I am an unusual gringo with a goal to add a little more social exchange between the expatriates and the old families of Mexico, one of which is my own.

I am a Vales-Cervera. I have been thinking there could be many fun ways in which we could give a lot back to this beautiful community and stay within the boundaries of what got us here in the first place.

I was born and went through elementary school here (Marist Brothers´ Colegio Montejo) of a Merida father and a Cuban mother. You may say I am a socially ambidextrous man, that lived most of his life and raised his children in the US. I am a grateful Vietnam vet and post-graduate of The University of Miami in Coral Gables and have a home in Merida when I am not traveling doing my philanthropy elsewhere. I am still called a gringo by my old ancestry here in Merida, but accepted by the locals as a musician and most likely for being my father´s son, Don Henry Vales, a locally-famous archaeologist and “troba-master”

I have come up with a couple of ideas during my recent endeavour of mounting a huge 32′X8′ mosaic on the dominant wall of the US Consulate here in Merida as an international service learning project between Florida and Merida schools (including some Mayan groups). (The unveiling is October 27 at the US Consulate).

IDEAS: (and if this is already happening, please let me know how/where!) For starters I would like to organize a Saturday college-game watch for those who still enjoy college football (there are many locals who studied in the US and developed an affinity for the game. I have a local restaurant very interested in hosting the events and other events that would bring this niche of individuals trying to cross-culturalize the pro-world citizenship society and take advantage of the sudden increase of Americans down here (I mean, we can only act as tourists for so long, right?). I have jumped the gun and offered to pay the club for the pay-per view coverage myself as I am a die-hard college football fan. It could be a lot of fun with maybe a half-time entertainment package of live music, etc. And bring the feeling of home to Merida and our hosts.

Anyway, if there is anyone out there that understands where I am going with this and/or has at least an interest in college football, I do not know the rules of contact but my email would be given as requested as well as my local phone through this publication.

I would look forward to meeting a lot of you!

henry