While doing some online poking around to prepare for our upcoming trip to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, I happily “bumped into” ZihuaBill and his story as told by blog.  Bill is a retiree from Oregon who now lives half of his year in Zihuatanejo, a small town on Mexico’s Pacific coast. 

Zihua (as many call it) has long been a haven for Americans wanting a Mexican vacation but a respite from big resort cities like Acupulco or Mazatlan.  From what it sounds like, Zihua has kept much of its Mexican culture and fishing village charm while welcoming tourists and expats into its community.

But back to Bill. He has found his true calling in Zihua.  In 2007, Bill started getting involved with local schools.  Since then, he has helped create a lunch program and has solicited funds from friends to buy needed books and supplies for the children.  He goes to the schools regularly, becoming a true fixture in the lives of the children and their teachers.

A few excerpts and photos from Bill’s blog:

“The hot meal program serves about 110 preschool and grades 1-6, and 12 teachers and volunteers.  I have mentioned this before, but not one, not any, not a single teacher is paid.  Some gringos donate occasional monies, but the teachers really are dependent on family and friends and “second” jobs.  They are full of hope that someday the school will be recognized officially by the State and the Federal government.  Then they will receive some pay, although not really enough to live separate from family and/or friends.”

“Today I am delighted to report on The Cooking Program for the 5th and 6th graders of Las Joyas.  Las Joyas, if you will remember, is the poorest school with no floors, walls…  Last Tuesday began the first of four cooking lessons at La Gula Restaurante for these children.  From the school to the restaurant is about 5 miles.  For these children it was a whole new world.  None had ever been in an upscale restaurant.  After the session and before returning to school, I led the children around the block and down to the beach.  Dear readers, this is the first time any of the 11 children had seen the ocean.  Think about it.  Living 5 miles from this beautiful bay and never seeing it before this past week.  Says a lot, don’t you think?”

“I travel to the schools by mini vans called combi’s.  A combi usually holds 12 in the back comfortably; can be made to hold 16 if everyone squeezes together and some stand; and often travels with 20-22 passengers.  This isn’t quite as comical as the old movies with the packed bus and the chickens crates on top.  But it is my story.  One day soon after I arrived here I boarded a combi for Octavio Paz.  A few minutes later a man boarded with a very large bucket of fresh fish.  Within moments we smelled like a traveling fish market.  On the return trip about 2 hours later, I boarded again in one of the oldest vehicles around.  I had to stand, which was torture since it was about a 4 foot ceiling so I was nearly bent in half.  However, a generous man who was traveling with an old, used toilet offered me a seat on the “can”.  Folks, I rode a toilet downhill!”

We love this story – a man immersing himself into the culture and working with the local community to help in a meaningful way.  Thanks for sharing your story, Bill.

Tags: La Gula Restaurante, Mexico, ZihuaBill, Zihuatanejo

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 4:36 pm and is filed under Latin America, North America, Socially conscious tourism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.