Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
La Gran Aventura de Hoy -- Todays Great Adventure
Heavy rainfall began and ended today.
Last night I arrived in Oaxaca City. This is my second time in the City and I am happy to be back in this climate. It is less hot and humid here than the coast. (although the humidity was nice to my skin).
I traveled through the night on the bus from Ixtapec with Frank and his Cousin. Frank is a mediator and lawyer that I met in Salina Cruz. He is my age. I stayed one night with his family at their house in Ixtapec. We are now at his family´s second house in Oaxaca city. I didn't sleep much last night because the 5 hour bus ride from Ixtapec to here was very curvey! When we arrived, the house was full of people. So his cousin, Danae, and I shared the futon after we arrived at 5am.
Today everyone left and Frank is going to Mexico City. tonight to get his lawyer license, having just finished his education and passed the exam to be a lawyer. Thus, tonight it will just be me and his 17 year old Danae in the house. This will be the first night that I will have a bed to myself in over a week! I am not complaining though, I have had free lodging for the past couple of weeks and have made lots of new friends. Lookout though Oregon. I have invited all my new friends to stay with me if they ever want to visit and I think that I will be taken up on my offer.
Today began a little to slow for my liking. I made scrambled eggs and oatmeal for us and then we hung around the house doing nothing. I had planned on going to the mediation center here in Oaxaca early in the morning, but Frank had things to do. Finally I decided to take a Taxi to the mediation center.
I had a few great hours with some really nice mediators that let me ask them questions about mediation in Oaxaca. And they replied in slow, understandable Spanish! It was such a nice change of pace! I am excited about what I am learning about mediation here...and I can´t wait to get started on my thesis. I have a lot of questions I still need to answer though.
I left the mediation center at 3 pm in search of a Taxi to get back home. However, there was a some sort of strike and all the city buses were parked to block all the roads. The whole city was one big traffic jam! And there were no Taxis to be found. I made it the central bus station with the help of one of the mediation employees. This person left me at the station extremely apologetic but not being able to do anything for me. We called Frank and he said he would get me when they moved the buses.
By this time it was around 4 o clock, and finally being on the Mexican eating schedule, I decided to pass the time by having lunch. I ordered two quesadillas across the street and sat on a door step just out of reach of the rain to eat. Man, the food here is soo delicious. Those fresh warm made by hand corn tortillas are amazing.
From where I was sitting I could view a four way intersection, each street blocked by a bus (this was a protest because taxes were raised for the bus passengers recently). A lot of people were yelling and some kids (malos muchachos) threw rocks at one of the buses and broke out the windows. Soon after that the buses were moved from here and Frank arrived in a VW bug with a friend to pick me up. However, there were still bus blocks around the city and we drove around for two hours trying to find an open path home. During this adventure I got to see more of the city than I knew existed. I also saw one girl pierce the tongue of her friend in the middle of the sidewalk...no gloves, no nothing. Blood trickling down her tongue... ewwe.
After many turns we came to a street that had turned into a river from all the rain. After sitting at the mouth of it, contemplating whether or not to go through, and watching other cars (some successful and some not) go through, Frank's friend decided to give it a go. I protested that our car was too low. Two big trucks that passed us from the other direction shook their heads at us, "I wouldn´t do it amigo. The water is really high" they advised.
The friend, confident his VW bug would be fine, rushed into the water, and moments later, water rushed into the car. I stayed dry by pulling my legs up onto the seat, but Frank and friend were not so lucky. Soon after that the engine died and we sat in the middle of the river for a few moments before being able to slowly return from whence we came. Many minutes later we were turned around, which was another amazing feat considering the traffic at this point. We pulled over and let the engine dry out.
Around 7 o clock we finally made it home, we stopped at the store for milk and sweet bread and enjoyed hot chocolate at home. A perfect end to a very rainy and somewhat cold day. But what an adventure! I can´t wait for tomorrow! Ohh and I have pics of all this. I will post them soon!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Spanglish
Tonight I am staying in the house of a very important lady in Ixtepec. 1.5 hours de Salina Cruz. Her son, 25, is a lawyer-mediator in Salina Cruz and I was invited to stay with his family. His mom dresses in traditional Zapotecan wear and she speaks the Zapotecan dialect. Chela means cervaza (beer) and Chawy Chawy (dont know how it is spelled) means despacio (slow). I didnt know I would be learning Zapotec tambien (too).
Last week I was staying with a lady who I thought was a mediator in Salina Cruz. Well, she is a mediator, just not full time. Only when she wants to (but she still receives a salary for it?? I havent quite figured it out). She is a "woman without responsibilities" her mom owns a small resturant in a great location (right in front of the bus station) and She owns an internet\clothing boutique next door.
The day I arrived, last Sunday, this lady lost the baby she was carrying (three months left to go). Apparently, the week before, she was in an accident. She ran into a man working in the streets in a tunnel (she didnt see him). When she got out to help him and offer to take him to the hospital, his sister attacked her. From my limited ability to understand spanish, I gathered that she attributes this incident to losing her baby.
She has two other children. One 7 year old very bright girl and one 14 year old boy. They lived with their grandma the week I was there. Well, the boy always lives with grandma. She had two friends stay with her the entire week helping her out since she was in a lot of pain after the operation to remove her baby. One of them has a 2 year old little boy who was a pain.
It took me the week (and accidently walking into the room during an intimate moment) to figure out that these woman were girlfriends. I am so dense when it comes to realizing these things. In Salina Cruz and much of the Isthmus, being openly gay is accepted. This, in my opinion, is a good thing. The Istmus of Mexico is also very matriarchal. It is pretty interesting.
The last few days I have been staying with another Mediator in Tehauntepec. (20 min from Salina Cruz).
Last week there was a mediation between a pregnant woman and the man who made her so. He doesn't want to take responsibility because he has a wife. But the mediation was the first time he acknowledged that the baby was his. It was quite interesting to watch. Oh how I love mediation!
I am still struggling to know what is going on all the time and I have trouble expressing myself, which is incredibly frustrating....This is the first time I have been somewhere where no one speaks English. Some people know a few words and love to insert them when talking with me. Which is quite funny. In the middle of a sentence in Spanish, English words like "house" "grandma" "dog" "orange" "one, two, three" will find there way in.
Ahhh, Spanglish!
Last week I was staying with a lady who I thought was a mediator in Salina Cruz. Well, she is a mediator, just not full time. Only when she wants to (but she still receives a salary for it?? I havent quite figured it out). She is a "woman without responsibilities" her mom owns a small resturant in a great location (right in front of the bus station) and She owns an internet\clothing boutique next door.
The day I arrived, last Sunday, this lady lost the baby she was carrying (three months left to go). Apparently, the week before, she was in an accident. She ran into a man working in the streets in a tunnel (she didnt see him). When she got out to help him and offer to take him to the hospital, his sister attacked her. From my limited ability to understand spanish, I gathered that she attributes this incident to losing her baby.
She has two other children. One 7 year old very bright girl and one 14 year old boy. They lived with their grandma the week I was there. Well, the boy always lives with grandma. She had two friends stay with her the entire week helping her out since she was in a lot of pain after the operation to remove her baby. One of them has a 2 year old little boy who was a pain.
It took me the week (and accidently walking into the room during an intimate moment) to figure out that these woman were girlfriends. I am so dense when it comes to realizing these things. In Salina Cruz and much of the Isthmus, being openly gay is accepted. This, in my opinion, is a good thing. The Istmus of Mexico is also very matriarchal. It is pretty interesting.
The last few days I have been staying with another Mediator in Tehauntepec. (20 min from Salina Cruz).
Last week there was a mediation between a pregnant woman and the man who made her so. He doesn't want to take responsibility because he has a wife. But the mediation was the first time he acknowledged that the baby was his. It was quite interesting to watch. Oh how I love mediation!
I am still struggling to know what is going on all the time and I have trouble expressing myself, which is incredibly frustrating....This is the first time I have been somewhere where no one speaks English. Some people know a few words and love to insert them when talking with me. Which is quite funny. In the middle of a sentence in Spanish, English words like "house" "grandma" "dog" "orange" "one, two, three" will find there way in.
Ahhh, Spanglish!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Salina Cruz week one
Hey all,
I have been in Salina Cruz for almost a week now. Wow the time has flown. The people I have met here and the people I am staying with are the most generous and hospitable people I have ever met. If people in the US could only understand how I have been recieved here, they would be ashamed at how Mexicans have been recieved in our country.
I am still shaky with my spanish, and cant understand everything, but it is becoming easier. Watching the mediation process in Spanish is facinating but I think that mediation will be 10 times easier when I get back, just beacause it will be in English.
I am a bit sad I only have two more weeks here.
I have been in Salina Cruz for almost a week now. Wow the time has flown. The people I have met here and the people I am staying with are the most generous and hospitable people I have ever met. If people in the US could only understand how I have been recieved here, they would be ashamed at how Mexicans have been recieved in our country.
I am still shaky with my spanish, and cant understand everything, but it is becoming easier. Watching the mediation process in Spanish is facinating but I think that mediation will be 10 times easier when I get back, just beacause it will be in English.
I am a bit sad I only have two more weeks here.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Portraits
Meet Daniel -
Daniel is around 20 years old and lives in San Jaun Sasola. It is a small town of about 50 people. He is one of the youngest people living here because, unlike his peers, he didnt choose to immigrate to the states or to bigger cities in Mexico. Daniel seems much older than he really is. He took the WFP group on a walk through the country side sharing his favorite spot...the high vantage point where he used to sit all day and watch the goats. This was his job when he was 5. He showed us the plants we could eat, the ones that cured hangovers, and the mala mujer, (bad woman) the plant not to touch.
He is the town representative of an organization called CERICAM, which is an organization that promotes traditional organic farming practices. I think it started in the mid 1980´s. The hope that the town can survive and the people can continue to feed themselves rests in the hands of the younger generation...in this case it rests in Daniel´s hands.
Meet Adi -
Adi is around 33 years old. She lives in Puerto Escondido and teaches Spanish. She loves her town and she loves her country but she doesn´t understand why the governement is more interested in improving touist´s lives than the lives of the people who live there. "Look she says, most of us can´t afford to eat here." (the street located in front of the surfer beach, Playa Zicatela). "This sidewalk is for you, these lights are for you. Walk up to the carretara, where is our sidewalk?" She wants the people to wake up. "It is in our hands" she said. "We need to fix this."
I thanked her for explaining her views and she thanked me for listening and wanting to learn. In order to learn the language she said, you need to understand the culture."La cultura es el espejo de la lengua" She told me. (The culture is the mirror of the language).
Meet Z...
The lady I lived with in Puerto Escondido. She has two young kids, a little black dog and a husband. She also agreed that the tourist part of town is too expensive (this might be a good time to mention that most Mexicans earn $50 pesos for an eight hour day, which is equal to $5 US dollars. However, food costs only a little less than we pay in the states). Also, after my ATM bank issue she informed me, "we don´t put our money in the bank. The banks are corrupt. They charge the people to have accounts. They charge extra fees and slowly draw your money out. Don´t trust the banks. Also, they are mostly not Mexican owned."
Meet Irene -
Irene also teaches Spanish in Puerto Escondido. Sometimes she hates her job because some of the people that come to learn spanish just want to know how to give orders. She explained that Mexico is for sale and foreigners buy the land, but don´t care about the people or understand Mexico´s complicated history. She is from the middle class but her eyes were opened to the county´s problems and corruption in 1994. 1994 is the year NAFTA was signed and the Zapatista´s cries of protest reached the international world.
Irene is trying to save seeds on her own, like the people in San Jaun Sosola, to keep them pure from GMO contamination.
Meet Daniel -
Daniel is 28 years old and lives in Puerto Escondido. He lived for many years in the states and worked as a bricklayer. He is in constant back pain but he works in Mexico as a brick layer for himself, now that he understands the business. He thinks about going back to the states but he loves Puerto and also wants to be here for his brother. His mom died when he was 8, she was in labor with his brother. His dad was in the army and died when Daniel was 16. Thus, Daniel has been fending for the family. His brother is gay, but Daniel tells him he has to fight those demons. Daniel also fights demons. "There are voices inside his head that tell me to do bad things and act crazy. But I believe in God and know that God is always there, even when you think he is not, he is."
Meet I -
I is around 32 years old and speaks English almost perfectly. He lived in New York for many years. He had a false SS number but didn't collect any taxes, he opted to donate them instead. You can tell he loves New York a lot, but he loves Puerto more. He wants to build a house there. He first crossed the border when he was 16. For a while he helped traffic people, which he does not consider to be wrong. "I was kind of like Zorro he said." He also worked for drug traffickers, but "not the bad kind".
"They didn´t kill anyone, I don´t think. I heard them beat someone up once. But he deserved it." He went to school in the states, eventually attended University and worked for an agency retouching ads. He made a lot of money but spent a lot of money too. Especially on alcohol. He works in Puerto as a Spanish teacher and he teaches English to young kids.
Meet random Collectivo Taxi driver -
"Where are you from?" he asked. "I am from the states" I replied. " "Oh really? Where?" "The state above California, Oregon." "Really!? I lived there for 6 years. There are a lot of trees! Even the license plates have trees! It rains a lot there!" "haha, yep. That is Oregon."
I miss Oregon.
Daniel is around 20 years old and lives in San Jaun Sasola. It is a small town of about 50 people. He is one of the youngest people living here because, unlike his peers, he didnt choose to immigrate to the states or to bigger cities in Mexico. Daniel seems much older than he really is. He took the WFP group on a walk through the country side sharing his favorite spot...the high vantage point where he used to sit all day and watch the goats. This was his job when he was 5. He showed us the plants we could eat, the ones that cured hangovers, and the mala mujer, (bad woman) the plant not to touch.
He is the town representative of an organization called CERICAM, which is an organization that promotes traditional organic farming practices. I think it started in the mid 1980´s. The hope that the town can survive and the people can continue to feed themselves rests in the hands of the younger generation...in this case it rests in Daniel´s hands.
Meet Adi -
Adi is around 33 years old. She lives in Puerto Escondido and teaches Spanish. She loves her town and she loves her country but she doesn´t understand why the governement is more interested in improving touist´s lives than the lives of the people who live there. "Look she says, most of us can´t afford to eat here." (the street located in front of the surfer beach, Playa Zicatela). "This sidewalk is for you, these lights are for you. Walk up to the carretara, where is our sidewalk?" She wants the people to wake up. "It is in our hands" she said. "We need to fix this."
I thanked her for explaining her views and she thanked me for listening and wanting to learn. In order to learn the language she said, you need to understand the culture."La cultura es el espejo de la lengua" She told me. (The culture is the mirror of the language).
Meet Z...
The lady I lived with in Puerto Escondido. She has two young kids, a little black dog and a husband. She also agreed that the tourist part of town is too expensive (this might be a good time to mention that most Mexicans earn $50 pesos for an eight hour day, which is equal to $5 US dollars. However, food costs only a little less than we pay in the states). Also, after my ATM bank issue she informed me, "we don´t put our money in the bank. The banks are corrupt. They charge the people to have accounts. They charge extra fees and slowly draw your money out. Don´t trust the banks. Also, they are mostly not Mexican owned."
Meet Irene -
Irene also teaches Spanish in Puerto Escondido. Sometimes she hates her job because some of the people that come to learn spanish just want to know how to give orders. She explained that Mexico is for sale and foreigners buy the land, but don´t care about the people or understand Mexico´s complicated history. She is from the middle class but her eyes were opened to the county´s problems and corruption in 1994. 1994 is the year NAFTA was signed and the Zapatista´s cries of protest reached the international world.
Irene is trying to save seeds on her own, like the people in San Jaun Sosola, to keep them pure from GMO contamination.
Meet Daniel -
Daniel is 28 years old and lives in Puerto Escondido. He lived for many years in the states and worked as a bricklayer. He is in constant back pain but he works in Mexico as a brick layer for himself, now that he understands the business. He thinks about going back to the states but he loves Puerto and also wants to be here for his brother. His mom died when he was 8, she was in labor with his brother. His dad was in the army and died when Daniel was 16. Thus, Daniel has been fending for the family. His brother is gay, but Daniel tells him he has to fight those demons. Daniel also fights demons. "There are voices inside his head that tell me to do bad things and act crazy. But I believe in God and know that God is always there, even when you think he is not, he is."
Meet I -
I is around 32 years old and speaks English almost perfectly. He lived in New York for many years. He had a false SS number but didn't collect any taxes, he opted to donate them instead. You can tell he loves New York a lot, but he loves Puerto more. He wants to build a house there. He first crossed the border when he was 16. For a while he helped traffic people, which he does not consider to be wrong. "I was kind of like Zorro he said." He also worked for drug traffickers, but "not the bad kind".
"They didn´t kill anyone, I don´t think. I heard them beat someone up once. But he deserved it." He went to school in the states, eventually attended University and worked for an agency retouching ads. He made a lot of money but spent a lot of money too. Especially on alcohol. He works in Puerto as a Spanish teacher and he teaches English to young kids.
Meet random Collectivo Taxi driver -
"Where are you from?" he asked. "I am from the states" I replied. " "Oh really? Where?" "The state above California, Oregon." "Really!? I lived there for 6 years. There are a lot of trees! Even the license plates have trees! It rains a lot there!" "haha, yep. That is Oregon."
I miss Oregon.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Puerto Escondido
I have spent this last week in Puerto Escondido and havent been very good about updating my blog.
The first word of this town, Puerto, signifies that this is a port town. It is located on the Southern Pacific coast of Mexico. Escondido mean "hidden" in Spanish. Which is a joke now. Puerto Escondido used to be hidden, years ago, but in recent years, as surfers realized this place has unique and grande waves, it has been developed. Sadly.
My guide book says that Puerto Escondido is a great example of unsustainable development. I don t really quite feel like I am in Mexico here, except that I am hot most of the time and sweating profusely. There are three main beaches. The one only for surfers, where it is too dangerous to swim, is full of tourists, Eurpean, Mexican and American. There is another beach where there are more Mexicans than Europeans or Americans. (it is an unspoken rule where about what beach you should be on).
During my week here I have quite enjoyed the view of the ocean and this view is this picture that I will take with me.. I had a great view of the magnificent crashing waves from the high point of a language school. I decided to attended Spanish school four hours a day. I suffered through a review of the grammar and worked on increasing my vocabulary in order to be more prepared for the next part of my journey as a volunteer at a mediation center. I had great teachers and learned more about Mexico's complicated history and identity. One of my teachers gave me great resources to look up later about human rights issues in Mexico.
The first part of the week I felt lonely. I spent all week thinking that I dont fit in with the surfing culture. I also had permanent a headache from trying to cram as much Spanish in my head as possible. For a few days I felt very energized, optimistic and happy, but then I had an issue with an ATM not giving me money, while my bank account registered that I did take money out. What a stress!
I was able to call my bank and fax the necessary paperwork. I also went to the bank that owned this ATM to see if they could do anything. They told me that it was the fault of my bank and there was nothing they could do. So keep your fingers crossed for me that somehow this all works out, because I cant afford to have money vanish.
I learned though, that most Mexicans do not keep their money in banks here because the banks "rob" the people. It was really comforting to hear. (not).
I have been staying in a private room owned by a family here. I was eating meals in their house but without the rest of the family. It made me feel very uncomfortable. I also could not figure out when they actually ate! I learned last night when I went to chat with them they they eat at least one of their meals, at 10 pm. I watched Family Guy with the kids ...which, in my opinion, is a stupid show in both English and Spanish.
Tomorrow I am traveling 5 more hours down the coast to Salina Cruz to volunteer at a mediation center there. I am nervous because I dont know what to expect. One of the people that works there, that agreed to let me do this is going to meet me at the bus station. Wish me luck!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Puerto Escondido
I have been having trouble keeping up with this blog due to limited access to internet and time constraints.
Right now I am in Puerto Escondido, a very touristy location and very appealing for surfers. I haven´t stopped sweating since I got here and have a million mosquito bites (I might be exaggerating).
the first night here I tried to find somewhere to dance, but failed. I think it may have been because I left at midnight, and apparently that is when the party starts. So I am gonna try again tonight.
Please keep me in your thoughts as I am feeling kind of lonely here, especially after last week when I was super busy and always with amigos.
thanks.
Right now I am in Puerto Escondido, a very touristy location and very appealing for surfers. I haven´t stopped sweating since I got here and have a million mosquito bites (I might be exaggerating).
the first night here I tried to find somewhere to dance, but failed. I think it may have been because I left at midnight, and apparently that is when the party starts. So I am gonna try again tonight.
Please keep me in your thoughts as I am feeling kind of lonely here, especially after last week when I was super busy and always with amigos.
thanks.
Reading and Film Suggestions
Here is a list gathered from the people with me on the WFP delegation, along with a couple of suggestions from a Spanish teacher here in Puerto Escondido if you are interested in Mexico-US relations, immigration, food security and more...
Films and Documentaries
Food Inc
Which Way Home
pinkyshow.org
Maquilaopis
Un pòquito de tanta verdad
Farmingville
Fresh
Home (you tube)
Maquila: A tale of two Mexicos
Posada
Papers
9500 Liberty
The Least of These
Señorita exravida by Lourdes Portillo
The Garden of Eden
Crossing Arizona
The End of Poverty?
Life and Debt (SAP in Jamaica)
Goodbye Lenin
Sleep Dealers
The business of Being Born
De Nadie
Sin Nombre
The Visitor
La Misma Luna
Traffic
Prety Dirty Things
El Norte
Books
Borderlands/ La Frontera
The Maya of Morgontown
Enriques Journey
The of Food
Slow Food Nation
In Defense of Food
Fair Trade for All
Guest Workers or Colonized Labor
Illegal People and other books by David Bacon
The Militarization of the Border
Homo Sacer
The Three US- Mexico Border Wars; Drugs, Immigration and Homeland Security
First World Ha Ha Ha!
Tha Fatal Harvest
The Annexation of Mexico
Expect Resistance
Doris Zine
Harvest of Empire
Opein Veubs of Latin America
Los de Abajo (the Underdogs)
Memory of Fire trilogy (especially century of the wind)ç
They take our jobs (and ten other myths about immigration)
Las Venas Abiertos de America Latin - Eduardo Galeano
Website
Google --- revolucianemosoaxaca
Online News
La Jornada
Films and Documentaries
Food Inc
Which Way Home
pinkyshow.org
Maquilaopis
Un pòquito de tanta verdad
Farmingville
Fresh
Home (you tube)
Maquila: A tale of two Mexicos
Posada
Papers
9500 Liberty
The Least of These
Señorita exravida by Lourdes Portillo
The Garden of Eden
Crossing Arizona
The End of Poverty?
Life and Debt (SAP in Jamaica)
Goodbye Lenin
Sleep Dealers
The business of Being Born
De Nadie
Sin Nombre
The Visitor
La Misma Luna
Traffic
Prety Dirty Things
El Norte
Books
Borderlands/ La Frontera
The Maya of Morgontown
Enriques Journey
The of Food
Slow Food Nation
In Defense of Food
Fair Trade for All
Guest Workers or Colonized Labor
Illegal People and other books by David Bacon
The Militarization of the Border
Homo Sacer
The Three US- Mexico Border Wars; Drugs, Immigration and Homeland Security
First World Ha Ha Ha!
Tha Fatal Harvest
The Annexation of Mexico
Expect Resistance
Doris Zine
Harvest of Empire
Opein Veubs of Latin America
Los de Abajo (the Underdogs)
Memory of Fire trilogy (especially century of the wind)ç
They take our jobs (and ten other myths about immigration)
Las Venas Abiertos de America Latin - Eduardo Galeano
Website
Google --- revolucianemosoaxaca
Online News
La Jornada
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Support
Thank you to all my friends who responded to my blog. You have no idea how much it meant to me. I will write more about the past few days soon, but I have to share the computer now.
Globalization
The Context
The world today is more interconnected than it has been at any point in the past. Advancements in communication and travel technology have helped transfer ideas and people across international boundaries at unprecedented rates. As a result, a person from the United States can go shopping in Switzerland without leaving their computer chair.
Nothing, however, weaves the international community more tightly than economic policy. This connection is recently exemplified in the current world-wide recession. When the U.S. economy suffered a lack of financial growth the majority of the world was adversely affected too. In some cases the economies of other countries suffered more compared to the U.S. This fact exemplifies another characteristic of the relationship between nations: it is not an equal one. Capitalism functions through competition and risk. This ideology, when embraced internationally, translates to competition between developed, underdeveloped and developing countries. Thus, the global-capitalist economic system will inevitably produce “winners” and “losers.”
Human lives have been bettered through a global system. For example, the ability of people around the world to quickly mobilize and aid the victims in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake is due in part to globalization. However, cultural genocide, human-rights abuses and vast economic disparity are also attributed to this global system. Consequently, push-back against globalization is observed in both violent and peaceful responses around the world. With the context of globalization in mind I ventured to Mexico to explore free trade from a social-justice perspective. ** This was written this last winer (2010). I changed the last line though**
Friday, July 16, 2010
Update
I have so much to say. Too much to say for the time I have right now. Tomorrow we are leaving for the campo to stay two days in a region in which there are hardly any young people left because they have immigrated.
I have been getting around 5 hours of sleep every night for a week. This is due to constant traffic noise, uncomfortable beds, yelling french kids and two drunk guests that broke the door trying to get into the hostal last night.
Two little sleep mixed with an emotional journey learning about economic hardships, blatant discrimination and political violence that give rise to conditions of immigration in Mexico and central american countries ...mixed with that fact that I just learned that Rusty, our beloved dog and Tilly´s best friend is no longer with us, mixed with thinking about the too short life that Kerry led...when he could have done so much to help the people I am meeting with...yes, today has been an especially tear-filled day.
We have had a full week meeting with people who are telling us their stories. Some inspiring -- like the illiterate farmer with a fourth grade education who engineered wells in order to retain water in a region that would be waterless if he hadn´t. He could be rich if he were in the U.S. Some heartbreaking -- Too bad the big corporation building a mine in this farmer´s land will probably be taking this water...
Or like the age 17- 25? El Salvadorian who is on a great journey for the second time to the U.S, facing conditions I could never in my life imagine. If he doesn´t make it this time he said, he will just go back to his family and probably starve to death with them. The situation in El Salvador he said is dire and the U.S. who has purchased El Salvador has done nothing for the people. He hates Obama because it is even harder now to cross the border thanks to him.
Please keep me in your thoughts. I need the strength of others who also believe that all people deserve to be treated in a just and humane manner. With all of our technological advancements it is so easy to be lost in our own world. Don´t forget that we live in this world with others and that our lives are all connected in one way or another.
I have been getting around 5 hours of sleep every night for a week. This is due to constant traffic noise, uncomfortable beds, yelling french kids and two drunk guests that broke the door trying to get into the hostal last night.
Two little sleep mixed with an emotional journey learning about economic hardships, blatant discrimination and political violence that give rise to conditions of immigration in Mexico and central american countries ...mixed with that fact that I just learned that Rusty, our beloved dog and Tilly´s best friend is no longer with us, mixed with thinking about the too short life that Kerry led...when he could have done so much to help the people I am meeting with...yes, today has been an especially tear-filled day.
We have had a full week meeting with people who are telling us their stories. Some inspiring -- like the illiterate farmer with a fourth grade education who engineered wells in order to retain water in a region that would be waterless if he hadn´t. He could be rich if he were in the U.S. Some heartbreaking -- Too bad the big corporation building a mine in this farmer´s land will probably be taking this water...
Or like the age 17- 25? El Salvadorian who is on a great journey for the second time to the U.S, facing conditions I could never in my life imagine. If he doesn´t make it this time he said, he will just go back to his family and probably starve to death with them. The situation in El Salvador he said is dire and the U.S. who has purchased El Salvador has done nothing for the people. He hates Obama because it is even harder now to cross the border thanks to him.
Please keep me in your thoughts. I need the strength of others who also believe that all people deserve to be treated in a just and humane manner. With all of our technological advancements it is so easy to be lost in our own world. Don´t forget that we live in this world with others and that our lives are all connected in one way or another.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mercado de las comidas
Today, feeling too much like an American tourist, I broke from the WFP group for lunch and entered the mercado de las comidas. This is an indoor market option for food. Indoor markets are a crazy mix of smells, sounds and activities. Raw meat hangs in smelly, but neat rows waiting to be sold nearby. Baskets full of fried and spiced grasshoppers and other bugs have an intresting and unappealing smell. Lines ogçf vegatables, bread and fruit also line the market along with hand embroidered clothes and other arts and crafts. The people selling these goods call out to you as you pass. Look amiga they say, want to try, want to buy?
Many little resturants comprise the comidas section...but it sort of appears as a weirdly divided cafeteria. (I haven´t been brave enough to take pictures here as I think it would upset the mostly indigenous vendors.) Today I ordered tamale oxaxaña which is a tamale with chicken and cheese and delicious mole sauce (think spicy chocolate salsa). I also had a coca cola. I hardly drink soda in the states but I justify this purchase for two reasons. 1. Coke hecho en Mexico does not have high fructose corn syrup. 2. It settles the stomach.
On a side note, I am finding myself having to justify many of my actions here. For example I reason with myself about who I buy from (I choose to purchase things from women as opposed to men)... I wish I didn´t feel I had to justify my actions though.
While eating my delicious meal, two Oaxacan tourists (they are from Mexico City) sat across from me and we had a conversation that I could sort of understand.
This experience made my day, which I will only partially attribute to the sugar and caffiene from the soda.
Muchos besos a todas...
Many little resturants comprise the comidas section...but it sort of appears as a weirdly divided cafeteria. (I haven´t been brave enough to take pictures here as I think it would upset the mostly indigenous vendors.) Today I ordered tamale oxaxaña which is a tamale with chicken and cheese and delicious mole sauce (think spicy chocolate salsa). I also had a coca cola. I hardly drink soda in the states but I justify this purchase for two reasons. 1. Coke hecho en Mexico does not have high fructose corn syrup. 2. It settles the stomach.
On a side note, I am finding myself having to justify many of my actions here. For example I reason with myself about who I buy from (I choose to purchase things from women as opposed to men)... I wish I didn´t feel I had to justify my actions though.
While eating my delicious meal, two Oaxacan tourists (they are from Mexico City) sat across from me and we had a conversation that I could sort of understand.
This experience made my day, which I will only partially attribute to the sugar and caffiene from the soda.
Muchos besos a todas...
Witness for Peace
Today officially started the Witness for Peace portion of my trip.
There are 13 other people here in la ciudad de Oaxaca on this delegation trip who come from a mix of backgrounds and life experiences. Most of us are from the Pacific NW (one from Canada, although originally from the UK) and a few from the New England region.
I am impressed by the amount of knowledge in the group about various issues including free trade, trade relations and immigration (as well as many other random subjects). For example, my roommate, Olga, is a chicano literature profesor in Long Island. Her family immigrated here from Mexico and she was born in California. Her first language is Spanish but she is fluent in English as well. She has been helping me practice Spanish a bit and has been a respectful and fun roommate. Where she lives and teaches now, in Long Island, is not a place that welcomes immigrants. Tragically, weekly beatings and few deaths have accumulated from the mix immigrant presence and racism. She explained that after living in more open minded California and New Mexico, Long Island was quite a shock. If you want to understand more about the community environment and stance on immigrants there watch the powerful documentary Farmingville. http://www.pbs.org/pov/farmingville/
Olga has suggested some books about the subject of immigration and I plan to start them when I return to the states. If you are also interested in this subject you might want to read some David Bacon. These are not the exact titles, but close enough 1. The Children of NAFTA
2. Illegal People...
Another woman on this trip, who will be going to Cambridge, MA to study divinity reccommended Brotherland/La Frontera, a bilingual book by Gloria Anzaldula.
Today we learned about the culture and history in Mexico in which 500 years of history was crammed into 2 hours. So obviously it wasn´t an in-depth look but now us delegates have a historical context as a basis which will help us better understand the people from here who are going to share their stories. We also talked about the history of neoliberalism (economic shock policy) in the country, which was a good review for me. Go here -- http://inzanetimes.wordpress.com/?ref=spelling for more information about what we did today. This is the blog of a fellow delegate.
I come into this delegation with quite a bit of bias, cynicism and criticism of the U.S government´s role in the exploitation of vulnerable people. I am also aware and disenchanted by the power of mega corporations that impact people negatively in order to make a profit. However, Mexico´s government has played a role as well and there is surely more Mexico could do for its suffering people. Just as in the U.S. in Mexico the rich are getting richer, the middle class is fading away and the poor are hanging by a thread. My hope is that before it gets too horrible people, in the U.S. especially, will become impassioned to act...
The themes I hope to explore further during this delegation and the rest of the time in Mexcio:
1. I would like to explore and understand food sovereignty issues better
Monolcultre, gentetically modofied organisms (GMOs), the dissappearence of small family (people)-run farms ...basically the streamlining and uber processing of our food for increased profit has negatively impaceted us all equally. This has large implications about our ability to continue to feed the growing world poplulation. It has also impacted immigration from here to the states.
2. I would like to learn more about the various methods and reasons behind non-violent protest. There are many examples here. (However the government has been known to respond with violence.)
3. I hope to understand more about the government of Mexico´s role in immigration. There is money here. You can´t ignore that the wealthiest person in the world right now is from Mexico. But the majority of the people do not see this wealth...
4. I want to know what Canada is doing about immigration. Kathleen mentioned that Canada has guest labor programs. How do they compare to the U.S.´s immigrant labor programs?
5. I would like to understand and compare the European Union´s trade policies with NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a response to the formation of the EU but the EU has been better able to integrate the countries and balance power...
6. Finally (for now) I am going to be thinking more about how the U.S´s economic situation influences our ideas regarding immigrants. I am pretty sure there is a strong link to US unemployment and negative feelings toward immigrants.
There are 13 other people here in la ciudad de Oaxaca on this delegation trip who come from a mix of backgrounds and life experiences. Most of us are from the Pacific NW (one from Canada, although originally from the UK) and a few from the New England region.
I am impressed by the amount of knowledge in the group about various issues including free trade, trade relations and immigration (as well as many other random subjects). For example, my roommate, Olga, is a chicano literature profesor in Long Island. Her family immigrated here from Mexico and she was born in California. Her first language is Spanish but she is fluent in English as well. She has been helping me practice Spanish a bit and has been a respectful and fun roommate. Where she lives and teaches now, in Long Island, is not a place that welcomes immigrants. Tragically, weekly beatings and few deaths have accumulated from the mix immigrant presence and racism. She explained that after living in more open minded California and New Mexico, Long Island was quite a shock. If you want to understand more about the community environment and stance on immigrants there watch the powerful documentary Farmingville. http://www.pbs.org/pov/farmingville/
Olga has suggested some books about the subject of immigration and I plan to start them when I return to the states. If you are also interested in this subject you might want to read some David Bacon. These are not the exact titles, but close enough 1. The Children of NAFTA
2. Illegal People...
Another woman on this trip, who will be going to Cambridge, MA to study divinity reccommended Brotherland/La Frontera, a bilingual book by Gloria Anzaldula.
Today we learned about the culture and history in Mexico in which 500 years of history was crammed into 2 hours. So obviously it wasn´t an in-depth look but now us delegates have a historical context as a basis which will help us better understand the people from here who are going to share their stories. We also talked about the history of neoliberalism (economic shock policy) in the country, which was a good review for me. Go here -- http://inzanetimes.wordpress.com/?ref=spelling for more information about what we did today. This is the blog of a fellow delegate.
I come into this delegation with quite a bit of bias, cynicism and criticism of the U.S government´s role in the exploitation of vulnerable people. I am also aware and disenchanted by the power of mega corporations that impact people negatively in order to make a profit. However, Mexico´s government has played a role as well and there is surely more Mexico could do for its suffering people. Just as in the U.S. in Mexico the rich are getting richer, the middle class is fading away and the poor are hanging by a thread. My hope is that before it gets too horrible people, in the U.S. especially, will become impassioned to act...
The themes I hope to explore further during this delegation and the rest of the time in Mexcio:
1. I would like to explore and understand food sovereignty issues better
Monolcultre, gentetically modofied organisms (GMOs), the dissappearence of small family (people)-run farms ...basically the streamlining and uber processing of our food for increased profit has negatively impaceted us all equally. This has large implications about our ability to continue to feed the growing world poplulation. It has also impacted immigration from here to the states.
2. I would like to learn more about the various methods and reasons behind non-violent protest. There are many examples here. (However the government has been known to respond with violence.)
3. I hope to understand more about the government of Mexico´s role in immigration. There is money here. You can´t ignore that the wealthiest person in the world right now is from Mexico. But the majority of the people do not see this wealth...
4. I want to know what Canada is doing about immigration. Kathleen mentioned that Canada has guest labor programs. How do they compare to the U.S.´s immigrant labor programs?
5. I would like to understand and compare the European Union´s trade policies with NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a response to the formation of the EU but the EU has been better able to integrate the countries and balance power...
6. Finally (for now) I am going to be thinking more about how the U.S´s economic situation influences our ideas regarding immigrants. I am pretty sure there is a strong link to US unemployment and negative feelings toward immigrants.
Monday, July 12, 2010
My last night in Mexico City was precious. It was Victoria´s one year birthday, so the aunts, uncles and cousins came over to celebrate. We ate, drank tequila (of course) and most awesome of all, serenaded little Victoria with traditional Mexican songs and a little bit of American classics. One of the cousins played the guittar and everyone sang. Victoria ate it up and enjoyed being the center of attention. It was also sweet to see how her grandpa interacted with her. My impression of him is as a man of few words but you don´t need words to know when someone cares deeply about someone else. You could tell she was his world. He was tender, patient and adoring with her.
A few tequilla shots later we were off to a fiesta, a birthday party for one of Leslie´s friends. What an experience! When we first arrived at midnight (a few hours late) there were a few clowns entertaining the audience. A computer and youtube videos served as the musical entertainment and we listened to a mix of Mexican banda and U.S. pop songs. I was so tired by the time we left, I think it was 3 or 4 in the morning, but I lost track of time so I am not sure about that.
A few tequilla shots later we were off to a fiesta, a birthday party for one of Leslie´s friends. What an experience! When we first arrived at midnight (a few hours late) there were a few clowns entertaining the audience. A computer and youtube videos served as the musical entertainment and we listened to a mix of Mexican banda and U.S. pop songs. I was so tired by the time we left, I think it was 3 or 4 in the morning, but I lost track of time so I am not sure about that.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Days 1 -4
I have never blogged before, but I decided that blogging would be a good way to share and remember my two months in Mexico. Here it goes.
Day 1
I woke up at 3 am Wed. July 7 in order to catch my flight at 6. There was quite a bit of turbulence, but otherwise there were no other problems. This is quite unlike my trip to Ecuador last summer where it took me two days to get there due to a delayed flight in Medford for many hours, a reroute to Portland and then another delay there. Anyways. I find myself comparing this trip with my experience in Ecuador quite a bit. I am of the opinion that it is not bad to compare things or people because that is how we learn. In order to know something we have to know what it is not, right? Creo que si.
I wasn't very social on this journey. I chose to not really talk to anyone, which is a bit unlike me. Although, I really am a shy person, I just work at being social. My only conversation with my companeros on the plane from Houston to Mexico D.F. was quite funny. I had the aisle seat. The young girl (from Mexico?) sitting next to the window wanted to go to the bathroom.When I started to unbuckle my seatbelt to move for her she said, "oh, I can just jump you if you want?" Oh how classically funny. I am sure I say so many things like that in Spanish.
Speaking of which, I was very dissapointed with my Spanish when I first arrived, but now I am feeling better about it. Although I am very consciouslly incompent, which is a very uncomfortable place to be. I do have to give myself some credit for being able to speak enough Spanish to ask two strangers if I could use thier cell phones to call Leslie when I couldn't find her at the airport after an hour.
I have to admit that I did panic for a moment when I realized that I might not be meeting Leslie after all. But I was able to pull myself together enough to decide I should have a plan B and I immediatley went to pull money out of an ATM, because you can't get too far anywhere without money unfortunetley. I also should mention that I had no idea how much money I had when I pulled out $100 pesos. Do you notice how the symbol for pesos is the exact same as the symbol for dollars? It was quite confusing to me. But after wasting some money on ATM fees I think I have it figured it out and I don't have a heart attack when I spend $70 (pesos) on food. (which is around $7 dollars)
So 2.5 hours and two strangers later I finally connected with Leslie and her brother Jorge and I have been in very good hands ever since. The first night we went to a cafe near a park and drank tea and watched the rain fall outside. Even though I left Eugene when it was finally starting to be nice, I dont mind this rain because it is still warm out and it is different than Oregon rain.
Day 2
Leslie and I had a wonderful breakfast with Elvan´s mom and gradma. We talked for hours. Elvans mom made me promise to visit her in Cuernavaca when I come back this way so she can show me around. It was an easy promise to agree to. Later Leslie took me to the enormous University of Mexico. It was empty for the summer holidays and we had the place to ourselves.
That night the entire family went to the famous zocalo and walked around. We watched multiple groups practicing an indigenous dance complete with drums, beads around the ankles, red scarves and sweaty bodies. There are many different forms of art that people enjoy, like architecture or paintings. While I do appreciate various art forms, dance is the art form that I am drawn to. And here in Mexico dance is so much a part of daily life. I am enjoying this enormeously. That night we went to a bar and danced to Cumbia and Reggaeton. It was so great to see so many men that could dance. I havent met one unfriendly person yet either.
Day 3
Jorge took me to the Pyramids, Aztec ruins. We climbed the pyramids and I imagined what life must have been like for the Aztecs. It is an awesome feeling to know that you are standing in a place where so many people lived their lives before you. I had a similar feeling while in Germany while I was walking around a school that Hitler had attended. Although that feeling was a bit more sickening.
We had a low key evening. Around 1 am we went to drink hot chocoloate and we came back home to watch a DVD that showed different people dancing salsa. What a life. I am so freaking lucky.
Day 4 (today)
The oldest child in this family is visiting from Tobasco with his two precious kids, Diego (3) and Victoria (1). So it was just Jorge and I that went to visit the muesum of Anthropology. We spent four hours in a place that would take at least two days to sufficiently explore. I was so hungry afterwards so we went for tacos. (So far I have enjoyed tamales, quesadillas, omlettes and tacos here). It was a place where you sit in the car and they bring you your order. While sipping coke from a glass bottle with a straw eating in the car listening to oldies I felt like I was living in the 50s. I couldnt help but laugh I found this so amusing. Tonight we have a fiesta to attend and more dancing. Did I mention yet how lucky I am?
Day 5
I am taking a bus to Oaxaca to start my Witness for Peace part of this trip. It is a 6.5 hour journey. To be continued....
Day 1
I woke up at 3 am Wed. July 7 in order to catch my flight at 6. There was quite a bit of turbulence, but otherwise there were no other problems. This is quite unlike my trip to Ecuador last summer where it took me two days to get there due to a delayed flight in Medford for many hours, a reroute to Portland and then another delay there. Anyways. I find myself comparing this trip with my experience in Ecuador quite a bit. I am of the opinion that it is not bad to compare things or people because that is how we learn. In order to know something we have to know what it is not, right? Creo que si.
I wasn't very social on this journey. I chose to not really talk to anyone, which is a bit unlike me. Although, I really am a shy person, I just work at being social. My only conversation with my companeros on the plane from Houston to Mexico D.F. was quite funny. I had the aisle seat. The young girl (from Mexico?) sitting next to the window wanted to go to the bathroom.When I started to unbuckle my seatbelt to move for her she said, "oh, I can just jump you if you want?" Oh how classically funny. I am sure I say so many things like that in Spanish.
Speaking of which, I was very dissapointed with my Spanish when I first arrived, but now I am feeling better about it. Although I am very consciouslly incompent, which is a very uncomfortable place to be. I do have to give myself some credit for being able to speak enough Spanish to ask two strangers if I could use thier cell phones to call Leslie when I couldn't find her at the airport after an hour.
I have to admit that I did panic for a moment when I realized that I might not be meeting Leslie after all. But I was able to pull myself together enough to decide I should have a plan B and I immediatley went to pull money out of an ATM, because you can't get too far anywhere without money unfortunetley. I also should mention that I had no idea how much money I had when I pulled out $100 pesos. Do you notice how the symbol for pesos is the exact same as the symbol for dollars? It was quite confusing to me. But after wasting some money on ATM fees I think I have it figured it out and I don't have a heart attack when I spend $70 (pesos) on food. (which is around $7 dollars)
So 2.5 hours and two strangers later I finally connected with Leslie and her brother Jorge and I have been in very good hands ever since. The first night we went to a cafe near a park and drank tea and watched the rain fall outside. Even though I left Eugene when it was finally starting to be nice, I dont mind this rain because it is still warm out and it is different than Oregon rain.
Day 2
Leslie and I had a wonderful breakfast with Elvan´s mom and gradma. We talked for hours. Elvans mom made me promise to visit her in Cuernavaca when I come back this way so she can show me around. It was an easy promise to agree to. Later Leslie took me to the enormous University of Mexico. It was empty for the summer holidays and we had the place to ourselves.
That night the entire family went to the famous zocalo and walked around. We watched multiple groups practicing an indigenous dance complete with drums, beads around the ankles, red scarves and sweaty bodies. There are many different forms of art that people enjoy, like architecture or paintings. While I do appreciate various art forms, dance is the art form that I am drawn to. And here in Mexico dance is so much a part of daily life. I am enjoying this enormeously. That night we went to a bar and danced to Cumbia and Reggaeton. It was so great to see so many men that could dance. I havent met one unfriendly person yet either.
Day 3
Jorge took me to the Pyramids, Aztec ruins. We climbed the pyramids and I imagined what life must have been like for the Aztecs. It is an awesome feeling to know that you are standing in a place where so many people lived their lives before you. I had a similar feeling while in Germany while I was walking around a school that Hitler had attended. Although that feeling was a bit more sickening.
We had a low key evening. Around 1 am we went to drink hot chocoloate and we came back home to watch a DVD that showed different people dancing salsa. What a life. I am so freaking lucky.
Day 4 (today)
The oldest child in this family is visiting from Tobasco with his two precious kids, Diego (3) and Victoria (1). So it was just Jorge and I that went to visit the muesum of Anthropology. We spent four hours in a place that would take at least two days to sufficiently explore. I was so hungry afterwards so we went for tacos. (So far I have enjoyed tamales, quesadillas, omlettes and tacos here). It was a place where you sit in the car and they bring you your order. While sipping coke from a glass bottle with a straw eating in the car listening to oldies I felt like I was living in the 50s. I couldnt help but laugh I found this so amusing. Tonight we have a fiesta to attend and more dancing. Did I mention yet how lucky I am?
Day 5
I am taking a bus to Oaxaca to start my Witness for Peace part of this trip. It is a 6.5 hour journey. To be continued....
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