El Señor Marcelina is perhaps one of the most gentle, thoughtful men I have ever met. At 68 years old and 5´ le falta an imposing figur. He said that he had 1 year of formal education in 1950, but then the teacher left and by the time another came, he already had a family. He can write his name and he struggles to read some. However, he seems to be one of the driving forces of Esquiguita´s Ecological concience. A man full of activity for his age, he remembers when there was much more forest in leu of cow pastures. His son in the president of the ANAM (National Environmental Ministry) environmental group that is a year old. Marcelino looks like a Muchacho when esta a pie cerca de los otros ancianos.
Last night he started telling me about a country (that he called pakistan) that was full of poor black people and recently had an earthquake that caused tremendous distruction. After much discussion we resolved that it was Haiti. Today, he mentioned it again and I took the opportunity to explain the impact of Haitian style deforestation (a direct metaphore for the azuero penninsula). He already knew. He explained to me about how the water runs more rapidly and doesn´t stick around during sequias. He also told me how the suelo le falta alemientos cuando los arboles estan cortado. I think que vamos a tener mucho exito todavia.
His 8 year old granddaughter Anna has vitiligo on her knees and a few other parts of her body. Every time she showers, her ¨baba¨is very careful to cover those effected spots with vitiligo cream. At 42 dollars for the tube, Marcelino said it was extremely expensive.
Anna gave a very special poem presentation in school today when I was received formally by all 80 students. In adition to her poem, the students did 3 folkloric dances, a fables skit complete with masks, a grito 7saloma contest, and 3 songs in my honor. The show that the three teachers ( 1 director, 1 teacher, and a girl that didnt look older than 18) was really inpressive. The school goes from k-6th grade.
Times up at the cafe. Until next time, adios!
Speaking of grade school, I ran into some of your old classmates in kirkwood. David Weber and some other girls say hey. I told them you're still grabbing life by the horns. But would it happen any other way?
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