Taste of Playa Does it again!

The Taste of Playa ‘Chick’ committee is rocking and rolling again with some new stuff in the works. Last week, Monica and Nicola were asked to attend a press conference at the local jail, this is the long term jail not the over night, oopps I got too drunk, jail. 

As a part of the process for the implementation of Taste of Playa, it was suggested that we make a donation of medication and sporting equipment to the local longer term jail.  MOnica arranged for the medications, Nicola arranged for the sporting equipment and also convinced Dave to donate old Treasure Hunt Abyss Tshirts that were from past years to the inmates.  Off we went to the outskirts of Playa Del Carmen in an non-airconditioned car, that is death in itself in August, to the front steps of the Municipal Jail. 

Now just a bit of background on Nicola and Monica.  Theya re two very strong, unafraid women who are not generally intimidated by anything.  Give them a job, no matter how hard or how challenging, and they will do it.  When they found themselves in the jail stuck in a room with bars, it was the waiting room for visitors in the general courtyard, they felt bad, as the inmates had a clear view of them and there was a feeling of seperation.  It felt like Nicola and Monica were in jail and it did not seem right to have these guys looking into the cage where they were waiting for the others to arrive for the press conference.

The courtyard was an outdoor space that held the inmates, over 372 of them, and they were making hammocks, beaded jewlery, furniture and attending a church sermon.  Nicola and Monica wanted out and wanted to check out the things that were being made and the items that the inmates were asked to do or produce.  With a local guard in tow, the women went around and learned more about hammock making then they have ever seen in their lives…and then the other wares came out and each inmate explained in detail how they made their things, how they sold them and of course, wouldwe buy something. 

It was an eye opening situation and these two women spent over 40 minutes chatting, understanding and getting to know the inmates in the Municipal Jail.  They were not dumb, but when having a tour of the jail and trying to understand the level of crime that these guys had committed, the answer was “these are the stupid guys, petty theft, weapon charges, robbery, etc…these were not the federal offenders who had committed murder, major drug crimes, etc.”  Some may be falsely accused as happens all over the world and they will be released back into society, they are not hard core criminals at the moment and with rehabilitation may not return to their lifestyle that got them put in.

Monica and Nicola were touched and their minds started to work overtime to see how they could assist in the rehabilitation of the inmates. the inmates were working hard, they were proud of what they were doing and it is thought that few know that the local jail is selling hammocks.  After the press conference with local municipal leaders, the conversations continued as to how the two local woman could help more than through the donations.  No we were not going to become missionaries and talk the words of the bible and rehabilitate the spirits of these men, we wanted to think of a way to concretely effect the lives of these men who embraced our questions and inquisitiveness…As the Director of Health said in his speech at the press conference, “We are all one and we are only seperated at the moment by the these walls, for a short period of time, and these women want to show that you are part of the whole and will return to the whole in a few months.  You are not forgotten”

So stay tuned for the ideas that these women come up with AFTER the event as the event is taking up most of their time.  taste of Playa is rolling out fast and is going very well..this month is  a busy month getting everything prepared and ready for SEPTEMBER 5, 2009. If you have not booked your flight i would think about doing it now…