Isla Mujeres, Mexico
The little Yellow School house.
I am on a Cancun message board and also an isla board.. and my friends there are all ready to read a trip report of my Mexico vacation. Upon our return we usually write out a report so future travellers can learn many things to do before their trips.
I had asked my maid the day before where could I find information on schools for children with down syndrome. I
wanted to go see what was available to the kids on this island.
the maid directed me to a building.
This was one of the many highlights of my Mexico trip.
I am jumping right to this day because it touched
me so deeply and I want to share it with all of you.
This building was not where I needed to go...but they did tell me there was a school. a special school for special needs children in the middle of the island, behind the red cross.
I just felt this urge and need to go see. I don't really know what was sending me there. I had not a clue I would be doing this before my trip. Believe me it was not on my list of things to do on my isla vacation.
So, we rented a golf cart to drive to the south end of the island to go find this school.
I had no idea what I would say once I got there....my Spanish is very very VERY limited.
We found the red cross with out a problem. I did see a yellow small building behind but was not sure I would
call that a school. so we went into the red cross and I
asked where the school was.
Yes, I was told it was that little yellow building.
so there we went.
I went to the door and knocked. A lady came to the door with a very warm welcoming smile.
I told her I was interested in seeing her school and that I am a mother of a child with down syndrome and I just wanted to "see" her school.
She was so nice but again my Spanish is limited.
she told me tomorrow (wed) the director of the school would be in and I could come back then at 10 am.
The kids (maybe 5) where toooooooooooo cute!!!!
the woman asked me for my name...soooo
I left the card of my hotel with my name on the back of it.
That night at about 7 pm a knock is on my hotel door.
Pete says...Arlene someone is at the door and I don't know what they are saying...***grin*** his Spanish is worse then my limited Spanish..hahahahhahaa!!!!
I go to the door and the woman says hi I am the director from the school and this is my husband. Is there something I can answer for you?
well, I had not a clue what I was looking for..hehehehehe
So we just began to talk. I told her I am Shannon's mom and showed off my photos of my sweet princess.
we began discussing many things.
What I believe to understand is....
the needs of Mexico are so high and so many people need help, that the special needs kids are not a top priority.
The kids cannot go to regular school and there is no funding at all for them.
This one room small school house is run by this woman and the kids can only go to school for one hour , 3 times per week. the reason being is that there are many kids that need to be taught but there is only one teacher.
she needs to divide the time up like this so everyone can get the attention they need .
My daughter goes to regular grade 6 classes and goes to school all day. *sigh*
that sure pulled a heart string with me when I was listening to this woman telling me stories.
After a very nice visit with her and her husband, they invited us to come to the school on the Wed night at 6 pm so I could meet "___", a boy with down syndrome in her class. He attends 3x per week from 6-7pm.
I re-questioned 6 pm several times thinking that is kind of late for a young boy (very young) to be going to school, but again she told me how the time has to be divided.
She also invited us to dinner at her house on the Saturday for a typical Mexican Dinner.
we declined because we did not want anything from her.
just to see and observe.
Well with much persistence......we accepted the offer and went to her house on the Saturday.
Okay sooo first I will back up to wed.
We went to her school again on Wed arriving at 6:45 pm.
The kid had just left she said.
we were a bit disappointed but her husband went to the boys house and asked the parents if they would bring him back so we could meet him.
the parents said they would be there in 5 min.
Okay so I am looking around this school.
Believe me , its not like our schools here.
It is clear to see though, that all the items in the class were made with pure love from the teacher.
the lack of money is very clear. the lack of many educational things for the kids is clear to see too.
My heart felt so heavy for these kids.....I was on the verge of tears being in there and I was thinking about running out the door ..hopping in my cart and full speeding it back to my hotel.
then I was thinking gosh that would be tooooo rude ...the boy is on his way!
what would I say?? what would I do??
okay so panic attack is in full force.......
and remember I am shy. *Hhahahahaaha*
and also the language barrier is a major problem because I don't speak Spanish. but so far, I have managed to ask my maid where to find these kids....
gone to wrong building...asked again....gone to red cross ...and now the school 2x....not bad for not knowing much of the language.
soooooooooo 10 min pass and in comes this sweet boy!!!!
oh my god-------I am speechless.
he walks right over to me, hugest beautifulest smile and puts his arms up for me to pick him up.
I just about feel apart at that moment!!!!
I picked him up and snuggled with him. he smelt sooo good and his little wee arms wrapped around my neck felt sooooo good!!!!
Now, I needed to concentrate reallllllll hard so I would not fall apart sobbing.
I held this dear boy so tightly and I asked his parents if there was anything they needed for him.
The mom and dad were smiling so proudly of their son.
they both said they needed nothing. I said, please, if I come back to Mexico next yr I would love to bring him something. what can I bring him . the mother said he needs clothes...and diapers. she said clothes would be soooooooooooooo appreciated. the fathers eyes were misty.
I had to turn away. I knew I was going to cry!!!!!
here I am, making a vacation of a lifetime...
being able to go and do whatever I feel like because I have no responsibilities. Eat in the grandest restaurants...the finest hotel...do what ever I darn well please... Shannon is at home.
I have one free week and what do I do with it??
*grin*
Here I sit in this falling apart school with the sweetest down syndrome kid on my lap and the parents looking sooooooo loving that I am sooooooo
honoured to be able to even hold their son.
I couldn't speak. I knew if I opened my mouth I would be bawling.
I couldn't do that...I had to keep strong.
I set the kid down and watched him run around and play with stuff.
the big lump in my throat subsided and I said to the mom....((by the way I still don't know their names))
I told her I would bring him some clothes. I am just sorry it will take a year before I come back.
anyway with some eye contact between me and the mom and dad , no words were really needed.
Being the mom to Shannon has taught me to learn how to love without saying a word. After all, Shannon's unspoken words are more louder and clearer then any spoken words could ever be.
The parents left and I knew for sure I would be back to isla!!!!
the teacher showed us the washroom. 2 toilets in another room. just the bowl with no seats. I asked how come they don't have seats? she said there was no money.
*sigh*
the things we take for granted eh?
well we walked over to her house and she invited us in.
we said no no no...we should be going.
so we left with the promise to see her again on
Saturday for dinner at her house at 2pm.
okay so this all was wednesday night.
all day Thurs.. I am walking around thinking gosh, what can I do for this school.
well we knew we were going into Cancun on Friday.
so late Thur.. night I say to Pete, honey, I have been thinking. (Hahahaaa)) now that can be a very scarey thought to peter..hahahahha
anyhow.
I tell him I want to go to Walmart and buy school supplies for the school. I tell him I want to buy the kid some clothes too.
soooooooooooooooooooo, he tells me he is thinking the same thing! we just know the needs are sooooooo high in Mexico and we cant help everyone. BUT....a little is soooo much appreciated.
sooo we both go to sleep Thurs. night with great visions in our minds I suppose.
Friday we are up bright and early again.
all happy to be going to Cancun . Also this is the night we are meeting our friends off the message board for dinner at 6pm.
Well we hop the ferry, and head right over to Walmart.
(3 bucks for the cab)
we go the school supply department and start loading our cart. Gosh we feel soooooooooo darn good!!!
then we head over the boy clothing section. *GRIN*
I did not realize shopping for a boy could be sooo much fun.
WELLLLLLLLLL<<<<<<< the money we spent in Walmart that day was soooo heart rewarding that I cannot begin to even express how it feels.
We had our dinner at the delimart with our friends *great to I may add*
and I begin to tell what we had just done.
Wellllllllllllll,
Kent(from Iowa) heheehe no potatoes that is Idaho heheeheee see, I was listening!!!, I know you don't want recognition, as I don't either...but here goes....
I am sitting beside this man...*GIGGLE* and
he leans over and says Arlene, when you go back to the school on Saturday please take this with you.
it was a monetary donation.
I know I said thanks...and quickly turned my head.
WHY was I going to sob right there and then!!!
I don't know, but I immediately thought of my daughter and thought good God, I hope someday there are more Kent's, and Arlene and Peters out there and I pray she never has to suffer or want for basic needs.
Anyhow Kent , if I did not say thanks enough it was because the words were to hard to get out thru the lump in my throat! really Kent...........thankyou so much.
Sooooo., believe me I am trying to make this story quick but to the point also.
Saturday arrives.
we rent the cart again...and load up all our treasures.
wow this feels sooooooooooooooooo good!
I am dying to get to her house.,
we go,
eat...
fabulous dinner too!!!!! THANKYOU !!!
then...
I begin to show her the things we bought.
she was soooooooooooooooooooo apppppppreciative.!!!!
she wanted to go get the family of the boy to show him his new wardrobe but we said no.
we did not want recognition from that. after all we already had a conversation with our eyes and hearts earlier.
I gave her the donation from you Kent too, and she cried then.
she told me to tell you how much that can help and she promises with her heart that it will be spent on the school. I know it will . she is awesome!
I know this was long....and I am sending it to both my chat places so you can all read it.
its late...I am exhausted but wanted to get this out tonight.
I am already planning on what to take for next yr.
I told the teacher I had a sign language book around here and she got very happy with that.
I told her its a shame that she has to wait a yr for it...then I told her ohhhh wait..maybe only wait till march. I could ask a friend (((hehehehe I meant you Houston)))
if I sent it to your place could you fit it in your luggage?
I told her anyhow that it was a possibility that the book could come in march.
the teacher does all her studies for the kids from her own ideas and thoughts.
she has no special training in special ed. any info for her would be sooooooooo appreciated.
ohhh I cant wait to go back!!!!
we made our reservations already for January 26 see, its less then a year.
YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE>>>>>>>>>>>
okay so that was a part of my trip........there is sooooooooooo much more and I will try to write as much as I can .
I really really reallllllllllllllllly hope this sounded as truly wonderful as it felt at the time.
I wish I could express it clearly.
okay friends......I promise I will back up to Day one of the trip...coming sometime tomorrow for you.
