silly gals

The trip to Mexico was for and about the girls. Lisa and I followed along and simply enjoyed the company of five great teenaged girls who handled themselves with poised maturity. Lisa and I were able to relax and, well, get silly at times. More silly than might befit women our age.

Again, I'll let some photos tell the story. I ain't proud! And Lisa, I hope you aren't, either.

Not even in focus, but this makes me laugh!



On the turi-bus in Mexico City



It rained. And was windy. We bought ponchos for pesos.

 

Lisa being a sport.

 What a blast. Last post: at the pyramids and heading home!

serving

A stay at Our Cabana is more than sightseeing. Each troop who visits prepares for a service project to carry out while there. We helped with a one-day event with about 75 children in a program called Vamos. The children come by bus to the Cabana for the day and enjoy games, crafts, lunch and playtime with the Girl Scouts and Guides.



the children arrive!

I don't think my words can describe the experience better than my photos, so I'll let them speak. Even with a language barrier, our girls spent an amazing day serving these disadvantaged children.



Lisa

Sam helping a little girl make a peace bracelet.



Emily and friend

 

Hannah



Game time



The swings were popular: many children had never been on one.



Saying goodbye with tears



more of Mexico

Five amazing girls: Katie, Hannah, Lindsay, Emily, Sam,
at the cathedral in Cuernavaca

Our second full day in Mexico we toured the bustling city of Cuernvaca. It had grown to over a million people and, in fact, Our Cabana is now inside the city. Thirty years ago, it sat at the edge of town. We toured the 500-year-old cathedral, wandered the markets and enjoyed cafe con leche together at a cafe.

Love, love Taxco (pronounced tahs-co), a silver-mining center way up in the mountains.


touring beautiful Taxco

This wasn't just a trip: preparation was everything. We worked for nearly two years with the girls in our troop who committed to the Cabana trip. I have a notebook filled with proof of their hard work. They planned their uniforms and tie-dyed special t-shirts. They planned crafts for service projects, practiced Spanish, and role played with each other. And of course they earned lots of money. Since none of the girls had extensive, if any, international travel experience, I shared with them the importance of representing themselves, their country and Girl Scouting to their very best. And wow did they come through! 

My co-leader Lisa and I were so proud of our girls. They made friends. They laughed, they embraced every new experience: food, bargaining in the markets, serving disadvantaged children, long bus rides, and climbing pyramids. They didn't whine or grumble. They just soaked it all in and rolled with the punches.

Sam and Katie in Tepotzlan

Cabana's craft house: popular spot!

This "perfect, 5 seats!" in the back of the bus created a bit of
motion sickness!



I gazed down this hallway for a minute. In 1976, I walked it many times a day ... my room was about halfway down: a simple dorm-type room where I lived that summer. Lots of memories and
lots of years between then and now.

More to come ...





vamos a México!!

The trip took two years of planning: money-earning, planning weekends, and countless e-mails. Seven years ago this very moment, I was in Mexico with five teenaged Girl Scouts: Emily, Hannah, Katie, Lindsay and Sam, and my co-leader Lisa. Since this blog was still two years down the road, I got thinking about that trip and wanted to share with you.


Hannah, Katie and Emily on the flight to Mexico.

We flew to Mexico City via Charlotte on July 12, 2006. We met in my driveway at 4:00 a.m. all decked out in our Girl Scout uniforms. Perhaps not the first choice of teenaged girls, but they soon discovered their uniforms to be a passport in themselves.

Beginning at the Columbus airport, people noticed. The TSA worker commented on how great the girls looked. Two men in first class struck up a conversation as we boarded. Women in restrooms or waiting in line shared their fond Girl Scout memories. Flight attendants commented and asked the girls where we were headed.

I'm convinced that this attention while in uniform caused the girls to hold their heads high and be on their very best behavior. They ranged in age from 15 - 17 and they were awesome for the entire trip.

After a long day of travel, we arrived in Cuernavaca, Mexico at Our Cabaña, our home for the next ten days. Our Cabaña is an international program center for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Opened in 1957, she has welcomed thousands of girls and adults through her doors. Participants live dormitory-style with girls from around the world. They do everything together for their session: eat, do service projects, sightsee and learn about each other and Mexico's culture.

Posing by the pool at Our Cabana

As all visitors do, we entered Our Cabaña through the "Chief's door," emblazoned with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts' trefoil symbol in blue and gold. The moment I entered and stood overlooking the well-kept buildings and grounds, I burst into tears.

This was, after all, not my first visit to Our Cabaña. Exactly thirty years had passed since I had been here, and emotions overwhelmed me.

with daughter Katie at the Chief's door

mealtime at Our Cabaña

Next post ... sights, service and some silliness while in Mexico!