Immersion

Yesterday we entered Mexico for our second time this trip. We spent the night in Calexico, across the border from Mexicali. After breakfast, we took taxis to la frontera. We walked through the gates freely, no one asked us any questions and there weren't even people monitoring who was coming into Mexico. This doesn't concern them. 

We met with a friend of Dr. Goldberg's who drove us to a museum that he runs. They opened it for us even though they are usually closed on Mondays, this was so incredibly special! Each and every day I am reminded of the relationships that anthropology allows you to have and how fortunate we are to have access to those connections that Dr. Goldberg has made in her life. The first part of the museum was contemporary art. Much of it was about the border and border issues. This piece was the one that struck me the most. 

It is made of the same materials that the border fence is created of. The contrast between the symbol of freedom of the American flag and the constraint caused by a boundary is fascinating. These artists really captured many issues that are presented by the border. I could talk so much more about this amazing part of our day, but I have so much more to say about other topics!

We then had the opportunity to hear from three Mexican graduate students. The first one spoke completely in Spanish with a translator. I enjoyed listening to his language, but found myself becoming impatient with having to have a translator present. Only a handful of us are proficient; a translator was necessary for everyone to get what they needed to out of the presentation. I was being selfish by thinking that, and realized that this was the time to find patience and to enjoy what I could understand in Spanish. In the middle of the presentations, I had a moment of disbelief, realizing how amazing it was that we were in Mexico, listening to Mexican graduate students talk about such interesting and important topics that they are so invested in. I could have listened to them forever. 

Them as well as three professionals that also presented joined us for dinner at a Chinese restaurant. There is a large Chinese population in Mexicali, which is interesting in itself. The Chinese food was excellent, served in family style. When we arrived, the students and other Mexicans were already there. They had sat close to one end, only leaving one or two seats on the left side of them. I first considered sitting with them and my brain panicked at the thought of being alone immersed in the language. Lora (who also speaks Spanish) sat down with them, and I followed the rest of our group to the other end of the table. 

The entire dinner I had regretted my decision. We happily, but quietly, listened to other conversations but not having our own. I then decided that I needed to take advantage of the time we had with these students, and pulled up a chair next to Lora and two of the graduate students. They had been speaking Spanish the whole time, and I knew that I had missed out. But after that, I understood what they were saying for the majority of the time, and simply asked if I didn't get something. I spoke comfortably, even though I made various mistakes.

I was told afterwards that the look on my face while having the conversation was of joy and passion. This doesn't surprise me; I am so passionate about both Spanish and meeting new people, especially in Spanish speaking countries, where I want to do my work in the future. We said goodbye to each and every person with a kiss on the cheek and a hug. I was so touched by this cultural action and was much sadder than I expected to be after leaving people I had met only hours before. I enjoyed yesterday so much, and I am sure that the other girls will write about their experiences as well, as we did so many things. 

We did so many amazing things today and had such a good period of reflection at the end. I hope you will have the chance to hear about that later from the other girls :)