International Women’s Day in Guadalajara
On Friday, March 8th, International Women’s Day, the students hustled into the classroom. The girls were sharing hugs and love for the day . The boys were in pretend outrage that the girls get a special day and they don’t. We talked. I explained the advances women have made in becoming more equal members of…
Gringa at a Mexican Wedding
Let’s preface this post with the fact that I’m not known for getting gussied up very often. You can usually find me in leggings, a T-shirt and flip flops. That said, here’s my first experience at a wedding in Mexico. I’ve been to my fair share of weddings across the Midwest, from outdoor ceremonies at…
Migrant Caravan
In the recent weeks, the migrant caravans from the Central America, through Mexico, to the United States border, have received significant media attention. The exodus from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador isn’t new, but traveling in groups this large is a more recent phenomenon. The migrants are fleeing extreme poverty and violence in their home…
Mexico Road: Brothers at the FM4
Originally posted for Teachers Latin America The doorbell buzzes a bzzz-bzzzt as I move to open the small window in the large black door. I look through a window stenciled with the logo of the FM4 Paso Libre. We are here at a shelter for migrants and refugees in Guadalajara. The young man on…
Chacala Beach Weekend
May 2018 While living in Mexico, I’ve been so fortunate to be surrounded by a group of strong and supportive women. Whether we are sitting around the plastic tables of Res publica for our favorite steak dinner or on the sandy beaches of the Pacific, these friends fill my heart and soul. This weekend, the…
En el camino…On their way
Each person that passes through the doors of the FM4 is received as a part of the family “in the house that keeps dreams alive” and is treated with respect and dignity. With over 5,000 migrants and refugees passing through our house each year, I want to share with you all a part of their…
Posadas and Other Holiday Fun
(Originally posted January 2018) The holidays are a busy time with traditions and celebrations. People come together to spend time, eat and drink and celebrate the friends, families and communities that shape their lives. In Mexico, the month of December is filled with posadas, gatherings of the various factions of our daily lives. Children have…
24 Hours at the FM4
(Originally posted February 2017) The FM4 has been a place continual change. In the past year of volunteering at the migrant shelter, I’ve seen the place transform into a 24-hour facility serving the needs of migrants in transit and refugees. I love being a part of the family of volunteers and staff that makes this…
Up and Coming Tecomán?
(Originally posted February 2017) The long weekend is a must for getting out of the busy city: dust, traffic, construction and general responsibilities in exchange for relaxing, reading and the sea breeze. In lieu of the typical beaches of Vallarta or Sayulita, we went to Tecomán, Colima. Our options were limited, probably due to the…
November Update
(Originally posted December 2016) Last week I visited Minneapolis and Madison on our November break. We had the whole week off of school because the US’s Thanksgiving holiday coincided with Mexico’s Día de la Revolución, the perks of working at an international school. Arriving in Minneapolis, Rachel scooped me up at the airport and…