Melissa's Oaxaca Service-Learning Blog

at the airport

2007-03-09T13:14:00.000-06:00

well we have checked in at SAT Airpport

we are all here, it's still a little surreal about us going back to Oaxaca!

But were are !

It was so exciting seeing everyone

Especially Melanie!

We had a blast last time

Our plane leaves at 2 we arrive at Mexico City with a two hour layover than to Oaxaca.

keep us in your prayers for our safe return and post some comments and messages for me to read and share with my classmates..

Be good !

xoxoxo

Melanie and me waiting for the plane.. she is filling out paperwork

shhh iam typing Mel

Oaxaca Iam coming back!

2007-03-09T10:22:00.000-06:00

my plane leaves in about 4 hours!!

i can't wait..

i want to see all my classmates from the summer!

i want to taste the delicious food.

i want to get down on my knees at the church and give thanks for my return.

ohh the beauty !!

but i want to be humbled again .. it's an unexplainable feeling ..

thanks for all those who have supported me !

here is the myspace site for those of you on it : friend request me! subscribe to my blogs!

http://www.myspace.com/oaxacatrip

or visit my blogger account

www.melissaoaxaca.blogspot.com

this site also has my past blogs from when we went in june

and the pics of what we saw during the teargas!

send me love!!!

WE ARE GOING BACK

Mark another one off my things to do list this year!!!!

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San Antonio: Byline Blog

2007-02-15T21:30:00.000-06:00

i thought this was a great site to visit for all you sa pr folks!
San Antonio: Byline Blog

howl at the moon

2007-01-30T20:12:00.000-06:00

we had a blast at the moon this past thursday!
but
http://www.youtube.cowhat is new we always have fun there
here are a couple of videos and slide shows of the night as
we remember it.

OAXACA IN MARCH?

2007-01-28T19:38:00.000-06:00

LOOKS LIKE SPRING BREAK WILL BE IN OAXACA FOR ME!!!
YES THE CALLS ARE COMING IN AND THEY ARE GETTING COUNTS OF WHO IS GOING.
ME ...UMMMM YES BIG YES!
ILL KEEP EVERYONE UP TO DATE AS I GET DETAILS !!!

WINTER WHITE PICTURES

2007-01-08T08:26:00.000-06:00

here are the pics from the winter white party
we had too much fun
i think even more than my birthday party!!!!!
patron, oooohhhh so good
and those jello shots... well they were with everclear
i forgot to warn yall
heheheeh
xoooxoxo

THE APPO LIVES: OAXACA

2006-12-05T19:43:00.000-06:00

The APPO Lives
Communiqué from Somewhere in the State of Oaxaca, from the State Council of the Popular Peoples’ Assembly of Oaxaca

By the CEAPPO
The Other Oaxaca
December 3, 2006

PEOPLE OF OAXACA! PEOPLE OF MEXICO! PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!

From somewhere in the state of Oaxaca, as the State Council of the Popular Peoples’ Assembly of Oaxaca,

WE DECLARE:

FIRST: The APPO is more alive than ever in the hearts of the workers, indigenous people, campesinos, housewives, students, youth, children, and all the exploited and oppressed in Oaxaca and Mexico. The State Terror that has been unleashed on the people of Oaxaca and the international community with increased brutality since November 25 has not weakened our desire to be free men and women.

Nor has it made us change our minds about whether our struggle should continue to be a political, peaceful and mass movement, despite the fact that 17 people have been killed during this stage of the struggle, dozens of people have disappeared and hundreds are political prisoners; we consider this toll to consist of crimes against humanity.

SECOND: The APPO continues to act permanently; although we are not visible at sentries or heard over the radio 24 hours a day, we still live and communicate with the same indomitable spirit which we have inherited as exploited people. We are fighting and will continue to fight intensely for the fall of the tyrant and his dictatorship, the dictatorship of capital.

This new stage of struggle that we have named the “Stage of Peace with Justice, Democracy and Liberty without Ulises Ruiz Ortiz” is, at the same time, a novel exercise to continue the struggle that the APPO is learning to build with patience, perseverance and wisdom.

Our original peoples taught us this on November 28 and 29 at the Forum of Indigenous Peoples of Oaxaca, when they told us that the “path must be taken slowly,” which is what we are doing now, without losing sight of the common objective, which is the profound transformation of living, working, academic and recreational conditions for our people. As the faithful puppet of the wealthy and the drug traffickers who he defends and represents, URO (Ulises Ruiz) stood in the way of this path. As representatives of a people who decided to embark on the route to their own emancipation, we will remove him from this path that belongs to us.

THIRD: The Council is calling all people of Oaxaca from now until December 10 to organize and carry out mobilizations and protest actions to spread the “Stage of Peace…”, the call for the release of political prisoners, the return of the disappeared, the cancellation of orders of apprehension, an end to illegal arrests, an end to gag orders, the withdrawal of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP), and what brought us all together: the departure of the murderer Ulises Ruiz from Oaxaca. We call for this to happen in all regions of the state through our regional, municipal and sectorial Popular Assemblies. We do so because on December 10 we will hold a “Grand Concentration,” meeting at 10am at the monument to Juárez, located at the Crucero de Viguera in Oaxaca City, to express our condemnation of and opposition to the baton and rifle policy to which this group of murderers and thieves who call themselves the government in Oaxaca want to subject us.

FRATERNALLY,

“ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE”
STATE COUNCIL OF THE APPO
December 2, 2006

angelina birthday

2006-11-19T11:04:00.000-06:00

we had fun friday night
made a video in honor of angie

SATURDAY PICS : CLUB RIVE

2006-11-16T17:05:00.000-06:00

HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT

first friday's

2006-11-16T16:59:00.000-06:00

YESTERDAY WE WENT OUT FOR PAULS BIRTHDAY TO EAT AT ONE OF THE BEST RESTURANTS, ROSARIO'S ON ALAMO. IF YOU HAVE'NT EATEN THERE ..YOU NEED TO ORDER THE CHICKEN CHIPOLTE ..TALK ABOUT YUMMMMMMIE!!!!
AND IT WAS THE FIRST FRIDAY TOO. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE BUT IT IS REALLY NICE. THE SHOPS, THE PEOPLE .. OH AND THERE WAS THIS ONE PLACE THAT SOLD FOLK ART. JUS LIKE THE ONE IN OAXACA... BUT FOR A LLLLLLOOOOOOTTTTT MORE
THERE WAS A LIZARD FOR 82.00 AND CROSSES FOR 115.00.. ..DAMMMIT...
ANY WAY JUST THOUGHT I'D WRITE ABOUT THE FUN TIME.
YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE..!!

OAXACA NEWS

2006-10-31T16:57:00.000-06:00

OK IF YOU KEPT UP WITH ME IN THE SUMMER YOU KNOW I WAS IN OAXACA AND
HOPE TO GO BACK IN MARCH W/ ACCD
HERE IS AN EMAIL WE GOT TODAY !
READ ON

Hello, all!I just spoke to Ana Maria about the situation in Oaxaca. First, a commentary... isn't it interesting how the Express-News didn't cover the story when it first broke--even when you were sending information and fantastic photos to them--but now it has been on the front page Sunday, Monday and Tuesday?Thankfully, Ana Maria is fine and doing well, at least under the circumstances. After going back to work, the Instituto Tecnologico and most other schools have once again suspended classes, at least for the remainder of the week. Banks are closed "until the situation normalizes" and people are lined up at ATMs hoping to get some cash before it runs out. Payday is just a couple of days away and it looks like most people won't have access to their money if this continues a while.Ana Maria reports that she doesn't leave her home, except for brief trips. She isn't afraid of violence against her, but she says that much of the city is blocked and that getting around is difficult. However, no one ventures out at night because of the danger. The military is occupying the Zocalo and helicopters hover around at all hours. Neither side in this standoff is budging. The governor remains indignant and refuses to resign. The protesters refuse to give up, though they've been forced to abandon their encampments.The entire Senate and Chamber of Deputies has called on Gov. Ulises Ruiz to step down. This is significant because elected officials from throughout the Republic of Mexico and from all political parties are pressuring him to leave. His refusal is purely political. If he leaves now--short of completing the first two years of his term--a new election is called and the PRI (his political party) is doomed to losing the governorship. If he leaves after he completes two years, then he can name a successor to fill out the remainder of the six- year term and the PRI remains in power a little while longer. He finishes two years in December, but Ana Maria says not to count on his leaving then.The economy is severely suffering. Many people have lost their jobs. Hotels and restaurants are closed, staff fired. Factories (what few there are) are closed or running only one shift, laying off the other workers. Tourists are mostly limited to journalists, human rights advocates and the curious. On the bright side (if there is one), food is still in adequate supply; however, if money runs out, people will begin to go hungry.In short, the situation is not good, but thankfully Ana Maria is surviving. The State Department has posted a warning on its site specifically about the violence in Oaxaca. We will continue to monitor the situation, but at this point, Ana Maria doesn't think there will be much change until after Jan. 1. She is optimistic, however, that a Spring Break trip is possible and she thinks that hotel rates will be more economical as the locals try to rebuild their city and their livelihood.Please keep Ana Maria and all Oaxaqueños in your prayers.Saludos,mark

brad will killed in oaxaca

2006-10-29T22:49:00.000-06:00

THIS IS FROM WASHINGTONPOST.COM
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER WE WERE EVACUATED FROM OAXACA IN JUNE!

READ ON BE KNOWLEDGABLE OF THE WORLD NEXT DOOR TO US!

Police Ordered to Oaxaca After 3 Killings in Strike

By Manuel Roig-Franzia
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, October 29, 2006; Page A14

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 28 -- President Vicente Fox on Saturday ordered federal police to seize control of strike-ravaged Oaxaca de Juarez, a popular tourist destination where a U.S. journalist was among three people killed Friday.

Despite pressure from Oaxaca's tourist industry, Fox had been reluctant to intervene in a five-month conflict that has pitted the governor of the state of Oaxaca against a coalition of citizen groups and striking teachers demanding his ouster. But the shooting death of Brad Will, 36, a volunteer correspondent for the Web site Indymedia.org, and two Mexican protesters prompted the president to respond with force for the first time.

Protesters carry an injured cameraman who was shot and later died when clashes erupted between unidentified gunmen and protesters who are demanding the resignation of Oaxaca Gov. Ulises Ruiz in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico on Friday Oct. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Eduardo Verdugo - AP)
Special Report

Interactive map tracks political activity and upcoming elections across Latin America.

• Map: Politics by Country
--> ..title=Police Ordered to Oaxaca After 3 Killings in Strike" target=new>Reddit

Several Mexican newspapers published front-page photographs of the mortally wounded Will lying in the street with blood trailing from a gunshot wound in his stomach. Photographs also showed rifle-wielding men in civilian clothes roaming the streets. Indymedia, citing a witness account, said Will was pulled to safety after being shot but died before reaching the hospital.

Strikers blamed the killings on plainclothes paramilitary members affiliated with Gov. Ulises Ruiz's Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. The governor's office accused members of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, or APPO, an umbrella group that includes union members and indigenous groups that have joined the teachers' protest.

Fox did not say how many federal police he planned to send to Oaxaca. Officers began arriving there by plane Saturday. In a statement, he said the mobilization was a response to events that threaten "the order and peace of citizens in the region."

Strike leaders reinforced barricades and vowed not to budge.

"These forces coming here are only going to make things worse," Florentino López Martínez, an APPO organizer, said in a telephone interview from downtown Oaxaca. "This is not a solution to the problem."

Mexican presidents are often reluctant to use force because federal officers have been accused in the past of inciting violence, most notably during student protests before the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Nonetheless, Fox ordered federal police to take over the city of Nuevo Laredo last year to quell an outburst of drug violence.

In Oaxaca de Juarez, the teachers' protest is an annual rite that began 26 years ago. The protests are usually peaceful and generally last a week or two, but this year the teachers became infuriated when Ruiz sent hundreds of police to forcefully remove demonstrators from the city's idyllic squares. APPO soon took on a greater role in the demonstrations, pushing an agenda of economic, social and political reform in Mexico's second-poorest state.

The demonstrations have left the region a shambles and scared away the tourists who are the foundation of the city's economy. Death estimates during the strike range from nine to 14, and APPO leaders say that more than a dozen of their members have disappeared. Countless downtown businesses have closed, buses have been set on fire, demonstrators have barricaded themselves in government buildings and protest blockades have cut off main thoroughfares. At times in the past five months, residents have been warned not to leave their homes. Shots have been fired at a university radio station, and more than a million students have been unable to attend classes.

"The city is practically kidnapped by all this," Luz Divina Sarate, a Ruiz spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview. "The people are tired of this."

Friday's shootings at several flash points in and around Oaxaca de Juarez took place despite signs of progress in negotiations with the striking teachers. Last week, teachers tentatively ratified an agreement that would allow them to return to classes at some unspecified date and receive 30 percent raises spread over six years.

But their unmet central demand -- the resignation of Ruiz -- threatened to undermine the fragile pact. Even as Friday's deaths reignited passions Saturday, federal negotiators continued to meet with teachers union leaders in Mexico City.

The spike in violence also seemed to suggest that there will be a long wait before Oaxaca's stunning colonial streets are once again crawling with camera-toting tourists. After the shootings, the U.S. ambassador in Mexico, Tony Garza, warned Americans to stay away.

police ordered to oaxaca after 3 killings

2006-10-29T08:43:00.000-06:00

THIS IS FROM WASHINGTONPOST.COM

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER WE WERE EVACUATED FROM OAXACA IN JUNE!

READ ON BE KNOWLEDGABLE OF THE WORLD NEXT DOOR TO US!

Police Ordered to Oaxaca After 3 Killings in Strike

By Manuel Roig-Franzia

Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, October 29, 2006; Page A14

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 28 -- President Vicente Fox on Saturday ordered federal police to seize control of strike-ravaged Oaxaca de Juarez, a popular tourist destination where a U.S. journalist was among three people killed Friday.

Despite pressure from Oaxaca's tourist industry, Fox had been reluctant to intervene in a five-month conflict that has pitted the governor of the state of Oaxaca against a coalition of citizen groups and striking teachers demanding his ouster. But the shooting death of Brad Will, 36, a volunteer correspondent for the Web site Indymedia.org, and two Mexican protesters prompted the president to respond with force for the first time.

Protesters carry an injured cameraman who was shot and later died when clashes erupted between unidentified gunmen and protesters who are demanding the resignation of Oaxaca Gov. Ulises Ruiz in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico on Friday Oct. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Eduardo Verdugo - AP)

Several Mexican newspapers published front-page photographs of the mortally wounded Will lying in the street with blood trailing from a gunshot wound in his stomach. Photographs also showed rifle-wielding men in civilian clothes roaming the streets. Indymedia, citing a witness account, said Will was pulled to safety after being shot but died before reaching the hospital.

Strikers blamed the killings on plainclothes paramilitary members affiliated with Gov. Ulises Ruiz's Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. The governor's office accused members of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, or APPO, an umbrella group that includes union members and indigenous groups that have joined the teachers' protest.

Fox did not say how many federal police he planned to send to Oaxaca. Officers began arriving there by plane Saturday. In a statement, he said the mobilization was a response to events that threaten "the order and peace of citizens in the region."

Strike leaders reinforced barricades and vowed not to budge.

"These forces coming here are only going to make things worse," Florentino López Martínez, an APPO organizer, said in a telephone interview from downtown Oaxaca. "This is not a solution to the problem."

Mexican presidents are often reluctant to use force because federal officers have been accused in the past of inciting violence, most notably during student protests before the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Nonetheless, Fox ordered federal police to take over the city of Nuevo Laredo last year to quell an outburst of drug violence.

In Oaxaca de Juarez, the teachers' protest is an annual rite that began 26 years ago. The protests are usually peaceful and generally last a week or two, but this year the teachers became infuriated when Ruiz sent hundreds of police to forcefully remove demonstrators from the city's idyllic squares. APPO soon took on a greater role in the demonstrations, pushing an agenda of economic, social and political reform in Mexico's second-poorest state.

The demonstrations have left the region a shambles and scared away the tourists who are the foundation of the city's economy. Death estimates during the strike range from nine to 14, and APPO leaders say that more than a dozen of their members have disappeared. Countless downtown businesses have closed, buses have been set on fire, demonstrators have barricaded themselves in government buildings and protest blockades have cut off main thoroughfares. At times in the past five months, residents have been warned not to leave their homes. Shots have been fired at a university radio station, and more than a million students have been unable to attend classes.

"The city is practically kidnapped by all this," Luz Divina Sarate, a Ruiz spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview. "The people are tired of this."

Friday's shootings at several flash points in and around Oaxaca de Juarez took place despite signs of progress in negotiations with the striking teachers. Last week, teachers tentatively ratified an agreement that would allow them to return to classes at some unspecified date and receive 30 percent raises spread over six years.

But their unmet central demand -- the resignation of Ruiz -- threatened to undermine the fragile pact. Even as Friday's deaths reignited passions Saturday, federal negotiators continued to meet with teachers union leaders in Mexico City.

The spike in violence also seemed to suggest that there will be a long wait before Oaxaca's stunning colonial streets are once again crawling with camera-toting tourists. After the shootings, the U.S. ambassador in Mexico, Tony Garza, warned Americans to stay away.

FED POLICE AUTHORIZED TO ENTER OAXACA

2006-10-28T19:54:00.000-05:00

Federal Police Authorized to Enter Oaxaca
A Day Of Killings While Teachers Negotiate in Mexico City
By Nancy DaviesCommentary from Oaxaca
October 28, 2006
President Vicente Fox, through his Secretary of Internal Affairs Carlos Abascal, has authorized the entry of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP in its Spanish initials) into Oaxaca, in direct response to the events of October 27 in Oaxaca. Following a declaration by the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) to launch an all-out work stoppage and boycott to force the hand of governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (known as "URO"), Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) supporters, both police and private individuals, assaulted the population in several different areas of the city on Friday. The result, according to the Radio Universidad, was four dead, thirty wounded. The dead have now been identified as Emilio Alonso Fabián, Bradley Will and Eudocia Olivera Díaz. The fourth reported death, of Esteban Zurita López, is at the center of accusations by both sides of the conflict, with each blaming the other.
Airplanes full of PFP officers and riot gear have already arrived, with the police now gathered at a nearby military base, reports the national daily El Universal.
Photo: D.R. 2006 Nancy DaviesMy analysis is that if the PFP enter the city by day, a negotiated exit is open for the APPO, possibly implying the removal URO from office. If they come by night, they're likely coming to dislodge by force the resistance lodged in the zocalo (central city plaza) and barricades. URO precipitated the intervention by his attacks. The question is, does the PAN party of Fox and Calderón want to maintain URO as a sop to the PRI, or has URO become so costly that the PAN may choose to dump him? If so, URO's setting up of the APPO backfires.
The state assembly of the local teachers' union, Section 22, called on URO to resign before November 30 and to guarantee the physical safety of teachers returning to work, pay salaries in arrears, release political prisoners, and retract arrest warrants for the leaders of both the APPO and Section 22, among other demands. These demands were part of the decision of the teachers' vote to return to the schools, scheduled tentatively for October 30.
While Section 22 spokesperson Enrique Rueda Pacheco was in Mexico City talking with Interior Secretary Carlos Abascal about the conditions for a phased-in regional opening of schools, the attacks began in Oaxaca. The problem for URO of course was that returning to the classrooms did not imply lifting the APPO's occupation of the city center, nor the return of government buildings to the government. The teachers' voting to return also included the condition that they would continue their struggle to oust URO.
Meanwhile, URO refused to resign or take a leave of absence. During the teachers' assembly meeting, shooting and bus burning went on outside the Hotel Magisterio, where the meeting took place.
On Friday morning, the day scheduled for the onset of the big anti-URO strike, I walked up the north-south street close to my house. The newly constructed small neighborhood barricade consisted of three men, six women, a snarl of barbed wire, a banner, and a barrel. On the main road, traffic was light and getter lighter. In the middle of Niños Heroes Street, a woman held an umbrella against the sun with one hand and with the other tossed aside the rocks that impeded traffic in front of her shop. When she reached the sidewalk where I was watching, she snarled, "Ya basta! That's enough of these blockades!" It appeared she not did not understand that, no more than 300 meters behind her, two busses were being maneuvered into position for a complete blockade of the avenue.
The peaceful appearance of this shut-down was brief. By the time I returned home the radio told a different story. URO had been sighted in Santa Lucia, and people were reminded not to overreact.
By mid-day on Friday, a mechanic, Gerardo Sanchez, was abducted by two plain-clothes men and one woman in a vehicle near the El Rosario Bridge, and driven to Tlocolula where the prison is located. His abductors were later identified as state ministerial police.
Photo: D.R. 2006 El UniversalThe operation resembles what happened to Pablo Garcia García on October 1 (Garcia, a student, was beaten, tortured and released). Earlier reports claimed that Gerardo Sanchez had been abducted in Tlocolula. The report said that two lawyers and the PRI mayor were complicit. A call went out for the people of Tlocolula to take over the municipal building. Crowds gathered and that situation remains unclear.
During the afternoon three other teachers were abducted and taken to the city prison, where another shootout occurred. Emilio Alonzo Fabián, a 42-year-old teacher from Loxicha in the Pochutla region, was shot and killed when he ran with others to intercept a car identified as one of those used by the police.
Attacks continued throughout the afternoon in San Antonio de la Cal, in the La Experimental neighborhood, where the Oaxaca state prosecutor's office is located; in Santa Lucía del Camino; and in Santa María Coyotepec.
Three people were dead before the 11 o'clock news came on. During the Oaxaca segment of TV Azteca news, URO announced firmly that four were dead but that the shooting was done by the APPO, while his police were all in their barracks. Photographs and videos emerged later revealing the shooters as members of the ministerial police. URO was interviewed via phone by TV Azteca, which was simultaneously showing people with sticks in their hands running away from what could be heard as gunshots. In the video clip, they were carrying the body of Brad Will, a U.S. Indymedia reporter, who was killed during the afternoon in Santa Lucía del Camino during a confrontation with ministerial police. Along with him, a photographer from Milenio was shot in the foot. Santa Lucia del Camino is now in the hands of the PRI.
In Santa Maria Coyotepec twenty-four people were wounded by 11 p.m. in an attack on the people at a barricade. According to citizens who were present at the time, the victims were shot by police in plain clothes, and thrown into prison with no medical treatment.
During this same long day, Enrique Rueda Pacheco was in Mexico City negotiating a return to classes with Carlos Abascal. When he called the radio station about ten o'clock, he didn't seem too angry, but the others who followed him on the radio were stronger in their outrage. The kindest thing said about Rueda was, that "he's young, he's a politician." Joel Castillo, the state's PRI interior secretary, was named on Radio Plantón as being behind the attacks. "The conditions to go back to classes don't exist," said one spokesperson for the teachers.
At noon on Saturday, October 28, we are waiting for the entrance of the PFP. The announcers on Radio Universidad are saying neither the barricades nor the zocalo will be surrendered.
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happy halloween !

2006-10-28T16:43:00.000-05:00

LAST NIGHT I HAD A BLAST THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT AND BOUGHT A PLATE WE HAD A BLAST !!!! AND THERE WERE A LOT OF WINNERS 8 OF THE TICKETS I SOLD WERE WINNERS !!! AFTER WARDS OF COURSE WE (THE GIRLS WENT OUT) THANKS AND ON AN ADDED NOTE MY HATS OFF TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN THE RESTURANT BUISNESS I DONT KNOW HOW YALL DO IT!!!!!

BIRTHDAY PHOTOS!

2006-09-24T19:55:00.000-05:00

PHOTOS TELL IT ALL !
WE HAD A BLAST !
Next party...is already being planned!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY WEEK

2006-09-18T23:41:00.000-05:00

YES, I THINK I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT CELEBRATES THEIR BIRTHDAY
ALL WEEK
AND STARTING TODAY IT'S MY BIRTHDAY WEEK!!

I AM FEELING BETTER AND READY TO CELEBRATE!

ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME?

SO IN HONOR OF MY BIRTHDAY TODAY, I BOUGHT ME A NEW RING...

FOR MY BELLY BUTTON...
TOMORROW...UMMMMMM WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHO WANTS TO

CELEBRATE WITH ME !!!!!
CANT WAIT TILL FRIDAY! MY PARTY WITH ONE OF THE BEST DJ'S !

ANYONE READY FOR THOSE BODY SHOTS?????

FRIENDSHIP

2006-08-26T17:49:00.000-05:00

Quiet Emotions
by Judy Burnette

I always wanted more from you
than you were willing to give;
So now we've gone our separate ways
each with different lives to live.

The bond will always be there
the friendship always intact;
But the time for us has come and gone
and the pages of time, you can't turn back.

I will always be a friend to you
and wonder how you are;
The smiles and laughter I will remember
and our fights have become painless scars.

Sometimes on those busy days
when you've a thousand things to do;
Please let me glide slowly through your mind
and spend some time with you.

In that quiet moment
when you're surprised to find me there;
Just remember even with the distance between us
I am still someone who cares.

BLOOD TRANSFUSSION NEEDED

2006-08-24T20:17:00.000-05:00

EVER HERE THAT A PERSON HAS THEIR
"SANGRE PESADA"
MEANING THEY HAVE THIS HATRED FOR PEOPLE
OR THEIR ACTIONS ARE JUST EVIL?

WELL IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE RAN INTO
PEOPLE LIKE THAT
WITH SANGRE PESADA

YOU NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSSION

STAT!

HOOK UM HORNS

2006-08-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

MY 4 YEAR OLD IS A BIG UT FAN !
IN ALL HIS PICTURES HE DOES THE HOOK UM HORNS SIGN !
HE IS ALSO BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER
CHECK OUT THIS PIC HE TOOK OF MY DAUGHTER
ILL HAVE TO POST SOME OF HIS PICS HE REALLY OUT DOES HIMSELF !
ENJOY AND LEAVE HIM A COMMENT ON THE BLOG SO I CAN READ IT TO HIM

at melanies party!

2006-08-20T00:36:00.000-05:00

Me and Melanie at her party !

took a couple of jello shot together

and ummm , well if you know me

and if you know her ,

than you know we had a fun intresting night

i have'nt heard the audio blog yet, ill have to listen to it

to hear if we were still ok

On our way

2006-08-19T23:43:00.000-05:00

this blog was called in as we were going to Melanies birthday party !

off to my best friends party

2006-08-19T20:58:00.000-05:00

ok when i called this blog in i was on my way to my best friends party
Lucy.
She is an angel and a jewel! I love her so much
she always knows what i am up to even when she doesnt see me!

Yes I've been good ......no really!

Jill Friedberg to be interviewed: Oaxaca

2006-08-18T17:08:00.000-05:00

i recieved an email from Mary De Hoyos one of my classmates from Oaxaca and thought i'd pass this on to you all !

ANNOUNCEMENT: Tomorrow (Aug. 18) on Pacifica Radio'sDemocracy Now, Amy Goodman will interview JillFreidbergand others about the present situation of theteachers'strike and massive popular movement in Oaxaca, Mexico.Please tune in either on the radio or on the internet(www.democracynow.org) if you are interested in thelatest developments.Jill also hopes to provide recent footage of events inOaxaca forbroadcast on the internet.Jill is the producer of the powerful DVD, "Granito deArena", thehistory of the teachers' movement in Mexico todemocratize the unionitself and now to fight neoliberal policies and theprivatization ofpublic education. She is in Oaxaca now, filming thedeterioration of thesituation as teachers and movement leaders aredetained, disappeared andassassinated by state and federal police repression.In an email this morning, Jill reported that theteachersare quite discouraged. They are tired, and a lot ofthem have mixedfeelings about the decision not to return to beginclasses next Monday.The movement has decided that teachers will not returnto theirclassrooms until the governor is removed and made toabandon the state.The teachers' encampment has now spread out all overtown (in front ofstate and federal government buildings, state prisons,government TVchannel 9 which the popular movement took over, aswell as broadcastantennas, etc). This makes the teachers' numbersappear smaller, thoughthe total number of teachers is still large (thestriking union numbers70,000 teachers).On the other hand, there are encouraging signs.Yesterday the statehealth workers announced an indefinite strike in allstate publichospitals and clinics until the governor is removedand leaves thestate. A caravan of women from TV channel 9 went toMexico City and theas-yet-unconfirmed rumor is that they were able toprevent the governorfrom going on the air on Televisa last night.If any of you are interested in supporting the Oaxacanteachers with acontribution, please contact me at <lsmeyer@unm.edu>.Thanks for yourinterest and support.Lois Meyer, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorDept.of Language, Literacy & Sociocultural StudiesCollege of EducationHokona 267Univ. of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM 87131Tel: 505/277-7244

Wicked Game

2006-08-18T17:03:00.000-05:00

People like to talk and talk, about what they can do
like a competition that they can do things better.
not everyone does what they do as if it were a game.
to win, to show off, to be better than another person.

some play for the love of the game.

for the love of doing good,
for the love of helping.

But when they're asked to deliver, well
They're exposed for who they are

Arrogant actions allying against all accusers

Hiding their fear of worthwhile competition
Guilty of committing the ugliest deeds:
Trying to get their piece of recognition of actions not performed.
Are they ever going to learn?
that you can't succeed if the heart is not in it!

There's room for everyone to shine
Stop trying to knock people off

your game is wicked

Focus on refining your abilities

There's no need for any combat

Be humble, thankful that you're here

The undeserving will eventually walk

Silence yourself until you're capable and can do what you say your going to do
so much talk, but no actions.

Be silent I say and show me.

JUST ME

2006-08-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

just me, no words.

you tell me some words, yes i really want to know !

kisses

==========melissa

MEMORIES

2006-08-12T23:07:00.000-05:00

most of these photos were taken by my classmates

i am running out of "fun" time since school is going to start

and some of ya'll were asking to see mine and my classmates

photos

so here they are

The count down is on for March !

"Only God can judge me"

2006-08-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

"Only God can judge me."......... Tupac

(thanks mel & abel)

i saw this and thought about all the people that like to judge everyone else.

And if your reading this and are one of those people that say,

" did you know so and so was with so and so "

"can you believe what she wore, drank, ate"

than stop!! it's none of your buisness.

And for all those reading this that like to talk about people after they walk by.

Do you really have that much hatred in your heart?

Do you have so much disapointment in your life that all you can do is try and hurt others so you can fell better?

Not everyone has to hurt like you.

You will continue to hurt as long as you are judging, talking and making stupid comments about everyone else.

Because you will never be able to be happy untill you can be happy with yourself.

You are so ready to judge everyone look at yourself first!

---------------Melissa

superheros

2006-08-01T14:48:00.000-05:00

we all do at one point or another in our life. but the first person that should be our hero when we are young is our parents , than as we grow older. we can view others and even ourself as a hero.
we can be a hero to our children. we dont need to be able to break a brick wall, or leap over a tall building. but being able to be there for a child and being able to comfort them is a big deal to them.

who was your hero growing up?
who is your hero now?
do you see your self as a hero?
if you could have one super power what would it be?

Ode to my friend : J

2006-07-31T22:51:00.000-05:00

i offered to hit my friend today well actually
right now its about 11:00 at night
i offered to hit her somewhere anywhere.

she was/is in pain. mentally her heart got broken,
well not broken but cracked. so i offered to hit her
in the face so she could feel physical pain instead of
emotional pain. she turned me down.

why i dont know. actually she is sitting next to me, drinking
her sorrows away. but what comes after you drinK?
she will be extracting her sorrows away. i tell her see as
easy as it goes in, it comes out.

as well the pain. it comes in you feel it (like abad hangover) than
it goes out. but sometimes you need to feel it to say i will
not do that again.

do you ever feel like this is the last time iam going to give
someone a chance. last time i am going to let a piece of my
heart go to someone?

then your not going to share that with anyone else because the last
person took it and broke it so much that you dont think its going to
be put back together again?

than you will not allow yourself to care for someone? not let yourself
fall in love again?

but why love ?

you love because there is a chance, that out there your soul mate is waiting
for you

out there the love of your life is waiting for you

what does not kill you makes you stonger.

and we all need to be strong

if this does not make sense
i had to sit here and HAD to share 5 pina colada's with my friend

i dont want her to drink alone....

to my friend: dont always give your heart.. not everyone is
worthy of your inner and outer beauty!
do you give your all to yourself! do belive in yourself
do be happy for YOU .not anyone else ..

the only way you can find TRUE happiness is by finding yourself !

you are the one that is in control...you just need to get in
control
luv ya -melissa

Anna Maria's Visit

2006-07-27T17:31:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUmdBSUGnyA
here is the link to see the pics from anna maria's visit
to san antonio. we met at blue star on wed for happy
hour! it was great seeing her again. we can not wait
to go back in march! it is a go for us to return than
i'll keep you up to date on life, our trip and adventures
--stay tune

Life is a Stage

2006-07-25T01:33:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that life is like a stage
but that doesn't mean we need to pretend to be
something we're not!

one of the most basic human needs
is to be loved.

I see so many of us walking around trying
to be loved for something we're not.

it's only normal to want to say the right thing
to want to make people laugh or to impress others.

But the truth of it is, that invariably leads to disappointment
for everyone.

there's something we're all uniquely qualified to do
something no one else in the whole world is better at!
we are all unique in our own way.

Be yourself, when eveything you say and do
is motivated by sincerity than you
can't help but be loved and respected for who
you are.

Life is a stage. How we choice to act determines how
great we each are.

Melanie : aka Mel

2006-07-25T00:48:00.000-05:00

Photo by Gail
Melanie is my new partner in crime.
As if I needed any additional help.
I gained so much this summer from
our experience. But one of the most
important things that

I have gained is friendship
from my classmates. So I am going to try
and post some pictures of my classamtes,
over the next couple of days.

I thought I would start with one of my

roomates and fellow
future graduate. We will be taking fall
classes together. Watch out!

Thanks for laughing with me at all

the things that only we find funny.

NO GO

2006-07-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

The final word has come from the chancellor, Dr. Derrico,
we will not be returning to Oaxaca in August.
The good news is that Spring Break 2007 is in the talks of when to go.
Me & Liz-Photo by Jewels
We are waiting to hear when we will meet with Anna Maria, our new friend from Oaxaca, for dinner.
I'll post pictures of that when we do meet.
This should give us plenty of time to get ourself financially
ready, as well as apply for passports.
I'll keep everyone updated as we move forward to 2007!
After all it's just around the corner!
Mila, Mel, Melissa, Liz, & Jewels -Photo by Gail March

Still waiting

2006-07-23T23:34:00.000-05:00

ok for those of you wanting an update on our return to Oaxaca.
Here is the latest. We are still waiting too. We have a yes,
but if political unrest continues and if reports from Oaxaca
and the teacher's protest show any signs of danger, well the
answer will change to a no.
It's a little fustrating because we (students) all want to go
back, but we do have to wait and see what is going to happen.
Just as well tickets need to be purchased and arrangements
need to be made. I would love to go back this year, and not
wait. Next year is too far, and I am not sure if all of the students
would get to participate. It was a challenge this past week just
to get everyone to respond to an email. And I am not sure if
everyone did. Can you imagine a year from now! Thanksgiving,
and Christmas were tossed around as possible dates. The
downside with that is that those are two pretty family traditional
days. So as of today, Sunday 11:36 pm we are a go. But no plane
tickets purchased yet. This is why I have not packed! Stay tune
for further updates.

Hope Holds On

2006-07-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we got an email from our professor Denise

Dear All,

Mark Hagen had a long visit with Ana Maria on the
phone today, and she said that she thinks that it's
safe for us to return! Based on her feedback, we're
going to book our flights. I need to know ASAP how
many of you are DEFINITE about returning. (We'll leave
on August 10 and return on August 18.) Please reply to
this e-mail ahorita.
Oaxaca, here we come!

I was so excited to see the email, Mark had emailed the day before
with a recomendation of yes, but wanted to talk to Anna Maria,
who was kinda like our tour guide in Oaxaca.
I am still trying to keep myself calm.
Not until we are in a plane to Oaxaca will I start my celebration.
I'll keep everyone posted with updates on
Mexico and Oaxaca as our journey takes flight.
It looks like most of our classmates will be returning.
We are just waiting for a couple of responses back. We want everyone
to go back and complete our journey together.

Multimedia Presentation One -final

2006-07-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

Ok I added more photos that got emailed in.
Plus some additional quotes. I am trying to
finish the one with the Oaxaca pictures. This
one is proving to be a little harder, becuase
I get sad and stop working on it. I need to complete
by this weekend though so we'll see. Enjoy this one
and let me know what you think, hope you like it.

Happy Birthday Jessica

2006-07-18T00:02:00.000-05:00

My baby finally had her birthday party this past Saturday. We had so much fun it was a month late due to my trip and school. My Jessie turned 9 years old.. WOW
Happy Birthday Baby

Hope fades

2006-07-16T21:50:00.000-05:00

When I started this blog yesterday (Sunday) I was thinking that my hope in returning to Oaxaca was fading. It did not look like we were going to return. I emailed Mark, who is from ACCD and inquired about our return and when a decision would be made. I have to let my work know and make arrangements this time for my children. If we go I'll be missing my 4 year old going to school the first time, my daughter going into 4th grade, and my son into 2nd. Plus our classroom will have a new teacher. So there is a lot for me to plan.
This morning I received an email from Mark stating that he spoke with the Embassy in Mexico and consular agent in Oaxaca. And after speaking with them along with reports he read, he fells that we CAN return in August!
My eyes had to read his email twice to make sure I was reading correctly. I am excited but trying still to contain myself. Not until we are on the plane than will I be ecstatic.
I am scared something will happen from now until we leave to make this not happen for us. So I will continue to pray and keep my faith that we will return . That we will sit and enjoy the Zocalo. And that I will get to eat at Marco Polo, where several of my classmates have raved about their breakfast.
Lets see I hope to write to you from Oaxaca once again.
----------melissa

Last Day of School

2006-07-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

ok here are some phoots of when a couple of us went out
the last day of school. We went to Taco Cabana than on to
Metropolis .. Mary did the robot?!? LOL
enjoy the pics.

multimedia presentation one

2006-07-09T15:04:00.000-05:00

Here is the 1st presentation with photos from our field trips in San Antonio before and after Oaxaca.

Ill be working on two other ones of the pictures of Oaxaca and my classmates.

please let me know what you think

------------Melissa

The value of study abroad

2006-07-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

Study abroad offers the opportunity to expand ones' education by placing them in a setting that differse immensely from their own.

I was given the opportunity to step outside the mainstream American worldview and experience life in a new perspective.

This is a valuable experience that cannot be taught in a classroom, but must be experienced first hand.

From volunteering at the SAMMinistries, to our brief stay in Oaxaca. Through this I have gained a better understanding of international, political and econmic issues.

I have gained an appreciation for the richness of different cultures and traditions and what they might teach us, not only about others but perhaps more importantly about ourselves.

I would recomend that every student do at least one study abroad program. I have a new thirst for knowledge of the world around me, and will continue to try and quence it with more study abroad programs!

on my way to city council meeting

2006-06-29T18:14:00.000-05:00

Chick-Fil-A Serving More than Food

2006-06-29T15:51:00.000-05:00

Great Service in not the only item on the menu at the Chick-Fil-A located at 3214 SE Military Drive.

When we first walked into the Chick-Fil-A, we were greeted by owners by smiling faces, and a basket full of mini cows. They were being presented to the first 100-kids.

"It's supercow," my four year old, Jacob said, as his cow started to accend in the air.

Jessica, who was celebrating her birthday exclaimed, "Mom it's like everybody's birthday today, look at all the balloons."

Donavan Delgado, who has been an employee since the establishment opened on November 17th, took our order and even brought out our food when it was ready. All with a big smile.

In fact as we recieved one of the best services I have ever had, I think better than any fancy sit down resturant. The employees walked around and checked with us, offered to refill our drinks before we could even speak.

I have always been a big fan of Chick-Fil-A, their tea, and lemonade are on the top of drinks that you have to try.

I recomend Chick-Fil-A, not only becasue of their great food, but beyond compare friendly service.

My daughter could pick anywhere to go and eat for her birthday and her choice was an excellent one.

Some Pics for you

2006-06-28T13:33:00.000-05:00

here are some pics that you might enjoy. we are getting ready to create a cd of some of our photos that we each took.

Rey... insisted that I came from Oaxaca... I cant wait to go back and see if he is still at the same street corner.
I ordered tacos off of this little food stand the last night... Gringas... i love this stuff it was sooooo good.. i think i only ate one taco, my fellow classmates ate the others.. when we go back it will be one of the first things i eat.. and for my drink....ummmm

My friend Brendan drew this, i asked him to sign it, so when he becomes a famous cartoon artist i will have one of his orgional works. he was nice enough to let me keep this drawing.. it will be on ebay next week..j/k .. i have it framed in my room
We are getting ready to board our plane home to San Antonio
Blair and Aden are to the left, Mila is looking at something, Gale reading,
Mary is standing, and Alex, sitting, wow, we got a smile out of you in this one.
We were all quiet on the way home, some of us did not get much sleep the night before, we decied to stay up on the roof all night and proclaim our support to the teachers and bond with each other sharing stories and ideas of life. There was little sleep for me on the way home. Who can really sleep on a plane. Too much to look at outside. To be soaring as high as angels...

my first audio blog!

2006-06-27T15:24:00.000-05:00

I need a hero

2006-06-26T13:25:00.000-05:00

What Gives Me Wings?

2006-06-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

I am back on Red Bull. I still cant seem to kick my headaches, and they
are causing me to feel like aliens have come and suck the little brain cells I have
left. Plus I am sleepy, well that might be due to the lack of sleep (lol)

So my Red Bull is back. With our 1st draft deadline quickly approaching and needing to double check my journal prompts... I am thinking I need to hurry up and

Get ahold of yourself Lois

Where is superman when I could use him to fly me around to differnt places in San Antonio, plus I could have used him when I went to SAMM's , I was being followed by someone under the bridge. Note to self, next time I might want to take a "superman" with me.....

anyone know where i can find one?!

Rage Against The Machine

2006-06-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

Rage Against The Machine - Sleep Now In The Fire

check out this video

You have to check out this
band in concert !!!

Walk downtown

2006-06-22T07:54:00.000-05:00

Today we toured San Fernando Cathedral. I did not know that this church held so much history.

San Fernando was founded on March 9, 1931 by 15 families who came from the Canary Islands. This is the oldest church in San Antonio.
This church like the lives it touches has gone through many trials, hardships, and loss, but it has persevered.

The first thing that will captivate you is back of the church where out of 15, 000 leaf sheets of gold were used to create where the four apostles Luke, John, Matthew, and Mark, surrond Christ on the Cross.

As you walk the Stations of the Cross you will take note of the detail in the faces, as well as the colors used to create the journey to Calvary.
The one piece that will touch you is the recreated sculpture of Mary holding her son, Jesus, as she looks up to heaven for some sort of relief, an answer, and a desperate look of needing help. If you look closely you can see the sadness in her eyes, as if tears had just dropped. (The original was destroyed by a mentally ill person along with other antique statues)

Our tour was completed by a story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Although I have heard this story many time before and, even taught it at CCD, I learned something new. The ropes that the Virgin is holding in her hands in Aztec symbolize pregnancy. This is said to be the only image of Our Lady that depicts her as being with the Christ Child. Never knew that, I'll have to ask Sister Rita more about that, when I find my way back to church.

Our walk to the Governor’s palace was not long. We rounded the corner and we were there.

I could not take part in the tour too well, because of an overwhelming headache I got. It felt like a migrant and I got nauseous all of a sudden. I had to keep going outside to get a breath of air. Even than the sun hurt my eyes and I felt light headed. My body is starting to come off this little rush I've been on. I have not had a chance to rest and now, when I need to be focused, I want to sleep. But I can’t. Let's blame this headache on the tear gas side effects and irritating people side effects (no, not anyone in my group, they are all great).

The interesting information that I did get was that of the way law breaking citizens were dealt with. Criminals were branded on the right hand. And some time, if the crime was severe, hung on the tree. We were shown a tree that 24 (sorry, my professor is going to be upset, but I did not write down) I think its 24 people were hung. He said to look closely, it's (the tree) starting to grow faces. Twenty four of them, this is eerie. I could'nt really focus on it too much as my pounding head was distracting me.

Thank goodness Jewels had some sort of medication. She said "You might just want to take one", ummmm, No. I'll take both, I can’t function.

Now if she only had medication to help me function in life.

I was glad to head back after that field trip. I came home physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. I hope for a better day tomorrow. I can not and will not have more than one day of this. I will my self not to. I'll let you know tomorrow if that works.

I thought this was appropriate for our visit today......

Come unto me, ye who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

Missions A walk back in time

2006-06-20T21:03:00.000-05:00

Ever have one of those days where you felt like you were just walking through time. As if you could go back and see what life was like in the past?

As we exited our temporary transportation device, good ole motor van, we seemed to enter into a new world. One that called for exploration. Our first stop Mission San Francisco de la Espada.

First thing noted was Brendan, but we will call him HESUTU today * (miwok Indian name) climbing on the limestone walls, he looked like he was on the look out for an Apache or Comanche raid , than his brother in adventure, Alex will call him AKECHETA today* (Sioux name) was quick to start his one man hunting party.

Seeing booth of them with their eagerness to explore made me take flight too.

Walking into Espada, you could feel the peace of the day. The weather was perfect. I kept closing my eyes and just listening to nature calling me away and the whispering of the wind in my ears telling me fell the grounds that our ancestors once walked. Indians, and Spaniards journeyed here to this very site.

First the brick doorways, rough but almost a passage way to history. Mary , let's give her an Indian name too, POLIKWAPTIWA *(from the Hopie Indians) tells us a story about the doors arch way at the entrance of the church. The bricks were put in reverse, but also noted by a friend of mine is that the structure has lasted longer because of that mistake.

As you walk inside the church the smell of incense surrounds you. Being raised a strong catholic that I was, I quickly looked for the holy water to bless myself in. I double checked to make sure the door closed behind us and that none of the cats had walked in.

What must have those who sought refuge here from starvation and enemy's must have felt. To walk into a church with new "idols" for them to worship. That the trade for their life was to give their life, to a new God. The Christian God, and be baptized Christian with now a Catholic faith and a new language and culture.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna, (whew) was just as beautiful, but Espada held my heart now. Concepcion seemed to bring me back from my temporary mind time travel.

The first room to right is dedicated to private prayer. The drawing on the wall is a depiction of Christ on the Cross. I wonder, when the Indians drew or created these works of art, did they understand what they were drawing? Do artist draw from the heart, soul or with passion of knowledge of their creation? Or are their works just that works, not art to them if there is no heart, soul or passion. I'll have to ask Brendan and Alex that question if I remember next time I see them.

Although this was not my first trip to the missions I found it the most enjoyable. I loved learning from my professors, and fellow classmates. I think I learned that by combing the cultures of Native American and Spaniards there was a cultivation of new ideas and way of life that help ensure survival.

*Here are the meanings of the temporary Indian names I gave my fellow classmates.

Mary: POLIKWAPTIWA: Hopi name meaning "butterfly sitting on a flower."

Brendan: HESUTU: Miwok name meaning "yellow jacket nest rising out of the ground

Alex: AKECHETA: Sioux name meaning "fighter"

This is what Democracy Looks Like

2006-06-20T07:37:00.000-05:00

WOW, I thought in this day and age that tear gas, and harassment of peaceful protestors was only done in countries with no constitutional rights. That America, although a young country could not possibly partake in such violence and unlawfulness against its own people.

Wrong!

We returned back today to SAC. I couldn’t get any sleep, I woke up early. I wanted to get back to a routine of things, I felt like my kids at school, I need a schedule I need consistency.

I was excited to see Mel when she walked in than Gayle; we greeted each other with hugs. Than Liz came walking in. Another round of hugs. Mel said it perfect there is no way we can lose touch with each other. Not after what we've been through. I agree.

To go through the events, and the emotions we did with each other automatically bounds you to one another. I’m still trying to process what all happened and how we walked down those streets.

Denise and Karen started us right off with work. It felt good, yet another "comfort food". Food for the brain. Karen went over what made a civilization and what made a culture. We had to read the history of Oaxaca in our handbooks (I had to go buy another book, I left mine in Oaxaca during our rush to exit the hotel)

In reading the history of Mexico, I am getting really interested in learning more about where my great-grandmother came from. My grandmother has told me stories about her father and Poncho Villa, how they helped him and gave him refuge at their ranch, but I just kindly listened, now I want to learn from them.

Than we saw a video, that was produced and directed by Jill Freidberg and Rick Rowley. The film was intense and heart breaking, I did pretty good until the part where you knew they were going to get tear gassed. My tears started flowing down, I told my self don’t cry. This is the past. The events happened in 1999, only seven years ago! The events recorded on film were that of a peaceful protest in Seattle. 50,000 people, of different nationalities, organizations and religious beliefs came together. To protest against the World Trade Organization (WTO).

I could not help but think again of what we saw in Oaxaca, tear gas falling. Where did the children go? Questions, questions, no answers.

This is a very powerful film. As Rage Against the Machine music plays in the background I start getting a little pumped up thinking, we should be doing something here in San Antonio to support the teachers in Oaxaca. Some how we need to let the people know here what is going on.

Why didn’t I go back? I could hear Denise in her official "mom" voice in my head saying do not go past the park. I should have gone back and got right in the action of things but than I guess I would be running for my life too. But the adrenaline rush and the feeling of being there and not really being there over takes you. It took my own voice of reason (small one) to say no let's not go back, let's not go past the park.

My eyes, my heart and my mind have been opened to my nievness of the world, people and government in another country as well as in ours. As I search deep in me of who I am and what is my purpose, I yearn to learn more about my heritage. Where are my roots? What is driving me?

Question, questions again, yet still trying to find answers.

I use to think, I am an American, not a Mexican-American, and I don’t know why people support Mexico as if they lived there. How stupid, arrogant, and selfish of me. And if you know me even a little, you know that I am not any of those things. But I am willing to open my mind up to new things. Something a teacher shouted up to me while on the roof hit me harder than a ton of bricks.

Go back and tell them in Los Estados Unidos- United States, tell them what is happening. That we were just sitting hear peacefully. Tell them because we have families there they need to know, and because you are from here, we are the same people.

Yes I forgot we are the same people, we are all humans. No matter what we look like, we all have this in common. We are human beings no better or less than our neighbor.

We are blessed to live in America where we have freedom, to hold a peaceful protest, freedom of speech, but here too I discovered today with our film, that those rights have been taken away by those we turn to that are suppose to protect us.

I have been set on fire (as if I needed another passion) by my peers, professors and grandmother. My thirst for more information is taken on a new quest for me.

Please link to the following site to get more information about the film. I am going to see how I can get a copy or order one online. I think everyone needs to see this film and be awaken to our own battles in the USA.

www.thisisdemocracy.org

"Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others."
--From the January 27, 1838 Lyceum Address, Abraham Lincoln

The singing of Mexico's National Anthem woke me up

2006-06-16T14:33:00.000-05:00

These are only some of the photos make sure to see my classmates blogs we were all taking pictures. Mila has some great photos! She wants to be a photo journalist. I will keep uploading as fast as I can.

I woke up thinking is that smoke I smell? Than the sound of chants and songs, started ringing in my ears, as all my senses were awakening.

It was a quarter to five, I was thinking, they (the teachers) are either up really early or have not gone to bed. I did not have much time to figure it out because the burning sensation in my throat started to take over.

I went to the balcony and asked Liz what are they singing and saying?

Liz said, "Mexico's national anthem"

Than I inquired what is that smell?

"I think fireworks" she said.

“It burns,” I said.

As I looked up to the sky seeing nothing but the light from the full moon, I headed back to bed disappointed not to see any fireworks. As I sat down on my bed, my eyes were getting the sameintense burning, as if someone had poured hot sauce into them.

Mel exclaimed out of nowhere from her bed, "Close the window and balcony door, that's tear gas!"

We quickly did and turned on the fan as the room was filling with the colorless gas. I began coughing and feeling nauseated.

Mel said "take slow breaths and breathe with your shirt."

"You can get sick with it" she was able to mention as she started coughing too.

I became very worried about her since she is asthmatic. Liz seemed the least bothered by it. The air became breathable after a while. We settled down and laid listing to the chants slowly drifting back to dreamland. Unaware of the chaos that we were to awaken to.

As our alarm went off at 7 am, I looked and the girls who were still asleep. I turned it off thinking they needed extra time today and we would still be ok if I let them sleep a little longer.

About five minutes later Denise, one of our professors, was pounding on the door. Liz jumped off the bed and ran to answer it. The pounding of the door took over as pounding in our hearts, as she was giving us a report of what we already knew had happen; tear gas has been dropped on the protesting teachers. What we didn't know that it was more than just one canister, several. The teachers were attacked last night by the police, she went on to say and we are now barricaded in.

"I think it's best that we stay here today and not go on our field trip", Denise said.

We all agreed. As she exited down our stairs Liz jumped up, put on her shoes, grabbed her video camera and was out the door, Mel quickly followed. I got up, changed and was out the door too. I had to get to the roof top to join my roommates.

At the top of the roof I looked down, to the left and to the right of me were 80 plus police officers, suited up in riot gear. It looked like something straight out of a movie. In each corner block they stood there with their police-baton stick in one hand and their shield in the other, as if getting ready for a great battle.

About 2 blocks to the left of us were the teachers that had been forced to evacuate their make shift house of plastic tarps, tents, and carport covers.The sea of covered tarps were now scattered all over the streets. Teddy bears, clothes, and propane stoves were displaced from their owners.A helicopter flew overhead dropping canisters of tear gas all around us.

We were forced to retreat to our rooms; the feeling of suffocation was too much for us to bear.We are not sure what is going to happen next.

The following is video taken while we were in our hotel not knowing what was going to happen next.

Here is a video of us sitting in an office trying to get some photos out to the express news and ACCD in San Antonio.

This video shows Mila, Brendan, and Jewellet trying to recover from teargas stinging their eyes.

Here is Gale and Liz speaking to one of the hotels employees.

Night time in Oaxaca

2006-06-13T22:58:00.000-05:00

Our second night brought us back to the same little resturant we ate at the nigt before. We fell in love with the surroundings, the hospitality, and of course the food. I had never heard of most of the items on the menu.

As we finished our dinner, a band started playing outside. Listen to the video. Pay attention to the indigeous people that walk by. The video was taken just outside the Zocolo. Jewlet, Mila, Mel, Liz and myself were stuffed when we decided to walk it off at the Zocalo.

Night time still holds many vendors and warm smells of food cart vendors. Mel, said lets get back before dark, ummm yea, not going to happen. The Zocalo and the surronding blocks are filled with a sea of tarps. Teachers are sitting in (this is their fourth week) they live, sleep and eat under their new home. You can see many signs, and teachers on mega phones peacfully stating their needs. Higher wages, is on the top of the list.

The Photos show what we saw of the way the tarps were set up and some of the political signs we have seen
The video was taken as we walked to the bus stop earlier today

As we walked around we were being drawn in to all the handmade blouses, toys, folk art and jewlery. We meet a man, I forget his name now, (sorry did'nt have my reporters notebook) I'll have to ask Liz, she video taped him. He made beautiful jewlery. His work made us stop and sit down in front of him. I bought a jade mask, breath taking, and a rope braclete and necklace with jade. Liz had the treasure, a necklace with a mask, and jade and beads made out of seeds. When she asked how does this look on me, as she tried it on, I said, "awfull", I laughed and said "just kidding, it's because I want to buy it.

As we walked back to our rooms, we talked about the beauty of Oaxaca and it's people. The excitement of seeing what other beauty we would encounter tomorrow.

Visit to El Instituto Tecnologica de Oaxaca

2006-06-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

The sounds of chirping birds woke me up at 6:15 this morning. They seemed to be communicating with each other as if discussing the day’s activities. I lay listening to them, as 6:45 am rolled around the chirping slowed into a song, what a relaxing way to get up.

I had a restless first night. I did not sleep so well, I thought about my children at home and missed them.

My mobile phone alarm rang 7:00 am, time for me to get up. We are on our own for breakfast, we just had to be in the lobby by 10:00 am to meet Anna Maria, we were going to tour the El Instituto Tecnologica de Oaxaca.

Gale and I ate tamales from a food cart before we left for the ITO. I had chili verde, they had chicken and green chilies, not like our tamales, but a little bit spongier. Gale had tamale de mole, which looked like ours back home. Both were very good. Plus I only spent 5 peso or .50 cents for breakfast.

Gale Marsch holding her mole taco and hot chocolate

The Institute currently has 4,500 students enrolled and its goal it to have 5,000 students enrolled by next semester. The enrollment process is different than the United States. Potential students need to apply and pass an exam to be considered for enrollment, not everyone who applies can get in since there is a limited capacity-5,000 that can be taught.

Students can earn accredited degrees in Accounting, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, and Administration.

After being greeted and briefed on the Institutes history and goals we were escorted to listen to a presentation by Dr. Pedro Moldonado Cruz, a former graduate and teacher of the Institute. He gave, with great details, research about the poverty in Oaxaca.

Anna Maria, Dr. Cruz, Dr. Denise Richter

It’s sad to know that 85 percent of the states population lives at or below the poverty line, of 80 pesos a day per four family members that is saying a family of four lives off of an average of $8.00 per day. There are so many different factors to look at as to why families are living like this.

The detail and research that the Dr. Cruz put into his presentations was impressive. He also spoke about “futurology” of how to try and have the economic growth needed to change the statistics.

There needs to be (to name only a few)

Better Lines of communications
Better conditions for business in Mexico
Improvement of the quality of education

I learned a lot about the states poverty level today.

Here are some more pictures going to and around the ITO

Exploring We Will Go

2006-06-12T22:09:00.000-05:00

My first day at Oaxaca was getting my bearings. As we exited off the plane and into the small airport we were shuffled to the line to declare or country and sign our visa. Don't lose this slip of paper; you need it to board the plane to leave the country. AHHHH papers dont go well with me, Angie and Jeannette I can really use your help now.

As we boarded our taxi we were greeted with the beauty and smells of Oaxaca. You could smell the lavender as we drove off and made our way to our first destination, our hotel, Casa de la Tia. The cars moved so fast and the streets are a very tight fit. We arrived at the corner of our street and were dropped off. It was crazy in the middle of the street. Ok Dorothy your not in Kansas anymore

The main objective for the day was to get food, figure out how to get to and from the hotel, and explore!

Photos are when we first arrived and 1st meal at Hotel Posada del Virrey

After eating at and getting a quick tour of the Zocalo, from Anna Maria, our tour guide who is also a teacher at El Instituto Technologica de Oaxaca, Denise said, Your own your own now to explore!

First stop Templo de la Soledad a breath taking church that gave us, Liz, Mila, Mel and Jewelette much comfort. We were glad we got to Oaxaca safely and were ready to start our exploration.

Some of the pictures are of the inside of the church. I have to admit looking at them, they do not show the how magnificent and spiritual filling this church brought to me as I walked around in amazement of its breath taking beauty.

Out side the church as Liz and I waited for the rest of our fellow explores to come out we were treated to a soccer game being played by local boys. See the video below.

Last Call, Leaving San Antoinio to Oaxaca

2006-06-12T18:08:00.000-05:00

As I entered the airport at 5:29 I felt like everyone was staring at me. I had two bags to roll, two carry on bags, and 13 little brown bags filled with goodies for my fellow classmates. Yes I looked like I was going away, forever. The bags made me feel silly. Paul just dropped me off and I thought wow, I am really doing this, on my own, no family members, since he did not offer to help take my bags in I was thinking, and no one to take care of but me, yikes, that is scary because I am a handful.

Than I saw Mary walk in the doors, whew, a familiar face. We made our way to the rest of our group Brendon, Mel, Denise, and Liz were already there. I am glad I told myself 5 a.m. because I know I run 30 minuets late all the time.

As we were hurried off to check in we had to go through and have our bags scanned, my laptop removed from the bag and my shoes off. Denise was hurrying us along, since the plane was getting ready to depart and we were the last to board. I know that does not surprise many of you that I would be the last to board the plane. We even ran through the airport with our shoes off. I know you can imagine that.

As we ascended into the air our plane soared into raspberry blue cotton candy clouds. They were so fluffy that if my son Jacob was here I know he would think he could eat them.

We landed at Houston’s busy airport right at 8 am and than began another crazy race to our next flight. Boy my legs are already hurting, I need to get in shape! And for those of you wondering, yes I have already had my first Red Bull for the day.

I am now on the flight to Oaxaca we are scheduled to arrive at 11:27 central time. Brenda our flight attended smiles as she offers me a drink. She hands me a coke can that is really cute. It is from Thai, ill have to save the can for my grandma the big coke fan.

The captain says the weather is 62 degrees. What a way to start our trip with beautiful weather. The forecast says it’s supposed to rain. That’s ok I know we will still have fun.

Well time for me to eat cheerios; listen to Linkin Park while I catch up on my school reading. Karen and Denise like to keep us well informed.

Enjoy the first of many photos to come

Memories of my past- SAMMinistries

2006-06-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

Preparing for lunch at St. Vincent De Paul was a fun task.
Mel, Liz and I got started right away with setting up the donuts, after our 1st assignment was completed, we spread out and jumped into different areas. There was much to do before lunch could be served.

We served 173 lunches. The preparations consisted of cutting potatoes, dividing up pie pieces, and slicing red tomatoes, among many other tasks. I assisted in washing dishes (yes I did do that), and making peanut butter sandwiches.

Liz and I than became the "hostess", we helped those with medical conditions, on walkers, as well as mothers with young children get their trays and drinks.

As the flow of hungry people started into the dining area, my heart sank.

Women, children, elderly and medically fragile. Some with somber looks, others with polite nods passed us by. Liz and I served as "hostess" assisting anyone that needed help with their trays.

When the men started coming in I had to walk away, almost running to the restroom.

Memories and tears started rushing in faster than the people. I was filled with emotion. I started remembering that my uncle would stay here. He would choose to live out in the streets instead of at home with my grandmother. Why would he do that? I asked myself. My grandmother would worry about him so much. We would look for him under trees, bridges, even visiting SAMMinistries, and find him. Was he more at home here?

As we helped and greet the flow of people coming in we would smile and get a smile back or even a hello, how are you. Many of the people coming in were polite, we heard please, and thank you many times. Than there were some that looked like they were just in their own world (like me sometimes), just going with the flow, maybe not sure where they were headed, or not sure what they wanted or needed in life.

It's comforting to know that SAMMinistries has always been around for those who need it and needed it in the past. That all those times when we worried if my uncle had something to eat, that he did have somewhere to go and find a warm meal.

SAMMinistries mission is to help the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless attain self-sufficiency by offering, with dignity and compassion, shelter, housing and services.

Seeing today the wonderful work that St. Vincent de Paul, who manages the dining area, does I see the mission not only as a vision but a reality.

I walked out of there thankful that Silva Nhaera, who is the dining room manager, is there and that volunteers like us and others can come together and help, if only for a day.

If you want to make a change, not in someone's life but your own, go and volunteer, go and see the faces that need to be feed, clothed and welcomed. Than go home and see the face in the mirror that needs to be feed, with inspiration and faith, clothed with warmth from friends, and welcomed into society. We are not that different, in fact we are the same, human beings walking through life. Sometimes happy, sometimes with a blank stare, not knowing where we are going. Maybe we think we are rich because we have the roof over our head, warm water and food, and maybe they think we are poor, because our society lacks in compassion, empathy and respect for each other.

Mel's Interview

2006-06-09T17:14:00.000-05:00

This is me testing out what i can do on blogger
so i one applogize that the video is side ways
now i know, not to turn the camera when shooting
because there is not a way to change it.
I am trying this out so when i do go to oaxaca ill have it
down and you can see more of the beauty !
Thank you to Mel for allowing me to interview you
more to come about my experience at SAMMinistries
in my next blog, it took me a while to get this down
stay tune !

mel's interview at SAMMinistries

My class

2006-06-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

Meet my classmates, I would tell you their names but one of them is wanted. Just kidding, some want to remain nameless, if you come to my house, I'll tell you whose who! But I can tell you this, I look forward to getting to know each one. They all seem so intresting and a lot of them like to do the same thing I do, volunteer and help others! The above photo was taken at Stan Morgan's house. You can read more about him in my other blog. Below are the photos we took for our international ID.

MORE THAN JUST ART

2006-06-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

Our day was filled with art again, as we visted the house of Mr. Stan Morgan. I could say so much about the art but you will want to take a look at the pictures and let them speak to you.

Stan visits Oaxaca at least four times a year! My favorite piece was the girraffe and the crosses. I hope to bring back many different crosses along with other pieces.

The hospitality that was offered at his home was beyond words. How greatful we were to have the opportunity to preview the color and art that we will be exposed to starting Monday. Yes Monday that soon.

AVANCE

2006-06-07T23:22:00.000-05:00

Another field trip was in order for today. Our school district would be going through the roof if we had this many field trips. This might be a reason why children have lost interest in learning. No fun creative ways to present the material to them. I am sure glad I'm an ACCD student and not a Public School one. I am having so much fun learning about different organizations that provide assistance to our community.

Our van headed south of San Antonio College into the west side of town to one of the AVANCE, locations at 1103 S San Jacinto.
We were greeted by Marisa Chapa who is the Parent Educator and Center Director,who has been with AVANCE for 20 years. You could tell by her warm smile that this was going to be a "warm fuzzy" kind of tour.

AVANCE provides support and education services to low-income families, AVANCE strengthens the families unit, enhances parenting skills which nurture the optimal development of children, promotes educational success and fosters the personal and economic success of parents.

We learned that AVANCE has a strong belief in that parents are the first teachers of their children. Their goal is to break the cycle of poverty and by providing parents opportunities to learn how to be parents they are making major break troughs here in San Antonio

The center we visited was the named after a board member that was killed in a car accident on June 30, 1997 coming from Laredo to San Antonio, Carmen Prieto Cortez.

The non profit organization has different sites around San Antonio. I was surprised to find out that there was one on my southside. The Raul Jimenez Center is located at 114 W. Vestal and I am putting it on my to go and visit list. I think this is a great organization for some of my connections to get involved in.

Yessinia Gonzales, Program Manager for the westside site said it best when she said that AVANCE is the "hidden secret" as she spoke about why there was not a waiting list. As well as how they go door to door to try and help the families that need assistance.

I hope to let that secret out in my area. I am already making plans of what sort of donations we can do and how we can help that location.

Parents go through a nine month program. The program consists of teaching parents how to play with their children, how to use resources in their house t create learning items for the children, and lessons on child development. Guest speakers are brought in to also educate parents on issues at hand.

The center assisted more than 250 people this past session and had 92 parents cross the stage with 148 children.

You could tell by listening to each of the staff members that they were very proud of their little stars or "Estrellitas". Each beamed as they spoke about AVANCE and all the opportunities it offered to families.

Sarah Longoria, a teacher in the young toddler area is an AVANCE graduate. She is now perusing a degree with San Antonio College. In fact I was impressed to find out that all their staff there were attending college.

In 32 years AVANCE has made changes in parents lives that thought there was no hope for them. Mothers and now fathers that go through their program find confidence in themselves and belief that they can make it.

What is Art?

2006-06-06T23:04:00.000-05:00

They say that art is in the eye of the beholder. When you look at a painting what do you see? Do you just see what your eyes show you or do you let your imagination explore the art?

Our class theme today should have been "Your Brain on Art" I had such a visual stimulation that my head actually hurt after we left the San Antonio Museum of Art. I think both sides of my brain were used as i gathered information about the art and tried to analyise the artist process of his/her choice of color, shape, foundation and reason for their creation.

The museum of art is located at 200 W Jones Ave. and if you go on Tuesday afternoon afther 4:00 p.m. you get in at no charge.

We gathered awaiting all our classmates to start our tour. Some of us explored the gift shop. Alex and Brendon actually sang a song to one of the items "Ring my Bell", I thought was very funny seeing that Alex is very quiet in our class.

And with the "ringing of the bell" or Karens voice saying "Walk through the gift shop, walk through it", meaning don't stop and shop. No, she was not only talking to me, but to the whole class. Nevertheless I ran through to avoid the temptation of the Asian section.

Our tour began with a lecture from Karen about the structure of the art museum and the way the art is displayed to have the visitor enjoy it with complementary lighting and casing. We were divided up in teams to explore the following sections and than report back to the class.

Pre-columbian, which referes to the time in the Americas before the sixteenth century- before Christopher Columbus.

Folk Art, which was Alex, Liz and my section is generally produced by people who have little or no academic artistic training and use established techniques and styles of a particular region or culture. My favorite piece in this sections, well there were a couple of them, the masks that are now used in dances, the painting of the "Tree of Life" which was done by a mexican nun, and a wooden shoe box that was painted like a fire truck.

Colonial Art, is represented in reflections of saints, and religous depictions of our Lady of Guadalupe many of times.

Modern Art was introduced in the late 19th century and had a new view on art, that no longer needed a reprensitation of the subject but could be shown realistly with photgraphy.

Our time passed by too fast, is this how it's going to be in Oaxaca not enough time to intake it all or explore it all? That might be why we might as well start planning a second trip there.

Art is truely in the eyes of the beholder. We all had a favorite item, all our items were artistic, and unique and as each presentor pointed out the beauty of it's beholder.

If you have not visted the SAMA you need to put it on your tour list of San Antonio, you will leave there with a true enrishment of art. You will also have "Art on the Brain" for a while to come. Yes, brain food

Brain Food Needed

2006-06-05T22:51:00.000-05:00

Today went by very fast. Our class time mostly consisted of traveling to Incarnet Word Univirsity to pay for our International I.D. than to Palo Alto for those who needed to get their textbooks and financial aid checks. The time seemed to fly by rather quickly. Which was good seeing that I was running on very little sleep because of our trip from El Paso (we did not get to bed until 1:30 a.m.) I've been trying to feed myself brain food, but can't seem to get my thoughts together. I do know that it is due to lack of sleep. As I look at the clock 11:00 p.m. I think there is so much I want to say, but can't due to my brain lacking function. So rather than typing mambo jumbo I leave you with good night. But tomorrow, whew look out, I'll be back.

Pictures say a thousand words

2006-06-01T19:11:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how a picture can capture what not only our eyes but our senses take in? Can a picture say a thousands words? Along my journey I hope to fulfill all your senses with photos and description.

As we got settled in today our senses awakened. Our instructor, Karen brought a slide show (yes a good old fashion slide show) the first photo was one of a bright red bougainvillea that was calling on us to awe in her beauty. Different photos followed, some of Monte Alban, who's name has changed in the past. One of the previous names of the city was "Sahandevul" which means "at the foot of the sky". The most interesting picture to me was one that depicted Mary and Christ on the cross on an archway of a ruin. A lot of the of the ruins are decading away due to lack of funding to help preserve a city so full of Spanish colonial buildings. All the slides captivated me and made my anticipation grow even more. I am ready to smell the bougainvilleas, climb the pyramids, and of course my favorite American pass time shopping! I think I'll wear the same clothes and come back with nothing but treasures.

Tomorrow I will be out due because I will be going to El Paso with my family to watch my 7 year old (who is a brown belt) compete in a karate tournament. Our class will be going on it's first field trip to the S.A. food bank. They are going to be learning about the food bank and actually working by ether packing food or moving boxes. Don't think that I am out of this scott free, I'll have to go make this up next week, anyone want to join me? You know I make things fun!

Next week Karen will be bringing in information about Juan Diego, who according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to him in 1531. The reason this is important in the state of Mexico is she is said to have appeared to a poor indian at Tepeyac, a hill Northwest of Mexico City. Our Lady of Guadalupe (also known as the Virgin Mary) is Mexico's patron saint. Even more so important to me is because of my faith and belief. Although Juan Diego's cloak is not in Oaxaca but in Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City the states of Mexico reflect the strong faith through their artistic work. Karen told us to be ready to choice from differnt textiles, wood, black clay, and tin. Yes, I'll be a good student and buy one, or two, or a lot of each, after all I need to get the full experience.

Dont drink the water

2006-05-31T15:50:00.000-05:00

Ever hear "Don't drink the water."? Is it a myth or truth? I think today we found out, dont drink the water, or lemonade, or tea, or brush your teeth for that matter.
In class we got to meet our instructor for HUMA 1302 Ms. Karen Marcotte. She just got back from another Service-Learning Program to China. What a trooper she came in to teach us, not only jet lag, but with a bug. Really a parasite in her stomach, poor thing. But having heard that our class started discussing should we really drink the water in Oaxaca? Liz, offered some great advise, ask for "limonada minerale" or mineral lemonade. She said it does not taste bad at all. Ok one thing solved, but what about my teeth? I guess bottle water for that. We were also told to beware of what we are eating because we could get sick that way too. Does that mean no fried grasshoppers?

The class seems to go by rather quickly, even with a long survey we had to take today. Over 300 questions ranging from our belief in God, my relationship with my parents to something like should we excuse a man for having an affair because he is a man? A man must have done this survey because we all know the answer to that one, strongly disagree. That was the strongest choice I had to choice from I could not make my own up. If not there would be a couple of choice words in there to support my strongly disagree. We will have to take another survey when we come back from our trip. Boy I look forward to how that one will read.

Tomorrow we are going to learn more about the history of Oaxaca and see some black clay pots. The town of Bartolo in Oaxaca is know to make elegant black pottary. I hope to be able to safely bring back at least two pots. I can't wait to find out more about this country and it's history. I have read so much in my book Oaxaca by Bruce Whipperman and I am ready to see if it is as rich in beauty as he says it is.

My first day in class

2006-05-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

When I first decided that I was going to go back to school I did not relalize how close I was to graduating. I had changed my major two times, finally I found my real passion, public relations.

I have three classes left to take to complete my degree Associates in Marketing and Public Relations. When i got accepted into the summer course I was suprised that I was concidered. COMM 2311 is one of the courses I need to graduate. When I recieved the email that we were being enrolled reality started sinking in not only with myself but my family. "Mommy who is going to feed us?" my nine year old asked, "Mommy who is going to take me to practice?" my seven year old son asked and of course my wise four year old, "What are you going to bring me back? Will there be toys over there for you to buy me?" The truth of the matter is that I am very excited and very hesitant.

Arriving on the 7th floor at San Antonio College I was a little lost, and confused. I went in circles and kept on hitting a dead end. I thought to myself, ok if I can't find a classroom at school, how I am I going to find my way in Oaxaca? Now that I've meet my fellow classmates and heard a little about each of them, Brendan who goes to Incarnet Word, Camile who this is her third trip, Liz sounds like I should stick by her side; she's eaten grasshoppers, Gail, if we go swimming I know I'll feel safe, Meliane, sounds like I can pick her brain with some graphic art, Mary we have a connection and did'nt even know, we go to the same church, Giselle seems so intresting just deciding to get on a bus and come to Texas, Alex who in his many travels, I bet will have some intresting adventures to tell about and Jewelette, we will all have to see if she has any helpfull information about Dr. Richter and her expectations that we might want to know about to assist us in the course since she has had her before. All ten of us are in for an adventure. I am thinking we might get lost, we might run into dead ends just like this morning. But I am also thinking that together because of the diversity of our group, the passion that each of us will bring and the friendship that will develop, that we can find our way and dead ends will become new begingings
My first day in class was my first day of an adventure that I know will end with lasting memories and friendships.