En español.

Our last day in San Diego was to be spent traveling to Tijuana, Mexico for a number of events there. Now our tour has become somewhat international. Crossing the border into Mexico we were greeted by two security officers. Feeling a bit paranoid we thought they wanted to inspect our two torches that we were carrying as it is not the usual luggage that one would bring into another country. We had some brochures explaining the World Harmony Run just for that reason.

As they walked up to us they shook our hands, smiling, and escorted us over to a group of local policemen on motorcycles and in cars. After a brief moment of astonishment, we realized that this was our escort to meet the Mayor of Tijuana who was to run with us for a mile or so.

We jogged with some officials from the city to a group of about 50 high school age children all wearing World Harmony Run shirts that the city had printed up especially for this event. It was very exciting to mix with the kids and all the officials as we waited for Mayor Morales. He came shortly, dressed to run, and soon we were off in a large group of kids, officials, media and police escorts. After about a mile or so we ran into a park, around the track and to a staging area where there was refreshments and seating for the program arranged for us by the Instituto Municipal Del Deporte (Sports Institute of the city of Tijuana).

After introductions and a short presentation in Spanish by Banshidhar, our Spanish speaking runner, we sang the World Harmony Run song to everyone present.

The excitement really grew as a group of traditional Mexican dancers performed very dynamic and colorful dances on the stage. It was a brilliant performance with traditional music and lots of foot-stomping rhythms.

We are very grateful to Kaloyan Aguirre, Jorge Macias and Arturo Hachadur from the Insititute as well as Mayor Kurt Honold Morales for making this exciting event possible and running with us and all the beautiful children. Everything was planned perfectly from the security to the T-shirts and even a large and colorful banner made for the stage backdrop. Tijuana really showed its efficiency and concern for such important programs, cultural as well as athletic, for their large community.

From the park after this event we had a few local runners, including Manuel Bernal and Maria Carmen, join us from the Tortuga Runners’ Club.

We ran with a very efficient police escort for a few miles to the Instituto Progreso, a local private catholic school. Over 300 young children were singing together with their teachers as we ran into the large courtyard of the school. It was an exciting event once again, presented mostly in Spanish, but with all the joy and harmony that transcends any language.

The teachers all jogged with the Torch led by Mother Superior Martha Chavez Guido, to the excitement and surprise of all the children. After another song in unison by the whole school, we left the school very happy and touched by the heart of such a wonderful organization.

After lunch at a local Mexican Restaurant treated by our dear friend Olivia who had coordinated today’s events, we were off running again with our local runner friends and our wonderful police escorts who were protecting us the whole way and seeing us safely through all the intersections. Their work and all the lights and sounds that go with it makes for not only a more exciting but more visible run through the city.

Our next stop was the Bertha Von Glumer Kindergarten School (Jardin de Ninos). The Director of the school, Juan Carlos Huerta, along with all the teachers and about one hundred very young children greeted us warmly as we entered the outdoor playground behind the school.

Again we were greeted with singing and dancing and some very touching speeches in Spanish. After our own presentation, mostly in Spanish, we had the Harmony Train with teachers and then the children taking the Torch around the playground to the delight of everyone, including many of the parents who were also present. It was truly a delightful experience as these kindergarten children who were very colorfully dressed showed us the enthusiasm and joy of being part of such a well organized school and event. They sang for us very loudly and proudly one of their traditional songs as we were about to run out with the Torch from our last event here in Tijuana.

Without the hard work and enthusiasm of Olivia and all the officials from Tijuana who helped her to organize this memorable day we could have never had such a successful and exciting experience here with the wonderful people of Mexico. It was truly an act of international friendship and harmony from the hearts of the people of Tijuana.

Driving back to San Diego on our last evening there, we stopped at Jyoti Bihanga Restaurant, our oasis for the last three days. This vegetarian restaurant in the Normal Heights area of San Diego, the best one in town, has delicious, fresh and healthy food that makes one feel energized when leaving there. The atmosphere is clean and peaceful and the service is excellent. We are extremely grateful to them for all the delicious meals they offered us as part of the World Harmony run efforts.

Arpan and the ‘Internationales’

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