Although I love to craft, this project has definitely taken me outside of my comfort zone. I mean, I've never made a puppet before, so I didn't know where to start. Last week, I spent a lot of time thinking of how to make this puppet, and this week, I've made tons of progress. What started as a foam blob is now taking the shape of a usable puppet. For the puppet creation, we were also asked to create character profiles, giving the puppets a backstory, personality, and a guide for users to reference when using them to teach kids. My puppet is a jaguar. Anyways, this week I made a lot of progress and feel really proud of myself. Outside of my personal progress, I feel like I've developed a lot as a leader. My team for this project is a mix of personalities and work styles that we've all had to adapt to, and because of this, I've become a much better communicator. 

Outside of puppet creation, I've done a lot in the past week. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to leave Mexico City and visit Puebla and Cholula. Puebla was one of the most colorful places I had ever been, filled with lots of history (e.g., fighting the French and Cinco de Mayo), good food (MOLE), markets, and lots of music. I went on a walking tour that was perhaps one of the best I've ever been on and felt so relaxed. I went with a group of 12 in my program, and it was the perfect way to create community and bond over the weekend. Additionally, during the week we had a day off, which I took advantage of by visiting Las Estacas, a natural reserve in Mexico. It was about 3 hours away, and one of the most beautiful car rides I've ever been on. Myself and a group of 11 others and I spent the night there and got to swim in the clear river Las Estacas boasts. I felt rejuvenated getting to relax in the river and at peace. On the car ride back, I felt a lot of gratitude. Not only for getting to visit the park, but for this program in general. I have had the opportunity to travel and experience Mexican culture, meet new people, and partner with an organization doing impactful work, and I feel so lucky. Anyways, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Wow, I can't believe I'm down to the final two weeks here. Until next week,

Mara