Empanadas de pollo. Chocolate-covered churros. Functioning toilets. Ah, what a way to start the weekend. This morning, we trekked to the quaint paneria near our apartment, and stocked up on various puff pastries, sweet breads, and other baked delights. After finishing our meal, we were ready for a filled day of shopping in the Saturday market—Bazar el Sabado.

As we made our way to the metro, I was excited to get a glimpse of Mexico City beyond the more residential and official areas in which we reside. We rode the metro to Barranca del Muerto, and then proceeded to take the bus to San Angel for Bazar el Sabado. When we arrived into the heart of San Angel, we didn’t actually know where the market was located, and had to backtrack for a block or two to arrive at our final destination. It began to downpour as we walked, but it was exhilarating to skip through the streets with the rain pattering down against the umbrella (ella…ella…). We stopped by a bank to wait out the rain, and it was peaceful to simply watch the bustling streets littered with vendors, cars, and people.

Eventually, we found our way to the Bazar el Sabado. There was a cascade of vendors, one after another, lining the sidewalks, offering their touch of Mexican culture through souvenirs. There were native crafts, such as ceramics and textiles, jewelry, and original art by both seasoned and aspiring young artists alike. There was just so much stuff! As our first purchase, we all bought pendants and bracelets from a woman who made jewelry from delicate flowers sheltered in a silver encasement. Some of the most memorable items were ornamental paper cutouts made from tree bark, earrings made of coffee beans, and key chains made of various barbed wires. As we walked further into the outdoor market, we came across more displays from artists and sculptures, with wonderfully abstract and colorful works. There was one sculpture of a man holding onto a woman who dangled precariously from his reach, over the edge of the table on which the sculpture was set.

As Jesse and I perused the square, we heard someone speaking English to a seller. We were quite ecstatic, as this was the first time we had seen another foreigner, and hoped that the gentlemen would be American. So, Jesse walked over to him and inquired about his nationality. The man responded, “No, I am not American, I am English.” He continued, “Do you believe in reincarnation?” Thinking that he was some sort of anthropologist or a savant of Mexican culture, I expected him to begin explaining aspects of Mexican culture or traditions relevant to reincarnation. I glanced at Jesse curiously, and responded, “Mmm…I am not sure.” The gentlemen then said, “Well, if you do, try to come back as an Englishman. It is marvelous.” Then, he tersely turned around, and continued no further conversation. Hmpf. How mah-velous indeed, mister.

The rest of the day was spent wandering the stores within the colonial building of the Bazar. Again, we were bombarded with a smorgasboard of jewelry, clothing, decorative pieces, and other gizmos and gadgets. It was such a breathless experience that tickled every sense of my body. I could smell the burning incense that lingered throughout the premise, run my fingers along various textured fabrics, savor the rhythmic melody of a mariachi band, and mostly importantly, fill my tummy with delicious tacos.

After a day of shopping, we journeyed back from San Angel to our apartment. After a brief respite, we gathered in the common room to work on materials for THP (complemented by cheese and crackers). For the rest of the evening, we were able to determine the scope of our project, and outlined the three deliverables which we could complete by the end of the month. We divided our work by three subject areas: marketing THP, “selling” the NGO to investors, and sustaining a steady-stream of investors and cash flows for THP. To commence our work, we decided that we needed to benchmark the methodologies of other NGOs in the area in how they communicate with the public and corporations. We also plan to investigate the demographics of a stereotypical Mexican investor, and also explore investor-donor psychology, and determine why people donate to nonprofits on a continuous basis. On Monday, the country director, Lorena, will be coming into the office, so we hope to show her everything that we have determined to complete by the end of the project. I cannot wait! After learning more about THP, and experiencing the inspiring VCA workshop firsthand, we have all been extremely motivated to leave a lasting impact on the operations of THP. Let’s make it work!

This is Julie, signing off.

Buenas noches!