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…
Reunion in Ensenada
(Originally posted December 2017) Three years ago we formed our little friends’ circle, Mandy, Ale, Vicki and I. Our friendship grew over evenings of laughter and tears, trips to Chapala and the beach, and several bottles of wine. At the time I was new in Guadalajara, but I knew I found a family away from…
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…
Closing Out the School Year
(Originally posted June 2016) What an interesting ride this school year has been! This week, I complete my first year of teaching at the American School Foundation of Guadalajara. Yes, I survived all the changes from my previous post and I’ll be returning for another year in August. At ASFG, the fourth grade…
FM4 Paso Libre
(Originally posted June 2016) Since February, I’ve been volunteering with a grassroots project that supports migrants coming through Guadalajara, called FM4 Paso libre, officially known as Dignidad y justicia en el camino, A.C. The organization provides humanitarian aid, along with legal and psychological accompaniment, to ensure the human rights of migrants. The journey migrants…
Teacher’s Appreciation Day in Mexico
(Originally posted May 2016) Mexico celebrates big for its Teacher’s Appreciation Day. From school wide to classroom celebrations and even a day off of school, it made for a fun week! On Wednesday, in lieu of our regularly scheduled after school meeting, we had a catered luncheon with the whole staff. Everyone gathered in…
Spring Break
(Originally posted April 2016) Spring Break came early in Guadalajara! The girls from Minnesota came to visit the week before the break officially began. On Sunday, I met Nicole, Jess, Danielle, Olivia and Amanda at the airport. After settling them into their AirBnb, right outside the Templo Expiatorio, we walked down to Avenida Chapultepec to…
Night Race in Guanajuato
(Originally posted February 2016) This weekend I traveled to beautiful, historic Guanajuato in the state of León. The owner of my gym, Gaby, organizes groups of runners from Guadalajara to travel to races around the country. Mandy, myself and seventeen other runners arrived Saturday morning, settled into town, ran the night race, and explored the…