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little sunday reflection

i went on several service immersion trips while attending depaul.  during winter break junior year i went to nogales.  this trip changed me in a lot of ways.  i was suddenly exposed to an issue i really hadn't thought much about:  immigration.  i just can't seem to put that trip into words.  i gave a couple speeches on it after we got back from the trip at depaul.  (i should look and see if i saved that anywhere) i have no idea why i was chosen from the group, but i did it.  and i don't know where i even started to come up with that.  i vaguely remember trying to summarize a trip for a migrant and why they do it, in 3 minutes.  whew.

honestly, i think that trip was one of the main reasons i decided to do a year of service after graduation, among other things.

sus, one person who went on the trip with me, you might remember her from our trip to oaxaca in july, started working for the organization we went on the trip with, after she graduated, borderlinks.  i know she's a great leader.  she's just wise.  she has a way of saying how she feels in a completely beautiful way without pushing buttons.  i really don't know how to explain it, but i could listen to this girl talk for hours.  so i was really excited today when i saw she started writing in her blog again!

i loved how she described the drug cartels in mexico.  while i was in mexico i didn't even live on the border and i felt like i got a lot of the same, checking-in emails to make sure i was ok.  it still seems as soon as i discuss with someone about living in mexico the first thing they bring up is the drug cartels.  i didn't see them at all.  yes, i saw people selling drugs and knew where it happened, but i've seen people sell drugs in chicago before too.  i just agree with sus that it's kind-of sad how the media can skew views to think everywhere in mexico is drug cartels.

i won't go on forever.  i've just been reflecting more lately and then her post came up and i wanted to share.  also at the mca, in the china exhibit, one of the questions asked how the great wall is different than the wall we built between the US and mexico?  and there were ALL SORTS of answers from the public, to say the least.  just gets me thinking about all kinds of differing opinions.

the wall - Mexico side 

coming back from mexico i came with a commitment to continue doing service.  i volunteered a few times during my unemployment phase.  then i went through orientation and everything at recording for the blind and dyslexic, where i will record books for others.  then my schedule became rather unpredictable at work so after park voyagers ends i'm going to delve into that, but i'm still looking for a place where i can interact with people (bonus if it's kids)...

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