British Luncheon
The Lakeside British and Commonwealth Society holds its monthly luncheon on Saturday, June 1, 12:45 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57, Ajijic.
There will be an open mic for diners to say who they are, and when and why they came to Ajijic.
Menu is a small salad, vegetable soup, beef bourguignon and rice, spinach lasagna or a large salad with protein. Dessert is chocolate mousse. The cost is 150 pesos plus drinks and tip.
Contact Sue at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Arleen Foster at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to confirm your attendance. Visitors welcome.
Giddy up
The Chapala municipal government is sponsoring a cabalgata (horseback ride) Saturday, June 1. The ride leaves the lienzo charro “El Yahualico” in Atotonilquillo at 10 a.m., heading along the back roads through San Nicolas and finishing at the Chapala lienzo charro at 2 p.m.
Open Circle
Agustín Vásquez Calvario presents “Náhuatl – Linguistic Window to the Aztec Culture” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, June 2, 10:30 a.m. to noon on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
Tonatzin represents The Earth from which we came and to which we will return. For the Mexicas she was the mother of everything that exists. She gave us eyes to behold the majesty of the mountains, seas, and vegetation. She gave us ears to listen to the sound of birds, water, and wind passing through the leaves of trees. And she gave us mouth and tongue to interpret those sounds with poems and songs in her honor and to be always in harmony with mother nature.
Vázquez is originally from San Juan Cosala. His ancestors belonged to the Cocas tribe, a branch of the Aztecs who spoke Náhuatl. He will speak to Open Circle about the languages of his ancestors, which he believes are important because through them we can keep that culture alive. Through language we can return to the gift of nature that sustains us. He is the owner of Viva México restaurant in San Juan Cosala.
Information: opencircleajijic.org.
TED Talks
Brene Brown presents “The Power of Vulnerability” at the next Ted Talk, Tuesday, June 4, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala. Open to LCS members only.
Brown studies human connection – our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
Hosted by Susan Weeks.
LCS courses
These courses for LCS members only will keep you in the know:
• Mexican aguas frescas (Fruit/herbal Drinks): Monday, June 10, 10 a.m. to noon.
• Introduction to Lakeside. Learn all the basics: banking, shopping, restaurants, medical services, getting around, transportation, housing, utilities, maid and gardening services, social protocols, fiestas, holidays, religious observations: Thursday, June 13, 9 to 12:30 p.m.
• Mexican chiles and salsas: Friday, June 14, noon to 2 p.m.
• Mexican traditional fermented beverages: Monday, June 17, 11 to 12:30 p.m.
• Learn Mexican manners: Tuesday, June 18, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Preserving your assets in Mexico: Fridays, June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Mexican hot cocktails: Tuesday, July 2, 1 to 3 p.m.
The costs and course descriptions for each course are available at lakechapalasociety.com or at the LCS office.
LCS/Commerce mixer
The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) and the Cámara de Comercio de Guadalajara Delegacíon Chapala (Chapala Chamber of Commerce) are holding a community mixer, Tuesday, June 11, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Have you ever had questions about how to make your non-profit better? How to write a great set of bylaws. How to get charitable tax status? The June presenter of Conexciones Entre Amigos can help.
Operating Director Ixanar Uriza will be informing the audience about how the Corporation for Foundations can help you and your non-profit.
Conexciones Entre Amigos is a joint effort between the local business chamber and the LCS, with the aim of uniting the community together on topics of mutual interest and enhancing the quality of life at lakeside.
LCS bus trips
The Lake Chapala Society is offering a bus trip to Tlaquepaque and the Forum Mall/Home Depot, Wednesday, June 12.
On Thursday, July 4, LCS heads to the town of Amatitan and the Tres Mujeres tequila distillery.
Check the LCS office or website to sign up and learn the departure times and cost of the trips. Registration and payment can now be made online.
Waiter’s course
Donald Spangler will conduct a professional waitstaff course Sunday, June 9 and Monday, June 10. Spangler says the weekly class will show how to be a world-class, top-shelf waiter or waitress.
The class will focus on learning professional server skills and great customer service, communication, improvement in using English and the development of personal professional image and career goals.
For more information, contact Spangler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or (376) 106-2183.
Spanish communication
The Difficult Journey requires all your Spanish skills.
This event simulates arriving at the Mexico/U.S. border and preparing a trip to Mexico City. Travel through the border zone experiencing realistic travel-oriented situations while conversing with native Spanish speakers. Visit the bank, pharmacy, restaurant and go through immigration and customs. You’ll soon be ready to travel anywhere your Spanish takes you.
This is not a class, but an opportunity to practice your Spanish in a stress free and friendly environment. You will learn more words and phrases along with the activity. A few sample documents such as passport, traveler check, immigration forms, etc. The people you will interact with are volunteers from the local Mexican community. They all want you to succeed.
Event fee: 250 pesos. Location: Lake Chapala Society south campus board room. Enrollment until June 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the LCS office.
Insight Meditation
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent meditation: Sunday, 9 a.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m. and Thursday, 11 a.m. There are no fees and all sessions are open to the public, regardless of experience or affiliation. Chairs and cushions and brief written instructions on meditation for beginners are provided.
Sunday, June 2, the center is open from 9 a.m. until noon for three rounds of sitting and walking meditation. Come for all or just a portion of this extended practice period.
Wednesday, June 5, the meditation period will be followed the first segment of a Tricycle “Retreat” series titled “Compassion in Polarizing Times,” taught by Dungse Jampal Norbu, a teacher in the Mangala Shri Bhuti sangha. Today’s divisive political culture can bring out our worst impulses, but with Buddhist methods of fostering compassion, we can clear the mind of negativity and connect with our intrinsic qualities of clarity and warmth. The teacher guides us through practices to cool off anger and take a walk in another’s shoes and the video will be followed by a discussion period.
The Tuesday Practice/Study group has been taking a break but will resume beginning July 2. The book is yet to be chosen. The group meets weekly from 3-5 p.m.
A yoga class suitable for beginners and advanced students, is offered Thursday, 9 to 10:45 a.m.
The center is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. Information: heartofawareness.org.
Tapatio students tackle local litter
Busloads of students from the Preparatoria Jalisco arrived from Guadalajara Saturday, May 25 to lend a hand in a litter cleanup of the Chapala waterfront, neighborhood streets and the central highway in anticipation of the onset of summer rains. The school has organized trash collection campaigns at lakeside every year since 2000 as an extracurricular activity that raises student awareness on environmental issues and familiarizes them with Mexico’s largest lake. This time the project was carried out in conjunction with Fundación Alégrate, the local social action non-profit group that launched its permanent Limpiemos Chapala initiative earlier this month.