Date: Sunday, April 21, 2013.
La Paz [Bolivia] streets taken by locals and groups of expatriates, including the US Embassy in La Paz. Running for Peace. Running for Boston! ♥
And, a nice write-up on a similar inspiring story:
http://diplopundit.net/2013/04/24/us-mission-canada-canadians-run-for-boston/
Image #10: 20 Days of a Joyful Christmas: The Ballet Folklorico de Potosi, Bolivia.
Twenty days until Christmas – through twenty images of joy… We’ll get a bit closer each day that goes by… Previous image here.
Image #9: 20 Days of a Joyful Christmas: Not quite your regular ‘Elf on the shelf’… more like ‘a non-stop climbing pre-toddler’! Climbing on the half-desk… going up the stairs… just got caught, while, quietly, trying to move on… Oh, the perks of being a mother of 3 little ones! Who needs adult supervision, anyway? 
Twenty days until Christmas – through twenty images of joy… We’ll get a bit closer each day that goes by… Previous image here.
my two boys after the match
Image #8: 20 Days of a Joyful Christmas: My two boys on a regular Saturday morning…
While many are still sleeping in, my boys head to the soccer field at the kids’ school… The ‘older one’ is the player, but my ‘youngest boy’ has to be there to support his dad… I couldn’t be any happier when looking at their faces… That’s a good wish for this 12.12.12: I’ve got 2 girls and 2 boys, and being able to witness their happiness is priceless… Today, I’m sharing the joy these boys bring to my life, through their shared passion: sports!
Twenty days until Christmas – through twenty images of joy… We’ll get a bit closer each day that goes by… Previous image here.
Image #7: 20 Days of a Joyful Christmas: Evergreen centerpiece.
There’s a bit of backstory to this branch of evergreen. It used to belong to a much larger tree, in front of the Radiation Treatment Facility here in La Paz. The tree has been trimmed to offer space for a canopy, where patients and patients-to-be would benefit from some much deserved shade, while waiting to be called into the facility. Several branches were cut down, and a few of the volunteers decided to take them home, using them as part of a unique Christmas decoration…
Two weeks later, one of the branches still exists as my dining table centerpiece… beautiful… a keepsake of a day of work, but most importantly, reminding us about how blessed we’ve been… There’ll be no holidays at a hospital facility for our family… we’ll spend these holidays together, as a family.. we’re all healthy and grateful…
Twenty days until Christmas – through twenty images of joy… We’ll get a bit closer each day that goes by… Previous image here.
What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! Not even the light showers were able to stop the hard workers! Proud to have been part of the greening project, helping the Senior Center (“Casa de Ancianos”) Hogar San Ramon, in La Paz Bolivia. Is there a better way to teach our children the importance of giving? Giving their time, their skills, their open mind and heart? I hope we’re doing the right thing. I feel we are. And I’m grateful our family was able to volunteer… Wishes for a peaceful (and green!) weekend!
School trip to the movies, by my favorite first grader…
I’ve talked before about the challenges and joys of parenthood. I’ve dreamed of a world where moms would be able to wake up on their own, without being suddenly poked by cold little fingers letting her know they’re hungry/scared/thirsty or simply wanting to go outside and play, despite the side table clock showing it’s not even 6 am…
I’ve talked about being a traveler, an expat and an around-the-clock working mom; being a cleaner/chauffeur/house fairy… all in one, and trying to perform my best. Let’s not forget the additional task: trying to be the hauling supportive foreign service spouse, cheering for my husbands accomplishments and hiding ‘little household lows’ (like a broken lamp), in order to keep the peace. Yeah, we are also peacekeepers, at any cost. I’ve talked about it all over here, shared and received advice from other readers/parents/expats, and I’m deeply grateful for such an incredible experience.
One thing I’ve never experienced was the opportunity to closely work with my kids school. Always, because I lacked time to volunteer. Had helped before, when we lived in Mozambique and Brazil, but my working schedule really forbid me from being more active. This time, in La Paz, Bolivia, I’m living a different story. I’ve got more time, not working outside the house, so, I can now indulge and offer my kids the support and presence I’ve been ‘semi-denying’ them for the past years (there has to be one advantage of being a ‘non-working mom’, right? )
This is the first time my kids are enrolled in a American School, so, I’m volunteering the school PTA, I’m a ‘classroom parent’, helping extra-curricular activities, you name it. Despite being a bit overwhelming, I’m enjoying (I’m also a workaholic, so, I get my ‘highs’ from being overworked!). This past week, I volunteered to be a chaperone for a school field trip. My oldest child is a first grader, and the school took the whole elementary branch to a morning at a local movie theater. What a fantastic experience! Super excited kids telling me stories (some purely made-up, like flying in rocket ships or turning into fairies/wizards during their spare time!)
Today, after school, when checking my son’s backpack, I realized why we, parents, try to do these little good things, being more involved, committed: there were two handmade cards, with his daily homework. One from my son, and the other one, from my ‘chaperoning team’. And those cards made me understand a bit more about the meaning of being a (school) parent – the child’s true appreciation:
This other one, from ‘my team’. Names carefully preserved, for obvious reasons. Keep in mind we went to watch a movie (Madagascar 3), riding the bus…
And the second one, from my son. BTW, the “moma”, I believe, refers to me…
I was so touched, so happy, and grateful for learning that, despite all the difficulties one endures as a mom/dad, our kids do appreciate us.
They “aprishyat” all the “staf” we do for them. And above all, they love us. They do love us very “mutch”…
Thanks for letting ME be part of YOUR LIFE! ♥
Más de 70 personas fueron convocadas para conocer sobre la importante labor que realiza ABIA, cuya ayuda se orienta a cuatro instituciones: el comedor popular de San Calixto, el Hospital del Niño, el proyecto Luz de Esperanza y el centro de rehabilitación y salud mental San Juan de Dios.
Nos comentaron que, además de pasar un agradable momento y dar la bienvenida a los nuevos integrantes, los presentes quedaron gratamente sorprendidos con la fina decoración y los originales bocaditos que caracterizan a The Ambassador’s Table.
American British International Association (ABIA) anualmente ofrece una recepción para dar la bienvenida a sus nuevos integrantes, en esta oportunidad realizó un Wine and Cheese en el The Ambassador’s Table.
ABIA da la bienvenida a sus nuevos socios.
Centro Social Dom João Costa was founded in 1969 by the nuns of Congregação Damas da Instrução Cristã and is sponsored by Colégio Damas, Colégio Santa Cecília and Faculdade Damas.
They promote educational and cultural activities for children from the community of Alto José do Pinho (a poor community in the neighborhood of Casa Amarela with a lot of social problems, but know as well as a musical center of hardcore/punk bands); and professional courses to adults. Current partners of the NGO include Faculdade Estácio, Governo de Pernambuco, Prefeitura do Recife and Ministério das Comunicações.
In 2009, TV Globo broadcast a story about them
Another video online, here.
2 biologists
The Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior is in Brazil.
We had the opportunity to go on a guided visit through its compartments, talk with the captain, and learn more about the current projects involving the Greenpeace Initiative and Brazilian NGOs.
The visit also included the solar kitchen installations 
and the solar panels.
The Captain
Related articles
Last October, I shared a post mentioning this volunteer (international women’s) group here, and one of their many actions.
Recently, got news the group was able to raise funds, in coordination with the local Japanese Consulate, for finishing the year-long construction of a day care for those limited-resources families… Still remember the group’s first meetings, all the planning between us, the founders, the intense energy… and the will to do do good… Great feeling! It’ll be a good memory for our time in Recife…
Congratulations to all who participated, in one way or another!
[in Portuguese, from local social media source, journalist Fernando Machado]
“Arranged”. That’s the inspiration for this week’s photo challenge from WordPress. And the interesting part is that the images are part of one of our current projects: A Hanging Garden with school children, inspired by the Babylon Hanging Gardens, but using recycled materials, as PET bottles, coconut fiber (to build the planters), cost-free watering system and donated seeds… “Get involved, get “green”, get together”!
Not the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but...
"Making sure they're all PERFECTLY ARRANGED"!
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Arranged Police Horses (Weekly photo Challenge) « Cardinal Guzman
Great way to get middle and high schoolers interested, engaged and committed. Habitat for Humanity came to the American school of Recife, this past week, to gather volunteers for their work in the Northeast Brazil…
Every couple of months, led by the class of Seniors, students, parents, teachers and staff, go out to the suburbs of Recife, helping (re)build homes, sharing experiences and offering advice on waste management, water use and conservation, health care; or simply, listening to fantastic stories from the local community.
Here are some of the exciting things happening, and that would really help teenagers and young adults to get a better understanding or the real world: (Thanks Mindy Walker for providing the school materials!)
Here for their Youth Program.
Build your community
There are so many things you can do to make an impact in your community.
Start today to become the leaders of Habitat tomorrow!
This year’s rainy season is almost over for most northeastern states in Brazil. Heavy rains tend to cause extensive flooding. A good way to visit the sites is by air, since roads are taken by the floods.
Here are images from a visit to the state of Alagoas, after the relief actions.
landing in Alagoas
tents distributed to the misplaced population
overview of the flooding damage (city's outskirts)
a typical resident of the city's outskirts
aerial view of the state capital
aerial view of the coastline
Living overseas brings you countless opportunities. Today, my family enjoyed a wonderful morning with other diplomatic and expat families. Helping is fun and rewarding.
My husband was one of the 36 guest players. The tournament included representatives from the US Consulate, French Consulate and from the host Japanese mission… All players were asked to provide an “entry fee” for the tournament, which would be transferred to the Japanese Red Cross.
I’m proud of my husband, as an amateur player and as an example to other parents, and brought our kids to support the effort in helping the Japanese Consulate in Recife to raise money to help the victims of the recent tsunami…
The participants were greeted with a great luncheon provided by the Japanese Consulate and we all enjoyed a great performance offered by the musical group Ren Taiko, which means “Lotus Opium“.
Event: Fundraising Golf Tournament, coördinated by the expat community in Recife, PE. Including representatives from the Consulates in town, expatriate families, businessmen.
Venue: The Caxanga Country and Golf Club in Recife
Date: April 3, 2011.
Pictures to come soon! In the meantime, I’d like to show my gratitude to the Consulate of Japan in Recife, for allowing us to enjoy a very nice Sunday, surrounded by friends.
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Photo Project: 52 Bolivian Sundays
good feedback!