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S. Paltanavičiūtė’s first children’s book, “María de México”, published by the publishing house “Alma littera”, is as colorful as the country where Saulė lives. The book takes place in Oaxaca, a state in southwestern Mexico.
“I only spent a few days in it, but I will not forget the impression: I was cold from the colors, the sounds of music, the variety of crafts, the smells of traditional food. I wanted to create a very bright and colorful story. The talented illustrator Reda Tomingas helped me implement it. This brochure is like a love letter to Mexico, “he says, adding that he has always liked to write.
And yet, if it weren’t for Mexico, these books, The Sun admits, would not have existed. The thought of the book suddenly triggered her at the Migration Institute in Mexico: “While waiting in line, I thought about putting together everything that is most beautiful for me in Mexico and what I love so much here. So as not to be forgotten by me too, and so that the smallest readers learn, feel a different culture. The story came naturally, there are not many wacky things in the book – I brought together the people I met and their life stories. The clairvoyant character of the grandmother was created when I met the aunt of a colleague, and the rich Don Choakin, who dressed in ragged clothes so that no one would ask him to lend money, was the cousin of my friend’s great-grandfather, born in the northern Mexico from the 19th century. “
The love of traveling and being in nature, he says, encourages greater communication and closer observation of the environment – the world is so diverse and inexhaustible. In Mexico you never travel, people are interesting to visitors, they come closer, they ask, they share stories themselves. Sometimes they are so interesting that they really want others to hear them.
The Sun is a third generation biologist. He loved animals from an early age, spent summers and weekends in the garden or in nature, and with his parents constantly explored Lithuania, various regions, forests, swamps and lakes. She says that she realized the real damage a person is doing to nature only after studying when she went to Greece for an internship.
“It just came to our attention then. When we counted them, we also recorded rapes and organized educational campaigns. On the island of Zakynthos, which is popular with tourists, the contrast between mass tourism and wildlife has been particularly striking. Marinas have been explored on this island for a long time, and airplanes have even been banned at night so that the engines do not disturb the laying turtles. And yet we record violations every day: a turtle in the bay was surrounded all over the place by five tour boats, without following any recommended distance, the guides used audible cues to draw the turtles’ attention to self-infliction, even though it really caused a problem. a lot of stress for the animals. Tourists ride beach bikes and they ride horses exactly where turtles lay their eggs at night. Injured turtles often had to be rescued: the propellers of the boats cut off their limbs or armor. And much less pollution, the plastic is even in the muscles of the turtles! “
The naturalist is convinced: it depends on the family what attitude these children will bring to nature when they are older. Do parents notice nature? Do you spend time in it? Are you interested in reading? In the educational center, he is sometimes unpleasantly surprised: the children are far from nature and no longer see themselves as part of it. Some, when walking barefoot on the grass for the first time, complain that they are starving. Many of them are afraid of mosquitoes, spiders and ants, they do not want to touch the ground so as not to get dirty.
“Sometimes parents do their children too much of a service by doing bear service. How will they want to care for and protect nature when they are older, if they do not know them and are afraid of them? “, Think.
Mexico is an old dream of the sun. Here she has been working for the third year at the Center for Non-Formal Environmental Education for Children. They talk about nature with the children, they learn to compost, they do experiments, they observe birds.
“We want children not only to learn more about nature, but to feel closer to it, to be inspired to help it,” he says. – We are definitely living in a time that will decide the future. I try to be optimistic, because hope is the engine, especially when I work with children and talk about the problems of the Earth on a daily basis. Our center says: “Think globally, act locally.” Sometimes pessimistic headlines about Earth’s future have the opposite effect. Instead of being inspired to change something, we remain overwhelmed and helpless. “
When not working in the center, a Lithuanian spends time with loved ones, writes articles on travel, culture and nature for the Lithuanian press, does research, photographs Mexico and works on future books.
“I am fascinated by the warmth and courtesy of Mexicans, when the fruit vendor asks to protect himself and wishes him the most beautiful day. Mexico is very large and diverse in nature and culture. Each state is like a separate state with its own traditions. The language is amazing too: Spanish, seasoned with Mexican spices, suitable for both poetry and the “fattest sayings.” The food alone is worth the trip to Mexico. Protected by UNESCO and inexhaustible in its diversity. And yet, Indian cultures, multi-colored handicrafts, rich history, traditional festivities like the spectacular All Saints’ Day. Mexico for me: joy, optimism, colors, warmth, love, music ”.
