En este video pueden observar una hermosa tradicion Mexicana en la cual celebran a los muertos.
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Un dia en la panaderia—- A day in the bakery
A regular day at work.
un dia como cualquier otro en la panaderia.
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Maestro y alumno
Una de las tantas cosas que me ha gustado al trabajar de panadero en el Centro de Atencion Multiple mejor conocido como el CAM es la relacion que los maestros desarrollan con sus alumnos.
En esta foto vemos a Omar (izquierda) y el maestro chavita (derecha) que con el pasar de los dias he logrado observar que mas que una relacion de maestro- alumno existen otros lazos que sobrepasan la misma.
De alguna manera todos aquellos alumnos que atienden el CAM se convierten en un poco mas que un alumno, me atrevo a decir que mas que una responsabilidad para el maestro se convierten en un hijo. No solo he observado que se les trata como alumnos pero tambien como hijos, se les llama la atencion de acuerdo a su discapacidad, algunos son sordos, otros sufren de sindrome de down y algunos otros sufren una discapacidad intelectual. Cualquiera que sea el caso me ha tocado ver el trato que reciben estos niños y desde la directora, los maestros, la cocinera y hasta el intendente se esmeran por brindar la mejor atencion posible.
Aveces con mano dura otras veces con un tono de autoridad, pero la mayoria del tiempo es con unas simples instrucciones y aveces con un abrazo.
En este dia Omar trajo un par de lentes para obsequiár a su maestro, quien se ha encargado de enseñarle el oficio de la panaderia, cosa que requiere tiempo, esfuerzo y dedicacion pero el simple hecho de haber pensado en el gesto de regalar un par de lentes a su maestro, no cabe duda que el alumno aprecia al maestro.
Este es solo un ejemplo, existen muchos otros que con el tiempo los compartire.
Hasta la proxima.
Jose Merlos
Volunteer Work
For the time being, I’m in central Mexico. The state of Michoacan on the pacific coast in the city of Lazaro Cardenas.
I’m volunteering at a school for kids with special needs.
These kids are not only attending this school to take classes but also to learn other skills that they could use in the future; baking is one of them. On this pic, the kids were learning how to bake the sweet Mexican bread like they sell in the Mexican bakeries in the U.S.
I’m helping out as well as learning how to bake too. (David, Miguel and Brayan) from left to right. Yes they tried to spell Brian but they read it in Spanish so that’s how it shows on his ID, welcome to Mexico. That happens quite often. They are all deaf, which helps me to understand sign language too. The guy that is helping me learn it, has studied Sign Language (SL) for 4 years so I’m learning a few things to communicate with them.
The girl’s name is Jaimee and although she may be mentally challenge, she seems to understand and communicate very well with others. obviously she suffers Down Syndrome but believe me when i say she does everything like a normal person.
The other guy by himself (Alvaro) he is pretty cool too. He doesn’t bother anybody, he just seats on a chair and watches us do the work. He is suppose to be in class but he comes over to the bakery just to see us work.
I never thought I would be working with these kids but they are kind of growing on me.
it feels pretty darn good to go out to sell the bread and the cookies they bake and to tell people that most of the work is done by kids with special needs.
It’s not a big school, there is probably 50 kids total but not all of them go everyday even though they must. It is funded by the federal government, but in other to actually get the funding, there is a lot of shit that needs to be done, administrative work which one of my aunts is in charge of doing so.
And the last picture, it’s me after being forced to go back to work, I had just taken a break in my aunt’s office.
So, besides being so damn hot down here, this is pretty much what i have been doing for the last 2 weeks. it feels like living hell when it comes to the temperature; it is always in the mid 90’s. Til next time, take care.
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Coming soon… A trip to Mexico, let the adventure begin.
I guess that I would have to change the title of the blog, it will no longer be: biking the U.S. But the purpose will still be about meeting people and learning from others, sight seeings and most of all: to learn the native ways, customs, traditions, and life style. A country where more than half the population is considered to live below poverty line.
Also, there is 68 recognized indigenous languages spoken. A country known nowadays for the violence and the corruption striking all over the place. Challenging? Yes but not impossible. Stay tuned for more info.
Chicago… day and night
A day spent in downtown Chicago, being at home in Elgin, i can only get downtown by train but this time i went with a couple of friends. Live music, street performers among every other loony, overall it is a good environment. i guess you could say life is good in the windy city.
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Mammoth Cave National Park (campground) Kentucky
Thursday, June 21st, 2012
Time: 7:05 pm
There are so many changes in my life, the color of my skin, the tires on my bicycle, the miles i cover change every single day, the amount of water i drink, the number of Pepsi s i buy, the amount of food i eat, the places where i sleep.
Everything changes: the towns i visit, the people i meet everyday, the accent of those people, the roads i ride, the states i pass by, the vegetation, the animals; everything changes.
The attitude of the people, the color of the people, even the sky changes, the clouds change shapes and the wind changes direction, the weather changes.
Change is inevitable, we change no matter what, no matter who; there is only one thing i will never change:
My LOVE for everyone that i met during my journey.
My LOVE, my RESPECT and my APPRECIATION for the people: “WE THE PEOPLE” without them i would’ve never made it this far. Applause to the people of the U.S. with different backgrounds, different beliefs, different customs and traditions, different social status. They all came together when they let a stranger on a bicycle into their homes, offered a room and a meal in exchange for nothing but stories from the road, experiences from life, a nomadic life.
My LOVE will never change, it doesn’t matter where i am: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest, up in the mountains, on the great plains, on the coast, close by the rivers or a lake or out in the desert, I just want to say:Thanks and
I LOVE YA’ll
JOSE MERLOS
As you can see by the pictures i am once again back at home, the day i got back i decided to pay Main Street Bicycles a visit and thank them for their support through this long journey of mine.
So, sitting in the comfort of my home i write this post after a well deserved break from riding my bike for 60 to 80 miles a day. I am still riding, since i don’t have a car i have no choice but to ride my brother’s bike but i don’t mind it at all, as a matter of fact i love it, i just love riding my bicycle: You guys know me!!!!
"Mexico: one of a kind" 