Yo estoy marchando.

5 days in Ixtlan, incredibly laid back. Enjoyed it so much that of course I didn't want to come back to reality. And while there, Mexico's Bicentenial celebration of their Independence from Spain came and went. I went to sleep Wednesday the 15th at about the time El Grito was being sounded from each Governor's Palace across the country. Talking to a few that did attend El Grito in GDL they said it was so packed you could barely move. I think I made the right choice to spend the holiday in Ixtlan. Following are some pictures and videos from the Independence Day parade.

This first picture is of our school, Colegio de las Americas de Ixtlan. I missed them the first time the parade passed me so I and Claudia & Maggie Gonzalez took a few shortcuts to another street and caught the parade again from the very begining. These kids march, and march, and march...


This isn't of the parade but I couldn't help taking a few of this cutie. This is Caleb, Matt & Ruth Gerber's little guy. His aunt Maria is holding him. He was walking alongside his daddy, but stopped for a bit when they came upon us.


This first video is of a random primaria school.


This second video is of a secundaria. Jessica Rocke is playing the drum in the first row walking right in front of the camera. She looks at the camera right before Maria showers her with confetti. She attends church regularly and her education is being paid for by the mission.


This last video is of the prepatoria (high school). Sister Lupita Sibaja is marching next to the flag on the side closest to us. The bangs you hear in the video are random fireworks being set off. You'll notice that the prepa does not have trumpets and drums. They have never been large enough to have one. Education is not highly valued and a high school education is either too expensive or seems excessive to the majority. This year is one of the largest incoming classes the prepa has ever had.


In the US, candy is thrown from the parade into the crowds. In Mexico, confetti is thrown from the crowds into the parade. I'm sure you caught it a few times in the videos. I was doused with some leftover confetti and was still finding random pieces the next day that had managed to hide. After the parade would pass the streets were covered with a colorful blanket.


Hasta!