a questions they were very cold- It took one of the dogs up to a mexican family who had been eyeing her, and they wanted to adopt a dog- not any of the ones we had there that day, but I saw them adopted a dog from the shelter the next day). The more I think about it, I am going to have to get to be a part of the board in order to be listened to. It is frustrating for me. I'm "just a volunteer".

The Preschool and Education Center (in progress)

There are three preschool classrooms with thirty kids in each class. The photos are some examples of two of them. Classes are conducted till about noon each day. A week ago or two the preschoolers participated in a dance presentation, watching them practice for the event
was an afternoon of entertainment. All the kids were dressed up as scarecrows- very cute.








Classroom number two

















The education center progress before the group from Texas came. When they group was here much progress was made on the building. Once I take more current photos those will be posted. It seems like things are moving quite quickly in terms of construction.

Building Site and Random Photos

The Girls looking *thrilled* to be out in the sun helping lay the foundation for the building. Who knew that filling buckets with water, gravel, and sand could be so much fun!

Consulting with the boys while Alecia pours concrete into the molds. The boys on "quality Control". An afternoon of carrying and lifting heavy buckets of water, sand, and concrete make for exhausting work.
One of the three preschool classrooms at Casa Ayuda. Each classroom has 30 kids. They participated in a dance presentation with all the local preschools. It had to be tbe most entertaining thing I have seen in a long time.
The foundation......

As I write this I am dog sitting 8 dogs, not including Sadie. We exchange dog-sitting- so we always know that there will be someone to take care of Sadie if the need arises. The past few weeks have been busy. Amina and Grace came for spring break. For the duration of spring break we moved into Casa Ayuda, a different experience. I got to see the routine before we actually move in full- time. Hopefully by the time we move I will have a job and several other things to do in town. As it looks now, I have several options I need to follow up on and people to see. Once Spring break and Holy Week break is over I can meet with some of the principals. In the mean-time I can get to know the schools and prepare some questions and curriculum things. I have to ask for some references informaton as well.

Funny Instances are common. As we waited for Amina and Grace's plane in Leon, we grabbed dinner. I ate "gringas". From that point on it has been a joke that never gets old. Apparently I am a cannibal. ( FYI: Gringa's are basically a taco made with flour tortilla and cheese). This week there has been a group from Texas at Casa Ayuda helping with the constuction.

• 1. "Eating Gringas",
• 2. Yet another car incident with the Suburban (battery related....not our fault- they were using the battery to power cement mixer all morning before we left to take Brian, Alecia, and Ari to the dance presentation. And they were with us as Lauren and Alecia tried to flag down people for a jump. )
• Seeing scary movies and getting locked out of Casa Ayuda
• Amina and Grace coming for Spring break!
• Playing with puppies.....
• Spending time avoiding my "stalker" in town
• Dog-sitting for 8 dogs and fighting for space on the bed....
• Playing spoons with forks
• The Ayuda Foundation -taking the kids to the waterpark and getting majorly sunburned despite the many applications of sunblock.
• Many lectured by Reyna