La Bocana Cleanups Jan 9, 23 Feb 6, 2016

So, I am gung ho to keep La Bocana clean this year - we are close to our goal - most families keep their yards up and the streets surrounding them too. Since we live close to the ocean, this is really key to keeping our oceans clean and safe for future generations.

I recently heard on BBC that if we don't do better, there will be more plastic than fish by 2050. I wont be around to see this, but our kids and grandkids will be hugely impacted.

so our first local clean up was on Jan. 6 - and here is the sunrise that morning looking East over our lagoon:



SUNRISE JAN. 9





HERE IS RIQUELMER, IN 9TH GRADE, HE WANTS TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST - AS HE CLEANED:









AFTERWARDS:






MOM 81 YEAR OLD MOM CAME AND HELPED OUT TOO:








AND HERE IS THE WHOLE GROUP THAT DAY, THE SECOND ONE IN FROM THE LEFT IS ROMEL. HIS DAD MAKES ABALONE OBJECTS TO HELP SUPPORT HIS COLLEGE EXPENSES (DAD IS IN PRISON).









Our second cleanup was on Jan. 23rd. We cleaned up the entrance to La Bocana.



THE ENTRANCE BEING CLEANED UP:









GIRLS CLEANING AND CHATTING. THEY ARE BOTH MY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE BUILDING IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE FISHING COOPERATIVE BUILDING WHERE THEY DO CANNING AND FISH, ABALONE AND LOBSTER PROCESSING. OUR SYSTEM FOR CLEANUPS IS TO USE THE RECYCLED DOG FOOD / TORTILLA FLOUR BAGS CALLED "COSTALES" FIRST. THEN THESE ARE DUMPED INTO THE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS THAT BOTH BRUCE (CANADIAN) AND BRENDA N HAVE DONATED TO THE PROGRAM! THE BLACK BAGS ARE THEN DUMPED AT THE DUMP. SO THE COSTALES AND THE BLACK COSTCO BAGS ARE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ONCE THEY TEAR, THEY GET REPLACED. ANYONE WANTING TO DONATE THESE BLACK BAGS ... THEY ARE REALLY GREAT!









AND HERE IS THE WHOLE GROUP THAT DAY! MOM AND FRIEND AND HELPER MINERVA ON THE FAR RIGHT. OMAR, WHO IS STUDYING MEDICINE IN ENSENADA AND CAME TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE THAT DAY WITH HIS YOUNGER BRO TO THE FAR LEFT. AND RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, WEARING AN ORANGE SHIRT, IS ARIEL. HE CAME TO LA BOCANA FOR 3 WEEKS FROM PUNTA PRIETA AND I HAVE HIM FREE ENGLISH CLASSES EVERY DAY. GREAT STUDENT. HAS GONE TO CABO TO STUDY TOURISM. ALL THE OTHER KIDS ARE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS I TEACH ENGLISH TO.












OF COURSE WE ALL GO FOR CAKE AND BROWNIES AFTERWARDS! PURE BRIBERY BUT THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!










AND AFTER THE CAKE AND BROWNIES, THE BIGGER KIDS AND I GO TO THE DUMP:









FEB 6TH WAS A HUGE CLEANUP. HERE IS A SHOT OF ALL OF US - RIGHT AFTER WE HAD CLEANED FOR ONE HOUR. THE GIRL SMACK IN THE MIDDLE IS NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL AND CAME TO SEE ME AND HELP OUT. LOVED HER ENTHUSIASM! WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 10, SHE AND ANOTHER GIRL CAME TO THE BACK OF THE B&B TO STUDY ENGLISH WITH ME (BEFORE I BECAME A CITIZEN AND OFFICIALLY TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS). SO HERE SHE IS AT 17 COMING BACK. HOW COOL IS THAT?????

MY MOM IS THERE NEXT TO ME - THIS WILL PROBABLY BE HER LAST TIME AS SHE WILL BE HEADED BACK TO SAN DIEGO SOON. THANKS MOM!!!!









AND OF COURSE, THE AFTER PARTY! DAVE AND PATTY DONATED PILLSBURY FAMILY SIZE FUDGE BROWNIE MIX - THANKS AMIGOS!

PLEASE IF YOU COME SOUTH, BRING ME SOME! THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS AND EASY TO MAKE. YUMMMMMMMMMMM


I gave all these kids some oranges that day too - they are in the plastic bag.







AND THAT IS IT SO FAR ..... MY YEAR IS TURNING OUT TO BE A FRUITFUL ONE! I GUARANTEE THAT NONE OF THESE KIDS WILL EVER THROW TRASH OUT THE WINDOW OF A VEHICLE AFTER THEIR HARD WORK CLEANING.....AND THAT IS THE LEARNING PROCESS RIGHT THERE.


On a side note - yesterday we had a family with their American 15 year old home study student come to the B&B. She was quite vocal and outgoing (she wants to become an actress) so I took her to the middle school to meet my 9th graders. They had so much fun together and it was great to see my students actually using their English in real life. One of those highlights in any teacher's career.