Ask the U.S. Consul
by Lisa Vickers, Principal Officer

Sister Cities

First and foremost, on behalf of the United States government and the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas who have been so gravely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I want to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the people of Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula for the outpouring of sympathy, donations and good wishes that they have sent our way. Not a day has passed since that tragedy that someone hasn’t told me or one of my staff how sorry they are, and how difficult it must be for all of those who have lost everything, and how their hearts go out to the victims. Residents of the Yucatan Peninsula are well aware of the devastation that a hurricane can bring; memories of Hurricanes Gilbert, Roxanne, Isidore and Emily are very fresh in everyone’s minds.

What some of you may not know is, Merida and New Orleans are sister cities. Officially, that relationship began in the early 1990’s. Unofficially, it has existed for well over a century. The number of families in Merida with ties to New Orleans is staggering. Until the demise of Pan Am, there was a daily flight between New Orleans and Merida; many of the doctors that practice here were trained at Tulane University; New Orleans was the place to go for shopping, medical care, educational exchanges—you name it. So it is no wonder that the residents of Merida feel so keenly the suffering of the victims in New Orleans. The Ayuntamiento of Merida organized a donation drive for goods that were needed in New Orleans, and through the generosity of thousands of people, a little of the suffering of the victims of this natural disaster has been alleviated. Thank you.

JAZZ CONCERT BENEFIT
For those looking for a way to “let the good times roll” again and do some good at the same time, there will be a jazz concert on October 14, 2005 at 9:00 pm, at the Ex-Escuela Andres Quintana Roo, located on Calle 60 at Calle 45 (across the street from Santa Ana church) to benefit the NOCCA Institute, a school of arts in New Orleans. The concert features the Tim Laughlin Quartet, a New Orleans group whose tour through Mexico is sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America and the Consulate here in Merida. The event on the 14th is sponsored by the Instituto Cultural de Yucatan, the Embassy and Consulate, the Ayuntamiento de Merida, the Ciudadanos pro Ciudades Hermanas Merida-Nuevo Orleans, among others. Tickets are $200 pesos, and include the music, food and drink, and all proceeds go to benefit the NOCCA Institute and its students.

The Tim Laughlin Quartet will also offer a master class for music students on October 15, and a concert at Teatro Merida that night, as part of the Otono Cultural. These concerts, also sponsored by the Embassy and Consulate of the United States, are our way of saying Thank You for the support and assistance that so many of you have offered to people that you don’t even know. Mark it on your calendar, and come out to see this excellent example of New Orleans jazz right here in Merida.

US CONSUL REP VISIT
For those who are receiving social security and other U.S. government benefits, take note: representatives of the office of Federal Benefits of the Embassy will be in Merida at the beginning of December to answer questions, resolve outstanding issues, etc. I will have further details in the next issue, but mark December 6-8 on your calendars and stay tuned for further information.

For information on these and similar subjects, go to our Ask the Consul page.