DAY 6 OF BECA WEEK - THE LAST FAMILY VISITS, A SCHOOL VISIT, AND SAN JUAN 1 MORE TIME

This morning was packed solid - both time and emotion - with the last 4 family visits of 2012. 1st Judie and I visited Maria Elena (green skirt) and her family; we each pay half of her scholarship and this year she has entered her 1st year of Diversificada (sort of a combination of high school and college) to train as a bilingual secretary. The school is located in the neighboring town of San Juan and feels very different to her as kids from many lake villages attend.

 Next stop was a visit to the home of Rosa Yanira.

2 photos of her handiwork

At Ana Marina's we were offered a generous lunch.

We also visited Jose Antonio and his family.

I enjoy visiting Mynor's house - it's fun watching his boys, Manuel and Antonio, grow up.

In the afternoon we visited the school that most of our kids attend, 'Luisa y Benjamin Paul'.

Juan Carlos and Sharon

24 Beca kids with Mynor and me

and with all of us.

Next we headed to the neighboring village of San Juan in the back of a pickup.

We bought some local candy,

visited several women's weaving cooperatives (yarn below was all dyed with natural botanical dyes),

and saw the new church that being added behind the original facade.

The interesting views from the Mikaso balcony included locals bathing, swimming, washing clothes, and - in this evening view - gathering the stringy plant fiber (sorry - I haven't found out yet for what use). Happy trails!