A New Experience

 Hello there! Hannah here writing a blog post before I head out. For those of you who do not know me, I am from Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers) and I currently live in Conifer, CO with my two dogs and partner of 6 years, Lamin. I am currently a science learning specialist, and love being able to teach students with differing needs at the high school level. This is my 11th time coming with UCC to Esperanza, I started as a COW student in 2014, then went on to Long Term Volunteer, leader, and now can't seem to shake this part of my life. 

For the past three years, I have had the opportunity to join Steve Schoer and John Muskop on our many COVID adventures in Tijuana, however, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to come and lead students from COW since 2018. 

I have this opportunity since the school I am teaching at, tends to have the same spring break as COW. This year, with a midweek flight, not knowing any of the students, and knowing I would be leaving my comfy cabin in CO, after spending the first 4 days of break on my couch, I can say it was the first year it was challenging to think of coming back to Tijuana for 4 whole days to work. I thought to myself the morning of departing CO "Wow, what am I doing? I am exhausted from teaching day in and day out; I am exhausted from my partner and I's previous move 2 weeks before; I am nervous I won't be able to do what I used to (which, we all know happens with age). 

Never the less, I ended up at San Diego Airport on Tuesday afternoon to join our little service group. As always, introductions happened and then the immediate fear of "oh no, these students have no clue why I'm here". However, after much time together and sleep after a long day of traveling, this feeling quickly faded away, and instead, I am at amazement with the emotions I am now feeling. 

It is never easy to come and try something you love with a complete new group of people. Leading groups of students from COW in the past, has never been a point of concern for me as, I had connections to the students, however after COVID, this was not the case (shoot, these ones started their Freshman year 2 years or more after I graduated!). 

These last few days have been amazing to experience. It has been such an opportunity to see 6 new individuals experience the joy of Esperanza. I have been able to lead with a confidence I have not felt before on this trip, because these students have been amazing. They want to learn, they want to see, and most importantly, they want to give their compassion to any and all they meet. I have seen these students overcome hard work, give it their all, and never complain along the way. They have a small group, but they are a mighty force. 

Tomorrow, I have to go home to CO to teach my own students come Monday. My cup however is filled, thanks to these students dedication toward a better, and more liberal humanity, where all can feel loved, supported, and cared for. I've gained some new faces to my little Esperanza Family, and I cannot thank the students enough for having the heart to come experience something new. 

Until next year, 

Hannah 

Friday work

 

For a brief update:  Friday we worked at the same house as yesterday.  We put up walls, poured cement into the walls and dug / moved dirt.  

We are now back at the Posada - tonight we are going to the soccer game - the Xolos are playing Toluca.

Link to pictures

Phil Starr

1st Work Day: Finding fulfillment in Exhaustion (Puppies sure help!)

 Today we went to the worksite for the first time, after a rain day we had yesterday (it was the 2nd rain day ever to occur for Trinity trips, as we were told). After pushing the car out of a muddy road and adding inches of mud to give our shoes that "platform heels aesthetic", we used said "platform heel" shoes to walk up to the worksite. The frustrations faded away, however, as soon as Eduardo called everyone to meet the family and when Myerna and Ulysses were saying how much they appreciate everyone's work. Eduardo was absolutely right; if their kids have to walk in these muddy roads to school everyday, I cannot complain about my muddy shoes. As a human being, I cannot think I deserve better, less muddy shoes -when another human being who is much younger than me, cannot ask for the same thing; who's going to make it happen?

This is the exhaustion I am feeling -not from building walls, but from where humanity stands today. The audacity many people have to downright ignore structural inequalities, saying the ones in need should just "work harder" because they are "lazy". The audacity many have to think they deserve better and others do not. For what reason? Because they are less educated? Not white? Not Christians (or overly Christians)?

I do not have the audacity to say I am better than Myerna or Ulysses. My societal status or education does not give me superiority in any way, because I am not them. It takes more than just seeing yourself in someone else's shoes -you need to be born in their shoes to fully understand. You can't. You never can. 

The fulfillment came from the progress we made. The walls are rising up; we poured the cement. I was covered in mud and cement by the end of it. I was wondering at that time, what it would be like to leave college, leave my dreams of joining academia, and start working in construction? What if I was forced to? Will my prior "status" give me any more benefit than my coworker who never went to college? 

I am not to decide who is more righteous or more intelligent between the rich and poor; it is not my place, nor should it be for anyone else to decide. But maybe these little pups can be the judge... 

-Aaron Huq

Thursday Work in Rosarito - link to pictures.

Trinity/COW - USC - with the family Thursday

Trinity-COW/USC/Esperanza staff and families

Today the weather was much better.  We had sun for most of the afternoon.  We just got back to the Posada- we worked with the USC group.  In a few minutes we are having a BBQ with the staff and their families.  We will write more tonight.

The van got stuck in the mud first thing this morning.  So, we got to try to push it out - it finally worked with the help of the Esperanza Ford Ranger helping to pull.  

We also stopped by a finished house where two of the USC members had helped to build the house in November.  Amazing that it is finished by now!

We have uploaded a bunch more pics.

 Link to photos 

New Experiences

     Before this trip, I  do not remember traveling out of the country before (I think I went to Niagara Falls when I was young but I don't even remember that). Yesterday we spent most of the day traveling which was an experiences on it own.  We also went shopping for groceries. Grocery shopping was my first experiences doing an everyday activity in a different language.  It was strange how everything seemed different yet similar at the same time. The store was very similar to Walmart and had many of the same foods that I am familiar with but go by a different name. I also kept on seeing the prices in pesos and being confused, thinking the item was really expensive. 

    Today was rainy so we didn't get to go to a work site, however, we spent some time talking with Eduardo. He explained a little bit more about the organization and introduced himself, mainly in Spanish. This experience of hearing a native speaker was truly amazing for me. I have been studying Spanish since freshman year of high school. I am okay at reading the language however I have had little conversational practice. It surprised me how much of the conversation I understood, but I will admit the conversation was a little one sided because I had trouble thinking of anything above basic responses to say. 

    For lunch we had lunch a local Chinese place. This was funny because I have barely had Chinese food in the States. So there I was trying to translate a menu with options and terms that I was unfamiliar with in general.  

    Finally, we also visited Casa del Migrante which was mentioned a little bit in the earlier post. From my perspective, I was drawn to two things: the children and the Lady of Guadalupe mural. When migrant issues are discussed, there is often little discussion about the children. They are just like any other children wanting to play and have fun. In a little play room, they were running around playing with each other as Frozen could be seen in the background. Second, I was drawn to the Lady of Guadalupe. I was raised Catholic with my grandma being dedicated to praying the rosary. Whenever I would have an issue, my grandmother's answer would be to pray to Mary. For many of these migrants, Mary is a symbol of their hope. The description of the apparition of the Lady of Guadalupe states that she spoke to the viewer in their native language (Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec people). I found this idea striking in a migrant center where many of the people spoke neither English, nor Spanish. Maybe they could find solace in an image of the Lady of Guadalupe, no matter what language they spoke or even possibly what beliefs they held. Some of their reverence could be seem in the many flowers laying at her feet.    

    I am looking forward to the rest of this trip for the chance to improve my Spanish skills  and for opportunities to learn about other cultures and people. 

Emily Winnicki

Rain Day

For only the third day since I've been coming down here, we didn't work because of rain.  We started our day talking to Eduardo, the Esperanza Coordinator.  After that we spent time knowing the other group sharing the Posada from USC.  Eduardo said that they only have 18 groups scheduled to come this year.  We are the first groups visiting in 2023.  

We ate lunch at a local Chinese restaurant located just around the corner from the Posada.    Portions were large and many of had take home containers.

This afternoon we went to Casa del Migrante which is a Migrant shelter.  We didn't eat with the migrants being housed now due to COVID.  We got to learn about the services that they provide to people who have been deported or have come there seeking shelter.   I always feel overwhelmed when I go there to see how many people are in that situation with virtually no home and to not know about what their future holds.

We will probably go back to the taco stand tonight for dinner.  Tomorrow we are going to Rosarito to poor cement with the USC group.  

Phil Starr

Hello!

 Hello! My name is Abigail Beard and I am a college student. It's my first time traveling to Tijuana and I'm very excited to be here! It was snowing when we left Wooster and we spent hours on various planes and vans to get here. We crossed the border around 1pm here and arrived to the Posada after about 40 minutes. It's very beautiful here, there are lots of plants and lots of shops of so many colors. We ate at a little taco stand across the corner from the Posada and then played cards!