End of October…the monster masks are everywhere! You can see the shops selling costumes, make up, artificial blood and all the necessary to make yourself look really evil! Everything with the aim of getting a few sweets in exchange of good behavior to the neighbors' homes.

Halloween finds its origins with the Celtics, the celebration called Samhain, the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark period for agriculture. According to them, during this days the good and evil souls were allowed to get through this world again. But also Halloween comes from the phrase 'All Hallow's Eve'.

This has been often mixed with the Mexican celebration 'Dia de los Muertos' (Day of the Dead) but they are entirely different celebrations. While Halloween is celebrated in USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK, Dia de los Muertos is only celebrated in Mexico. Halloween is celebrated on the night of the 31st of October while Dia de los Muertos takes place during the 2nd of November. Both of the celebrations share a mere religious background obviously, but they have been finding their own identity throughout the years.

Visit Mexico and find the amazing activities to do on the Day of the Dead! For sure in our next blog we will comment about the main features of this celebrations.

Der var en gang en pige, der hed Natja, som var volontør i byen Guadalajara i Mexico…..

Det var sådan Jonatan, ham fra Projects-Abroad, der spurgte mig, om jeg ville skrive lidt om mine oplevelser, foreslog, at jeg kunne starte, og da jeg ikke kan finde på noget bedre, er det altså sådan jeg starter J

Allerførst vil jeg sige, at min beslutning om at tage hertil allerede har vist sig at være en af de bedste, hvis ikke den bedste, i mit liv. Alt er helt fantastisk, og selvom jeg ikke en gang har været her en måned endnu, har jeg allerede haft et hav af vidunderlige oplevelser, og mødt en masse rigtig søde og sjove mennesker, både andre volontører og ikke mindst en masse mexicanere, som er så åbne og gæstfrie, at det er svært at forstå, som en til tider distanceret og individualistisk dansker.

Nå, men lad mig begynde fra start, da jeg blev hentet i lufthavnen af Jonatan, som tog varmt i mod mig, selvom flyet var forsinket og det var sent på aftenen. Fra lufthavnen blev jeg kørt hen til Projects-Abroads kontor, hvilket mest af alt minder om et almindeligt hus, hvor jeg skulle sove den første nat.    

Dagen efter min ankomst blev jeg vist rundt i byen. Jeg så både byens utrolig smukke kirke, de mange statuer og springvand samt rådhuset, hvor jeg lærte lidt om den mexicanske revolution, landets frihed og ikke mindst så nogle meget fremtrædende og flotte malerier af den mexicanske maler José Clemente Orozco. Herefter gik vi hen til et kæmpe stort marked, San Juan de Dios, det største marked i hele Jalisco og vist nok også hele Mexico. Her spiste jeg mit første mexicanske måltid, som slet ikke var spor stærkt, hvilket jeg i den grad havde forventet. Jeg havde regnet med, at det nærmest var umuligt at undgå chili i maden. Generelt er den mexicanske mad faktisk virkelig god, selvom man godt kan blive lidt træt af tortillas og tacos i længden.

Senere på eftermiddagen blev jeg præsenteret for min værtsfamilie, eller rettere værtsmor Concha. Concha er en 64-årig meget mexicansk kvinde, som har haft rigtig mange frivillige boende igennem tidens løb. Hun er skilt fra sin mand, som hun ikke har noget at gøre med, men hendes datter bor lige på den anden side af gaden, og hendes søn kommer også på besøg en gang imellem. Hun har også to søstre i byen, hvilke jeg, sammen med Concha, besøgte, den første weekend jeg var her.

Concha er en meget imødekommende, omsorgsfuld og snakkesaglig gammel kvinde, og jeg er blevet fortalt, at alle dem, der bor hos hende lærer at snakke spansk, da hun har tålmodigheden og lysten til at blive ved med at fortælle historier og snakke med mig, selvom jeg ikke en gang forstår halvdelen.

I starten var det virkelig en udfordring at kommunikere med hinanden, da hun på ingen måde kan snakke engelsk, samtidig med at mine spanskkundskaber var lig nul i begyndelsen. Men efterhånden kan vi forstå hinanden bedre og bedre, i takt med at jeg lærer flere og flere spanske gloser og vendinger. Jeg har valgt at tage et spanskkursus her den første måned, hvilket jeg er utroligt glad for. Hver morgen får jeg enkeltundervisning, at min spansklærer Consuelo, som udover at være en dygtig lære også er en vidunderlig person. Hver dag har hun en ny og spændende historie at fortælle, hvilket hun gør med en masse faktor, lyde og ironi. Hun har også inviteret mig til middag hos hende og hendes mand, noget som jeg glæder mig meget til.

Efter et par dage startede jeg mit projekt på børnehjemmet Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos. Som navnet siger, er dette et børnehjem for børn, vis forældre er i fængsel. Dette indebærer at nogle af børnene til tider kan være temmelig aggressive og respektløse. Det kan være utrolig svært, nogen gange helt umuligt, at få dem til at lytte, især for mig, der ikke kan tale spansk. Nogle af dem stikker bare af, sparker, spytter eller skriger så højt, at det kan hørers over hele huset, hvis der er et eller andet, der ikke lige går efter deres hoved. Det er dog de færreste, og de fleste er bare nogle rigtig dejlige børn, der har brug for lidt ekstra opmærksomhed. De er faktisk utroligt gode til at hjælpe både hinanden og mig, meget bedre end de børn, jeg passede i den børnehave, jeg arbejdede i, inden jeg tog af sted. Det har været noget af en omvæltning at komme fra en børnehave i Danmark, hvor midlerne er mange og hygiejne er en meget væsentlig ting, til et børnehjem her, hvor der hele tiden ligger brugt toiletpapir og madrester på gulvet, ingen vasker hænder og der er meget få legesager og remedier i det hele taget.   

Indtil videre har jeg mest været sammen med de mindste børn, børn fra 2 til 5 år. Jeg hjælper til, når de skal spise og med at skifte deres tøj samt rydde op, men hovedsageligt går min tid med at lege med børnene, og prøve at give dem alt den opmærksomhed og trøst, de behøver.

Udover at arbejde med børnene og spanskundervisningen, sker der bare så mange andre ting hele tiden. Har nærmest kun haft to aftener, siden jeg kom, hvor jeg ikke har skullet noget. For mexicanerne er hver dag en fest J ! I aften skal jeg på salsa-bar, hvilket er hver torsdag aften, og i går var jeg på reggae-bar med nogle mexicanske venner og hende jeg bor sammen med.

Sidste weekend var jeg på stranden ved byen Melaque, en helt fantastisk tur med en masse af dem, der arbejder for Projects-Abroad, som ikke bare er kontaktpersoner/personale, men rigtig gode venner. Hver måned bliver der også holdt en fest for alle volontørerne fra Projects-Abroad og andre inviterede.

Jeg kunne skrive i timevis om mine oplevelser allerede, men det har jeg desværre ikke tid til, da begivenhederne fortsætter, og jeg skal af sted og mødes med nogle veninder på en café om lidt.

Håber at se jer i Mexico, J

Natja Bech Kjeldsen

Guanajuato was declared World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1988 and Cervantino Capital of America in 2005. Birthplace of Mexico’s Independence and capital of the State of Guanajuato, it is the venue of the most important arts and culture festival of Latin America: International Cervantino Festival (FIC).

Cevantino International Festival has been celebrated every year in the capital of the State of Guanajuato since 1972, every edition gathers companies and performers from a wide range of international arts. It can be said that Cervantino International Festival has exhibited every country and region in the world.

The events and activities of the cultural program in each festival are selected based on the level of contribution that each event offers for the enlightenment of the audience, their reach and originality regarding creative, innovative and high-quality concepts.

The 38th edition of this festival, to be held from October 13 to November 7, 2010, will have as guests of honor the countries of Argentina, Chile and Colombia, in addition to the Mexican states of Queretaro, Michoacan and Chihuahua. On this year, the International Cervantino Festival will establish the Cervantino Award to Artistic Trajectory, acknowledging the work of Mexican or foreign creators whose history has had a special meaning for its cultural search and contribution.

Do not forget to visit the third most importan cultural fest in the world!

It is here once again…Lucha libre time!!! It is such a great tradition now in the city of Guadalajara! Entire families go to the arena to enjoy of the show that this wrestlers offer.

It is funny to watch the characters in there, you can find really hilarious ones and I think that is the main difference between the US wrestling where everything tends to be more serious and aggressive. In Mexican wrestling you find fun, laughter and also serious fights, but the most important thing is that you will experience a truly Mexican tradition. This sport is also famous in Japan and the US.

In Mexico this tradition was born in 1933 with the opening of the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre, so Mexico is definitely one of the starting points for such great sport. With no doubt, El Santo (The Saint) was back in the day, the most famous wrestler; he recorded loads of films and he had his own comic book!

So we went to the arena last night; staff and volunteers in the arena! Wrestler masks everywhere! We had a really fun night!

In Guadalajara you have several options to enjoy of it. Tuesday and Sundays are the best days to go.

Two days ago Guadalajara witnessed the third biggest catholic festivity in the entire world. 'Our Lady of Zapopan' Pilgrimage took place once again starting at 6 am in the Guadalajara Cathedral.

Throughout 1 year, Virgen de Zapopan visits every single church in the city concluding in the Guadalajara Cathedral so on the 12th of October She goes back to her home…Zapopan Cathedral followed by nearly 3 million people!

It is a 4 hour journey by foot and the believers use their faith for this figure as the strength for their feet to walk all the way to Zapopan.

Zapopan, is Guadalajara's biggest suburb, rich in traditions and attractions for any visitor, so if you are around here…do not forget to pay a visit to Zapopan!

Probably you have heard the word 'Tequila'! And most probably you get a bit dizzy just by hearing that word, but this time we will talk about the town that holds the same name.

The most representative drink from Mexico 'Tequila' does not have a certain origin point. Researches done say that the first traces of this drink come from the Highlands of the state of Jalisco and some others say that it is Tequila town where it comes from. We will say that this drink is got different birth places!

A trip to this peculiar and colorful destination is a must if you are around Guadalajara. Tours are offered by bus or by train (The Tequila Express). Watching the processes involving the production of this drink and watching the fields of Agave is a great experience!

It seems that this upcoming year Guadalajara will get into a period of changes. New infrastructure in every corner of the city brings more modernity to a city that is getting better day-by-day.

This year will be full of activity due to the preparations for the Pan-American games.  Guadalajara has been chosen to host this games in 2011. What a great warm up for the Olympic Games in London 2012!

If you are around the city already you will notice that there are bridges, tunnels and parks being built. The biggest change will take place in 'La Minerva' roundabout; one of the most significant symbols of the city. Actually, this roundabout is a huge avenue full of traffic but it will be transformed into a park and pedestrian area for tourist. Now, instead of running trying to cross the avenue, visitors will be able to enjoy of the new facilities in the roundabout such as cafes, bookstores, restaurants and parks.

If you want to discover more about Guadalajara visit us during this time!

Projects Abroad has been collaborating with a great institution in Guadalajara for over 10 years now. This institution that has been looking after the rights and protection of children who's parents remain caught in prison.

'Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos' (Protection for prisoners' children) has renewed staff and they have great projects to complete. Projects Abroad is an important part of their collaborators lists as volunteers have been helping in this orphanage in a very successful way.

The new administration team in this institution is so much younger and loads of fresh ideas are in the table, amazing tasks to be completed and our volunteers will be there to help making a difference to these children's life.

As you may know, Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico. The western pearl and the centre of business of the country. The arrival of the rail system in early 1900's also brought to this city great development.

Unfortunately, rail system is not longer an option for travel, train only works in the transportation of items for sale inside the country; the rail roads have been abandoned for more than 50 years now.

Guadalajara's Government is now launching a huge project…'The lineal parks project'. The main target is to convert all the space that has been abandoned into recreational areas.

The rehabilitated areas will contain:

Cycling Roads
6.7 hectares of green areas
2 public squares
944 new trees
Parking areas
17 000 habitants of the surroundings will be benefited.

Hopefully you can see all this new infrastructure finished by the time you are here!