Sorry I didn't post yesterday after we got back, but the water was calling my name!!!!!!!!!!! Took the two-seater river tube (the one with the cooler in the center!) down to the water, anchored down, and just floated on the rolling waves drinking cervezas while soaking up the wonderful sun!!!!!!!!!
We started out at the community center, where Barb and Mark had donations to drop off. Very nice place, but rather plain. Things to liven the place up and make it feel more "communityish" would be great......................I know they could make things if they had what they needed. Arts and crafts types of things would help them out a lot. They are teaching quilting there, so they need fabric remnants, needles, thread, etc. also. We then went to the special needs school, where we met the director (sorry, her name escapes me). She was truly astonished that complete strangers would walk in and say "we have money that was donated to us and we would like to spend it on your school, what do you need?" She basically threw her hands up and said "a lot!". As Mark was talking to her and her assistant, Barb and I walked around the school. One thing Barb noticed right off that they need is the automatic shut-off faucets for the bathrooms. The director also said that office supplies, such as ink cartridges and paper for their printer, are very expensive here and would be greatly appreciated. We then went to another school that was having an end of the year party, or something of the sorts, and didn't want to disturb their fun, so we skipped that one. Some of the schools were already out, so we just drove by them, Barb and Mark explaining different things about each one. It was so cool to hang out with them and to learn more about the place that I have come to love so much. What they have done with their program is amazing. I work at a school in Vail, AZ, where they just raised our taxes to keep programs such asmusic and P.E. What pisses me off to no end is that they spend sooooo much money on insignificant, stupid, needless things. I see it everyday. I then come here and see the situation and it just pisses me off that much more. I realize that this is a third world country and that's the way things are, but it's sad.
All in all, it was a great day spent with the greatest people....................thank you, thank you, thank you Barb and Mark for letting me tag along with you and showing me around the schools. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!! (Mark can give more details on the wants and needs!)
