Open Circle
There is no Open Circle presentation on Sunday, January 1.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend the Tuesday, January 3 learning seminar featuring a Ted talk by journalist Courtney Martin on “The New American Dream.”
The seminar, facilitated by Pete Soderman, is held from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS sala.
For the first time in history, the majority of American parents don’t think their kids will be better off than they were. This shouldn’t be a cause for alarm, says Martin. Rather, it’s an opportunity to define a new approach to work and family that emphasizes community and creativity. “The biggest danger is not failing to achieve the American Dream,” she says in a talk that will resonate far beyond the United States. “The biggest danger is achieving a dream that you don’t actually believe in.”
Neill James Lecture
Phil Rylett presents “‘Cerveza’ is not Spanish for ‘beer’: meaning and Spanish acquisition” on Tuesday, January 3, 2 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society
Rylett has taught English as a second language for ten years, both in Mexico and California. He decided to learn Spanish a few years ago, but, like many of us, was frustrated with the lack of success in his learning strategies. He then began investigating what might be the optimal way to learn a language and discovered that traditional language learning styles might not be the best path to communication.
Christmas at Lakeside
Francis Dryden (a Lakeside musician and author of a weekly entertainment newsletter) and his wife Anastasia spent their first Christmas at Lakeside as Santa and Mrs. Claus, visiting children at the Tepehua community, Love in Action, The Token Store in San Juan Cosala, La Ola orphanage and some parties in Ajijic. He also was the Santa in photos taken at La Bodega Restaurant.
British Society
The Lakeside British Society will hold its monthly luncheon meeting Saturday, January 7, 1 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. There will be a surprise activity after lunch. Menu choices begin with a small salad or vegetable soup, your choice of meat loaf with chips and gravy, fish and chips, vegetarian lasagna or a large salad. Dessert is apple pie and ice cream. The cost is 135 pesos plus tip. Call Arleen at 766-1742 or contact Sue Sterlini at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance and choice of menu. All visitors welcome.
Upcoming water program
Water is one of our most necessary commodities and yet its availability is often taken for granted. Introducing us to discovering the spiritual qualities in the movement of water, a January 6 weekend workshop entitled Water’s Own Voice will take place at Flora Exotica (corner of the Carretera and Libramiento in Ajijic) and be led by Jennifer Greene, founder and 40-year director of the Water Research Institute in Blue Hill, Maine. Highlights include a slide lecture presenting the scientific research, an all-day participatory demonstration of experiments revealing water’s natural tendencies to move and change its environment – and continuing revelations of water’s miracles. For information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Home tours
The Behind the Walls monthly home tours of some of Lakeside’s most gorgeous residences that benefit the School for Special Children are still on sale at Diane Pearl or Charter Club Tours for only 200 pesos.
Ajijic’s San Andrés Church
Silent Night became the apropos theme song for the Christmas Eve observances at Ajijic’s San Andrés Church, where visitors arrived to discover that the traditional display of living nativity scenes had been cancelled. Rectory staff said that after the church’s missionary group pulled out of the program a week before December 24, other parishioners decided to follow suit.
Gardening
The Lake Chapala Society’s Personal Enrichment Program kicks off with the first of three seminars, Introduction to Lakeside Gardening by instructor Francisco Gonzalez Nava, on Tuesday, January 10. The course covers the area’s monthly garden calendar, effective communication with your gardener, beginning vocabulary and phrases of Spanish gardening terms, different plants for different sun/shade conditions, formal vs. casual and organic gardens, pest and disease management, drought tolerant garden, pruning, weeding, composting, mulching and a host of other concepts, as well as a guided tour of the LCS garden. The eight classes are held Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Cost is 500 pesos.
Two other seminars to come are a history of the Mexican Revolution with Judy King beginning January 18, and an overview of Mexican history by Daniel Grippo beginning February 27. The classes are open to the public.
LCS Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society offers introduction to Spanish-language classes for members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about the area and Mexican culture.
Classes start Tuesday, January 10 at the LCS campus, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Learning materials are provided, and the tuition for the classes is 175 pesos. Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday or via lakechapalasociety.com.
LCS also offers the Warren Hardy Spanish language course for LCS members from Monday, January 9 through February 25. Several levels of instruction are available. For more information, contact the program manager January 2-6, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at LCAS on the blue umbrella patio or visit www.lakechapalasociety.com.
Military Ball
The 904 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force Association will host this year’s gala Military Ball on Saturday, January 14 at the Real de Chapala Hotel. The formal event that was originally conceived and organized by the Shrine Legion of Honor, now includes all of Lakeside’s military groups: the Shrine Legion of Honor, the 904 Wing Royal Canadian Air Force Association, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 1 Chapala, the American Legion Post 7 and Post 9 and the Navy League.
All military veterans and supporters of the Lakeside military groups are welcome. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and tickets. The deadline for ticket purchase is January 10.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness (HOA) Buddhist Sangha meets weekly on Wednesdays. The center opens at 3:30 p.m. for silent meditation. A 30-minute formal meditation period begins at 4 p.m. January 4, meditation will be followed with a video teaching by Gil Fronsdal on “Generosity.”
January 1 there will be a three-hour “First Sunday Long Sit” meditation opportunity from 9 a.m. to noon. Come for all or part of the session which consists of three rounds of 40 minutes sitting and 20 minutes walking meditation. The center is open for hour-long silent meditation periods Sunday and Monday, from 9 to 10 a.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon.
A yoga class suitable for all levels of experience is offered at Heart of Awareness on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. There will be a class on December 31.
The workshop “Minding Our Own Business” will be offered on four Tuesdays in January from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beginning Tuesday, January 10, participants will work together to become better prepared for the eventualities of illness, accident and death. There will be “homework” consisting of completion of documents which will be helpful to those who need to act on our behalf in cases where we are unable to do so ourselves. The workshops are designed to support participants in working through their natural resistance to these critical tasks. The workshop fee for materials is 350 pesos for Heart of Awareness members and 450 pesos for non-members. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants and advance registration is required. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.
The workshop “Minding Our Own Business” will be offered on four Tuesdays in January from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beginning Tuesday, January 10, participants will work together to become better prepared for the eventualities of illness, accident and death. There will be “homework” consisting of completion of documents which will be helpful to those who need to act on our behalf in cases where we are unable to do so ourselves. The workshops are designed to support participants in working through their natural resistance to these critical tasks. The workshop fee for materials is 350 pesos for HOA members and 450 for non-members. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants and advance registration is required. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.
Heart of Awareness is at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (331) 043-4669.
The bard returns
Time to take the kilt to the dry cleaners in time for the annual Rabbie Burns supper Wednesday, January 25, 5 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala. This yearly benefit event for Niños Incapacitados includes dancing, bagpipes, tributes and toasts, a traditional dinner including Haggis, singing and a wee dram of Scotch (or maybe a bit more). Tickets, 400 pesos, are available contacting Mary Steele, 765-3226, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via programaninos.com.