Contento...

I have had a great second week here. Things are coming together quickly and I am filling my free time with things that I truly enjoy.

Mexico/United States of America

I took a bike ride nice and early in the morning along the border fence. Its just a fence. Really. However to the dozens of men and women that eat in the comedor everyday, it is a lot more. As a group we had to cross the to US side to attend a meeting. The line to cross was an hour and a half long. We were complaining and complaining and then we saw one of the guests at the comedor washing windows of cars waiting to cross. I laughed at myself. I can cross whenever I want with only short wait, while these men and women, no matter how long they wait, cannot.

United States of America/Mexico

Overlooking downtown Nogales, Mexixo and Arizona

I finally bought a bike too. Last Saturday I jumped on the bus enroute to what I thought was a market. Turned out I was heading to teh middle of nowhere. A really nice man guided me to the market that I was looking for. I bought this beatuy, a helmet, lock, and even got the bike serviced for under $50. I have had a blast with it.

On the weekends groups from both Mexico and the states bring the food to the comedor. Certain groups bring the food on certain days of the month. There are dozens of groups on both sides of the border. It is neat seeing so much action and nice seeing so many people getting involved and interested in the plight of migrants.

This past week I have been collecting stories written by the migratns that have passed through the comedor. From my experience with the Oxford Street Inn writing group, I have seen how powerful sharing and writing can be. I have asked dozens of the men and women of the comedor to write their stories, experiences, histories, dreams, whatever really. I am making a weekly newsletter to be distriubted each week at the comedor. I have had a bunch of help editing the stories with my fellow volutneers who speak a whole lot more spanish than I do. Take a look at the first edition of Una Parrada En El Camino (A Stop In The Road)

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/52678741/UPC-8-31

(Sorry if you can´t read spanish...)

This is Manuel and Christian. They arrived at the comedor one week ago. They lived in Pheonix for six months before they were found by the migra. They are originally from Veracruz and they have become known as The Brother From Veracruz in the comedor. Manuel arrived with a seperated knee that he got while running from the migra in Arizona. They have attempted to cross two more times in the past week unsuccesfully. They are as much a part of the comedor as the tables now. They have helped with various things around the comedor from serving meals to helping with the weekly mass. Rigth now they are sitting tight in Nogales until they can figure out what to do. I hope they kick it here for a while longer. Christian was the first contributor to Una Parrada En El Camino and is incredibly intelligent. He dreams to study Human Rights in university despite his near impossible situation. But I think if anyone can do it, he can.


This bumpersticker was in the tourist office here in Nogales, Mexico. There were stacks and stacks of em. The lady at the office was really sweet and let me take a bunch of maps... I'l have to return for more of these bumper stickers.

Numbers at English class are still low (2 people!) but I will keep holding em until I am talking to myself! Take care all and I will update soon!