Until this last week, I had no idea this organization even existed, Up With People. What is it about? Well, since the 60s, twice a year, they gather a group of 80 up to 100 people to take them traveling around the world for about 6 months. They select three different reunions for each trip and go from city to city trying to spread a message of union and fraternity, staying in each one a week. In each point they arrive, they not only visit touristic sites, they also do different community services and are hosted by local families in order to live with the real people from that particular place. They usually have a pretty busy agenda for their visit. All week long, they had to be ready in their gathering point at 8 or 830 at the most. And they didn’t come back until 6 or 7 in the afternoon. Except for the Saturday, that is a free day to spend it with their host families. Also, at the last day of each week, they perform a show, a musical presentation, in which they give their message to the audience. Actually what the organization receives from the ticket sales, they donate it to some local institution. In the case, of Veracruz that money went to DIF (Instituto del Desarrollo Integral de la Familia).
How did I get involve with them? Easily, about 3 weeks ago my mom told me that we were going to host 3 girls and that I had to be nice, polite and welcoming to all of them. The first thing I told her was that I didn’t care, that I’d be nice to them, but be on my own as usually. Last Monday afternoon we came to pick up Lima from Switzerland, Nina from Finland and Cecilia from Virginia, US. All of them are on their 19 years old. I can tell you that from the very beginning we got a long very much and that I loved having tree guest sisters. Chating and hanging out with them was amazing; each one has something that makes her unique.
We have the honor of having them for our Independence Day and since, of course, I was going to party that night, they were excited about those plans. First, we were invited to have dinner at the Rotary Club (my parents are not only members, but this cycle presidents). Over there we met Aude from Québec, Leslie from Arizona and Yui from Japan, who were staying with Rotary members too. They were all thrilled with our celebrations and for having Tequila in Mexico on our Independence Day. Besides, they were excited ‘cause I invited them to a night club where I had plans to meet some friends afterwards. What a party!! Sadly I couldn’t last that much because the next day, they had to wake up quite early to fulfill their activities and chores. Even thought we had a great night.
On Friday, they arranged to meet some other cast members at Coralinos (a Tropical Bar). I took them there, at the beginning it was good, dancing a little bit of salsa and cumbia. However, after a while the band started playing reggeaton; I think I haven’t find anything I hate the most in this world. Lucky me, since I was at beside the balcony I saw my friends passing by while they were going to the club next door (La Casona). It’s not my hit, but if I have to choose between pop and reggeaton I rather choose pop music. I left the kids with their friends and a couple of friends of mine who went ‘cause they were hosting some other guys from the group too (I’m not that irresponsible). It was a fun night too. They loved dancing all those tropical rhythms and I hung out with my friends for a while. Actually we ended up coming back home until 4:30 am. The next day was the free day. My family and I planned visiting a couple of touristic site with them. We left home at 11 in the morning, picked up Yui and headed til San Juan de Ulua. For those who doesn’t know, it’s a construction from the period of the Spaniards first used as a Warehouse for munitions, which after the Independence became into one of the most sadist prisons in the old Mexico. After that, we came all the way back to the South of Veracruz to visit the Naval School of Mexico. Before this weekend, I haven’t actually gone in; as a matter of fact, I didn’t know visitors were allow to come and that the cadets even gave tours of each building. It was quite interesting and to be quite honest, I felt a little more patriotic inside listening to the old stories of our multiple invasions. I didnt know it is the only Naval School in the entire country. Finishing our tour, we can to Anton Lizardo (and almost virgin beach, just beside the school), to have the most delicious seafood ever in one of those Palapas Restaurant a few meters away from the sea. We came back until 930 at night. Of course, we were all almost death, tired as hell; we couldn’t go out again.
On Sunday, the presentation night, they had to be at the forum quite early in the morning, in order to arm the whole stage and things over there. It started at 8 o’clock at night. It was great; quite a musical. It didn’t have a plot or one unique theme, all songs where about something different. Music from other countries; songs talking about hope and harmony; a mix of 60s – 70s pop music and a mix of Mexican pop songs. In these last one, we heard a little bit of Luis Miguel, Belanova, Jessy y Joy, Lu, even Rebelde and closed up with the MEXCO theme of Timbiriche band. It was a great production, cool choreographies, impressive voices!! I was amazed. Lima and Ceci had solos, they sang beautifully. I filmed a lot of smalls videos, I felt as I was mom at her kid’s recital or something; was so impressed and proud of them. When it finished, a lot of people were asking them to take photos and sign the photographs the bought earlier. Like such rocks stars! I enjoyed very, very much; even though I’m not that into Musicals or pop music.
Besides from hanging around with the girls, I tryied to talk to them as much as possible, trying to get to know each one, trying to understand them. I was really interested in trying to know why choosing that type of experiences. Let’s face it, it sounds kind of some sort of combination between Road Rules, the Real World and Big Brother, with 90 more people and a very strict schedule. To be honest with, as much as I love travelling and meeting people from other countries, there’s no way in hell I would join something like that. I’m a princess and I don’t like people telling me what to do or not; also when I travel I kind of like been on my own from time to time. What I discover was all of them, or at least the 5 different girls I got to meet, were finishing some phase of their lives, closing a cycle. My girls had just finish high school so they took it as an adventure before starting College and facing the Real World. Just like some Mexican teenagers go backpacking in Europe to have fun before starting those stressful years, but with a more meaningful experience. Aude, for example, who is 27, she had to close her small business (a dance studio) because her associate had an accident so decided to go join Up With People. Leslie finished here studies to become a nurse and before starting working on that she went into this. I guess there are lot more stories like these ones; but at the bottom line it seems as a transition period from one state to another in their lives. I don’t know. I just know I don’t have the guts to do it, I might be kicking some asses at the second week of the trip for sure (my patience is not one of my virtues). I’m impressed by them.
Today they left to Puebla and next week they’ll be in Mexico City. I actually gonna be there the weekend they will be. I hope I can arrange something to meet them and say farewell before they leave to Europe. What else can I tell you? It was an exciting experience, if you have the opportunity get involve, participate, help by hosting, or at the very least learn more about it; you’ll never regret it. I totally recommend it. :D Check out the website: www.upwithpeople.org
GIRLS, BIG KISSES!!
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