One day, out of the blue, this car full of people pulled up to the front door and asked to speak to whoever was in charge of the community. Well, I’m your huckleberry (or sort of). This little posse was made up of representatives from FE Guanajuato (https://feguanajuato.org/), an organization that is a liaison between rural communities and state government programs. I invited them to come to the next junta (meeting) in December and sent along their contact information to Super Prez.
The head rep did come to the junta and was given a few minutes to talk about what her organization does and examples of different programs they offer. The workshop for December was a piñata making class. She left a sign-up sheet for interested individuals.
There was a lot going on during the junta, with taking attendance and explaining the proposed bank account and organization needed to apply for individual escrituras (deeds). A few did sign up. If I had had the time while multitasking during the junta, I would have helped others register since the literacy rate is so low, but I can not be all things to all people, as much as I would like.
I had forgotten about the whole thing until I received a message from the organizer asking for the attendance list. She sent the posse to come and pick it up. Then, a few weeks later, another message asked if I would help rally the troops for a taller de cocina (cooking workshop). I posted on the community’s Facebook page and in the WhatsApp group with not much hope for a large turnout. The workshop was set the day of the big parade in town Las Ferias de Moroleon, where El Señor de Esquipulitas statue (an ebony crucified Jesus wood carving) is carried through town in a procession followed by a jaripeo (rodeo), the feria (carnival with amusement park rides) and live music all night long. It would be sacrilegious to miss any of that!
The neighbor down below had offered the cabaña (cabin-like building) up the road to host the event. However, the day before, she came and said she hadn’t had time to clean, and it would be better to have it down at her house under the techno (little roof) they had just put up. I didn’t know how having the cooking class outside would work, so instead, I had my husband clear out the downstairs at my son’s house to use. We put the Pupper boys (Fred, George, and Bruce) out back.
I asked my cunada (sister-in-law) if I could borrow the huge wooden table she has in her house across the street. She didn’t seem entirely gung-ho about that but finally agreed. Then she didn’t want us to use the wooden table which is at the front of the house, but the new plastic table that was in the back. However, we didn’t have the keys to open the back door to get it, so I just moved the card table I use for the juntas (community meetings) over there with a few chairs.
Despite it being a high holy day, we had a whopping 10 attendees, including Super Prez, but only one brought an apple for the manzana de chamoy workshop. Fortunately, I had an inkling that might happen, so I bought apples and brought them. The workshop people at least provided the chamoy and sticks.
I spent the entire workshop filling out paperwork and writing the attendees’ names so they could just sign or initial (as their abilities allowed) the attendance sheets. The organizer did give me some chamoy so I could make mine later.
Having people in their house upset the boys (Fred, George, and Bruce) somewhat. When my son went over to move their bedding back to the designated spots, he tripped on Fred, who yelped. At that point, Bruce attacked Fred for whatever reason. My son managed to separate them, but then George got involved, and it was a doggy free-for-all for a bit. In the kerfluffle, Bruce bit my son’s leg, at which point all three dogs stopped their tussle in absolute horror at the injury. DADDY’S HURT!!!
The boys continued to be out of sorts the following day as they blamed each other for the INCIDENT, and it took some time for the bite to heal. Let’s hope future workshops don’t end with bloodletting!
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Read how it all began in La Yacata Revolution available on Amazon!
Surviving Mexico 