Visits to AlSol

There have been many visits to AlSol over the last few months, from high-profile visits to visits from current and potential donors, as well as microfinance evaluation teams and documentary production teams. The pictures shown above are from February when the US Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Karen Hughes, and the governor of Chiapas, Juan, came to San Cristobal to meet with AlSol clients at their cooperative site, Mayan Women of Jovel. There was huge press and attention which AlSol was certainly not accustomed to but handled graciously.

The documentary team led by Melissa Eleidson posted a 5 minute segment of their movie, "The Women of Chiapas" which describes AlSol and some of their clients. Apparently it was screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival. You can check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvhx9KjfFIA

Orchids galore!

A co-worker invited a few of us over to her home for a Sunday brunch last month and we enjoyed the food and our beautiful surroundings! She has many orchids and other plants that she and her husband take care of. Their nursery is an outdoor museum that is open to the public Monday-Saturday. I loved this particular orchid, to me it's a trio of dancing ballerinas :)

Cañon del Sumidero

Chiapas is full of beautiful natural sights and I was fortunate to tour the famous Cañon del Sumidero (Sumidero's Canyon) twice in the last few months. The first time, my camera wasn't working, so I couldn't take any pictures :( but I made sure I could take photos the second time around...It is vast space (the highest cliffs are 1000 meters) and it encloses the river Grijalva (up to 100 meters in depth). As you go through the boat excursion and enter these immense canyon walls, you can't help but feel very small and insignificant...You can see spider monkeys, crocodiles, cranes and other birds, and even a hydroelectric plant at the end of the tour! During the rainy season the vegation is much greener and brighter. Let's see if I'll go once more :)

Tulum Mayan Ruins and Beach

My sister, Carolina, and her boyfriend, Matt, recently came to visit me in Mexico :) We first met up in Cancun for a few days and enjoyed the beautiful beaches, warm weather, and festive atmosphere (yes there were plenty of spring breakers!!) and then they came with me to Chiapas to my cold mountain town of San Cristobal. It was amazing to me how much has been invested in the tourism infrastructure in Cancun with their hotel zone, shopping malls, and entertainment centers. I felt like I was in Florida or California and not in Mexico!
Anyways my absolute favorite day was our excursion to Tulum...Impressive Mayan ruins along the majestic turquoise blue Caribbean Sea! We first explored the ruins and then made our way down to the beach and spent the afternoon basking in the sun and swimming in the delicious ocean:) Tulum was a commercial center for the Mayans, they sure chose an incredible location to build their city! Check our more pictures from our trip in the "Photos" link!

AlSol Clients in San Cristobal Area

Focus Groups with AlSol Clients

I have been conducting focus groups with clients as part of the market research I am doing for AlSol. I did focus groups with clients from the main office of San Cristobal and also two of its branches, Palenque and Yajalon. I have enjoyed going out into the field and speaking with the women about their experiences with AlSol, what their preferences are in service and products, and what suggestions they have for improving the program. It was neat for me to go out to the branches...Palenque is in the Chiapas jungle about 5 hours away from San Cristobal, famous for its impressive Mayan ruins! I didn't have time to see them, fortunately I have seen them on a previous trip to Mexico :) Yajalon is about 3.5 hours away from San Cristobal in a valley surrounded by beautiful green mountains. I had wanted to go to these branches since I first arrived so it was good for me to visit these regions and meet AlSol clients. AlSol serves women, indigenous and non-indigenous in semi-urban and rural areas.

Virgen de Guadalupe

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So December 12th was the celebrated Virgen de Guadalupe Day. For many previous nights you could sense the preparations with marimba music and lots of fireworks! Also many groups of youth would run towards the Guadalupe chapel in San Cristobal proudly displaying their torches. Although they would would travel from far away municipalities and communities and they were obviously exhausted by the time they arrived to San Cris, they would persevere out of faith and devotion to their Virgen Guadalupana. This is a tradition that is celebrated all over the country and is especially noteworthy at the Basilica in Mexico City. I loved watching the parade of children dressed in traditional Mexican dress and arriving at the chapel to pay homage and receive their blessing.