Author Archives: Dianne Hofner Saphiere

Taking the SAT in Mazatlán, Plus College Planning

cbLogo-globalMany of you follow this blog because of the school information we have posted over the years. Posts on how to choose a school, how to know how schools rank, or how to navigate the day-to-day challenges of schools here in Mazatlán have tended to be our most popular.

Our son is a junior this year, and thus he’s thinking about and planning for university. Here in Mexico college planning seems to start a lot later than it does in the USA where we’re originally from. Next year, as a senior, Danny will accompany one of his teachers to five or so universities in Guadalajara. Some friends in his “generation,” as they call it here, have toured a few universities already this year, but that seems pretty rare. Mostly such tours occur senior year (if ever).

Danny may go to university here, or anywhere else on the planet—he’s considering lots of options—and he’s looking at universities in the US as well. Most US-bound foreign and domestic students need to take the SAT, a standardized college entrance exam, as part of the entrance application process. Most of those students based in the USA are also fortunate enough to be able to participate in study sessions to prepare for the test. Here we have a double whammy: Mexican schools of course do not teach for the SAT, and live prep courses are few and far between, especially here on the coast.

We were disappointingly told by several high school directors here in town that Danny would need to travel to Tucson or Phoenix, Guadalajara or Mexico City, to take the SAT. We found this incredibly hard to believe, when there are so many international students here in Mazatlán, as well as so many talented local students with international ambitions.

prepaI am very happy to report that, after much searching and legwork, we found that Instituto Anglo Moderno right here in Mazatlán is a certified SAT testing center! Claudia Ortuso there helped us out. She speaks wonderful English and was very kind. She tells us that normally there are two SAT test dates per year at Anglo: one in the fall and another in the spring (it was today, Saturday May 4th).

Normally they also hold a prep course in the spring, though this year they did not. I suppose that is because no Anglo students were taking the test. They were four exam takers today: two from ICO, one who came from Los Mochis, and a fourth who flew with her mother from Los Cabos. There is most obviously a demand for testing sites here in Northwestern Mexico!

So, how to register, if you have a child who wants to keep his or her options open for university in the USA? First, go to the College Board site. There you can check test sites and schedules, and register for tests. Instituto Anglo Moderno is test center #69213. While on the College Board site, you can also create an account and set up an Organizer that your student will use to study and practice for the test, sign up for daily emails to help them gain familiarity with test question types, and monthly emails reminding parents how we can best support and guide our kids through college planning. To me it was a godsend, and it was all (minus the test itself) free.

I would highly recommend that your son or daughter spend a few months actively preparing for the SAT. Engaging the online curriculum, and getting a practice SAT booklet from Claudia, will help. Danny also signed up for a few mock tests online via Kaplan. He didn’t pay for any of their courses, but he did find the mock tests with the scoring very helpful to guide his studying. There seem to be loads of online study courses accessible to those of us here.

The other thing I really recommend is getting a couple of good college prep books while you are in a major city with English language bookstores; Kindle versions just don’t work like dog-earring pages of a paper book. Danny’s currently enjoying one called The Best Colleges by the Princeton Review, and there was another one called the College Board Book of Majors which helped him immensely. The majors and options up north are just so much more extensive than most of the kids here are exposed to.

We aren’t there yet. The college selection and application process is only just beginning for us. We thank Anglo Moderno for helping us with this first hurdle!!!

Greg’s Beloved Barbershop

ShopI often give him a hard time, that he’s going to meet his girlfriend. She does tell him, after all, repeatedly and with lots of gushing, that she loves him. Of course, she tells me she loves me, too. How many barbers love you? I expect it’s quite a common expression of emotion here in Mazatlán, fortunately for all of us who live here.

As with most forms of commerce in most cities worldwide, shops of a certain type tend to do business near each other. Thus, in Mazatlán, we have a “barber row” and a “stationary shop row” and an “electronics store row.”

Delia
barbershop row el centro
Owner and tamale maker extraordinaire
antique barber chair
cut ideas
Concordia chairs
prices
massage

Greg learned about his favorite place from his buddy Scott, who we miss mightily. What does he love about going to this barbershop? Delia, of course. She always has a huge smile, lots of hugs and kisses, and a desire to catch up on the few weeks of life since she’s last seen you. And she ends each of her haircuts with a motorized handheld massager! What’s not to love?

Greg also, I know, loves the ambience of the place: the antique barber chairs, the handmade wooden chairs from Concordia that comprise the waiting area, the retro haircut drawings to provide you ideas, and, of course, the prices. We even enjoy the owner, María Inéz, who lives near us and makes some killer tamales.

If you enjoy good old-fashioned barbering, a close shave, or a cut that ends with a relaxing massage, do visit your nearby barbershop row. It beats the mall anytime. At least for some.

Reminders to be Fully Present: 24 Hours in Mazatlán

Photo by Hiroki Fuse Masuda, Danjiri Matsuri, Sumiyoshi

Photo by Hiroki Fuse Masuda, Danjiri Matsuri, Sumiyoshi

It is the beginning of matsuri or festival season in Japan. I have been seeing so many wonderful photos from friends, and I am longing to be there with them. My longtime work colleagues are having an “OB/OG-kai,” (“old boy-old girl reunion) in a few days, and I sooooo want to be there with them.

My beloved sister-cousin hasn’t been well, though she is most strongly on the mend! Her daughter and family are with her on her farm today, and they are making rhubarb pie. Thank goodness for Facetime, but I want my “beam me up, Scottie” device!

They say home is where the heart is. Fortunately, I have many loved ones in many places—as do many of you.

And life is what we make it. In those moments when we are missing loved ones, craving to be somewhere else, or in multiple places at the same time, the universe stops us up short. Pay attention! Look around! Enjoy this moment, now, right where you are!

(You can click any photo below to see it larger or view a slideshow with captions.)

Capuccino at Looney Bean North
Low tide
The view over the bay in Cerritos
Pelican pair breakfasting with us
Fishing boats waiting their next journey to sea
After coffee we walked through the trailer court
Had to drive downtown for a couple of errands
Yet another creative way to port stuff around town
Have a portable speaker, will play
The postal delivery man and others eating breakfast street side
Another palapa Friday
Coconut on the beach

This morning we woke up a bit earlier than our usual on a Saturday, in order to take Danny up to Anglo Moderno so he could take his SAT tests. Poor us, we were forced to greet another beautiful blue-sky day on the ocean, with good coffee, serendipitously meeting good friends, and taking a walk around a part of town we don’t visit every day.

After that, we drove south along the malecón for a few errands downtown, of course delighting in a few sights along the way.

The final photos above were taken yesterday, during our “palapa Friday” tradition. Fresh seafood and coconuts on the beach, to cap off a busy week of work. La vida dura—life is tough. Thank you all for enjoying life with us, wherever you are!

I almost forgot! I also took some video of the gorgeous morning. Here you go. Enjoy!

“The World Via Motorcycle”

malecon1“My name is Nate Clark Kayhoe and this spring I begin 2 years of traveling the world on my motorcycle — crossing 5 continents and through at least 75 countries. This page will be where I share in the adventure.”

We had the pleasure these past two days of hosting Nate and Chris Santacroce, friends of our nephew, at the beginning of their most wonderful adventure. And how exciting it is! They began by making their bikes, and departed from the East Coast of the USA. When they arrived here in Mazatlán yesterday they were on their fourth day in México, and enjoying every minute.

mapFortuitously, today is Nate’s 30th birthday. We celebrated in the Machado with cena last night. Both young men quit terrific jobs—one with Christie’s auction house and the other with the US government—to make this exciting journey. Chris will make the trip through the Americas for about six months; Nate will continue on, planning the two year around-the-world journey. His planned route is in the photo above.

Should you wish to track their journey, or give them a sofa or floor to sleep on, I know they would love it. You can do so by “liking” their Facebook page. We are so excited for them, and very grateful they brought their energy into our home and shared it with us. Below I’ll post a few more photos, in slideshow format.

Be safe, guys! Enjoy yourselves and your journey fully! We’ll be tracking your progress!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

El Cártel de la Chatarra/Arrest of the Junk Food Cartel

Cártel12_568Here’s one news story that I absolutely love! This morning in Mexico City the Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria (Alliance for Nutritional Health) reenacted the arrest, for violation of human rights, of four “Captains of the Junk Food Cartel”! Bravo! It’s about time!

Cártel03_568Arrested were the Coca Cola polar bear, the Cocoa Krispies’ elephant, Tony the Tiger, and Ronald McDonald. They are accused of violating the rights of Mexican children under two principal charges: manipulating and cheating children via the publicity and marketing of their products, and introducing food and beverages that contribute to the obesity epidemic of Mexico’s children. During the arrest, officials explained the specific criminal actions of which each of these captains is accused:

  • Tony “the Tiger” falsely tells children that eating Frosted Flakes will lead to success in sports, despite the fact that 40% of the weight of the product he peddles is sugar. He is held responsible for displacing oats and amaranth from the diet of Mexican children.
  • Melvin “the Elephant” is accused of distributing Cocoa Krispies, a substance containing 35% sugar and four artificial colors, three of which are associated with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children. Yet, this is the most advertised product on television.
  • Ronald McDonald, alias “the Clown,” entered Mexico in 1985. He now operates out of 400 locations in Mexico. He uses toys, images of parties and healthy, happy play to induce children to ingest high volumes of fat, salt and sugar. He has previously been fined in Brazil for his nefarious activities.
  • “Coca” the polar bear, is accused of being one of the major causes of both the obesity and diabetes epidemics facing Mexico. Each 600 ml bottle of the Coca Cola that she deals contains more than 12 TABLESPOONs of sugar. Coca’s reach has penetrated every nook and corner of the country, far and wide, and has helped make Mexico the world’s largest consumer of soda. Despite Coca’s agreement with the World Health Organization not to publicize to children under 12, she has conducted numerous campaigns aimed at that very population.

Héctor Bonilla, one of the arresting officers, stated, “The unregulated presence of multinational corporations in the food sector is truly criminal. I welcome the attempt to counter the millions and millions of dollars in publicity of these organizations, with horizontal communication and the moral authority of those who are motivated by social conscience to collaborate, rather than by economic interests. New technologies are fertile territory for cunning and the unveiling of great lies to the public.”

Such a public demonstration seems to me a great way to raise awareness among kids. Congratulations to the arresting officers! Kids, let’s get outside, breathe some fresh air, and run around! Try some new, whole foods and you’ll be surprised just how good real food can make you feel!

pzqfmruAbove is one of those photos recently circulating the internet, of a school science project that illustrates the quantity of processed white sugar in various commercially available bottled beverages.

Fruit Loops, GMO and artificial coloring