Thus went my pidgin Spanish text invitation sent to 16 volunteer mentors of the parish’s scholarship program. Together, we had experienced the ups and downs of nurturing 66 scholars from grades 1 to 4th year high school as they completed another school year. We had spent at least an hour once a month to check on the progress of the children assigned to us.
Sometimes the experience can be exhilarating specially when scholars bring in good grades and sometimes it can be heartbreaking when a scholar shows great difficulty in reading simple words or solving simple math problems--- at 10 year of age. This sad realization just confirms how inadequate our public schools are.
Knowing how important it is to keep spirits up, an afternoon Mexican themed swimming party was just what we all needed. And so May 2 rolled in and despite the rain and lightening, there was no stopping the fun.
No Mexican themed party would be complete without the buntings
and the colorful creative decors.
Our table was heavy with so much food.
The nachos
and dip
and meats (menudo, roast chicken and pork bbq) to roll up in pita bread.
And yes, we had happy mentors swinging to latin music; splashing away in the pool; and, raising their glasses to toast friendship.
For a few hours, we left behind our roles as mothers, wives, grandmothers, executives, caregivers and housekeepers.
Too soon it was time to go back to reality as we got out of our wet suits and checked our celphones for text messages. “Mommy, what time are you coming home?”, Hon, will I wait up for you?”
That night as we bid our hostess good-bye, I felt blessed to be in a company of likeminded people. And best of all, the get-together gave us a chance to let our hair down and that somehow brought us a little closer to each other.
For sure it will take more than one bonding session to strengthen our mentoring team but it’s a start in accepting each other’s character and idiosyncrasies. And with acceptance, hopefully, we can work better as a team in serving our less fortunate neighbors.
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No team building party would be complete without a complement of drinks to go with the food. You won’t go wrong if you serve the following drink at any gathering. Guests will soon feel their cares and worries melt away and will most certainly say “Si! Si!” for a second serving.
It’s Always A Happy Hour Thirst Quencher
2 cans of any pineapple juice combination (pineapple-grapefruit; pineapple-orange; pineapple-guava, etc)
1 liter 7Up
¼ to ½ bottle dark Rum (may be omitted)
2 seedless oranges, sliced up
Lots of ice
Mix all of the ingredients and pour into pretty tall glasses with lots of ice. Garnish with slices of oranges.
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