Feb. 25, 2010

On Sunday I went to a birthday party for the sponsored of the neighborhood. Here in Tizimin, because there are so many sponsored (390) and the birthday parties take place every two months, they have them in the various neighborhoods at someone’s property, rather than renting a place to accomodate everyone. That way, too, it is more personal because everyone knows almost everyone else, especially since so many other activities take place directly in the various neighborhoods (called “colonias” here). This particular party was held at the home of one of the elderly (“abuelitos”), because one of his legs has been amputated, and he would not have been able to attend the party otherwise. I was invited because, since I moved, I live in that particular colonia. (The apartment I had before was in an area where there are no sponsored, and I never really got to know anyone. My house, on the other hand, is in the neighborhood that has the largest number of sponsored in the project, so I know a lot of people who live close.)

The party was combined with a meeting of the mothers to discuss some of the problems and needs within the colony. The scholarship student who is assigned to that neighborhood had games planned for the kids, but a sudden rain shower changed those plans. Fortunately, many of the showers tend to be brief here – just a passing cloud or two – so things resumed as soon as the rain let up. There were presents for all those celebrating their birthdays. The presents varied depending on what the particular need or want of the person was. Most received some kind of clothing. Others may have received some necessary school supplies. The mothers chip in money to buy food.  A couple of them then cook at home whatever needs to be prepared in advance, so there was a good meal and plenty of cake for everyone.

I went inside with a number of other people to eat because another rain shower was threatening, so I had a chance to see the house from the inside, although, as I think I’ve mentioned in another blog, I try not to be obvious in looking around. The house consisted basically of one room. The wall was framed in what looked to be trees chopped down from the property and with the bark stripped off. Pieces of flat wood were nailed length-wise to the frame. The roof was thatch and did not fit tightly on the top of the walls. There was plenty of room for air to circulate. I understand that the houses with the thatched roofs are cooler in the hot weather, but I couldn’t help thinking how those people must have suffered when the cold front hit, dropping temperatures to 40 degrees or less. Remember, there is no heat in the houses. There were no windows, just two doors, one on each of the longer walls, and the floor was cement. There were three hammocks strung from the rafters and another wrapped around them. At an angle across one corner was a narrow shelf with a small TV. Under the shelf was a kitchen-style table covered with things they use daily. At an angle across another corner was another shelf with what looked like a few toiletry items. There was no other furniture. There were some bags hung on nails pounded into the wooden walls which, I assumed, contained their meager possessions. There were also a couple of cardboard boxes on the floor. One was partially open, and I saw clothes in it, so I assume that that’s where  they keep their clothes. A purse and a couple of cloth bags, which they may use for shopping, were hanging by strings from the rafters. Lighting was provided by one bare, low-wattage bulb hanging from the ceiling.

The “kitchen” was a covered, lean-to type structure attached to the house and entered through the door of the house opposite the front door. Another door led to the outside. The walls of the kitchen are simply poles (small trees chopped down and stripped of bark) lashed together. Again, the floor was cement and lighting was one bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling. There was a small shelf nailed to one wall containing the little they had and an area in a corner for the open fire they cook with. I’m not sure if the table in the room was theirs, or if someone had provided it for the party. And that was it. No running water. No indoor toilet. None of the conveniences that we are used to. Here I am constantly reminded of all that we have and take for granted and the little that many of the poor here have and are grateful to have what they have. They are also very grateful for the support they receive from their sponsors, because it makes such a difference in their lives. The man at whose home the party was held received groceries for his present. He and his wife seemed very happy to have been able to host the party, because, as I said, otherwise he would not have been able to attend.

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