Day 1 with the group

Today was special. Over the last couple of days I have been in Udaipur.  Where poverty unlike any other I have seen is right there in front of you.  But somehow this country continues to amaze me.  The beauty of the people shines through it all. Everyone is so happy, when you wave you are greeted with a smile and a wave.  Not just any smile, but one that seems to tell you that your simple action has lit up someone’s day.  I would love to think a simple wave could have that affect on people when I get home.  We have become so jaded, that our own neighbors in our own country, have become too much to even look at, let alone greet.  We are all strangers and it seems we want to keep it that way. 

As we drove into Lai, the village where FTC is building another school, children in the distance would race from their homes, running across the field just to say hi.  The further we drove the more smiles we seemed to leave behind. It always seems that those with the least seem to have the biggest smiles and cherish simple human interaction. These reactions are just on the way to the village.  We didn’t even get out of the car.  If it seems like we have this celebrity status, well it does feel like it.  But don’t be confused, we are not overpaid actors, musicians put on a pedestal and worshipped for no reason.  This group of cars brings kids, mostly half my age, which have decided they want to make a real difference.  They bring education to a village that most don’t even know exists. I use the celebrity reference for one reason…What if we all strived to be difference makers, to bring change to the world, to live a selfless life helping those less fortunate than our selves.  What if on the cover of People magazine, there were people who actually did something to better our world.  What if we chased down school builders like Craig Mortensen asking the questions everyone wanted to know, “who are you helping next?’ “How can I help? 

But that is not the way our culture lives.  I’ll come home to people caring more about who Jennifer Aniston is dating or what colour is in this season; this is the way it is.

Back to the trip.  We arrived in the village to the sound of drums.  Everyone had gathered for the welcoming ceremonies.  Upon leaving the vehicles we were greeted buy the women of the village, dressed in vibrant colour and even more colourful smiles.  They presented us with flowers and painted our foreheads with traditional red dots.  Soon after it seemed everyone was dancing.  Not me, I was taking pictures, though if there was ever a time I wanted to put the camera down it was then.  Seeing the group dancing with the women of the village was amazing.

The opening ceremonies were a moving experience.  To be honest, I had a hard time controlling my emotions.  This is a village that doesn’t even register in Caste System (a status system in India where people are unjustly classified).  They are in essence, unknown.  The original school was nothing more than a few bricks, and a dirt floor, with no roof.  Corrupt government officials had taken the money intended for a new one.  FTC has since build two buildings, and are now working on a third. 

One of the participants was honored because he raised over 10,000 for this project alone.  He is still in high school but almost single handedly raised enough money to build another room for this village. 

The rest of the day was spent playing games with the children.  I cannot describe how honored I am to be a part of this.  It is a special feeling knowing that what I do/am doing is in some small way helping this great cause.

Finally, Internet and a blog!!!!!

Hello all,

Internet is far removed for me, so posts may be long and scarce.  In short the last 5 days have been amazing, enlightening, educational, and humbling.  Were we are poverty is all around.  The village we are working in is on the lowest level of society here.  But the kids are so cute, amazing little spirits that continue to show us you don't need much to be happy.


The kids here with FTC are also doing great.  Full of energy.  We broke ground yesterday and they are all ready ahead of schedule.  As for me I have been touched on so many levels.  It's hard to think that there are 20 days left.  I am truly blessed to be doing what I do.

Remedios Pics

Juan

Remedios

"Countries are not defined by their government, economic standing, geographical location or religion.  A country is defined by it's people, both as hosts and visitors." 

Remedios is a small town outside of Santa Clara in the province of Villa Clara and about 3.5 hour drive from Cardenas (we passed through Colon on the way, nice place.). Remedios, in the heart of the city, is more modern than Cardenas, but much more rural on the outskirts.  We stayed in an old colonial house.  40 ft ceiling in the main room, 20 ft windows with wooden shutters and creepy family pictures everywhere.  Including one the daughter holding baby Jesus in her arms with old Jesus looking on in the background.  How is that even possible?   All kidding aside, this place was amazing.  Frank our host, and his family were very helpful.  Especially when he came home drunk with his wife after passing his driving test.  It was nice to see.

Remedios took us on a great journey.  We started out in meeting a bike mechanic who had been working on bikes before the revolution, met a guy who made his own tires and tubes, and were led to the town of Placetas looking for the underground parts manufacturer they call the Tomato.  I think the term used was "we are in the shit." From there a happy drunk mechanic and grouchy old one.  Good times indeed. 

During our time here people could not understand why we were not going to the beach. The Keys were not 20 min away.  Even after we explained our whole trip they still thought we would have some beach time.  Due to the close proximity to the Keys there was a small tourist side to the town.  Unlike Cardenas there were a couple of beggars and people looking to sell cigars, rum and yes, the occasional offer of women.  We did buy some home made cigars from a barber (it was Franks Birthday).  We were led to the back room of the barber shop and shown a clearly authentic collection of the finest homemade tobacco wrapped in newspaper.  We bought the Tasters Choice Pack.  Now this barber was good.  We bought from him at the end of day one.  For the next two days he would just appear out of nowhere, and ask if we wanted another "haircut."  For the life of me I couldn't figure out where he came from or how he found us, let alone how he thought we had finished the 20 cigars we had bought 12 hours ago.  Even on the car ride out of town, there he was on the road making one last pitch. Granted if he could have cut my hair while running alongside of the car, I would have bought more cigars.

On the evening of the first night (does sound like a bad translation of Shakespeare?), first day, yes that sounds better, on the evening of the first day, we had passed a few old men playing chess.  The vibe seemed cold and uninviting. We pressed on.  However we stopped in on the second night, and so began another great human experience.....

Here we met Juan Torres, a chess instructor, and this place, a chess school.  On the wall, a giant portrait of Capablanca, the world chess champion from the early 1920s, a national hero.  Old wooden tables are spread out through the room, chess pieces placed neatly on each.  Two old men are finishing a game.  Juan shows us his book of visitors.  Denmark, UK, Australia, Spain, Canada and more.  All have left photos or sent them, they have all kept in touch.  As Juan speaks, his English is quite good, he is excited, stutters a little, but yet very articulate.  He explains the school, how chess is not taught in school, but kids can come here and learn.  He is proud of all the people he has met.  He believes in people getting to know locals, the culture, and experiencing the countries they visit.  He is truly interesting and loves to talk, and listen.  It feels as though he has travelled all over, though he has never left, he gathers all he can from those who cross his path.  So I do what any fun loving man who hasn't played chess in 3 years (and the last time I played was at 2am at a party) would do.  I ask him to play a game.

Now, we played for an hour, I did pretty good, when he thought he had me he would stand, make jokes, talk to his friends, however when I made a move he did not expect and changed the table, he would sit and make thinking noises (I have no idea how else to explain these sounds, I know you get it), as would his friends as they looked over his shoulder.  It was very entertaining.  I lasted an hour, but he beat me. I will not remember the result (I would if I won) over time, it will be the interaction with this kind, old soul.  Truly a great experience.  I have to finish this off with this next bit.  The following day, Anibal and I peaked into the library and noticed Juan sitting at a table, writing.  He greats us with a big smile.  He explains he is writing his friends in Australia, but they do not speak any Spanish, and his English is not that good.  It is then I notice the book he has by his letter.  A Spanish English dictionary.  Not only is he taking the time to write someone, but he is translating his letter to English so they can understand it.

Technology has taken us so far away from true Human interaction.

Next stop Havana.

Madaglia

 

Janicel

 Roman