A few pictures from today:
Wednesday pictures
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Woo Wednesday: Dirt, Rebar, and Migrants
Hola!
After waking up to a very sore morning after two continuous days of pouring cement, it was off to a new worksite to do something new. In our case, this something new was digging. For the start of the project, we were given a housing foundation full of uneven dirt, which we then had to dig out. After doing this to a certain measure in the ground, we had to shovel the dirt back into the foundation to level it out, needless to say we worked a lot with relocating dirt today. Along with this at our worksite, Hannah Weil, Ella, and me (Hannah Gaul) were given the job of welding rebar without modern technology pretty much. This required us to bend rebar into squares, which took up the majority of our day. To end our working day, we cut thick wire to lay onto the dirt foundation so we would be able to cement a floor on Friday.
In addition to our work day, we also took a trip to Casa del Migrante, a shelter for migrants that have been deported to Tijuana from the U.S. Here, we learned a lot of history regarding crossing the border and migrants from not only Mexico, but Central America and South America too that are just placed in Tijuana after being deported. We also shared a meal with the men who were currently staying at this home. Luckily for Kevan and me, who don't speak very much Spanish, the man we talked to at dinner spoke English quite well. Unfortunately, we did not get to know his name, but he had a incredible story to tell.
The man we talked to moved to the U.S. legally in 1976. He stayed there until he finished all his schooling, and a couple years after, before he retuned to Mexico in 1990. After this he then moved back to the U.S. in 1994, where he established a family, a stable job, and a happy life, until yesterday. He informed us that in the 1990's he received some type of criminal record which he said could have been part of the fact of why he was deported. Yesterday, he walked out of his house, went to work, and got pulled over almost a block from his house in L.A. The officer asked him for his license and proof of citizen ship, and he knew right there that he did not have his proof of citizenship. In less then 24 hours he was deported to Tijuana, and shortly after telling us this story. Unlike most men at the home, he had his parents who just recently retired to Mexico, so he did have family to contact down here. His three children, all girls, were meeting him at the home, and he's not sure where he's going to go from here. If you go back to the U.S. after being deported, you could easily be arrested. Whenever he moved to the U.S. it was completely legal, since he was under amnesty. This story, along with many others, are the ones that make me wonder what our country is really doing when they are deporting the ones who are not causing harm and making a living in our country. The leader of Casa del Migrante also said we are deporting former U.S. veterans that fought for our country in wars. I believe this is one of the biggest defenses of dishonor I've heard of and one of the biggest shames of our country I've heard of.
The trip has been very eye opening overall and truly life changing.
Adios!
- Hannah Gaul
After waking up to a very sore morning after two continuous days of pouring cement, it was off to a new worksite to do something new. In our case, this something new was digging. For the start of the project, we were given a housing foundation full of uneven dirt, which we then had to dig out. After doing this to a certain measure in the ground, we had to shovel the dirt back into the foundation to level it out, needless to say we worked a lot with relocating dirt today. Along with this at our worksite, Hannah Weil, Ella, and me (Hannah Gaul) were given the job of welding rebar without modern technology pretty much. This required us to bend rebar into squares, which took up the majority of our day. To end our working day, we cut thick wire to lay onto the dirt foundation so we would be able to cement a floor on Friday.
In addition to our work day, we also took a trip to Casa del Migrante, a shelter for migrants that have been deported to Tijuana from the U.S. Here, we learned a lot of history regarding crossing the border and migrants from not only Mexico, but Central America and South America too that are just placed in Tijuana after being deported. We also shared a meal with the men who were currently staying at this home. Luckily for Kevan and me, who don't speak very much Spanish, the man we talked to at dinner spoke English quite well. Unfortunately, we did not get to know his name, but he had a incredible story to tell.
The man we talked to moved to the U.S. legally in 1976. He stayed there until he finished all his schooling, and a couple years after, before he retuned to Mexico in 1990. After this he then moved back to the U.S. in 1994, where he established a family, a stable job, and a happy life, until yesterday. He informed us that in the 1990's he received some type of criminal record which he said could have been part of the fact of why he was deported. Yesterday, he walked out of his house, went to work, and got pulled over almost a block from his house in L.A. The officer asked him for his license and proof of citizen ship, and he knew right there that he did not have his proof of citizenship. In less then 24 hours he was deported to Tijuana, and shortly after telling us this story. Unlike most men at the home, he had his parents who just recently retired to Mexico, so he did have family to contact down here. His three children, all girls, were meeting him at the home, and he's not sure where he's going to go from here. If you go back to the U.S. after being deported, you could easily be arrested. Whenever he moved to the U.S. it was completely legal, since he was under amnesty. This story, along with many others, are the ones that make me wonder what our country is really doing when they are deporting the ones who are not causing harm and making a living in our country. The leader of Casa del Migrante also said we are deporting former U.S. veterans that fought for our country in wars. I believe this is one of the biggest defenses of dishonor I've heard of and one of the biggest shames of our country I've heard of.
The trip has been very eye opening overall and truly life changing.
Adios!
- Hannah Gaul
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Mis pensamientos de mi estancia en Esperanza (My thoughts on my stay at Esperanza)
Yesterday...I went to the doctor in a local pharmacy which before work with Ella, Kevan's wife and a nurse. We talked to the doctor about my cough and the doctor said I had a very bad sinus infection. Ella found it very interesting and a great experience for her in healthcare outside of the US. The doctor gave me amoxicilin and cough medicine to take one every 8 hours for 7 days. Yesterday, I didn't work much while others were cementing rooms in the house because amoxicilin is very sun sensative and I was dragging all day. Today was completely different at the work site and I was able to shovel sand all morning in the sun and talk and felt more like my fully energetic self. I will still be careful of being in the sun too long and drinking a lot of water but it felt great helping the family and completely being able to work today.
Today...Work day: I shoveled sand to make cement today for a roof in a new colonia & felt much better. I stayed in the shade and talked a lot with an 8 year old girl and a Mexican man who's named Nacho. He moved cement bags and shoveled cement. He was awesome to talk to and told me we needed 50 bags of cement for the day. We finished at noon after starting at 9a and had a great lunch of tacos with the family. We thanked them and them us before heading to the girl's orphanage. We took pictures (mainly the Providence College students but our group as well), which I don't like because I'd rather just help and know I made even the tiniest difference in someone else's life. Tomorrow, we will be working on Nacho's house. I met his 6 year old son and his adorable 2 month old white chihuahua puppy named Malin. I'm very excited to spend more time with his family, get to know them and help them however I can (in the way they need-like cementing).
Casa hogar, El huérfano para las niñas, girl's orphanage: It was so much fun playing soccer, tag or trais, doctor y piggy back ride or capuche. An 8 year old girl, Mariana was very attached to me. I played doctor with 3 other 8 year old girls. Doctor is not what we think in the US. 4 of us tangle our arms and legs together while the "doctor" counts to 30 or so and then comes and the people tangled calls the doctor and they come to untangle them. Mariana also did my hair. One older 12 year old, Paula told me there are girls who are 1-16 years old. She was brilliant but didn't know it. All kids were energetic & friendly. They sang to us 2 songs: La Llorona (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Llorona_(m%C3%BAsica) & Joyful, Joyful (in Spanish). It was beautiful and a great way to end our meeting.
When we got to the orphanage. here, per usual I was la traductora (translator). At the beginning of this trip, I wasn't thrilled with that idea but I've come to come into my own skin with it and enjoy this new leadership role. In helping others through our work in the colonia on the houses, our activities like the orphanage & translating, I have discovered even more how I feel called to live in a Latin (most likely South) American country & teach English/teach in general. Being back in Mexico (after trying to privately tutor in Merida, Mexico after studying abroad in June) I feel so happy. Helping and using my Spanish and being in this wonderful culture makes me feel so happy and truly myself. I am so grateful and happy to be on this trip.
¡Que Dios les bendiga y estén re-bien! God bless you and hope you're doing very well!
Hannita
Orphanage Pictures & video - Tuesday evening
The link below are pictures from our visit to the Girls Orphanage tonight. In addition we've posted a video of the girls singing at the end of the evening.
Girls Orphanage pictures
Video of girls singing
Girls Orphanage pictures
Video of girls singing
Tuesday - poured a roof and the girls orphanage
Hi - this is Phil Starr from Trinity United Church of Christ - this is my tenth year coming down to Tijuana with Esperanza International. This is the fifth year that we have had a joint trip with the College of Wooster. It is really great traveling with College Students. They are bright, full of energy and they ask a lot of thoughtful questions. I find that I learn through their comments and questions.
Thoughts so far:
Each year when we come down here we see improvements - especially in the roads. There is still a huge difference between San Diego and Tijuana - especially in the eyes of first timers. We find new businesses opened and previous businesses closed.
Today we poured a roof near the ocean. Sorry I am horrible with names and even worse with Mexican names so I don't know the name of the colonial. It is near Eduardo's house (Eduardo is the construction forman here)!!! It was a 45 cement bag pour. Our group plus the group who is sharing the Posada from Provident RI along with a lot of the neighborhood. The work went quick with all the extra help. The sense of community down here is amazing. Tomorrow we are going back to the same colonial and digging a foundation.
This afternoon we rested and the college students sorted and bagged the school supplies and the bags that the Creative Woman's group made. We also received other donations from other church members. The workers at the orphanage were very appreciative of the donation. We plan on donating the remaining bags the rest of the week. Thank-you to everyone who made bags, donated toys or contributed money.
Tonight we went to the Girls Orphanage. We spent an hour playing with the girls. We will post pictures shortly and hope to post a video of them singing. The girls seem so happy when they are playing. Nice thing about kids are that they universally have fun with the simplest things - giving piggy back rides, throwing a ball or playing tag.
Esperanza is a good organization to work with. Eduardo, Riggo, Roberto and the office staff make a good team. We have a lot of fun with them at the worksite all while working very hard. The staff want us to have a great experience here - as we work together to improve Tijuana.
I'm going to close for tonight - hard to believe that we have 2/5 of the work done.
Phil Starr
Thoughts so far:
Each year when we come down here we see improvements - especially in the roads. There is still a huge difference between San Diego and Tijuana - especially in the eyes of first timers. We find new businesses opened and previous businesses closed.
Today we poured a roof near the ocean. Sorry I am horrible with names and even worse with Mexican names so I don't know the name of the colonial. It is near Eduardo's house (Eduardo is the construction forman here)!!! It was a 45 cement bag pour. Our group plus the group who is sharing the Posada from Provident RI along with a lot of the neighborhood. The work went quick with all the extra help. The sense of community down here is amazing. Tomorrow we are going back to the same colonial and digging a foundation.
This afternoon we rested and the college students sorted and bagged the school supplies and the bags that the Creative Woman's group made. We also received other donations from other church members. The workers at the orphanage were very appreciative of the donation. We plan on donating the remaining bags the rest of the week. Thank-you to everyone who made bags, donated toys or contributed money.
Tonight we went to the Girls Orphanage. We spent an hour playing with the girls. We will post pictures shortly and hope to post a video of them singing. The girls seem so happy when they are playing. Nice thing about kids are that they universally have fun with the simplest things - giving piggy back rides, throwing a ball or playing tag.
Esperanza is a good organization to work with. Eduardo, Riggo, Roberto and the office staff make a good team. We have a lot of fun with them at the worksite all while working very hard. The staff want us to have a great experience here - as we work together to improve Tijuana.
I'm going to close for tonight - hard to believe that we have 2/5 of the work done.
Phil Starr
Tuesday pictures
Tuesday we poured a roof on a second story house near the ocean. Below is the link to some pictures. Tonight we are going to the Girls Orphanage - we will post more later.
Tuesday Pictures
Tuesday Pictures
Monday, March 10, 2014
Monday pictures and video
Today (Monday) we poured part of a cement floor in La Masa. We made 30 bags of cement.
Below is the link to Monday pictures.
Monday pictures
Below is a short video showing how the cement is made and how we move it.
Workday video
Below is the link to Monday pictures.
Monday pictures
Below is a short video showing how the cement is made and how we move it.
Workday video
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