Final Thoughts
May 30, 2004

Hello friends and family!

Well, it is hard to believe, but we are at the end. Where did 4 1/2 months go? This last month has just flown by as we have been preparing for the final concert, as well as preparing the band to be without us. It has been quite the emotional month- excitement as they are experiementing with conducting and other leadership roles, but also the reality of having to soon say goodbye has set in. On May 15th they celebrate Teacher Day here (why doesn't this exist in the US?!). After our band rehearsal we were surprised with a huge fiesta planned just for us. The students brought in plate after plate of traditional food, a folk band came in a serenaded us with songs all night, beginning with the Mexican birthday song, Las Manaitas (little beloved monrnings), only changing "birthday" to "teacher". A few of the older students gave speeches, thanking us for what we have done. Then, as if that wasn't enough, they brought in gifts! All in a theme of traditional Nuhuat culture, so we wouldn't forget them. I was especially moved when they talked about us always being a part of the San Miguel community, and hoped that we could return someday. I know I will return, someday, even though that may be many years from now. To finish the night off, they put us whities in the middle of the room (with three other older students as our partners) to perform the traditional dance they perform at all important fiestas. Needless to say, we were more than honored.

Our final concert was last night, and it was wonderful. The entire town was there, filling up the gym- people spilling out of the doorways. The band played extremely well, and the fiesta afterwards with food and dancing was equally fun.

And as hard as saying goodbye to our students is, it will be more so to our family here- Esther and her two kids (Aylin and Luis Miguel), and their family members. From day one we have been a part of their home, and we were so very blessed to have such friends. I will miss coming down the street and hearing "Atel!!!" (Raquel) from my pequeño novio (Luis Miguel), or watching the clouds come over the hillside, enveloping the town, being invited into home after home for coffee or a meal- leaving with bunches of bananas or oranges or some other little gift, going to the market each sunday and buying all fresh fruits and veggies- guavas, avocados, limes, mangos, pineapple-, or hiking through the mountains encountering new waterfalls and incredible views. I won't miss our neighbor's stupid dogs, or the occasional drunk man bothering us, the HUGE insects, and I especially wont miss the LEATHAL Kuana lizard Reid found (and killed) living in our kitchen. The three of us decided that we were NOT going to die from a lizard bite!

Well, I have many more stories, but that can wait until I get home. Speaking of, the three of us are heading to the Yucatan for a little vacation on June 1st to climb some more pyramids (only Mayan this time) and soak in some sun on Isla Mujeres, finally returning to the States on June 16th to Chicago. I will be once again living at home for awhile until I get back on my feet after not working for 6 months! Thanks again for all the news from home, and I'll see you all in June!

Rachel