Week 4: Update from Lou

¡Bienvenidos a Tucson! Me llamo Luís y soy un estudiante de La Programa de Estudios Fronterizos, 2008. I am a junior at Albion College and a History and Spanish double major. I grew up in Ann Arbor and work at the University of Michigan Hospital during summer breaks.

Choosing to study abroad with the Border Studies Program was a difficult decision for me. I often imagined my off campus experience taking place in Spain, not within the US. Although, when it came time to decide, I chose what I felt would be the most challenging experience. The Border Studies Program focuses on immigration issues, border policy, and the effects of that policy. That means when we go out and experience the border reality, we are not backpacking, sightseeing, or partying. On the contrary, we “rough” it for the benefit of a new perspective. That principle of challenging students rings especially true for my experience so far.

My initial host family placement has been amazing! I’ve found that almost everyone I talk to really enjoys who they are staying with. A great example of this is food. For at least half of the participants, what type of food they eat matters. My host family is well-suited to my needs: my host dad is a great chef, and what he cannot cook, he takes me out to a restaurant to try new things. The best example I can think of is our weekly trips for Sonora style hot dogs. Not only do we all enjoy delicious hot dogs wrapped in bacon, but my host family takes 90 minutes out of their day to ask me about school, life, and what is stressing me out. They even offer great advice: skip school more and they’ll take me on random trips to Phoenix to unwind. I didn’t take their advice (lol!), but I always feel too full, and that makes for a happy kid.

If I’m not in class or at home, I’m probably working on my field internship with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). This internship is worth 5 credit hours and requires 15 hours per week. At my internship, I work closely with conducting surveys on the new E-verify law. I’ve conducted at least 25 interviews and have heard a wide range of opinions on the issue of immigration. This internship has given me the opportunity to get real, hands on experience with the immigration issue on the border. What more could I ask for?

This last week was very challenging. The Altar trip pushed everyone, and we needed a weekend for some R&R. I was able to catch up on my homework and celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Saturday. I even participated in specific events to celebrate on Sunday by dancing and eating traditional foods. You are what you eat! And I am happy!

With all the events I was able to participate in this weekend, I almost forgot I was abroad! I am excited for the Mexico City trip in a couple of weeks, and I hope that this weekend was taken advantage of by everyone here. I can’t wait to get up early tomorrow and start working out again. Life is good.

Lou

Weekend in Altar

Madeleine Fierstein
9/5-9/8
Hola desde Tucson. Soy Madeleine Fierstein (Maddie). I am in my third-year at Oberlin College and am a politics major with a concentration in international relations. Enough about me, and on with this past weekend. I had a slightly different weekend then the rest of the group because I started out Friday night with a Quinceañera in Caborca, México. I am living with a truly fabulous family of 4 women in Tucson who are originally from Caborca. I have become a quick member of this family and therefore was invited to attend the Quinceañera of a cousin. I had never been to a Quince, but an accurate description involves hundreds of people (many family members), 100° temperatures, lots of dancing and music and staying up until well past 2 a.m.
The next day I made a quick change of modes and met the rest of the BSP group in Altar, México. Altar is the resting spot/beginning spot of migrants who want to cross into the U.S. This is the place where migrants rest up before crossing the desert, find coyotes, buy water, backpacks and all other goods they believe necessary for their journey. When we arrived Saturday afternoon we went to CCAMYN (Centro Comunitario de Atención al Migrante y Necesitado), which is an organization that feeds and houses migrants in Altar. The plaza in Altar is where many migrants and coyotes hang out, and this is where we spent our Sunday morning. Sunday morning we broke up into small groups and interviewed/chatted with migrants on the street. We did this for about 2 hours, and I can’t speak for everyone, but this was one of the most heart-wrenching and best learning experiences I have ever had. To hear the stories of migrants first hand and the reasons why they cross (out of desperation and for family) makes one really question the reason certain policies exist.
Saturday afternoon we drove to the No More Deaths camp, which is a camp in the desert near Arivaca. On our way we stopped and spoke with a Mexican governmental organization Grupo Beta, which explains to migrants the risks of crossing the desert into the U.S. We also spent some time with the Mexican army who stopped us twice (sorry to any parents who are reading this) and checked our vans. “No More Deaths is an organization whose mission is to end death and suffering on the U.S./Mexico border through civil initiative: the conviction that people of conscience must work openly in community to uphold fundamental human rights.” The purpose of this camp is to offer medical aid, food and water to migrants as well as send out patrols to look for migrants in need of food, water and medical attention. We spent the night at the camp with some people sleeping outside and most in tents.
Monday morning we woke up at the crack of dawn and got ready to go out on a patrol in the desert. We piled into the back of pickup trucks with gallons and gallons of water and headed off into the desert. After about a 45-minute drive we stopped and hiked for a couple of hours to drop off water on migrant trails. Along the way we visited the memorial to a 14-year-old girl from El Salvador who passed away when crossing the desert this February. Although a tough experience, I think that this was really powerful for the group to see the actual conditions that people cross the desert through. Along the migrant trails we found many signs of the use of these trails including clothing, water bottles, backpacks and more. The temperatures in the desert are really unbelievable.
After our morning hike we headed home. Needless to say I had many different learning experiences this weekend. This weekend made me learn and question a lot, and I look forward to the many challenges ahead of us. ¡Les vaya bien!

Week 2: Adjusting to life on the border

Saludos desde la frontera. My name is Laura Guzman. I am a third-year political science and Hispanic studies major from St. Olaf College. I am originally from Eagan, MN. I was inspired to come on this trip because of my interest in immigrant rights and immigration policy reform. I also look forward to using my Spanish once we are in Nogales, Sonora and exploring the distinct and rich culture of the borderlands.
So far, Tucson has been a great experience. My home stay family is welcoming and makes an effort to include me in meal times and other family rituals, such as sharing highs and lows each day. They live in a community house with two other independent households in the same house and several others on shared property. It is inspiring to see how families make choices to use resources and land in a more functional and sustainable manner while simultaneously strengthening the fabric of communities.
While learning to appreciate and learn from a new family with different customs and norms, I have learned to navigate a new city. Tucson is a beautiful desert city encircled by four distinct mountain ranges that can help orient lost travelers. Thankfully, I have not needed to rely on this tool to get around. My home is centrally located which is really convenient for getting to school, work, and downtown. My only constant struggles are to learn the bus routes and to be patient with others and myself as we all adjust to our new circumstances and surroundings.
I recently began my field study internship at Border Action Network (BAN), an organization seeking to ensure the rights of immigrants and border communities are respected using grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and litigation. I will be serving as a research intern on their state legislative policy campaign. They are preparing possible legislation that meets their 12-point political principles in order to make recommendations to the state legislature in the next session.
Life on the border provides opportunities for constant growth and learning. While the formal coursework is challenging and engaging, the experiences outside the classroom provide fertile ground to learn more about border issues, community building, and our own limitations and gifts. It is sure to be a memorable semester for each of us!