So, a little more about Ixtlilco:

Besides all of the interesting visitations and discussion panels we had, some of the best interactions and observations came through natural interactions with the townspeople and our host families. My family was very kind and generous. I had a mom, dad, 2-yr. old brother (cute!), two teenage cousins (from different parents) and an aunt (who never married). It was interesting to see gender roles, to hear how the people felt about their own role, culture, matters of immigration, and their government (PAN). It was also just wonderful to be in a family atmosphere and a cozy small town. Within ten minutes of me and my classmate arriving, they whipped out photo albums and showed us their life stories. It happened again when we had a family dinner with 30+ people: they sat us down, started talking to us, and then showed us photo album after photo album. It was pretty amazing. And they were so curious about us as students, wanted to know about our families, our lives, our trip to Ixtlilco, what we thought of them and about immigration. It was mutually entertaining. They were pretty patient with my piecemeal Spanish also. That night we played a form of baseball in the front yard with the older kids and our dad...at 10 o'clock at night in the dust. It was great! The next day, some of us joined local kids in El Centro for a game of basketball. For the most part, they like to have their picture taken, then they want to see it, and then that leads into some great discussions. So many of the people had family/friends in the U.S. or had been there themselves. There stories were always fascinating yet heartwrenching. Many young men are expected to go to send money home to support their family. Some return, some don't. Hearing how family's are kept separate by protocol and laws was disgusting at times. One man just wanted to see his daughter who lived in Minnesota. Her doctors called him to tell her that they thought she would soon die of cancer and if he wanted to see her, he should come right away. He couldn't wait for a visa. He crossed illegally and luckily she recovered. Some migrants want to stay in the U.S., but return...some don't ever return. Some return and never want to go back to the U.S., but know they can't afford to live in Ixtlilco where there are few jobs to be had. It's a trying situation, and these days in Ixtlilco made me conscious of the dire need for policy changes concerning immigration/migration. So much of what circulates about migrants from Mexico is overdramatized to portray them as inhuman/subhuman or malicious. Not to say that there are no criminals, but please remember that these are people. Why would anyone want to risk their life and spend a fortune to leave everyone and everything they have ever known simply for the chance of earning what Americans consider to be a dead-end job? They come because they have no other option.

After Ixtlilco, we caravaned to an Ex-Hacienda (the Mexican version of plantations). It was beautiful! And, we were allowed to relax. Their was a pool, hammocks, horses, and sugar cane fields to run through. I particularly enjoyed drinking REAL coffee, playing on the swings, and saying a rosary while I laid in the grass under the sun. Oh! My first night there, I just paced back and forth as the cool breeze blew around me, and green grass under my feet. Of all the things I miss about home, I miss grass. Our days were fun and also peaceful. I woke one morning and went running with a professor and two boys. I literally ran circles around them because I was so much faster. It was hilarious! The next morning, 4 of us woke up at 6am and hiked a huge hill across the street to see the sunrise. We asked a local man where to catch a good view and he offered his roof! Two of the students left, but Vinnie and I weren't going to crap-out just before sunrise. He and I stayed a little bit longer and it was so worth the wait! The young son of the family climbed the ladder and said to me in Spanish, "my mom wants to know if you would like some coffee?" I had just told Vinnie how I needed some, and of course accepted the offer. A few minutes passed and he and his mom scaled the two-story ladder bringing coffee and mugs. It was Vinnie's first time seeing a sunrise, and he thanked me profusely for telling him to relax and just wait for it. Just to see his elation made it all worthwhile for me :)

We returned to Cuernavaca on Friday afternoon, and having missed the first weekend out on the town, I had some serious business to take care of: finding a good salsa club. It may not have happened Friday, but Saturday we had great luck! More about that later...