The All About San Miguel Mexico Newsletter Archives
Issue #2, Vol. I
September 24, 2003

Brought to you by:
www.internetsanmiguel.com and www.thesanmiguelchronicles.com 

San Miguel de Allende�s Fiestas

We�ve still got a way to go before we run out of fiestas�yes, the Sanmiguelada (AKA The Pamplonada) is definitely still on this Saturday, September 27th, despite the rains, the threats of flooding and whatever other natural disasters could affect us. (more info and photos about the Sanmiguelada / Pamplonada)

An International Tango Festival complete with suave Argentine tango dancers, tango classes, tango fashion shows, tango cocktail parties is on from October 1st through the 5th. Tickets are being sold in the Jard�n from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 25th, 26th and 30th through Wednesday, October 1st. For more information call 152-6902 or at their website.

Bellas Artes has an exhibit of textiles produced by students, October 3rd and an exhibition of etchings in honor of Jos� Ch�vez Morado on October 23rd.

There�s also a grand Charreada on Sunday, September 28th. (more events in the San Miguel de Allende weekly events calendar)

The Plight of Women in Rural Mexico

by Marjorie L. Zap

In 1995, Pakina Fern�ndez, the wife of the then Municipal President Jaime Fern�ndez, was the head of the DIF--a governmental social service agency dealing with issues pertaining to women and children. During her presidency, Pakina was concerned primarily about the lack of funding for schools in the rural area surrounding the city. Pakina helped form a not-for-profit organization called Mujeres en Cambio or Women for Change. Mujeres en Cambio was committed to helping disadvantaged women gain greater independence and increase their education so they could become more independent and get better jobs.

An example of the problems faced by women and their families in this region can be seen in the community of Augustin Gonz�lez. The community is made up of approximately 125 families. At any time, about half the husbands and young men are working in the United States. Located mainly in Arkansas, Indiana, Texas and Illinois, they hold jobs as migrant laborers in agriculture or in other low-wage positions. More Mexicans migrate from the State of Guanajuato to the United States than from any other state in Mexico. The women and children they leave behind work their very poor farms and depend on funds sent to them by their husbands and sons. About half of the men send remittances with some regularity. The others may send money once or twice during their absence.

Mujeres en Cambio members recognized that the women in the countryside had little income, although some were trying to supplement it by doing embroidery. They supplied the women with fabric and yarn and taught them how to make wall hangings, bags, and small rugs. Experienced crafts women volunteered to help the rural women improve the design and quality of their work.

Both embroiderers and rug makers use cast-off clothing as a source of yarn, and also rely on donated wool. The members buy materials in San Miguel and import some from the United States to attract buyers to their products. There is now a shop in Austin, Texas, selling weavings from August�n Gonz�lez, and the income is used for medicine, clothes, and food. Still, living standards are meager at best.

The homes in this community are poorly constructed, with cement or brick walls and tin roofs augmented by "found" materials. There is one well in the community and water is piped in to about half the homes. Some have dry toilets in their homes although many of the residents have to use the open fields to relieve themselves.

The average family in August�n Gonz�lez has five children. There are three schools: a primary school, a junior high, and a senior high school with about 80 children in each grade. The upper two levels get most of their instruction via Television through the National Television Educativa Program. (More info � in Spanish at the Secretaria de Educacion Publica website: http://dgtve.sep.gob.mx/)

The schools are so crowded that double sessions are common. Mexico's education law makes state-supported schooling available only through the sixth grade. Many children fail to attend even for that short time. Some don't have shoes or proper clothing to wear to school, and others accompany beggars in the city to sell chewing gum to earn extra money. If a family can afford further education for one or two children, it is more likely to be spent on boys than girls. Most parents expect that their daughters will get married and won't need further education to rear children or work on the farm.

As a result, most of the village girls do not attend secondary or preparatory schools. There isn't enough money to send them and their mothers want them to help at home. Others get pregnant early despite sex education taught in school and by the DIF workers.

At the request of some of the women in the community, Pakina along with other early members of Mujeres en Cambio, started a program in August�n Gonz�les to support girls who had done well in elementary school so they could attend junior high and, in some cases, high school. In 1995, the first scholarships were awarded. Eight girls received $200 pesos every month to continue their education. They were selected on the recommendation of their teachers, and each had to have a 7.5 to 10-grade average.

By the start of the 2003-2004 school year, six other rural communities had been added to the program and 100 girls are receiving scholarships. Many applying for grants had averages between 9.5 and 10. The program offers encouragement to elementary school students to work harder, and rewards those who succeed with an opportunity to continue their education.

Student progress is monitored carefully. A file is established for each student with her year-end report cards and/or elementary school graduation certificate. These files are used to ensure that the scholarship funds are properly awarded.

This September the members of the scholarship committee are visiting each school to interview teachers and principals to learn the status of each student and to get recommendations for new students.

It is gratifying to meet with these adolescents who are so eager for an education. But success stories are not universal. Fourteen girls dropped out of the program. One young girl was kept at home by her family because she had to walk home from school in the dark. A few married. Others took their places. Do�a Julia Lopez was recommended for a scholarship by her granddaughter at age 55 and started secondary school at age 70! She has a son and daughter, both of whom are teachers and two granddaughters who are studying at a university. Dona Julia is an activist in her community, involved in ecology, recruiting other members of the community to learn how to prevent erosion on their farms.

Every August, the secondary school scholarship students come to San Miguel, often accompanied by their mothers and their teachers, to receive a first allowance of $500 pesos to be used for their initial purchases that will allow them to start school. They return to San Miguel every other month during the school year to receive their $300 pesos scholarship.

The funds are used for shoes, clothing, backpacks, pens and notebooks, food and bus fare for the trip to the nearest school.

Many students in the high school program have graduated. Some are attending a branch of the University of Leon located just outside the center of the city of San Miguel. The classes are held in the early morning and in the evening so they can work during the day to earn money to pay for their tuition, now about US$100 per month. The university offers four-year courses in school administration, business administration, public accounting, law, and architecture.

Mujeres en Cambio hold regular lunches throughout the year to raise funds to support the students. The funds raised are used exclusively for scholarships, with the exception of the minimal accounting fees. There are many students who qualify, but unless funds are available, they will have to be overlooked. Mujeres en Cambio has to constantly seek funds for the 100 girls now in the program.

If you would like to help, U.S tax-deductible donations can be made out to the San Miguel Educational Foundation (website: www.smefmx.com) with the memo line listing Mujeres en Cambio and send it to:

San Miguel Educational Foundation
220 N. Zapata Hwy #11
Laredo, TX 78043

or

La Conexi�n
Box 43-K
Aldama 3
San Miguel de Allende, GTO
Mexico 37700

If you do not need a tax deduction, please send your check to:

Mujeres en Cambio
APDO 760
San Miguel de Allende, GTO
Mexico 37700

For further information contact Marge Zap, at 152-2435, or e-mail: mzapster@unisono.net.mx.

George Thomas McGann

On one of those sunny San Miguel days, when the entire world seems at peace and the jacarandas are blooming, George Thomas McGann, recently retired journalist from New York City and his lovely wife of umpteen years (they were married in 1937) Louise Kenney, came to retire in San Miguel. That was 1985.

Little did we know what an impact this dynamic couple would have on San Miguel. George was a bonvivant, who played the piano and knew every tune ever written by Gershwin and Cole Porter. Louise was the fashionista turning up at every social event in ever-imaginative creations. Sooner or later after you met the McGanns you were more than likely to end up at their house, George ever ready with a bottle of champers and Louise serving delicious canap�s. The guests were always interesting, hailing from some distant point on the planet and the talk was lively and entertaining.

But George, who had started out as a cub reporter on The New York Times in 1936, was not about to retire�he had brought his trusty old Smith Corona to San Miguel and from 1988 on, until his death in 1991, he hammered out a weekly column for our local paper Atenci�n.

While his major interest were sports�in particular tennis�even the most reluctant sports fan would enjoy his column and get a grasp of the complexities of croquet, yacht racing or cockfighting.

George also met and interviewed some of the fascinating people from all walks of life who came to visit or live in San Miguel: there was Mary Martin, Clifford Irving, Joe Persico. There were tales of his trips with Louise in which they traveled by plane, train, bus, car, horse drawn caleche, riverboats, feluccas, sampans, elephants, camels and litters on the shoulders of Indian bearers.

There was the wild trip to celebrate the New Year at Real de Catorce. Organized by Patricia Murphy, a caravan of 14 cars left San Miguel laden with vodka, tequila and champagne and select residents of San Miguel. Bert Kent, who enlivened many of the McGann�s parties with his banjo playing, accompanied Nancy Underwood as she tap-danced for the guests and later Beatriz Aguilar flamencoed to the delight and cheers of all.

So, if you are getting nostalgic or even if you have never read one of his columns, thanks to the efforts of John and Rhea Barker, a large bound volume of McGann�s columns has been donated to the Biblioteca P�blica. The book will be held in the Reference section of that library.

On being asked if he wanted to go to heaven, George quipped, �No, I�d rather be with my friends.� Amen.

Eating Out In San Miguel

Just two short weeks ago a new eatery opened in San Miguel and it seemed as if San Miguel�s leading gastronomes with their sharp palates and even sharper pocketbooks have already discovered it to judge from the queue of those waiting for tables last Sunday.

Amigos on Codo 7 is the creation of partners Patrick Smith and Raymond Joliquiere and their charming wives, Alejandra and Mar�a.

A short five weeks ago, these intrepid entrepreneurs were happily established in Puebla where their respective Mexican wives had drawn them to live and work.

Joliquiere, who was born in Quebec, had studied the culinary arts in Paris, France and met his wife Mar�a on his return to Canada. They move to Puebla where he opens La Buena Mesa Restaurant that is still in operation there after 20 years.

Smith, who hails from Ireland, met his wife Alejandra in Dublin. They move to Puebla. He opens a very successful children�s clothes factory and develops his artistic talents in a ceramic factory that exports its exclusive dinnerware and decorative designs to Neiman Marcus.

Joliquiere and Smith meet in Puebla. They decide to visit San Miguel�that was just five weeks ago! And Presto! They open a new restaurant.

Amigos is an all San Miguel creation: all the furniture was made here designed by Smith to create a family ambience somewhat reminiscent of the 1930�s. He also designed and made all the dinnerware.

The food, where Alejandra and Mar�a reign supreme is definitely homemade gourmet. Heart warming soups, Paninos�a baguette sandwich served in a basket�an ample selection of vegetarian dishes and tempting desserts complete the menu.

Amigos is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. for breakfast until 10.30 p.m. for dinner (11.30 p.m. on weekends). A three-course meal (clam chowder, beef sandwich and dessert) runs to $100 pesos. Wine by the glass is $20 pesos. Buen provecho! (Be sure to use their introductory coupon � 2 for one drinks on your first visit within the next 30 days.)

The Vienna Boys Choir

As part of the celebrations of FAI Mexicana�s (Save the Children Foundation) 30th anniversary, the Vienna Boys� Choir will offer two concerts to raise funds for community development focused on the needs of children.

The first concert will take place on Friday, October 3rd, at 8:00 p.m. in the Templo Expiatorio in Le�n Guanajuato. The price of the tickets is $1,000 pesos for VIP seating or $300 pesos general admittance.

The second concert in Quer�taro will take place on Saturday, October 4th at 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorio Josefa Ort�z de Dom�nguez. Tickets are $1,000, $500, $250 and $100 pesos. A bus will leave from St. Paul's Church, Callejon del Cardo in San Miguel at 4:30 p.m for Quer�taro, allowing concertgoers to have dinner before the show.

In 1498, half a millennium ago, Austrian Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and his court musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna. He gave specific instructions that there were to be six boys among his musicians. For want of a foundation charter, historians have settled on 1498 as the official foundation date of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle and the Vienna Boys Choir. The choir sang exclusively for the court, at mass, at private concerts and on state occasions.

Renowned musicians like Christoph Willibald Gluck, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Caldara, Antonio Salieri and Anton Bruckner have worked with the choir. Other musicians were choristers themselves, such as composers Franz Schubert, and the brothers Franz Joseph and Michael Haydn, and the conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss.

In 1918, after the collapse of the Habsburg Empire, the Austrian government took over the court opera (i.e. the orchestra and the adult singers), but not the choirboys. The Wiener S�ngerknaben owe their survival to the initiative and business acumen of Josef Schnitt, who became dean of the imperial chapel in 1921.

Tickets are tax deductible. Receipts are valid for Mexico, the United States and Canada. More than 85% of the proceeds from the tickets will go directly to a project benefiting children in Guanajuato. All tickets are available at the FAI office, Hidalgo 13, Centro. For further information call 152 3686 or 152 0897.

Thank you to Ines Roberts, editor of The San Miguel Chronicles for another great issue!

If you would like to receive the email version of the All About San Miguel Mexico Newsletter, follow the subscription instructions to receive text version in your email when each new issue is available. If you missed an issue, don't worry - you can find them all in the All About San Miguel, Mexico archives.