Celebrating my parents´life

March 10th is the First Anniversary of my Mom´s passing away, I wanted to pay homage to her life and my Dad´s with a memorial service and this video as a reminder of how blessed I am for having lived surrounded for so much love. 

Happy Anniversary!!

 

FElIZ ANIVERSARIO MIS VIEJITOS QUERIDOS!!!!

Un día como hoy hace 68 años mamá y papá unieron sus vidas y formaron una pareja que no solamente para mí sino para los que la conocieron fueron un ejemplo de amor, compasión y trabajo.   

Se complementaban mutuamente, papá era  el proveedor y el que distribuía su sueldo de obrero textil y de técnico de radio y televisión ( “por si había huelga”, así no quedaríamos desamparados) y mamá se encargaba de la casa, de sus hijos, de distribuir el dinero para que alcance para todos y usaba las telas que recibía papá de la fábrica como bono para coser ropa para nosotros y cuando crecimos, dejaba shorts, blusitas y camisitas en su casera del mercado para vender y ayudar con la economía familiar. En nuestra casa nunca faltó amor, comida y libros y no solamente para nosotros sino también para el que lo necesitara.  

Entre los dos se llamaban “vida” y eso fueron el uno para el otro, mamá le sobrevivió ocho años en los que el Alzheimer fue magnánimo y no le permitió darse cuenta que había perdido al amor de su vida. Mamá partió unos días antes que declararan la primera cuarentena, para “no incomodar” y poder despedirse de sus hijos, familiares y amigos sin molestar-algo que ella siempre cuidaba. Feliz aniversario mis queridos viejitos ¡!!!!, sé que están juntos, velando por nosotros y aquellos a quienes amaron.

Happy Chinese New Year

 

"Hard work, duty, discipline—that’s the ox,” the theme of 2021's lunar year will be "build, build, build," following through on whatever projects you began in the Rat year. Stick to routines, and shy away from wild new methods and ideas.

 It is said that: 

Good things can happen with twice the intensity, and bad things will happen to you with twice the intensity as well. To attract good fortune, wear red, keep a plant in your room and try to maintain a positive attitude.

If you want to best prepare your home for the Year of the Metal Ox begin by cleaning your home, reduce clutter, and maintain tidiness all year round.  

Happy New Year!!!

(Extract from Oprah magazine)

Christmas lunch at AAHH Saul Cantoral- San Juan de Lurigancho

 United We can = Juntos Podemos

Last December several people wanted to provide empoverished communities in Lima with something special for Christmas. Christmas dinner was out of the question due to the curfew and organizing a show for the children was unthinkable due to the physical distance we need to keep. 

Customized Training Services organized an academic event to raise funds but we could not help so many people alone so we requested help and got it: my friends from school and university helped and other friends and associations did the same. 

As a result, the neighbourhood from Saul Cantoral in San Juan de Lurigancho had a different Christmas lunch and the kids got presents and sweets as we can see in the video. All this thanks to the teacher Silvia Rosa who told us about her students´ situation and her intention to help her students´ family. She organized all the logistics for this day and mobilized her students as well.

 Another example of the power of the saying: United We can.

Congratulate yourself!

 

Ya todos nos felicitamos unos a otros con cariño y agradecimiento, pero...
TÚ, ya te felicitaste???
Ya te felicitaste por los momentos en que quisiste tirar la toalla y sacaste fuerza para salir adelante???
Ya te felicitaste por esas noches de insomnio y al día siguiente levantarte con una sonrisa???
Ya te felicitaste por luchar y lograr hacer realidad tu sueño???
Por esos días que no podías contener el llanto, pero aún así sacaste fuerza para apoyar a quien lo necesitaba???
Ya te felicitaste por guardar silencio ante una ofensa, aunque el alma te dolió profundamente???
Ya te felicitaste por los amaneceres llenos de Sol que tuviste la oportunidad de disfrutar???
Por los grandes amigos que has sabido conservar y aceptar con paz a quien se fue???
Ya te felicitaste por tus éxitos???
Por dar ánimo y amor sin esperar nada a cambio??
Te felicitaste por ser amado y respetado por alguien especial???
Ya te felicitaste por tener la satisfacción de un trabajo bien hecho???
Por el amor de tu familia y el cariño incondicional de tus amigos???
Hoy felicítate también POR SER QUIEN ERES: único e irrepetible!!!
Por tus sueños, por la pasión que pones en lo que haces, por el amor que ahora te tienes a tí mismo...
Por ser fuerte, por aprender día a día y por saber que la divinidad en la que crees (o tú mismo) te tiene deparadas las mejores cosas de este mundo...
Por la música, por el baile, por sonreír, por poder caminar, correr, saltar...
Por la magia de estar vivo!!!
Yo, hoy también  me felicito!!!

Seasons Greetings

May all that is beautiful, meaningful, and brings you joy be yours this Holiday Season and throughout the coming year.

 

Helpers and Heroes

"Natural disasters and acts of violence bring us out of our small selves and into the world, ready to lend a hand to those in need. This experience is often life-changing for those who are willing to step into the position of helper. We feel more connected to the people we are helping, as well as more connected to humanity in general." 

Solidarity and kindness have been shown all around the world in spite of the difficult and painful times. Being witnesses of this kind of gestures motivate us to make the world better by coming to the rescue of all those in need- at least, those we can. 

Covid 19 has changed our world and it has made us respond to this more immediately than to ongoing problems like homelssness, poverty or regugees. Unfortunately, there is always someone in need in spite of our efforts and we feel we cannot help them all - which, to be honest- often makes me feel a bit discouraged. 

Yet, from what I read in the article I am adapting in this post, I feel better thinking that there are lots of people out there, everyday heroes, who devote their lives to alleviate suffering and we need to draw our attention to them so as to inspire other people to do this kind of work. 

I believe we, as teachers, should start making these heroes visible to the children and teenagers we teach to motivate them to follow their steps and to become more involved into what is going on in their communities. Reading about their sports figures and favourite actors will be something they will voluntarily do but if we teachers do not show them the acts of these everyday -and sadly unknown heroes- our students will miss the chance to imitate them.

 Adapted from The Daily Om

 

Father Albino, from one of the most Corona-virus affected communities in Lima,Peru collecting donations some of our friends provided... in spite of having suffered from the infection himself and still not fully recovered.