Hello!
My name is Spencer Ault, and I am one of the fifteen Global Glimpsers on this trip. Today was my day to be Leader of the Day, and so, as part of the responsibilities of the position, I am writing today’s blog post.
Today was CAP III day, which was made up of the final preparatory stages of our Community Action Project. Our day started off at 7 am, which was almost a late start for us. Everyone did a pretty good job of getting up quickly, and we had no problems in getting out the door and down to the comedor by 8:00. We came back to the comedor at 8:45, and began our preparation for the CAP III presentation.
We broke into four groups for the prep: the tree group, the desk group, the mural group, and the soccer field group. Those four groups represent the four different projects we will be taking on for our CAP at Escuela Divino Niños. The next 45 minutes were spent working on our project presentations. We drew up posters and worked out how to say everything we needed to say in Spanish. The representative from the school arrived at around 9:45, and we all took turns presenting our respective projects to him.
Needless to say, we all did a very good job with our presentations, and the representative had very few questions, comments or concerns after we were done. One of his only pieces of input was that the name of the school was actually Escuela Salinas Grandes, not Escuela Divino Ninos. Not sure how we got that mixed up. He approved all of our projects and headed back to the school at around 10:30, giving our group an hour to determine the logistics of the project. During that hour, we debated what materials each project needed, and how many of each one of those materials we needed. We also went over how much money would be needed for all the shopping, and who would be doing what shopping. In the end, we came up with a complete list of necessary materials, and we created four groups to go shop for those materials.
The largest of those groups was the one that went to the hardware store and the market, which is the group I was in. Another group went to the paint store, another went to the tree store, and one last group went to the supermarket. Each group had a budget for buying the supplies, carved out of the money we donated to the project last week.
As I mentioned, I was in the hardware store group, so that’s the only group I can really speak for. There were eight of us – me, Chris, Casey, Kwing, Devin, Ryan, Steven, and Judith – and we all crammed into one taxi that had four available seats. We sat in two layers, and it was uncomfortable for everyone, whether you were on the bottom or the top.
Everyone spent the next hour or so shopping for the materials they were assigned. Those of us at the hardware store picked up a whole laundry list of items, including a shovel and some paint rollers, and we also picked up two 100-pound bags of fertilizer from the agricultural store in the market next to the store. We got two cabs for the ride back to the hostel, thankfully, and met up with the rest of the group there at 4:30 or so.
We had half-an-hour of free time until dinner, so we just hung out at the hostel or went to the bakery and café. At 5, we headed down to Deja Vu, and after a dinner of fried cheese tacos, we walked down to our English tutoring. That pretty much wrapped our day up, although the torch passing ceremony from me to Chris and Steven was very entertaining.
Sorry I wrote so much, hope you all got some good information from it. Thanks for reading, and please leave some comments below! Thanks!
Spencer
Spencer, great writing. Don’t worry about writing too much because you guys can NEVER write too much for us back home. We love the blogs and reading about your daily activities. The more information the better 🙂
Sounds like you all have quite a bit to do for the Community Action Project. This is a great thing you guys are doing. You will be leaving your mark in the community that has hosted you for the last three weeks. We are so proud of the hard work you all are putting towards this project and I’m sure the students, staff and parents of the Escuela Salinas Grandes will appreciate it.
Kim and Nicole, I bet you guys are quite fluent in Spanish now. Three years of Spanish classes finally paid off!!! You two will have to speak to Papa only in Spanish from now on. 🙂
Hugs and Kisses to my Kimmy!
Spencer – how fun to hear from you! I love hearing about how you spend your days and today’s is no exception. You have left us hanging as to what made the hand-off so entertaining… hoping there’s part 2? 🙂 Anyway, I’m looking forward to hearing about your project process & completion. Keep the stories coming. Love you! mom
And by the way… that first taxi ride sounded really funny/unpleasant. I can’t help wondering if on top of being on top & under each other, you were also roasting hot?? Blech!:-)
Thanks to all Glimpsers for your blog entries — we look forward to reading about your exploits every night. Spencer…your entry wasn’t long enough because you didn’t describe the “entertaining torch ceremony”. What are fried cheese tacos?
Spencer you did a fabulous job on your blog, very informative and entertaining. On a personal note to my daughter Casey, I know who “A” is and it was a great twisted ending. You have great projects and I wish you luck in accomplishing them all. I feel very proud of all that you have already accomplished and experienced. Miss you, hugs and kisses.
Saludos presentadores! Enhorabuena por la aprobación de los proyectos. Congratulations on your project approvals. What a proud and accomplished moment for you all to share-in; excelente! I knew you guys could do it. It sounds like the name of the school needs to be displayed for visitors to see. I would have enjoyed watching you all present your presentations. It seems like you all were able to incorporate what you have learned since arriving to Leon and partner it with your excellence of being students into your presentations. Excelente! You guys are really excelling in your day-to-day challenges! We could not be more proud of you guys! Magnífico!
Magnifico blog Spencer! Every detail was so informative as to what each and everyone of you are contributing. Today really showed how much potential you all have if you just put your minds together. I can’t wait for the completion of the Community Action Project. You all are certainly reaching a milestone, that will be etched into your hearts forever. Continue to do by whatever means necessary to make your mark in history at Leon. What great leaders you all will be in the future, so continue to work hard, teach and learn together. I am so amazed at the growth of the group’s determination(that taxi cab ride,SQUEEZY!). Nyla, you continue to make me so proud, can’t stop boasting about you granddaughter. I’m anxiously waiting for the next blog. “mucho amor para todos ustedes”
Love all the pictures and details awesome job Spencer! It’s truly wonderful to hear the excitement and energy going into this Community Action project. Your group will leave your presence long after everyone has comes home. For the few of you I know working on a soccer field is so fitting! Lol…when you are all done the sense of accomplishment will make a mark in all your life’s. Can’t wait to see the pictures and blog on the project. Nicole we are so proud of you ! I know this trip will be a life changer for you. Did you read auntie Kathy’s (nana) comments? Miss you and give hugs to Casey and Kim. Love you. mom
PS. Nice to hear what everyone is eating.
What a great day you seem to have had! I am so very proud of each and every one of you. As the other parents say, it is so awesome that we get daily blogs on the things you are doing each day. It is our way to stay connected and travel vicariously through you!! It is also a great way for us to keep you up on things on the home front. I think the projects you picked are awesome and I look forward to the completion pictures so that we can see the progress you have all made. Great job to all of you!!! Love you lots Nicole!!!!
Spencer, not long enough for me. Always enjoy reading about your experiences and projects, makes me feel like a glimper too. Your experiences remind me of my old country, it’s like taking me back home. The first taxi ride made me laugh……. Before the seatbelt law here in USA, we used to cram 7 kids with us in our wagon, our kids and their cousins. Leadership, inventiveness and resourcefulness, that’s what I see in your everyday life there, making you all better people. Looking forward to your next writing.
Spencer, I’m loving reading about all your Global Glimpse activities, and especially your blog today — great report on the shopping expedition. It was definitely not too long — I know everyone following along is eager to get all the details of what you are doing. Those 100-pound bags of fertilizer must have been fun to carry! I’m eager to hear how the actual projects go when you start putting the purchases to use.
I saw that in the blog for 8/7, where you were deciding on the projects, it said you visited Escuela Divino Niños, so I’m not sure if it was wrong there, or if the project will be at a different school. But I guess that explains part of the confusion on the name. We are very proud of you and what you and the group are doing, and can’t wait to hear more about your thoughts and experiences when you return.
Love from Gramma and Grandpa.
Hi Spencer,
So good to hear your voice! Wonderful visual writing…esp. the first taxi ride and the fried cheese tacos….keep those stories coming and you can never write too much. What a wonderful experience you are having…can’t wait to hear all of the details and see pictures!
oxoTutu
Nice job Spencer!
Spencer, you are quite the leader and community organizer! What an amazing experience you are involved in. This will stay with you forever, and the skills you develop and the memories of how you have positively impacted the community will make you proud of your contribution to this corner of the world.
Hi Spencer. What a fabulous experience for you and the group and how well you tell the story !
We have been following the activities of the group through the daily blogs and have really been pleased to feel like we are sharing in the adventure. We are so proud that you and the group are doing your part to help out! Looking forward to more stories and especially to your return home! We love you, Marlene and Pops!
Spencer – great recap – you should consider a career in journalism.
Sitting here reading this with Mom, Sam and Dixie and we are all enjoying the stories of your day’s adventure. Looking forward to more details from you and to see you in a few days. Have fun and make sure to slow down to look around and soak it all in every chance you get. This experience will be something you’ll draw from all your life.
Love,
-Dad
Enjoyed reading your blog Spencer. It’s never too long and helps those of us not there understand and enjoy how the Glimpsers day(s)are spent there. I look forward to seeing the finished CAP projects. Enjoy your trip as it will be one you will remember your lifetime. Love, “Aunt Mary”.