Who Doesn't Love Singing Mexican Cuties?

Most importantly: I survived! Hurray!

I flew to El Paso, Texas early Monday morning and spent three days in El Paso and across the border in Juarez, Mexico. Just to be clear – I didn’t quite choose to go on this trip – it was a fact-finding mission of sorts. (How cool do I feel saying I went on a fact-finding mission? Very.) We’re taking a group of students there in a few months and we went to see what the situation is like firsthand.

I was insanely afraid, as you might have guessed. I may or may not have cried. Twice. Maybe. I just didn’t understand why we would even slightly risk our lives for no good reason.

The trip was surprisingly wonderful, though. After I realized that my heart couldn’t physically beat out of my chest like it felt like, and after I got used to seeing this:

I mean, we saw a LOT of these guys lining the streets and driving around in Jeeps with their guns pointed at everyone. (Including pointing them straight at our car, which was admittedly unnerving.) Wait. Actually, I never got used to seeing this. You know how when a police car drives behind you your heart suddenly starts pounding? (Or is that just me? I have a strong aversion to speeding tickets. Even if I know I wasn’t speeding or doing anything wrong, I’m certain he’s hunting me down.) Anyway, imagine that feeling, only times A BAJILLION. With huge guns and Jeeps and men who never smile. *shudder*

Time for happy pictures! We stayed in El Paso with a few Mexican immigrant families – some of the kindest, sweetest women I’ve ever met, who had some of the most adorable children I’ve ever seen. This picture was taken in the room I was staying in – the Cesar Chavez room, compelete with awesome vintage mirror. I fell asleep each night with loud Mexican radio that drifted through the vents, and woke up each morning to pitter-patter of little feet and Spanish versions of children crying and fighting and taking care of each other while their mothers comforted and quieted them.

(Psst – don’t mind my semi-frowny face here. It’s just the way I look. Seriously. I have an uncontrollable furrowed brow issue that needs to resolve itself before it gets me into a fight someday when it furrows at the wrong person.)

We visited a lovely little school and women’s co-op run by an American nun. After I took this picture, I walked over to find the first of SEVERAL dead dogs I saw in Mexico. I was seriously traumatize by the sight of its rotting head. (Uh, maybe I shouldn’t share this stuff? But it was awful! I’ve never seen four dead dogs in one day. Wait, how did I turn a happy picture into a gross story?)

Laundry and a mountain.

A Juarez Street Corner.

The little village we’ll stay in if we spend the night in Juarez. I will definitely buy a glass bottle of Coke from this guy.

And, now, prepare yourself for adorableness: (Uh, Spanish speakers – can you tell what they’re saying?)

Adorable Children in Mexico. from Ashley Marie on Vimeo.

After being serenaded by a group of children in a chapel that was built on an old landfill in Juarez, it was hard to feel fear. It was also difficult to look at someone who lived there and ask, “Is it safe to bring people here? Is where you live, go to school, and work – is it safe? But not for concern to help you, just out of concern for our OWN safety.” I understand our obligations to keep our students safe. And, heck, I was and am concerned about my personal safety when traveling to dangerous areas. I just felt incredibly aware of my privilege when asking about violence. Because no one deserves to raise children and live in violence, and how privileged I am that I can make that choice.

As the nun from the US said, “Pray for the good people of Juarez.” (And the “bad”, too – but the the “bad” are really ruining it for all of the wonderful, kind, and generous individuals who work so hard everyday. They didn’t choose to live in neighborhoods and cities where the drug cartels fight.)

Here are more pictures from my trip.

On a sad note, Mike’s grandmother passed away while I was gone. Her calling hours are tomorrow, so I’m driving five hours there and back, just in time to fall asleep before the first day of my new graphic design class early Saturday morning. (!) Plus, Mike left for a four day conference in North Carolina early this morning, so we’re apart for a whole week. I’m looking forward to a weekend that doesn’t involve travel, being away from Mike, and some quality lazy time. Someday.