Day 16: Final Day in Suchil & Celebration

Buenas Tardes, todos! Today was our last day in Suchil, and the “grand opening” of our solar dryers to the community. We showed up to the worksite in the morning to help with cleanup and preparation for the grand opening and celebration – and even had some free time to paint with Carlos!

The celebration began with meeting the families of the mesquite flour project members and dancing. Richard even invited a local band to play music for us! After the opening festivities, Richard and Sarahi, Carlos’s dad, the mesquite flour project, and the UT PUC team each spoke about the project, what was accomplished and what the project and the relationships we have built have meant to us. Many tears were shed as we all realized the impact the project and collaboration has had on us.

After the speeches, we each received a pair of scissors and cut the ribbon to the stairs that led to the dryers! We then got to lead the families of the mesquite flour project members on a tour of our dryers and how they worked. It was fantastic to present the finished project – just thinking of all the months of hard work that brought us to that moment.

Then the band led us in a procession from the worksite back to the hotel. As we were walking, we got to wave at everyone that had said “Buenos días” to us on our daily walk from the hotel to the worksite. Through the music, dancing, and wide smiles, it was easy to see the love we have for Suchil. Our adopted canine friend even followed us all the way to the hotel!

At the hotel, a feast was waiting for us – goat barbeque tacos, the famous Santiago Suchilquitongo beans, and even delicious mango mesquite ice cream. I had 2 servings of it!

Once we had finished eating, we exchanged parting gifts with the mesquite flour project members and Richard and Sarahi. I was just overwhelmed with the thoughtful messages the community members said as they gave gifts to each of us, capturing the essence of the personality of each different teammate as they received their gift. We each received a Xuchil T-shirt and mug, a small bag of mesquite flour, and homemade chocolates in a beautiful straw case. We gave the community members momentos from Austin, and a laser-cut cutting board for Richard and Sarahi for future mesquite flour cooking workshops :)

After gifts, the games began. We played a final round of Frisbee and soccer games with the mesquite flour project members, the cooks, and nearly everyone who had impacted us on this journey. We ended the night by teaching the mesquite flour project members how to play “BS”, giggling at each other’s attempts to lie, and chatting until we could no longer keep our eyes open.