LEFT: Ameca's City Hall, Central Plaza
ABOVE: Ameca Hosts and Rotary Delegation
INSET: Mario Banuelos (l) and John McKay (r) with
Ameca Mayor Juan Valentin Serrano Jimenez
projects, and considered what our next project might be.
On our first night, we drove through lightning and
torrential rains to have dinner with Ameca’s Rotary Club.
We enjoyed corn tortillas stuffed with a variety of meats and
other tasty fillings, with plenty of freshly made pico de gallo
and salsa for dipping. Mexico is known for the fine quality
of its tequila, and we were encouraged to partake, either
sipping or mixing it with Squirt.
Along with local Rotarians, we met “el president,”
Ameca’s Mayor, along with city councilmembers, and
city staff who worked through the weekend to make our
trip comfortable.
Sister Cities International was established in 1956 by
former President Dwight Eisenhower with a mission to
“promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and
cooperation—one individual, one community at a time.”
In keeping with the spirit of this organization, we quickly
formed bonds with our hosts. We now consider them our
friends and look forward to hosting them in Morgan Hill.
When in Mexico, one learns to move with the pace
of events, which are not typically rushed. The Amecans
planned our schedule accordingly. For our group it was a
rare opportunity to relax and go with the flow.
We toured Ameca in a passenger van driven by a local
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
man we cherished for his deft navigation of the city’s web of
randomly-marked and rugged streets. During our tour we
visited historical landmarks, and observed preparations for
Mexico’s Independence Day (we were there for preliminary
festivities that precede the official day, September 16th).
We visited San Nicolas School, where students benefit
from access to a learning lab equipped with fifteen comput-
ers donated by Morgan Hill Rotary Club. We also visited
Ameca’s Red Cross station, one of the only urgent care
centers for this municipality of over 57,000 people. It was
equipped with an ambulance with support from our local
Rotary Club. On this trip our delegates also brought donated
medical supplies for Ameca’s Red Cross chapter. Their heart-
felt thanks had many of us near tears. Our simple gesture
brought renewed hope where it was truly needed.
For me personally, this experience was one that made
me realize how, in a region of rural Mexico that continues
to struggle like a third-world country, so little can mean
so much.
Our introduction to Ameca’s history included a stop at
a former hacienda once owned by major landowners and
returned to the people during the Mexican Revolution. After
years of languishing, it was being restored to serve as an inn.
We had a fine dinner and enjoyed local Mariachi, a music
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