School Work Day

Today in the USA was the Burkes Festival, where Laurel's school has all the parents volunteer to run a fair which makes a lot of money for the school. There are food booths, things to buy, the Burkes spa, and lots of other fun events for the kids. It's the one time of the year where all the parents get to do jobs they had as young adults, and have fun doing it.

Coincidentally, today at our school in San Miguel was "work day", where parents are supposed to volunteer and help fix up the school. We were asked to buy two trees and two plants, and bring them to school. Sue weeded for three hours, and I wielded a pick-axe and helped transplant three agave bushes, move a greenhouse structure, pull down a dead tree and plant a new one. It was tiring, but kind of fun for a once-a-year event. I'm glad I don't do manual labor for a living though.


Fixing a fence


Kids helping pull down a dead tree


Once the work was done, we did the Waldorf circle thing, sang a song, and then had a community meal provided by the parents. We talked to many parents, in both English and Spanish.


Waldorf Circle

Afterward, we got a ride back to town with Roger and Nina, two really nice parents we haven't really gotten to know. They own two businesses in San Miguel: Counter Cultures, a high end bath supply store, and a El Gozo, a chicken wings restaurant. Nina is Italian, Roger is American, and they have been here six years or so.

Then Sam and Ann invited us over for much needed cocktails. Their three kids have moved to our school this past week, partly from our recommendation, so I really wanted to check in with them and see how it was going. So far they are happy. They also just bought an amazing house here, which solidifies their commitment to be here at least three years. It was nice to catch up with them and decompress from a hard work day.