kitjv - 1-8-2007 at 01:47 PM
We will be traveling the length of the Baja peninsula by motorcycle for several weeks in Feb/Mar. In our past motorcycle travels, we have found that
small children are fascinated with our bike & flock around it in droves.
We are thinking of carrying some small items to give to the kids. We would like these items to be both appreciated & useful. At the same time, we
don't want to be condescending. In other words, no candy, money, etc.
A friend who helps to build homes throughout Latin America suggested that be distribute pencils.
Any thoughts?? Thanks.
David K - 1-8-2007 at 01:48 PM
Pencils and paper pads... yes.
Phil C - 1-8-2007 at 04:13 PM
Coloring books about horses and farm animals, don't forget the small packages of crayons.
stuff for kids and adults
Baja Bucko - 1-8-2007 at 06:35 PM
For kids I bring bottles of bubbles, crayons, small balls, paper, color books (sometimes Wal-Mart carries them in Spanish), magnets, marbles, kids'
books in Spanish, hair clips for girls, little cars, puzzles in a box (age appropriate), card games (Spanish sets ie Pesca), and frizbees. Sometimes
I can find handpuppets of "Baja" animals at Toys R Us and those are fun!
For the women I meet on rural ranchos I bring sewing kits, inexpensive pastel colored cotton material, hair things, hand lotion, sun screen, lip balm,
head scarves, kitchen potholders & dish rags...hand lotion is ALWAYS a HIT!...puzzles are always great-they put them together, glue them and hang
them on the wall.
For men on the ranchos I carry work gloves (they LOVE these!), tools, Husker's (heavy-duty lotion for hands), sun glasses, baseball caps, and a bunch
of other things I can't think of right now.
Inexpensive calenders w pictures are a hit-but I leave the sexy ones at home. The ranchos seem to like pics of national parks, cattle, anything that
can add to a wall. I usually make some via computer in Spanish and use a foto of a guy's top bull or horse and deliver them the next yr I head down.
Puzzles are always good!
And finally for adults on those ranchos packets of seeds ie pretty flowers or appropriate vegies...FLOWER seeds are always wanted!
Most of my travel is via mule so I carry one pack just full of goodies. Besides the 2-3 cameras I will this year be taking along a polaroid camera so
that I can take a picture of the ranch families and leave it with them. This should give you ideas! 
bajabound2005 - 1-8-2007 at 06:39 PM
Pencils, YES! We teach English in the rural school here (just once a week but it's a start) and the pencils some of these kids have....little stubs
that they can barely hold on to. You can pick up dozens at a dollar store for nothing! In fact lots of the things Baja Bucko suggested can be picked
up at a dollar store.
fdt - 1-8-2007 at 06:48 PM
There are special Baja Nomad kids in Tijuana now and they could use those pencils and that way you don't have to travel the entire length of the
peninsula carying them. You can U2U me if you'd like.
saludos