Estela RomeroNovember 26, 2020

"La Rondanilla Village"

Estela RomeroNovember 26, 2020

OUR VISIT.-

“LA RONDANILLA” VILLAGE

We move now northwards towards the lowest mountain hillsides to “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary. There, the Symbolic Migration will do several visits with small to medium to larger groups gathered by their own teachers, either at open areas or at a family house, as is the case of our visit today. Teacher Arturo and his children were anxiously awaiting to see their Ambassador Monarchs arriving. “The Benefits of Trees” is a fundamental topic for these children and our families to learn more about, since, having we locals been born for generations and generations in this regions, we take it for granted to enjoy of the benefits of our forests without realizing that they we could just be running out of natural resources for our own living”, --teacher Arturo, born and living with his family in the location, and teaching private classes at a family home to a group of children whose parents do not quite well know how to read and write, assist them for free in their lessons and homework, during the pandemics and with our schools closed. Visiting the little village at the lower hillsides, rather at the valley to the impressive mountains of “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary reaching over ten thousand feet elevation at the background of their homes, was really important. “Dad and I come very often up-hill into the woods towards the Sanctuaries to pick up sticks and timber rests to heat our homes and for mom to cook in the fire stove. We are very close to the canyons where part of the Monarchs’ colony shelter during the season when it is too windy or too cold, they kind of hide in the canyons at the hillsides, and the lower they hide, the less Oyamel trees, but they also love roosting in pine trees for a short time, while they can go back to the higher altitudes to their Oyamel tree favorite spots; they are really smart!”, --Daniel, the oldest child in the class expressed--. Children did indeed learn recognizing the trees at their own forests of their own location: “Yes, this is the Oyamel tree!, this the Pino or Ocote tree which sap grand-pa collects and sells and we use for healing when we or an animal break a bone!, here the Tepozán which leaves heal our bruises or cuts so quickly!, Cedro, Aile, Encino and Encino Roble which give us such beautiful timber for making furniture!, and the rare and beautiful orange-reddish Madroño! Yes, we have them all up there!. Mmm, but the Oyamel is the King of all, the favorite to Monarchs and the one we shall care more about due to their reduced areas where it is growing now; thousands and thousands of Monarchs can dress-up each enormous Oyamel tree in its trunk and branches!”. We went outside the little barn and got our group photo with every Ambassador Monarch delivered to each student in the class. Teacher Arturo was delighted to receive his portion of the book donation by Monarch Butterfly Fund with their exclusive titles on Trees, as well as by Monarchs Across Georgia with nature, Mexican culture, history and traditions titles, as it is in every single visit, Not to believe for them that for North American students and teachers seeing an egg, a caterpillar, a chrysalis and butterflies eclosing is an everyday event and that they are eager to learn a little more of our region where Monarchs overwinter every season!.