Kick-a-thon

Knife Crime & Gun Crime.

I understand children in London feel the need to feel protected but I will never understand the need to kill another human being for the sake of power. I'm sure none of you will forget the particularly shocking incident in which a boy was chased through Victoria station and murdered in front of hundreds of commuters in broad daylight.

If you, like me want to make a stand against Knife and Gun crime, Please Sponsor me at the Safari kick-a-thon.

My Mixed Martial Arts school is holding a kick-a-thon to see how many high-kicks students can complete in 30 minutes (not an easy task, if you are aware of how hard just a few continuous high kicks are).

All profits will go to prevent Gun and Knife crime in London.

If you are a fighter but not a member of Safari and would like to take part in this brilliant cause, please email; safarikickboxing@gmail.com

Shocking Crime Stats 2010:

• 1 in 3 young people carry a gun or knife and a crime is committed by a young person every 2 minutes.
• 1 in 5 think domestic violence is justified
• 25% people know someone who has been a victim of knife crime
• 1 child killed a week

To view a list of people killed in 2008-2009 click the BBC link below

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7777635.stm

For more Knife stats please click http://www.helpfindmychild.net/Knife_Crime

It's Been A While

Apologies for the lack of blogging.

It's been a while since I've written anything. No excuses other than coming back from Mexico was a bit of a whirlwind with Christmas preparations, turning 23 (Eek) and getting back into work.

Since I've come back from Mexico I have been busy setting up Mexicali. In a nutshell; Mexicali is a jewelery company inspired by the Children of Mexico. Handcrafted and unique, each bracelet is dedicated to an individual I met whilst working at a Children's Refuge in Jalisco. 10% profit of each bracelet sold from the Mexico range will be donated to the 'Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza'.The Range won't stop at Mexico, I'm aiming to produce new lines inspired by future travels to help children around the world.

Whilst volunteering in Mexico I met some wonderful Children, all of whom, I think about on a daily basis, I miss working with them and never thought I'd grow to care about the kids as much as I did. I went away wanting to experience more from life and in the end I learnt to be more appreciative of things I have, did have and will have. Family, friends, education, love etc.

I decided to start Mexicali whilst I was in Mexico, as thats where I learnt; new threading techniques, saw how much the children enjoyed it as an activity and mostly because of how much I loved to sit and thread bracelets. I would like to donate money from the Mexico range to the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, as this is where the idea all stemmed from. However at the moment Mexicali only consists of a Mexican inspired range, so I'm hoping to expand this by visiting more Children and charities around the world i.e. India, Russia, Argentina.

Mexicali is in it's early stages and I want more than anything to see it do well. The better it does, the more I will be able to help.

Write more soon.

Love

B x

Surfing La Lancha 28th November 2010

After a week of not so successful surf (Wind Swells, Lulls and unsteady feet), I was keen to get back on my up and rebuild my slightly damaged confidence.

We spent a couple of hours in Sayulita, getting even more battered before being offered the chance to go on a surf tour to La Lancha; a beach between Sayulita and Punta de Mita.  After the usual lunch of ham sandwiches and an hour or so of beach games with our new friends at Wildmex, we headed to the new b

each.  One of the instructors kindly offered that we go in his car with his friend and meet the rest of the group down there.  

Driving to La Lancha we saw the amount of damage the mud slides from previous months had caused.  Roads had been demolished, leaving nothing but muddy waterways and dirt tracks.  Once on the main road we carried on driving until the surf van we were following turned onto a small dirt track.  We parked up and carried our boards down to La Lancha.  Looking at the sea I could see why people raved about it so much.  The sea was a dark green/blue and the waves slowly rolled to the shore with large pauses in between each break, perfect for surfing, and great for a goofy rider like me (Left leg back).

  We paddled in and with helpful tips from the instructors were able to rides some nice long waves, that is however, until I stepped on a stingray and managed to land myself with an almighty painful war wound.

The pain was unreal, but I was able to catch a few more waves before I literally couldn't take it any longer.  The only day I forget to pack the Germoline and Nurofen, is the day I end up needing it pretty badly.  The instructors forgot to mention the fact that La Lancha was a bit of a hotbed for Stingray, and it wasn't until I was on the beach that you could even see some of the larger ones surfacing.

Slightly disappointed that my great day had been tainted by my sting we headed home.  The pain killers that a Mexican had kindly given me kicked in by the time we were back in Puerto Vallarta and I was able to walk without hobbling.  Although I had an incident, La Lancha was amazing for surfing and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.  I'll just make sure I don't put my feet anywhere near a resting Stingray.

Waxing: Mexico Vs England

I know, I know I'm not here for therapy treatments but I'm not comfortable being a complete hippy traveler with manly leg hair and God knows what else.  Plus I'm in Mexico, the women here like their Latin American neighbors know how to groom.  There are nail bars everywhere here and no matter your economic background, it's affordable to look good.  Girls here always do their hair and manage to do their make up no matter the occasion.

So, seeing as I'm a waxing convert I headed 2 miles from my house to a nice little natural therapy clinic.  After explaining to my therapist in my best Spanish to be gentle, she went ahead and began the treatment.  

45 minutes later and I was done.  Legs too!  I don't know what she did, but I wish I could pack her and her hot wax in my suitcase, and take the treatment and the therapist back to England.  Nearly painless and 'muy rapido' with brilliant results.  I'd recommend this beauty salon to anyone traveling to Puerto Vallarta, and all the above for only £15!!!!

Meeting the Parents

How do you act around their parents, knowing what you know? How do you approach them, knowing what they've done? How can you refuse to meet them, when being ushered over for an introduction by a beautiful 3 year old?

The answer to all the above is simple. You don't refuse. You walk over, say Hello, sitdown and listen as the children talk away excitedly, just happy to see their parents. You may not like it and it may be uncomfortable, but you do it anyway knowing that you are making the children that you look after smile. A lot of the children at the refuge you were very young when they were abused or neglected, and although they've been affected by what they've experienced, their parents are their parents and there will always be a bond there. The children don't have to see their parents when they visit as it is not compulsory, however they rarely opt out. I know Christian (3) of whom this blog is based around has once refused a visit from his mother. (I'm not completely sure, but I think his father is currently in prison). Christian is one of 4, he has a beautiful but extrememly cheeky older sister Diana, and two younger siblings Allisia (2) and Francisco (9 months). All were in a very bad way when they arrived having been completely starved and Allisia had been the family punch bag, which would explain her extremely small size.

Whether the family couldnt afford to feed the children or it was just a sad case of neglegence, you can understand my predicament, when faced with meeting their mother. Do you feel angry or do you pity her? Is it really any of your business?

I simply smiled, introduced myself told her her children were beautiful, for which she thanked me. All the time I watched her and thought to myself that, she is missing her amazing babies grow up because she couldn't take care of them. I said goodbye and with her 2 year old daughter in my arms, walked away, but couldn't help feeling a little sorry for her. How hard it must be to watch other people raise your children, something she will have to live with for the rest of her life, is knowing that she isn't fit to look after them. I'm just glad I have met this lovely little family. They really are amazing.

Surfing Mexico - Wednesday 17th November 2010

After 3 weeks stuck in one place, partaking in the same routine; up, work, home beach, everyday, you find yourself comparing your trip away to normal working life back home; up, work, home, no beach! The weather is far better here, as is the commute to my lovely new job, but the routine is the same, and there are only so many new things to do in Puerto Vallarta. The means of entertainment are similar to back in London; Cinema, Eating out, Clubbing, Drinking. However one of the reasons I chose to come to Mexico was for the surfing. Having been a few times at home, I'm determined to make it a regular sport of choice. Warm weather, warm water and great waves make it a great place to learn how to really surf.

Situated just up the coast from Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit is Sayulita. A small hippy chic town host to a beautiful long white sandy beach adorned by lots of surf hire and rental stores. Having done my research before flying over, Wildmex was my school of choice, and I'm very glad I chose it. Not only were the staff really welcoming, they're all extremely good surfers and just as keen to make all their pupils learn the same skills. Having been surfing before I was able to stand, but I always want to learn more, and couldn't wait to get stuck into a lesson. Told completely different things to what I was taught in Cornwall, we headed from our beach lesson into the sea. Sayulita has a point and beach break, seeing as myself and Isabelle aren't experience enough to tackle the point break just yet, we are taken to the beach break. Both of us standing up first time, we took wave after wave under the watchful eye of our Canadian born instructor Mike. Typical looking surfer; weathered with beach blond hair and a personality of a 20 year old, Mike who must be in his 40's is living any beach boys dream. Having finished our 2 hour lesson we headed back up the beach, and booked another lesson for Friday. Both buzzed if a little cut up by our first lesson we couldn't wait for Friday, but we should have clocked the fact that booking a 10am lesson knowing we'd be out the night before wasn't the wisest of ideas. Friday was very unsuccessful, and to make matters worse, the full moon made the sea act crazy. The sets were big, as was the self inflicted nausea. Not only that but we learnt the reason they instructors tell you to paddle out all the time, is due to the bottom of the sea being littered with sting ray and puffer fish. Wave after wave, and crashing into sand bank after sand back, made hangover surfing a sport I would highly NOT recommend.

Our first surf tour starts next week and I can't wait. Punta Mita is our next beach, which we've been told is a little tougher, but nothing we can't handle. Thank God I can swim :D

xBx

Sundy 31st October - First Day at Work

My day started at 7am (well 6am, I didn't put my clock back)! I'm a morning person so this was not early for me, although the cold showers which I am now used to are not the most welcoming accompaniment to a dawn raid. After a bowl of Fruit Loops and a microwaved cup of coffee in our less than hygienic kitchen, we headed for the bus; Centro for town and Tunel for work. Taking the Tunel bus we headed to the refuge situated in a barrio overlooking the Zona Romantica. Buses here are not the most comfortable, and the locals are usually suspect as to why you are riding the bus, but it's cheap and really quick way to get around. At only 6.50pesos (30p) a journey, it beats taking a cab.

Once at the refuge we were greeted by an armed officer (woman), and 2 girls in their early teens. The officers that work in the refuge are very warm and friendly and are there for the children's safety as well as the staffs. After locking away our belongings Linda showed us around. We headed up to the babies and toddlers 9 months-2/3 years, who quickly ran up to us with arms wide open, beckoning for cuddles. Cheeky smiles and chubby hands makes not giving them a hug extremely tricky. Joel a rather chunky little boy with a constant smile on his face gave me a big squidge and went on his way (it was love at first sight). In little toy cars (Christian y Jasiel) were quick to start using my legs as a bridge to drive through for their entertainment, harem pants are not the best attire for this kind of play. The children kept getting stuck in all the lose material.

We proceeded to the nursery where we found 9 month Francisco all alone, who started to cry as soon as we went in. As he is so small and the other children can be quite boisterous with their affections, it's easier to keep in his cot, although he does sometimes get left out a little. A beautiful baby, Francisco is the youngest of a family of 6 who recently arrived at the refuge.

Once acquainted with the babies, we headed down to the courtyard. An large open space with a basketball net is surrounded by large arches that make up the outdoor corridor on the bottom floor of the refuge and lots of greenery. A climbing frame and swing set for the peques (3-6) is found towards the back of the courtyard up a small flight of stairs. The area is really beautiful, and the building has come a very long way since the development in 2001. The older children are enjoying music (two men come every Sunday and play pipes and guitar) and Halloween gift bags from the day before received at their Halloween party. Sunday at the refuge is a day of mass, sweets and play for the children that have been at school during the week. For the babies and children who don't go to school, each day is pretty much routine; Wake up, breakfast, play, lunch, laundry, play, dinner, washing, bed. The nannies and Madres take great care of the children, they just can't be around to entertain them all of the time, that's where volunteers come in. We help keep the children occupied and help with laundry, tidying and meal times.

My first day at the refuge was really great. So many children with so little structure however, creates a constant playground atmosphere in which the players never tire, equating to volunteers never being empty handed or without little people wanting attention. David a lovely 7 year old, living with down syndrome needs more attention than the others and can be tricky at times, but he's extremely intelligent and can be left alone as he always finds something to do. The other children really love him, and from what I know, he is the only child that has been abandoned. Every other child has been placed in care by the social services.

Preparing a lunch of tortillas filled with ham and tomato broth allowed me to become more acquainted with the kitchen staff and Sylvia, a young but extremely well organised and no nonsense nanny. The children don't put a foot out of place when she is around to watch them, and i actually admire her ability to keep them in such good control.

After clearing away after lunch and mopping the floors, I knew I had made the right decision in coming to volunteer here in Mexico. I enjoyed every intense minute of my day and couldn't wait to get stuck in again, already I felt at home working at the refuge.

http://www.childrens-shelter-of-hope-foundation.org/