Quinceañera times TEN!

NAOMI:
On Saturday night we walked through el Centro Histórico to meet a colleague and on our way we saw three separate venues and performances in the plazas. In the first plaza there was a tent for indigenous dance performances. There was a mariachi concert at the main square’s gazebo. We
saw a demonstration of Capoeira.
Capoeira Dancers

And finally a group of student musicians (like the ones we saw in Guanajuato wearing black with colorful ribbons pinned to their jackets) were performing in Plaza de las Armas (where the main government building is and the Independencia celebrations occurred).
Video of Plaza and Musicians

We also saw a student demonstration and I was reminded that we see demonstrations frequently. When we first got here there was the huge protest of the violence and kidnappings that occur here in Mexico. This was definitely a national protest with multiple locations, but we were also told there were protests the same night in Los Angeles and Chicago. Often when we walk through Plaza de las Armas we see people with signs chanting slogans and even banging on drums, and sometimes we see them marching through the streets. It is comforting to me that people feel comfortable gathering, marching and protesting. Freedom of speech is our friend.


The place we were supposed to meet our colleague was on 5 de Mayo, which was where we almost lived. It is a narrow street with a lane of traffic and a lane of parking, and it is filled with traffic! There are lots of theaters, bars and restaurants on the street and on Saturday night it seems like the main drag. As we were walking, women dressed in black spandex with beauty pageant-esque sashes gave us fliers for an upcoming event. We heard loud engines revving and saw motorcycles crawling down the street and they looked desperate to have the space to show off their extreme tricks, as advertised on the fliers.
Our Street


Also, people tell us all the time that Querétaro is known country-wide as one of (if not THE) cleanest and safest cities in Mexico! It is safe to walk around at night and there are droves of street cleaners. These women are dressed in orange vests (safety first!!), carry brooms and push orange garbage cans down the street. I think there must be a gathering spot for them near our place (maybe where they store their garbage cans at night?) because in the evening, or as they apparently say in South Central… IOWA (my brother Will is doing election work there this fall and just taught me the phrase), “of an evening” we see them parading down our street (which is very short, and not a main thoroughfare). And, of course, bright and early, well it’s still dark out at 5 am, we hear the garbage cans being pushed over the rough road as the women fan out across the city streets.

Sunday we met a colleague at 10 am and drove outside the city to a group home with two campuses (one for boys and one for girls). In total there are approximately 150 kids in this village that has its own school, cafeteria and dorms. The group home is run by a American pastor and his Mexican wife and it has grown exponentially in the past 8 years. We met several Canadian volunteers who come down each year to help with projects. They proudly told us that they poured concrete for the construction of the school, new dorms and the cafeteria. Each year the home holds a Quinceañera for all the girls who are turning 15 that year. This year there were 10!!!
Ten Quinceañeras!!!

We had the most incredible time being part of the huge celebration. The photo ops were unlimited because there were amazing faces, beautiful decorations and dresses, and even horses! It was fun to take pics of kids and let them see the photos on the digital display… the kids loved to get involved and a couple even used our cameras to take pics!
Naomi and boy sharing photos

The ceremony included a full band and sermons and each girl was presented with a Bible, a photo album to commemorate the special event and a ring. Afterwards there was food, dancing, champagne and cake. It was so great to observe kids (as young as 4 and as old as 24) as they watched the girls have their special day.
Many of the kids in the home are sponsored by Canadians.

JOSE:
Naomi and I were invited to a Quinceañera this past Sunday and it was absolutely wonderful. There were 10 girls (that’s right TEN!) celebrating their 15th birthday. I50 years worth of celebrating. As some of you might know, the 15 birthday for a young girl in Latin countries is the equivalent to a sweet 16 or a Bat Mitzvah (12 for girsl, 13 for boys). It’s a rite of passage into womanhood. And here in Mexico it’s a very big deal.
Walking the walk


And what made it even more special was that these girls were in a group home. The group home is called Plan de Vida, and it houses about 150 kids. It’s practically a village with its own school. It was founded by father Dario (an American with a huge heart) about 15 years ago. The place is run by volunteers (who don’t get paid a cent) and also gets help from donations. A few international volunteers from Canada were also on hand. This place was basically built with the help of volunteers from Canada.
Plan de Vida Village

We met Bob and his wife Karen who have been coming for the past 7 years and have sponsored a few of the kids in the group home. The dresses you see the Quinceañeras wearing were bought with donations from Canada.
Bob and Karen


The boys in the group home were bused over for the afternoon festivities and were giddy with excitement at the girls in their flowing gowns walking down the aisles. The girls (or young ladies) did a little spin before going through the last archway and sitting down. There was a pastor who spoke about the rites of passage and each girl was given presents, which were symbolic for their journey into adulthood.
Da Boyz

There was a full on band and the food was spicy and delicious. The girls made a toast with some champagne and then cut the huge 4 tier ‘pastel’ right along their names.
A Toast



Cutting the Pastel

Naomi and I were surrounded most of the time by the small boys who were as curious as cats. One boy took lessons from Naomi on how to operate a digital camera. A group of about 7 boys ranging from 10 to 16 sat down next to me and we talked about Xbox, movies, baseball and get this ‘American football.’ Some of the boys said they preferred it over ‘fútbol.’
La Audiencia

Look Ma, No Cavities

Listening to the Pastor (patiently)





We thought we were going for a couple of hours, but it ended up being a 5 hour event (and it was still hopping when we left). By the time we left the younger boys were being given horseback rides. Oo-oo me next!
Giddy Up!