Today, one of my better students, a senior, asked me if I ever regretted teaching high school students. I said, "no of course not. I love it." which is true. But in the context of the day, it sounded rather strange:
I arrived at school homesick and frustrated with my boss and overall quite ready to hop on the next plane home.
When my 4th hour government class comes in, they are more wild and crazy than usual.
Christian threw Lucas' journal out the window, Ben put Christian's journal behind a bookshelf, Ji-Ho is sleeping, David has the swine flu, they are dancing to silent rap music in their heads, the computers won't turn on, the other computers will work with pink screens and a very loud constant "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep", so lucas takes off his shoes, rissa throws them, ji-ho passes out, soo is asking about the boston tea party, Ginny is doing bible homework, Rissa pushes Kevin in a wheeled desk chair across the library into a stack of books, Ben throws a dart from about 10 feet away, Christian is downloading pictures of "hot" girls to his facebook rather than do his homework, Lucas is lying on a pile of beanbag chairs and then Christian jumps on top of him...
Ben: "Ms. Kelly, do you ever regret teaching teenagers?"
Me: "No, Ben, I really like it - hey, Christian, get off of facebook! - teaching is like being a drug addict - Rissa, put down lucas' shoes! - every day I think that this cannot be healthy for me - Kevin, get off of that chair! - but then I wake up the next morning and think - Ji-ho, are you dead? - naw, I think I'll do it again today."
Ben: "ok." goes back to playing video games on his ipod.
Soo: "Ji-ho is not dead, miss. he's just sleepy."
Me: typing quietly and trying to ignore the sleeping, shoe-throwing, chair spinning, dancing, and otherwise chaotic behavior of my class that is a normal day "ok, well, as long as he's not dead, I think we're having a good day."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Content
This was a daily email devotion sent to me by my Pastor in Ann Arbor Monday morning. After a week-long pity party and a relaxing weekend, this devotion helped me to focus my attention as I returned to school. I shouldn't be happy when things are going well and frustrated when they're not. I should be joyful all of the time, regardless of circumstances. But I'm still working on that.
Philippians 4:12-13 (The Message)
I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
For 13 years I have gone camping in a wilderness area in the Upper Peninsula with three Christian friends. We have a ritual. When we arrive in Munising at 7am we go to a local restaurant for our last "civilized" meal for a week. Every year, the same waitress is there pouring our coffee, laughing and always radiating a happiness and contentment that most people never seem to find. Several years ago, as I sat at the table I had been feeling rather sorry for myself. You know the in your head drill: "I work too much".... "I am not appreciated the way I should be".... "I am tired of the same routines".... and on and on. My challenging circumstances were all the more highlighted by the simple contentment and joy of our waitress. I thought, "I wish I could just have a simple and uncomplicated life like her." As she walked away from our table, laughing, I noticed a slight limp. I looked down and to my surprise saw that she had a prosthetic leg. I was humbled by her attitude. Here I was feeling sorry for myself and envying what I thought was an uncomplicated life, when all the while what I was witnessing was an outlook and attitude that transcended life's complications, pains and losses.
St. Paul reminds us that contentedness and joy are not dependent upon our circumstances but upon our awareness of God's powerful love for us and presence in our daily life. Today, leave behind self-pity and lay hold of the joy of God's nearness
Philippians 4:12-13 (The Message)
I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
For 13 years I have gone camping in a wilderness area in the Upper Peninsula with three Christian friends. We have a ritual. When we arrive in Munising at 7am we go to a local restaurant for our last "civilized" meal for a week. Every year, the same waitress is there pouring our coffee, laughing and always radiating a happiness and contentment that most people never seem to find. Several years ago, as I sat at the table I had been feeling rather sorry for myself. You know the in your head drill: "I work too much".... "I am not appreciated the way I should be".... "I am tired of the same routines".... and on and on. My challenging circumstances were all the more highlighted by the simple contentment and joy of our waitress. I thought, "I wish I could just have a simple and uncomplicated life like her." As she walked away from our table, laughing, I noticed a slight limp. I looked down and to my surprise saw that she had a prosthetic leg. I was humbled by her attitude. Here I was feeling sorry for myself and envying what I thought was an uncomplicated life, when all the while what I was witnessing was an outlook and attitude that transcended life's complications, pains and losses.
St. Paul reminds us that contentedness and joy are not dependent upon our circumstances but upon our awareness of God's powerful love for us and presence in our daily life. Today, leave behind self-pity and lay hold of the joy of God's nearness
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sugar Skull Market
In downtown Metepec last weekend we happened across the local "sugar skulls" market. Mexicans don't trick or treat. They set up ofrendas for Day of the Dead. These 'offering tables' are covered with flowers, food, drinks, pictures, and candy.
Mexicans make candy coffins and skulls to celebrate the holiday. No candy pumpkins or candy corn, though, and no leaves.
Dia de los Muertos is a popular Mexican holiday. Americans think that it's "Mexican Halloween" and in some ways, that's true. Both Halloween and Day of the Dead were the result of European Christian Saint's Day celebrations on November 1st. Like everything American (continent, not country) the result looked nothing like the original. The difference is that the U.S. has a mixed international immigrant heritage and that Mexico has an indigenous heritage; that difference is reflected in their holidays.
Mexicans make candy coffins and skulls to celebrate the holiday. No candy pumpkins or candy corn, though, and no leaves.
Dia de los Muertos is a popular Mexican holiday. Americans think that it's "Mexican Halloween" and in some ways, that's true. Both Halloween and Day of the Dead were the result of European Christian Saint's Day celebrations on November 1st. Like everything American (continent, not country) the result looked nothing like the original. The difference is that the U.S. has a mixed international immigrant heritage and that Mexico has an indigenous heritage; that difference is reflected in their holidays.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Mexican Economy
Last year, when the housing crisis and banking crisis and unemployment converged to create the worst recession since the great depression, many U.S. citizens asked me how that was affecting Mexico.
It really wasn't.
That's not completely true, of course, the recession was worldwide, but in many ways thousands of Mexicans were already living in abject poverty. The average Mexican makes $4,000 per year. Many do not have regular jobs or income, they are perpetually undernourished and oversugared (soda is a major source of food energy bc it's cheap) and health care means having babies at home and taking asprin.
A convergence of issues has hit Mexico really hard this past year:
- tourism is down, bc of swine flu scares and bc Europeans and North Americans can't afford to travel
- remittances are down, bc fewer Mexicans are making extra money in the U.S. and canada, legally or otherwise
- the U.S. is deporting more Mexicans, often abandoning young women and children on the streets of Tijuana in the middle of the night
- the U.S. is pushing Mexico to fight the drug cartels, despite the fact that U.S. criminals are providing the ammunition to the cartels
All of this means that Mexico is poorer with greater needs than ever before.
I'm not supporting illegal immigration. But I also know that it is impossible to get a legal working visa for many of the types of jobs that Mexicans and other immigrants want to do - dish washing, maintenance, child care, landscaping, etc. bc the current immigration code is written with the understanding that young and/or poor U.S. citizens will perpetually fill those posts. But they won't. How many americans do you know that are willing to pick pumpkins or clean toilets or watch someone else's children for the price that we're willing to pay them?
fully ONE THIRD of mexicans have lived or worked for some time in the U.S. Nearly every middle class mexican I know knows someone in their immediate family that has studied or worked or traveled on business to the U.S.
Would we be so upset if British were infiltrating the U.S. in large numbers? Or Irish? or Germans? or Italians? Wait... they already did. Now we just call them Americans.
It really wasn't.
That's not completely true, of course, the recession was worldwide, but in many ways thousands of Mexicans were already living in abject poverty. The average Mexican makes $4,000 per year. Many do not have regular jobs or income, they are perpetually undernourished and oversugared (soda is a major source of food energy bc it's cheap) and health care means having babies at home and taking asprin.
A convergence of issues has hit Mexico really hard this past year:
- tourism is down, bc of swine flu scares and bc Europeans and North Americans can't afford to travel
- remittances are down, bc fewer Mexicans are making extra money in the U.S. and canada, legally or otherwise
- the U.S. is deporting more Mexicans, often abandoning young women and children on the streets of Tijuana in the middle of the night
- the U.S. is pushing Mexico to fight the drug cartels, despite the fact that U.S. criminals are providing the ammunition to the cartels
All of this means that Mexico is poorer with greater needs than ever before.
I'm not supporting illegal immigration. But I also know that it is impossible to get a legal working visa for many of the types of jobs that Mexicans and other immigrants want to do - dish washing, maintenance, child care, landscaping, etc. bc the current immigration code is written with the understanding that young and/or poor U.S. citizens will perpetually fill those posts. But they won't. How many americans do you know that are willing to pick pumpkins or clean toilets or watch someone else's children for the price that we're willing to pay them?
fully ONE THIRD of mexicans have lived or worked for some time in the U.S. Nearly every middle class mexican I know knows someone in their immediate family that has studied or worked or traveled on business to the U.S.
Would we be so upset if British were infiltrating the U.S. in large numbers? Or Irish? or Germans? or Italians? Wait... they already did. Now we just call them Americans.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
NOTE: this is an article I read on "The News" the only English Language only newspaper published in Mexico City. It is specifically designed for English Speaking North Americans and Europeans to get an English-language viewpoint of Mexican news. They often cover issues affecting multiple countries. I'll have more discussion tomorrow's post.
Mexicans stay put in the US despite crisis
REUTERS
Mexican workers in the United States have lost jobs and faced a crackdown on illegal immigration but are not heading home in droves despite the worst recession in decades, officials and researchers say.
There is no record of those leaving the United States by land but anecdotal reports suggest some families have packed their belongings into trucks and crossed back into Mexico as construction, food and as farm jobs have evaporated.
A record 12.7 million Mexican immigrants lived and worked in the United States in 2008, more than half of them illegally, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center.
The vast majority have chosen to stay and weather the crisis.
Rights groups say Washington needs to pass an overhaul of immigration policies because Mexicans are not going home.
"There is no evidence of a massive return," said Adriana Valdes at the Mexican consulate in Denver. "People may move because of the crisis, but they are not moving to Mexico where the situation is no better."
Mexico has also suffered its worst recession since the 1930s and illegal Mexican workers living and working in the shadows say they can still earn more in the United States.
"If things are bad here, they're worse in our country," said Christian Dominguez, 21, who has worked in Phoenix since crossing illegally to Arizona 15 months ago from Mexico.
Dominguez earns just $80 in a bad week, shares an apartment with seven other migrants and relies on food donations from local church groups to get by. But he says it is still better than in his home state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
"There I didn't even have money for books or anything else," he said outside a Wal-Mart in Phoenix looking for work.
Some proponents for tougher U.S. immigration policies point to anecdotal stories of Mexicans leaving and a recent census report to argue that illegal immigrants in the United States are going home, lessening the need for immigration reform.
Critics of undocumented workers say they depress wages, drain resources and take jobs away from Americans. Latino advocacy groups say they do the jobs Americans don't want.
The foreign born population in the United States dipped by around 100,000 people to 37.9 million last year, the first decline in more than a generation, the U.S. Census Bureau said.
écording to a study by Pew Hispanic Center, the number of people heading back into Mexico every year has been steady since 2006 at around 450,000.
"There is a strong seasonal pattern to the migration data but no matter how you look at it, there is no upward trend in out-migration," said Jeffrey Passel, a demographer at Pew.
TOUGH REFORM
U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to seek support among Democratic and Republican lawmakers to overhaul the flawed U.S. immigration system.
He is currently battling to push through healthcare reforms, though activists are hopeful he will tackle immigration next year.
Former President George W. Bush tried to push immigration reform through Congress in 2007 but the bill was killed by Republicans and the Bush administration took a get-tough approach focusing on workplace enforcement raids.
Obama supports offering illegal immigrants in good standing the chance to pay a fine and become citizens, as well as reducing immigration raids but still hardening security.
The U.S. government hired thousands more Border Patrol agents in 2007 to help deport immigrants who entered illegally or outstayed their visas, carry out workplace raids, and push police to enforce immigration laws.
Immigration experts say ramped up surveillance along the porous Mexican border has actually increased the illegal immigrant population in the United States because it is so tough to beat security that once in, people decide to stay.
For decades, immigrants crossed the border into the United States for seasonal work and returned home to Mexico when contracts ended, or at Easter and Christmas.
Now many prefer to move around the United States to look for work, moving away from border states like Arizona and Texas where immigration controls are the toughest.
"I'm thinking of going to Florida," said Hector Gallardo, 50, from Cuernavaca, near Mexico City, who has been living illegally in Arizona for 12 years working as a builder. "I don't think of going back to Mexico. But a lot of people are going to other states because of the crisis.
Mexicans stay put in the US despite crisis
REUTERS
Mexican workers in the United States have lost jobs and faced a crackdown on illegal immigration but are not heading home in droves despite the worst recession in decades, officials and researchers say.
There is no record of those leaving the United States by land but anecdotal reports suggest some families have packed their belongings into trucks and crossed back into Mexico as construction, food and as farm jobs have evaporated.
A record 12.7 million Mexican immigrants lived and worked in the United States in 2008, more than half of them illegally, according to a study by the Pew Hispanic Center.
The vast majority have chosen to stay and weather the crisis.
Rights groups say Washington needs to pass an overhaul of immigration policies because Mexicans are not going home.
"There is no evidence of a massive return," said Adriana Valdes at the Mexican consulate in Denver. "People may move because of the crisis, but they are not moving to Mexico where the situation is no better."
Mexico has also suffered its worst recession since the 1930s and illegal Mexican workers living and working in the shadows say they can still earn more in the United States.
"If things are bad here, they're worse in our country," said Christian Dominguez, 21, who has worked in Phoenix since crossing illegally to Arizona 15 months ago from Mexico.
Dominguez earns just $80 in a bad week, shares an apartment with seven other migrants and relies on food donations from local church groups to get by. But he says it is still better than in his home state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
"There I didn't even have money for books or anything else," he said outside a Wal-Mart in Phoenix looking for work.
Some proponents for tougher U.S. immigration policies point to anecdotal stories of Mexicans leaving and a recent census report to argue that illegal immigrants in the United States are going home, lessening the need for immigration reform.
Critics of undocumented workers say they depress wages, drain resources and take jobs away from Americans. Latino advocacy groups say they do the jobs Americans don't want.
The foreign born population in the United States dipped by around 100,000 people to 37.9 million last year, the first decline in more than a generation, the U.S. Census Bureau said.
écording to a study by Pew Hispanic Center, the number of people heading back into Mexico every year has been steady since 2006 at around 450,000.
"There is a strong seasonal pattern to the migration data but no matter how you look at it, there is no upward trend in out-migration," said Jeffrey Passel, a demographer at Pew.
TOUGH REFORM
U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to seek support among Democratic and Republican lawmakers to overhaul the flawed U.S. immigration system.
He is currently battling to push through healthcare reforms, though activists are hopeful he will tackle immigration next year.
Former President George W. Bush tried to push immigration reform through Congress in 2007 but the bill was killed by Republicans and the Bush administration took a get-tough approach focusing on workplace enforcement raids.
Obama supports offering illegal immigrants in good standing the chance to pay a fine and become citizens, as well as reducing immigration raids but still hardening security.
The U.S. government hired thousands more Border Patrol agents in 2007 to help deport immigrants who entered illegally or outstayed their visas, carry out workplace raids, and push police to enforce immigration laws.
Immigration experts say ramped up surveillance along the porous Mexican border has actually increased the illegal immigrant population in the United States because it is so tough to beat security that once in, people decide to stay.
For decades, immigrants crossed the border into the United States for seasonal work and returned home to Mexico when contracts ended, or at Easter and Christmas.
Now many prefer to move around the United States to look for work, moving away from border states like Arizona and Texas where immigration controls are the toughest.
"I'm thinking of going to Florida," said Hector Gallardo, 50, from Cuernavaca, near Mexico City, who has been living illegally in Arizona for 12 years working as a builder. "I don't think of going back to Mexico. But a lot of people are going to other states because of the crisis.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Personal Venting
I almost didn't make it to Spanish class tonight.
Sitting in my car, lost, with tears streaming down my face, already late, I knew I was in no shape to face anyone. It seemed easier to send an impersonal text message to cancel class and then return home to sulk and eat too much ice cream.
For some reason, I pulled myself together and went to class anyway.
I'm glad I did.
16 months ago, 6 months ago, an intense Spanish class with past-perfect-subjunctive verb tenses would have only been an additional frustration on top of my day.
For some reason, successfully conjugating, conversing, and completing verbs and sentences in my adopted foreign language was just what I needed to remind me why I'm here.
Why I put up with all of the other little frustrations in the every day.
For some reason, today's frustrations - which were really no different than any other day's frustrations - lazy and demanding students, incompetent boss, backed-up-traffic, no electricity, switching cars, difficult homework, etc., were then compounded by some unusual events - david being out of town, grades due tomorrow, the police nearly pulling me over, a rude clerk, and getting lost - until I could no longer handle another crisis, no matter how minor. I did not think I could speak in Spanish.
How strange it was to find that my mind thought of Spanish as comforting, rather than confusing. It was like sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate and churros at the end of a long day.
Sitting in my car, lost, with tears streaming down my face, already late, I knew I was in no shape to face anyone. It seemed easier to send an impersonal text message to cancel class and then return home to sulk and eat too much ice cream.
For some reason, I pulled myself together and went to class anyway.
I'm glad I did.
16 months ago, 6 months ago, an intense Spanish class with past-perfect-subjunctive verb tenses would have only been an additional frustration on top of my day.
For some reason, successfully conjugating, conversing, and completing verbs and sentences in my adopted foreign language was just what I needed to remind me why I'm here.
Why I put up with all of the other little frustrations in the every day.
For some reason, today's frustrations - which were really no different than any other day's frustrations - lazy and demanding students, incompetent boss, backed-up-traffic, no electricity, switching cars, difficult homework, etc., were then compounded by some unusual events - david being out of town, grades due tomorrow, the police nearly pulling me over, a rude clerk, and getting lost - until I could no longer handle another crisis, no matter how minor. I did not think I could speak in Spanish.
How strange it was to find that my mind thought of Spanish as comforting, rather than confusing. It was like sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate and churros at the end of a long day.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Maya Mattress
We have amazing weather most of the year in Central Mexico. In fact, this October has been much warmer than average, with most days in the upper 70s F. Ever since last summer, Dave has wanted a hammock to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine.
On our recent vacation to the Yucatan, there were a lot of hammocks for sale. We bought a free-trade sisal hammock - the mattress of choice for the indigenous Mayans. The sisal threads are taken from a specific kind of local cactus, and the result is a beautiful hammock that doesn't sag or mold. And it's very very comfortable for warm afternoons!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Every Day another surprise
Yep, those are cows! And look very very carefully in the top of the picture - that is the Nissan sign. These cows were literally tied up on the security fence in front of Nissan - the engineering center for Latin America had 2 pet cows for the day. Other times when I go to pick dave up, a shepherd is there with about a dozen sheep. The animals get to eat yummy grass there without anyone bothering them, and Nissan doesn't have to pay their lawn mower team as much!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Priceless
When I add up all the things that our 2 year mexico adventure cost us, I can get depressed.
... two years of lost salary, and experience
... missing holidays, funerals, weddings, and casual get-togethers
... hundreds of hours stuck in DF traffic
... dozens of days in cars and buses and trains and planes and boats
... a few too many stomach parasites and bacterias
... two cameras lost/broken
... one or two bad haircuts
But then I remember this advertisement we saw at the Mexico City airport:
and I start to think of all the Priceless bonuses:
... learning Spanish really well
... making new friends
... Writing a book
... reading dozens more
... taking thousands of pictures
... teaching my favorite subject
... laying in a hammock in the sunshine
... enjoying fresh tortillas, ripe mangoes, sauteed cactus, and authentic tequila
... visiting the pyramids so often it becomes routine
... hosting family vacations and loving family even more
... bringing really unique Christmas gifts home to share
... living and knowing, really knowing, really living, a life in Mexico
... two years of lost salary, and experience
... missing holidays, funerals, weddings, and casual get-togethers
... hundreds of hours stuck in DF traffic
... dozens of days in cars and buses and trains and planes and boats
... a few too many stomach parasites and bacterias
... two cameras lost/broken
... one or two bad haircuts
But then I remember this advertisement we saw at the Mexico City airport:
and I start to think of all the Priceless bonuses:
... learning Spanish really well
... making new friends
... Writing a book
... reading dozens more
... taking thousands of pictures
... teaching my favorite subject
... laying in a hammock in the sunshine
... enjoying fresh tortillas, ripe mangoes, sauteed cactus, and authentic tequila
... visiting the pyramids so often it becomes routine
... hosting family vacations and loving family even more
... bringing really unique Christmas gifts home to share
... living and knowing, really knowing, really living, a life in Mexico
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Commentary: Keep America's 'store' open to immigrants
Editor's note: Rudy Ruiz founded RedBrownandBlue.com, a site featuring multicultural political commentary. He is host of a nationally syndicated Spanish-language radio show and wrote a guide to success for immigrants ("¡Adelante!" published by Random House). He is co-founder and president of Interlex, an advocacy marketing agency based in San Antonio, Texas.
This is an article I read on the US version of CNN, but I thought I'd share with all of you, bc living in Mexico has brought to light many of the issues
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CNN) -- You invent a product. You brand it. You market it like crazy. With a lot of hard work, determination and a little luck, you find yourself with a winner on your hands.
Everybody wants what you've got. They'll pay any price. They'll camp all night outside your store. They'll travel from anywhere -- risking their lives, dodging bullets, swimming across troubled waters and climbing barbed-wire fences. People will learn a new language, even leave family and heritage behind, all for a shot at what you've made a fortune selling.
But then, a big problem emerges: A block of stockholders doesn't want to sell the product any more.
Those stockholders are hoarding it, afraid supply is dwindling. They complain it's too costly to manage the crowds and it's getting chaotic in the bargain basement.
So you hire more security guards, build barriers and fences. You award lucrative contracts to surveillance companies, hike prices, downscale production and restrict product benefits. But still, wide-eyed customers think you're the best.
Don't Miss
* Soledad O'Brien explores Latino experience
* In Depth: Latino in America
* Ruiz: A fat tax is a healthy idea
Your efforts backfire. They have the effect of a velvet rope and an oversized bouncer in front of a hot nightclub -- the more unattainable, the more exclusive your product seems, the more people want it.
A black market flourishes. Desperate people break and enter. The angry shareholders call it stealing, although customers do their best to pay even while they receive a fraction of the product's benefits.
You blanket the store with guards to keep away the unwanted customers, but they won't take a hint. The same faces keep reappearing at your door.
It turns out the neighboring store is even less welcoming. It's saddled by bad management decisions, low employee morale, and infighting. Some of your neighbor's disgruntled ex-employees are even sneaking into your store, like pirate profiteers, to sell harmful, illegal merchandise to your legitimate customers.
Bullets fly. Windows shatter and there's blood in the aisles. But people keep coming. The image and product you created long ago remain the most appealing on the market.
Welcome to America. Our product is "The Dream." Its benefits are freedom, equality, opportunity, mobility, legal and human rights, and more. The face of our brand is Lady Liberty, a beacon for the world, welcoming generations of immigrants into our fold.
'Latino in America'
The Latino population is set to nearly triple by 2050. This month, Soledad O'Brien journeys into the homes and hearts of a group destined to change the U.S. Witness the evolution of a country as Latinos change America and America changes Latinos.
October 21 & 22, 9 p.m. ET
see full schedule »
Our most loyal source of new customers has become our neighbor south of the border. And this isn't just a metaphor for our immigration crisis. It's a true tale backed by data.
Recently, the Pew Research Center released a study proclaiming: "Most Mexicans see better life in the U.S. -- One in three would migrate."
So much for brand loyalty.
In a country passionate about its culture and traditions, it's a sad manifestation of deep disenchantment that so many of Mexico's native customers are eager to defect. But the study clearly quantifies the pervasive dynamic driving our immigration crisis.
The study states that because of "crime, drugs, corruption, a troubled economy ... Mexicans overwhelmingly are dissatisfied with the direction of their country. ... Most believe life is better in the United States." In 2009, 81 percent of Mexicans describe crime and 73 percent describe illegal drugs as huge problems. Fifty-seven percent believe immigrants enjoy a better life in America, up from 51 percent in 2007. Most believe friends and family "have largely achieved their goals" in America. Read the Pew report (PDF)
The data reinforce the power and authenticity of America's brand in sharp contrast to competitors. Altering America's image as a haven for immigrants -- devaluing the product -- and decreasing accessibility is what marketers call going "off brand."
Try as you might to curb demand for America's promise, it just won't work. Gucci represents luxury. Wal-Mart defines discount. And America will always be awesome.
By comparison, our neighbors have a long way to go and lately are even going backwards. The good news for America is that our brand remains untarnished. The bad news for recalcitrant shareholders is that customers will just keep coming.
From that vantage point, the America store should stop playing the victim and start leveraging its brand equity. Stop building fences and hiring guards and start managing inventory, improving customer relations, and legitimizing, developing and empowering our immigrant customers.
Properly integrated into the team, they'll help us produce at prices that can compete, not only with our neighbors, but with the giants we're battling for market leadership around the globe. That will only make our store, our product, and our dream stronger than ever.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rudy Ruiz.
This is an article I read on the US version of CNN, but I thought I'd share with all of you, bc living in Mexico has brought to light many of the issues
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CNN) -- You invent a product. You brand it. You market it like crazy. With a lot of hard work, determination and a little luck, you find yourself with a winner on your hands.
Everybody wants what you've got. They'll pay any price. They'll camp all night outside your store. They'll travel from anywhere -- risking their lives, dodging bullets, swimming across troubled waters and climbing barbed-wire fences. People will learn a new language, even leave family and heritage behind, all for a shot at what you've made a fortune selling.
But then, a big problem emerges: A block of stockholders doesn't want to sell the product any more.
Those stockholders are hoarding it, afraid supply is dwindling. They complain it's too costly to manage the crowds and it's getting chaotic in the bargain basement.
So you hire more security guards, build barriers and fences. You award lucrative contracts to surveillance companies, hike prices, downscale production and restrict product benefits. But still, wide-eyed customers think you're the best.
Don't Miss
* Soledad O'Brien explores Latino experience
* In Depth: Latino in America
* Ruiz: A fat tax is a healthy idea
Your efforts backfire. They have the effect of a velvet rope and an oversized bouncer in front of a hot nightclub -- the more unattainable, the more exclusive your product seems, the more people want it.
A black market flourishes. Desperate people break and enter. The angry shareholders call it stealing, although customers do their best to pay even while they receive a fraction of the product's benefits.
You blanket the store with guards to keep away the unwanted customers, but they won't take a hint. The same faces keep reappearing at your door.
It turns out the neighboring store is even less welcoming. It's saddled by bad management decisions, low employee morale, and infighting. Some of your neighbor's disgruntled ex-employees are even sneaking into your store, like pirate profiteers, to sell harmful, illegal merchandise to your legitimate customers.
Bullets fly. Windows shatter and there's blood in the aisles. But people keep coming. The image and product you created long ago remain the most appealing on the market.
Welcome to America. Our product is "The Dream." Its benefits are freedom, equality, opportunity, mobility, legal and human rights, and more. The face of our brand is Lady Liberty, a beacon for the world, welcoming generations of immigrants into our fold.
'Latino in America'
The Latino population is set to nearly triple by 2050. This month, Soledad O'Brien journeys into the homes and hearts of a group destined to change the U.S. Witness the evolution of a country as Latinos change America and America changes Latinos.
October 21 & 22, 9 p.m. ET
see full schedule »
Our most loyal source of new customers has become our neighbor south of the border. And this isn't just a metaphor for our immigration crisis. It's a true tale backed by data.
Recently, the Pew Research Center released a study proclaiming: "Most Mexicans see better life in the U.S. -- One in three would migrate."
So much for brand loyalty.
In a country passionate about its culture and traditions, it's a sad manifestation of deep disenchantment that so many of Mexico's native customers are eager to defect. But the study clearly quantifies the pervasive dynamic driving our immigration crisis.
The study states that because of "crime, drugs, corruption, a troubled economy ... Mexicans overwhelmingly are dissatisfied with the direction of their country. ... Most believe life is better in the United States." In 2009, 81 percent of Mexicans describe crime and 73 percent describe illegal drugs as huge problems. Fifty-seven percent believe immigrants enjoy a better life in America, up from 51 percent in 2007. Most believe friends and family "have largely achieved their goals" in America. Read the Pew report (PDF)
The data reinforce the power and authenticity of America's brand in sharp contrast to competitors. Altering America's image as a haven for immigrants -- devaluing the product -- and decreasing accessibility is what marketers call going "off brand."
Try as you might to curb demand for America's promise, it just won't work. Gucci represents luxury. Wal-Mart defines discount. And America will always be awesome.
By comparison, our neighbors have a long way to go and lately are even going backwards. The good news for America is that our brand remains untarnished. The bad news for recalcitrant shareholders is that customers will just keep coming.
From that vantage point, the America store should stop playing the victim and start leveraging its brand equity. Stop building fences and hiring guards and start managing inventory, improving customer relations, and legitimizing, developing and empowering our immigrant customers.
Properly integrated into the team, they'll help us produce at prices that can compete, not only with our neighbors, but with the giants we're battling for market leadership around the globe. That will only make our store, our product, and our dream stronger than ever.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rudy Ruiz.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Chiles en Nogada
This is a delicious authentic Mexican recipe that is only eaten this time of the year. The recipe is said to have been concocted by the grateful people of Puebla, who were giving a banquet in honor of Don Agustin de Iturbide's saint's day, August 28 in 1821. He and his followers had led the final revolt against Spanish domination; as self-proclaimed emperor he had just signed the Treaty of Cordoba. All the dishes at the banquet were concocted of ingredients of the color of the Mexican flag; in this dish were the green chilies, the white sauce, and the red pomegranate seeds. It is said to have been originally invented by the "monjas" or nuns of the puebla area before Iturbide came, but was used bc it included the colors of the Mexican flag.
green stands for the independence movement/hope
white stands for purity
and red stands for the the blood of the national heroes
The truth is likely that pomegranates and chiles are in season right now, and there are only so many ways that someone can include pomegranates in a recipe!
This is a more "official recipe" http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chiles_en_nogada_chilies_in_walnut_sauce/
But that sounds really hard! here's the shorter way:
4 chiles poblanos (they look like shriveled green peppers, but are really chiles)
1 pound ground turkey
2 cups of fruit: peach, pear, cranberry, apple
onion
2 c. walnuts
1 c. crema (milk + sour cream)
1 tbsp. sugar + splash of cinnamon
2 pomegranates
cut the chiles in half, core and seed them. Microwave upside down in a little water for about 15 minutes, until soft. Brown the meat, with onions, and add small pieces of fruit near the end. Chop walnuts very finely and mix with the crema, sugar, and cinnamon. Stuff the meat mixture in the chiles while both are still warm. Cover in cream sauce & then sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top.
It's really quite delicious!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Light & Power, pt. 2
The problems with the electricity in Mexico is long and complex, like most of Mexico.
There are 2 power companies in Mexico: luz y fuerza (light & power) for central mexico near the capital city and electricita (electricity) for the rest of Mexico. These are supposed to be mostly privately run companies, and businesses and homes pay for electrical use. But, the government subsidizes these companies bc many poor mexicans cannot afford even basic electricity. In addition, many mexicans have figured out how to "steal" electricity by illegally connecting to hanging powerlines and the companies/ government rarely deal with this situation.
As a result of overworked transformers, a monopoly on service, and government subsidies, it is common for transformers and breakers to burst into flames, stop working, get turned off, etc., and for electrical lines to be stolen, broken, moved, or disconnected at whim.
All of these things lead to the lack of reliable electricity I mentioned in yesterday's blog.
Turns out that the largest and strongest union in Mexico is the Light & Power company that serves central mexico, including the capital city. They have 60,000 members, all of whom have to pay nearly $1,000 USD to join the union and then hundreds of (US) dollars each month to maintain their membership. Only those who have already joined the union can get a job with that company. The avg. worker in this company makes 3 to 4 times what the avg. worker in mexico is paid, and they get a sizable retirement also (very rare in Mexico). They do not have to provide reliable or efficient or even adequate service in return for their amazing salaries.
The current president made a radical move this week to have the federal government "consolidate" the 2 national power companies into 1 company - the company that currently serves most of mexico but not the capital area. In effect, this put all 60,000 light and power employees in the capital area out of business and left central mexico without any electrical service.
The large union is striking and is very very mad.
So far, we still have power bc the strikers have not yet damaged the electrical grid (they probably won't bc they still want power in their own homes), but if any unexpected transformers blow or meters break or lines fall down, they will not be serviced for weeks.
Mexicans are super confused about what's happening. They want a better power company, but they're not sure how a corrupt government is going to take over a corrupt utility and somehow improve the situation. The mexican government is trying to run this like the U.S. government ran the Bank Bailout or the GM takeover last year, but Mexicans are not convinced that their government can handle the situation. We'll have to wait and see
There are 2 power companies in Mexico: luz y fuerza (light & power) for central mexico near the capital city and electricita (electricity) for the rest of Mexico. These are supposed to be mostly privately run companies, and businesses and homes pay for electrical use. But, the government subsidizes these companies bc many poor mexicans cannot afford even basic electricity. In addition, many mexicans have figured out how to "steal" electricity by illegally connecting to hanging powerlines and the companies/ government rarely deal with this situation.
As a result of overworked transformers, a monopoly on service, and government subsidies, it is common for transformers and breakers to burst into flames, stop working, get turned off, etc., and for electrical lines to be stolen, broken, moved, or disconnected at whim.
All of these things lead to the lack of reliable electricity I mentioned in yesterday's blog.
Turns out that the largest and strongest union in Mexico is the Light & Power company that serves central mexico, including the capital city. They have 60,000 members, all of whom have to pay nearly $1,000 USD to join the union and then hundreds of (US) dollars each month to maintain their membership. Only those who have already joined the union can get a job with that company. The avg. worker in this company makes 3 to 4 times what the avg. worker in mexico is paid, and they get a sizable retirement also (very rare in Mexico). They do not have to provide reliable or efficient or even adequate service in return for their amazing salaries.
The current president made a radical move this week to have the federal government "consolidate" the 2 national power companies into 1 company - the company that currently serves most of mexico but not the capital area. In effect, this put all 60,000 light and power employees in the capital area out of business and left central mexico without any electrical service.
The large union is striking and is very very mad.
So far, we still have power bc the strikers have not yet damaged the electrical grid (they probably won't bc they still want power in their own homes), but if any unexpected transformers blow or meters break or lines fall down, they will not be serviced for weeks.
Mexicans are super confused about what's happening. They want a better power company, but they're not sure how a corrupt government is going to take over a corrupt utility and somehow improve the situation. The mexican government is trying to run this like the U.S. government ran the Bank Bailout or the GM takeover last year, but Mexicans are not convinced that their government can handle the situation. We'll have to wait and see
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Light & Power
Today I got an email at school telling me that there is no power at school.
No joke.
I knew that I'd been here a while when the news neither surprised nor upset me.
It's part of Mexico.
In the U.S., we have faith that when we flip a switch, something will happen. We trust electricity to be at our homes. When groups of people go without power, it makes the news. In fact, the process by which we teach our children to turn on lights and turn off lights can be a metaphor for our faith - bc the lights work every time we hit them, we learn to rely on them, and then our "faith" in the electrical system is built on a lifetime of trust.
That trust was lost when we arrived in Mexico. The power can go off, unexpectedly, unexplicably, for short or long periods of time. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes, when I hit the switch, the power works. Sometimes, it doesn't. Even when there is "no" power, sometimes a little bit of electricity can be milked from a hidden transformer somewhere and we can get enough power to flush toilets but not enough to run our computers.
This makes teaching at an American school difficult. I cannot count on copiers, printers, computers, televisions, projectors, speakers, microwaves, or even overhead lights to work regularly. There have been times when we taught school for a week without electricity. There have been times when the power went out in the middle of a lesson I planned with the overhead projector.
The power went out one of the first days of school this year, and it was a sign of my new "tranquila" or calmness that I did not freak out. I just kept teaching.
No joke.
I knew that I'd been here a while when the news neither surprised nor upset me.
It's part of Mexico.
In the U.S., we have faith that when we flip a switch, something will happen. We trust electricity to be at our homes. When groups of people go without power, it makes the news. In fact, the process by which we teach our children to turn on lights and turn off lights can be a metaphor for our faith - bc the lights work every time we hit them, we learn to rely on them, and then our "faith" in the electrical system is built on a lifetime of trust.
That trust was lost when we arrived in Mexico. The power can go off, unexpectedly, unexplicably, for short or long periods of time. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes, when I hit the switch, the power works. Sometimes, it doesn't. Even when there is "no" power, sometimes a little bit of electricity can be milked from a hidden transformer somewhere and we can get enough power to flush toilets but not enough to run our computers.
This makes teaching at an American school difficult. I cannot count on copiers, printers, computers, televisions, projectors, speakers, microwaves, or even overhead lights to work regularly. There have been times when we taught school for a week without electricity. There have been times when the power went out in the middle of a lesson I planned with the overhead projector.
The power went out one of the first days of school this year, and it was a sign of my new "tranquila" or calmness that I did not freak out. I just kept teaching.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
In the states, walkers raise money for Breast Cancer. In mexico, every walker - women only - pays $200 pesos (approx. $15) to walk, and corporate sponsors provide our shirts, prizes, etc.
10,000 women, plus their babies, dogs, and a few sneaky husbands, either ran 10K or walked 5K in bright pink shirts. The main thoroughfare through the 2nd largest city on earth was shut down for the walk, and thousands of pink shirts were walking through the city all day, advertising the cause. There were also traveling mammography at the event, so that women could be checked.
Kay, walking with us, is an 11 year breast cancer survivor. Felicidades!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Field Trip
Mexico City has the 3rd largest pyramid in the world. (#1 is in Egypt, and #2 is Chichen Itza - which we visited in September.) The first time I climbed the pyramids - sun and moon - not long after we arrived in Mexico over a year ago. It is an amazing place to visit, and very fun for tourists. Most of our guests have been, and if you're coming to visit us, we'll take you, too!
3D Model of the ancient city of Teotihuacan
The Pyramid of the Sun is the large one in the front right of the photo. The road between that pyramid and the Pyramid of the Moon (in the back left of the picture) is called the street of the dead. Tourists can climb the Sun Pyramid, the Moon Pyramid, and walk the Street of the Dead. Tourists can also climb other ruins along the road and investigate some of the underground ruins in certain areas.
Last Friday, the entire school went to the pyramids together.
We waited for 30 minutes for one group of latecomers, stuffed 55 kids, 10 teachers, and 3 parents onto two buses, drove 2 hours to a pyramid site that 98% of our kids had been to before, waited 20 minutes to enter the park, and then found out that student groups are not allowed to climb the pyramids because someone in our school (whom was never identified) supposedly filled out an "I promise that my students won't climb on the pyramids bc they might damage the artifacts or fall to their death" form with the Mexican government. We then spent the next 90 minutes walking around the pyramid site and encouraging the high schoolers to take off their school IDs, separate from their teachers, and try to climb up the pyramids without being caught and then dragging them away from souveneir shopping long enough to eat lunch. Eventually, we ate our sack lunches on concrete picnic tables, ambled through a museum with no concrete dates or details about the pyramids, and then spent 2 more hours on the bus, only to arrive at school 45 minutes late.
High School Students standing in front of the pyramid of the Sun (many of them did climb it later, but we couldn't go up together)
5th & 6th grade class on top of a platform next to the pyramid
3D Model of the ancient city of Teotihuacan
The Pyramid of the Sun is the large one in the front right of the photo. The road between that pyramid and the Pyramid of the Moon (in the back left of the picture) is called the street of the dead. Tourists can climb the Sun Pyramid, the Moon Pyramid, and walk the Street of the Dead. Tourists can also climb other ruins along the road and investigate some of the underground ruins in certain areas.
Last Friday, the entire school went to the pyramids together.
We waited for 30 minutes for one group of latecomers, stuffed 55 kids, 10 teachers, and 3 parents onto two buses, drove 2 hours to a pyramid site that 98% of our kids had been to before, waited 20 minutes to enter the park, and then found out that student groups are not allowed to climb the pyramids because someone in our school (whom was never identified) supposedly filled out an "I promise that my students won't climb on the pyramids bc they might damage the artifacts or fall to their death" form with the Mexican government. We then spent the next 90 minutes walking around the pyramid site and encouraging the high schoolers to take off their school IDs, separate from their teachers, and try to climb up the pyramids without being caught and then dragging them away from souveneir shopping long enough to eat lunch. Eventually, we ate our sack lunches on concrete picnic tables, ambled through a museum with no concrete dates or details about the pyramids, and then spent 2 more hours on the bus, only to arrive at school 45 minutes late.
High School Students standing in front of the pyramid of the Sun (many of them did climb it later, but we couldn't go up together)
5th & 6th grade class on top of a platform next to the pyramid
Friday, October 9, 2009
Pet Peeve
There is no good spanish word or phrase for "pet peeve" so I had a hard time explaining it to my tutor and my students.
I love Mexico. The people are very friendly, the food is cheap and delicious, the culture is wonderfully complex and interesting, and the weather is beautiful.
most days, I even like my job. ;)
Even with all the wonderful things about Mexico, I have one huge pet peeve: the traffic. The only way to avoid the traffic, literally, is to stay in my house. There is traffic everywhere. I regularly spend 2 - 3 hours per day in my car. Some of it is on fast-moving expressways, but a lot of the time I'm literally fighting my way through the streets. The sidewalks are pathetic, so people and dogs and bicycles are in the street. There are no left turn lanes or left turn lights, so entire intersections can be stopped by one small taxi. There are no official bus stops, so the buses will stop anywhere they want - even in the middle lanes.
Mexico City is about 3 to 4 times the size of New York City. Thankfully, most people here don't have cars, bc we can't fit any more here.
Once we move home, I don't think I'll complain about the traffic for a very long time.
In the states, when there is a major accident - which there rarely is - we can expect 3 things:
1. a clearly marked detour
2. police quickly moving cars out of the way
3. announcements on the radio explaining the accident.
In Mexico, motorcyclists without helmets, children riding in the back of pickup trucks, and families running across freeways to catch a bus are very common, and often mean deadly accidents. The police do not care about all of the cars not involved in the accident, there is rarely an alternate road to take (I was stuck on a mountain, for example, where there was literally only 1 road up and out of town), and if there was an announcement on the radio, I couldn't understand it.
*sigh* I won't miss the driving. Or the traffic.
I love Mexico. The people are very friendly, the food is cheap and delicious, the culture is wonderfully complex and interesting, and the weather is beautiful.
most days, I even like my job. ;)
Even with all the wonderful things about Mexico, I have one huge pet peeve: the traffic. The only way to avoid the traffic, literally, is to stay in my house. There is traffic everywhere. I regularly spend 2 - 3 hours per day in my car. Some of it is on fast-moving expressways, but a lot of the time I'm literally fighting my way through the streets. The sidewalks are pathetic, so people and dogs and bicycles are in the street. There are no left turn lanes or left turn lights, so entire intersections can be stopped by one small taxi. There are no official bus stops, so the buses will stop anywhere they want - even in the middle lanes.
Mexico City is about 3 to 4 times the size of New York City. Thankfully, most people here don't have cars, bc we can't fit any more here.
Once we move home, I don't think I'll complain about the traffic for a very long time.
In the states, when there is a major accident - which there rarely is - we can expect 3 things:
1. a clearly marked detour
2. police quickly moving cars out of the way
3. announcements on the radio explaining the accident.
In Mexico, motorcyclists without helmets, children riding in the back of pickup trucks, and families running across freeways to catch a bus are very common, and often mean deadly accidents. The police do not care about all of the cars not involved in the accident, there is rarely an alternate road to take (I was stuck on a mountain, for example, where there was literally only 1 road up and out of town), and if there was an announcement on the radio, I couldn't understand it.
*sigh* I won't miss the driving. Or the traffic.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sandy's plans
We teach a lot of Korean students. Long story, but most of them are disenfranchised with the Korean educational system, but can't get visas for their families to immigrate to the U.S. So they come here to learn English and get an American diploma.
Sandy could speak about 5 English words last year. This past summer, she went to English language institute in Korea and now her English is pretty good. She is currently in the 8th grade. This is her journal from last week.
When I am older, I want to be teacher and I want get big house to live. Also I want marry when I am older. But I don't want a get children because I don't like child. If my brother or my friend get child, it's ok. I'll like them, but me, I don't want child
A little feminist in the making. :)
Sandy could speak about 5 English words last year. This past summer, she went to English language institute in Korea and now her English is pretty good. She is currently in the 8th grade. This is her journal from last week.
When I am older, I want to be teacher and I want get big house to live. Also I want marry when I am older. But I don't want a get children because I don't like child. If my brother or my friend get child, it's ok. I'll like them, but me, I don't want child
A little feminist in the making. :)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Changing our values
Last week, one of our new teachers shared her testimony in chapel, and I wanted to share it with you.
Rachel is the oldest of 7 children; her dedicated Christian parents started a new church over 10 years ago. At age 20, she became the 'administrative assistant' at the church, doing all secretarial work that needed to be done. Over the next 7 years, the church expanded significantly, until over 3,000 were worshiping there every weekend. Rachel was in charge of a staff of 15, and ran all of the church operations, save for worship services (budget, scheduling, advertising,etc.) During those 7 years, she moved into her own apartment, filled it with things, bought a cat, became very successful, loved her job, made lots of friends, and spent lots of time with her family. But she realized last spring that her full, successful life was not what she had imagined it. She was not doing what she felt God had called her to do.
So, in the midst of a national economic crisis, she applied to go on the mission field. No churches seemed to have money to send missionaries, but she had faith. She gave notice at her job, sold her things, found a new home for her cat, and ended her apartment lease. But she still didn't know what to do.
July 1, 2009 - approx. - a missionary couple from Mexico visited her church to raise support for their mission and report on their progress, and casually mentioned that they were in desperate need for a 5th/6th grade teacher, starting Aug. 15.
Rachel became that teacher.
I tell this story, even though you don't know Rachel, because it's the story of all of us at some time. It's definitely the story of everyone who is in Mexico, like us, right now.
At some point, we need to do something different than we're currently doing. We know God is calling us to move on, to move forward, to move away, to change jobs or homes or relationships, to leave behind debt and pain and sorry and worry. But normally, we're not as brave as Rachel. Normally we fight and scream and plead. We cry and mourn and whine. We question and wonder and worry.
Rachel misses her family terribly. She is struggling with Spanish. She is tired from ADHD students speaking 3 languages. Some days she is not very happy. But she is always joyful. A pure joy to be around, bc she is radiating the confidence and security that comes from following God's ordained plan.
I was nervous and scared and worried and whiney when we moved to Mexico. And I am already nervous and scared and worried and confused about what will happen when we move back. But I'm trying to learn from Rachel's example.
Rachel is the oldest of 7 children; her dedicated Christian parents started a new church over 10 years ago. At age 20, she became the 'administrative assistant' at the church, doing all secretarial work that needed to be done. Over the next 7 years, the church expanded significantly, until over 3,000 were worshiping there every weekend. Rachel was in charge of a staff of 15, and ran all of the church operations, save for worship services (budget, scheduling, advertising,etc.) During those 7 years, she moved into her own apartment, filled it with things, bought a cat, became very successful, loved her job, made lots of friends, and spent lots of time with her family. But she realized last spring that her full, successful life was not what she had imagined it. She was not doing what she felt God had called her to do.
So, in the midst of a national economic crisis, she applied to go on the mission field. No churches seemed to have money to send missionaries, but she had faith. She gave notice at her job, sold her things, found a new home for her cat, and ended her apartment lease. But she still didn't know what to do.
July 1, 2009 - approx. - a missionary couple from Mexico visited her church to raise support for their mission and report on their progress, and casually mentioned that they were in desperate need for a 5th/6th grade teacher, starting Aug. 15.
Rachel became that teacher.
I tell this story, even though you don't know Rachel, because it's the story of all of us at some time. It's definitely the story of everyone who is in Mexico, like us, right now.
At some point, we need to do something different than we're currently doing. We know God is calling us to move on, to move forward, to move away, to change jobs or homes or relationships, to leave behind debt and pain and sorry and worry. But normally, we're not as brave as Rachel. Normally we fight and scream and plead. We cry and mourn and whine. We question and wonder and worry.
Rachel misses her family terribly. She is struggling with Spanish. She is tired from ADHD students speaking 3 languages. Some days she is not very happy. But she is always joyful. A pure joy to be around, bc she is radiating the confidence and security that comes from following God's ordained plan.
I was nervous and scared and worried and whiney when we moved to Mexico. And I am already nervous and scared and worried and confused about what will happen when we move back. But I'm trying to learn from Rachel's example.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Valuing Mexico
I have been interested in Mexico for a long time.
Way back in the first grade, I was friends with a little Mexican-American girl. She was bilingual, and I thought that was really cool. Most of the class thought I was pretty smart bc I was good in math and reading. But I could not speak another language. And neither could the teacher. Despite a high level (maybe 10%?) of hispanic kids in our school, none of the teachers seemed to be able to say basic words or phrases in Spanish. This little friend of mine could speak 2 languages, a talent that not even my brilliant parents had. So I was a little jealous, and very respectful. I figured that if I could ever learn another language, maybe I could do things in 2 languages, like she did, and be even smarter.
In high school, I went on my first mission trip to mexico. Over 6 mission trips and a couple of family excursions, I became more and more interested in life across the border.
One of the reasons I chose my college was because it was one of the few on my list that had a study-abroad option to Mexico (not just Spain). I ended up going to spain, rather than Mexico, which was fun, but still a huge bummer.
When we finally had the option to go to Mexico, I was definitely interested, even if I was scared.
After a year of living here, I can safely say that Mexico - the culture, the land, the people, the language, the personality - is more than an interest of mine.
It is a deeply-held value.
I value the role that Mexico has in the history of the Americas. I value the contributions of the pre-colonial americans and the conquistadores and the revolutionaries. I value the trade partnership and government alliance. But most of all, I value our time here. I value the opportunity to see another large group of God's children "up close and personal" and to see them as the valued children they are to Him.
I hope that I can continue to value mexico's culture and traditions (and the food!) long after we return to the states.
Way back in the first grade, I was friends with a little Mexican-American girl. She was bilingual, and I thought that was really cool. Most of the class thought I was pretty smart bc I was good in math and reading. But I could not speak another language. And neither could the teacher. Despite a high level (maybe 10%?) of hispanic kids in our school, none of the teachers seemed to be able to say basic words or phrases in Spanish. This little friend of mine could speak 2 languages, a talent that not even my brilliant parents had. So I was a little jealous, and very respectful. I figured that if I could ever learn another language, maybe I could do things in 2 languages, like she did, and be even smarter.
In high school, I went on my first mission trip to mexico. Over 6 mission trips and a couple of family excursions, I became more and more interested in life across the border.
One of the reasons I chose my college was because it was one of the few on my list that had a study-abroad option to Mexico (not just Spain). I ended up going to spain, rather than Mexico, which was fun, but still a huge bummer.
When we finally had the option to go to Mexico, I was definitely interested, even if I was scared.
After a year of living here, I can safely say that Mexico - the culture, the land, the people, the language, the personality - is more than an interest of mine.
It is a deeply-held value.
I value the role that Mexico has in the history of the Americas. I value the contributions of the pre-colonial americans and the conquistadores and the revolutionaries. I value the trade partnership and government alliance. But most of all, I value our time here. I value the opportunity to see another large group of God's children "up close and personal" and to see them as the valued children they are to Him.
I hope that I can continue to value mexico's culture and traditions (and the food!) long after we return to the states.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Values vs. Interests
Last week in Government class, our exercise asked the students to distinguish between an interest and a value. This was to help them determine what part of our government is shaped by deeply-held values, and which parts of our government are merely reflections of individual interests. They were having a hard time explaining the difference.
I gave this example: to me, reading is a value. I love reading - anything and everything. I read every day. If I lost my sight or my mental ability to understand the written word or my access to English reading materials, I would be very depressed and have to mourn a deeply-appreciated part of my identity. Since last year, I've been pseudo-obsessed with the Twilight series, which is an interest that I share with the students. They know how much I love the books, and how much I talk about them. But, I pointed out, my life was fine before those books entered it, and my life will be fine when I move onto a new favorite series. But my love of reading will remain.
When I left the U.S. for Mexico, one of my greatest fears was the lack of access to English reading materials. Thankfully, I have been able to find my sources. I suppose that's how addicts find anything - they just keep looking and looking! There are some best-selling novels, national newspapers and magazines for sale at the airport. There is a lot of news online. There are some books in our school library. I carry a lot of books down with me, and even send some library books back with friends.
But in the last year my interest has changed, as I have become much more interested in audiobooks than ever before. I didn't think I would like them too much, bc I like curling up to read a book. But as I can spend up to 3 hours in the car every day, I'm able to "read" so many more books this year than I have had time to do for a long time. Most adults don't get to read a book every week or two, and I do, bc I have time to listen and to read.
That was definitely a secret about our time here that I couldn't predict in advance.
I gave this example: to me, reading is a value. I love reading - anything and everything. I read every day. If I lost my sight or my mental ability to understand the written word or my access to English reading materials, I would be very depressed and have to mourn a deeply-appreciated part of my identity. Since last year, I've been pseudo-obsessed with the Twilight series, which is an interest that I share with the students. They know how much I love the books, and how much I talk about them. But, I pointed out, my life was fine before those books entered it, and my life will be fine when I move onto a new favorite series. But my love of reading will remain.
When I left the U.S. for Mexico, one of my greatest fears was the lack of access to English reading materials. Thankfully, I have been able to find my sources. I suppose that's how addicts find anything - they just keep looking and looking! There are some best-selling novels, national newspapers and magazines for sale at the airport. There is a lot of news online. There are some books in our school library. I carry a lot of books down with me, and even send some library books back with friends.
But in the last year my interest has changed, as I have become much more interested in audiobooks than ever before. I didn't think I would like them too much, bc I like curling up to read a book. But as I can spend up to 3 hours in the car every day, I'm able to "read" so many more books this year than I have had time to do for a long time. Most adults don't get to read a book every week or two, and I do, bc I have time to listen and to read.
That was definitely a secret about our time here that I couldn't predict in advance.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Noche de Bodas
Yesterday in Spanish class, we listened to an old Mexican folksong to practice our verb conjugation. It's called "night of weddings" and goes something like this:
"que cada noche sea noche de bodas, que todas las lunas sea lunas de miel."
that every night is like a night from a wedding, that every moon is like your honeymoon
(I wish) That you don't need makeup to put on your smile, that you don't need supports to keep your wings up, that the calendar never makes you hurry, that the dictionary can hold back bullets, that curtains can block out the dawn, that the war between wants and needs will finally be won, that the end of the world surprises you dancing, that all of your nights are wedding nights, and that all of your moons are honeymoons.
"Que el maquillaje no apague to risa, que el equipaje no lastre tus alas, que el calendario no venga con prisas, que el diccionario detenga las balas, que las persianas corriga la aurora, que gane el quiero la guerra del puedo, que todas las noches sea noches de boda, que todas las lunas sea lunas de miel."
"que cada noche sea noche de bodas, que todas las lunas sea lunas de miel."
that every night is like a night from a wedding, that every moon is like your honeymoon
(I wish) That you don't need makeup to put on your smile, that you don't need supports to keep your wings up, that the calendar never makes you hurry, that the dictionary can hold back bullets, that curtains can block out the dawn, that the war between wants and needs will finally be won, that the end of the world surprises you dancing, that all of your nights are wedding nights, and that all of your moons are honeymoons.
"Que el maquillaje no apague to risa, que el equipaje no lastre tus alas, que el calendario no venga con prisas, que el diccionario detenga las balas, que las persianas corriga la aurora, que gane el quiero la guerra del puedo, que todas las noches sea noches de boda, que todas las lunas sea lunas de miel."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Beach!!
Part of our week-long yucatan trip was a few days on the beach. We spent one night in Playa del carmen, the mainland beach just across from the island of Cozumel. Cozumel was actually pretty small and sorta boring. Mainly a docking place for cruise ships, and maybe a few elite resorts. There were resorts, hotels, condominium communities, and spas throughout the 30 or so kilometers between Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Unfortunately, recent hurricanes devastated this area, and it cost them a lot of money to rebuild it. Since Cancun was discovered 30 years ago as a tourist destination, tourism has become the major economy in the area and most of the local mayan communities have left their traditional economies and subsistence fishing behind to work in the tourism industry. Unfortunately, this means that many young mayans are choosing to speak Spanish and English, rather than Mayan. A few resorts are focusing on "ecotourism" as an opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of the area, and there is a "mayan disney world" type resort where families can experience "realistic" mayan communities - for approximately $65 a person per day.
We really enjoyed relaxing for two days on the beach in Cancun. The sand really is white, the ocean really is blue, and the sun really is warm. It is a paradise - for a few days.
Unfortunately, recent hurricanes devastated this area, and it cost them a lot of money to rebuild it. Since Cancun was discovered 30 years ago as a tourist destination, tourism has become the major economy in the area and most of the local mayan communities have left their traditional economies and subsistence fishing behind to work in the tourism industry. Unfortunately, this means that many young mayans are choosing to speak Spanish and English, rather than Mayan. A few resorts are focusing on "ecotourism" as an opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of the area, and there is a "mayan disney world" type resort where families can experience "realistic" mayan communities - for approximately $65 a person per day.
We really enjoyed relaxing for two days on the beach in Cancun. The sand really is white, the ocean really is blue, and the sun really is warm. It is a paradise - for a few days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)