Dos encuentros

The year is coming to an end and we have put together some fun activities. Everbody should get a round of applause for their continous support and good work. Last week we brought the 5th and 6th graders from Los Caramelos to La Plaza Tomas Gomensoro to play chess with the kids from the Merendero in Maracana. Maracana were all angels, and they played very well. Los caramelos were terrors; they played, and then ran completely wild. I fear there may be some sort of hormonal imbalance or something...seriously.

In the back you will see a tall character (a familiar face by now), Brandon the Mandon hooked us up with the enormous chess pieces.

Above: Ines and Milagros play in teams. And Che, Ines deserves a medal; we had a meeting to see about working with her company a while ago to sponsor activities in the Merendero and to speed up the process she bought us 10 chess sets out of pocket on the spot! She is also taking the initiative and pressing for her company to participate in the work in the Merendero as part of a social responsibility program.

Alright, these two fotos are just to break up the monotony of serious faced, time pressured chess placed players caught in the fierce struggle for time, space, material, and position. Above: a few hams. Below: Nicolas getting Charlie Browned

This "encuentro" was put together by Roberto Osores (back right)from the Uruguayan Chess Federation. Maracana and La Teja showed up for a friendly tournament. Even though we had quite a range of playing levels we all had a great time, and we played some good chess.

Roberto and Camilo (green shirt) taught me how to run a tournament. Below could be a scene from el chavo del ocho (who is regularly scolded) !!No Chavo, ta ta ta ta!!
And this foto is great, this duel is intense.
To be honest I would give a medal to all of these guys; the Maracana boys, the other Rotary scholars, outside sponsors, Rotaract, the youth counselors, and the kids themselves. They are all going to great lengths to create opportunities and to develop potential.

The next blog may be late in coming, but it will come :)
Oh, P.S. Uruguay has a new president and vice president! Jose Mujica and Danilo Astori from Frente Amplio. Election day was pretty crazy go nutz!