Week 3: Discovering American Privilege

Upon arriving in Mexico, many sources commented that when visiting a country and trying to learn about their culture, the new awareness is found not in the new culture, but of the culture you just left. Through examining the good and bad of NAFTA, visiting maquiladoras and discussing privilege in our own lives this week the extent of American Privilege took a more personal twist.

The week started off with an opportunity to volunteer with an after school tutoring program for low income families. Because of the lower quality in the public school system, these kids can’t receive the attention and education received in higher funded private schools. This program works with the families and kids to bring them up to a level of understanding and development where they will become more successful. How many times do we as Americans take advantage of our excellent education system and the opportunity to go to college? [1]

In Tuesday’s Spanish class, we watched an emotional video about the effect of Maquiladoras on Mexico especially in the lives of women. Maquiladoras were brought into Mexico as assembly plants because of lower labor cost, but in the end created problems because of low standards in safety, security, and allow for few changes because of unrealistic rules and regulations set by US multi-billion dollar industries. Can we even understand these workers’ frustration of feeling alienated from the product, your boss, and the company? How many times are we an unheard voice in an unsafe, dirty, physically and mentally demanding job with no benefits and an extreme violence and death rate?

On Wednesday we had the privilege of visiting one of the better Maquiladoras. In this particular swimming suit assembly factory, the workers enjoyed the equivalent of about US$40 a week to work a 7-4 hour day in air conditioning with a 15 minute breakfast break, a 30 minute break for lunch and a 6 minute break for exercise. They work on swimming suits they could never afford, each one taking 9 minutes 37 seconds, resulting in a product made for skinny Americans to lay and relax. [2] To simply feed their families is a struggle for these workers, not to mention dreaming about a vacation someday. Is there a thought for the work behind the products we buy mindlessly?

The week ended with two lectures for and against the affects of NAFTA and globalization that we had already heard and seen with our own eyes. Discussing these things left us with questions about how we handle our own privilege and what it really means to give up parts of our privilege to increase equality all around the world. How many times in a day do we take advantage of things that we can do only because we are American? Do we have a right to do them simply because of our blue passport? Is it right to continue to do them after being educated about these discriminating issues?

-by Sarah De Vries

[1] Information received from conversations with organization volunteers and staff
[2] Lecture given by AVI manager at the maquiladora, February 13, 2008

Week 2: Exploring Mexican History and Culture

Does there always have to be more than one way to look at a question, a building, a piece of literature, etc.? These were questions that had to be answered during this week.

A visit to a convent and retreat center gave us the chance to better understand the significance that the Virgin of Guadalupe played and plays in the lives of the Mexican people. She appeared to an indigenous man, Juan Diego, at a time when the Spanish had already taken over and conquered Mexico for themselves. The Virgin is known as a saint by many today because she was able to bridge the gap between the old religions of the indigenous peoples with the new influence of Spanish Catholicism. She appeared to bring peace between the two religions. But is this always the case when at times this image is used to hinder the growth and strength of women in this culture as they strive to reach an unattainable image of purity and greatness?

A visit to Hernan Cortés’ palace in Cuernavaca revealed a magnificent mural painted on the walls by Diego Rivera called “History of Morelos, Conquest and Revolution.” As our eyes scanned the massive walls that displayed indigenous people being slaughtered and forced into slavery by the Spanish, it was clear the name of the mural did not clearly portray the contents of the work. Where was the revolution that Diego Rivera strived to bring and portray in his works? Each day when we go out into Mexico and see the struggles that Mexicans face, we are privileged to see glimpses of this revolution. Rivera’s murals conveyed a message of hope—a message that requires us to learn from the past and to make for ourselves a better future.

One of the ways Mexico tried to make a better future was to join Canada and the U.S. in the well-known NAFTA agreement. Even though this treaty was meant to benefit all three countries involved, it has instead increased the power of Canada and the U.S. while diminishing the power of Mexico. A representative of the Unión de Pueblos de Morelos, Emilio Garcia [1], explained this phenomena as he described what has been going on in Mexico since the passing of NAFTA in 1994. He spoke to us about current political events in Mexico. The Mexican people have been greatly hurt as mass-producing companies come in and buy out the small lands of the farmers. To make matters worse, the agricultural sector in Mexico can’t compete with a market in America. The statistics are staggering—1180 tractors per 1000 farmers in the U.S., compared to 20 per 1000 farmers in Mexico. Not to mention the production cost has gone up 450% for Mexican farmers. Looking at this issue from a social work systems perspective, it is easy to see why so many Mexicans are forced to migrate to other countries or enter into illegal activities. Mexico is a world of juxtapositions.

[1] From a talk given on February 7, 2008 at Casa Verde in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

-by Abbie Sumrall

Week 1: Orientation

Identity

Who are we and how do we identify our self to others?

Often times we identify our self by the way others see us.

I am a daughter, my mother’s child. I am a sister, a friend. I am a European, with roots of Bohemian, Iceland, Spanish running through my veins. I am a healer of the mind. I am a lover of the earth, with the passion for life. I live in the moment and dream of the future. I am a learner, forever changing.

Who are you?

From the moment we arrive we are awakened. Interaction between people is heightened. Social life is alive, slowly transforming the lonely individual that has resided in us for quite some time, into a social butterfly willing to engage in any experience we might find.

Indigenous Culture and Cosmovision

Week events were centered in culture. Who we are reflects the customs, traditions and beliefs we place great importance on. Our lens of viewing things is intertwined with the culture we embrace. A trip to an indigenous community demonstrates how culture can create a different way of living. Conquerers continue to compromise the balance of life for Indigenous peoples. Globalization has surrounded them and they feel the pressure to conform to a culture that contradicts their own. The weight doesn’t just come from México. It also comes from their neighbors from the North. Policies made in the United States have been detrimental to México as a whole. The people of the community we visited have a long history of struggle and conflict to keep their culture alive. Similar to the Native Americans in the United States, they believe in balance and harmony. The only way to achieve balance and harmony is to respect the earth. Every thing is connected and contributes to the balance of life. This cosmovision has not been respected. The long history of disrespect has disrupted the balance and as a result people are now suffering the consequences, perhaps through global warming, water scarcity, and food shortages.

Xochicalco

Taken back to the past, this place is rich with history. The past has created the present and will continue to create the future. The inhabitants of this ancient city were underestimated in the wisdom knowledge they possessed. The remnants of this place has contributes to the present today. Xochicalco means the house of flowers is in the native tongue of Nahuatl. Towns near by this site speak this language. The ruins also reveal the history of trading that took place throughout Mesoamerica. Perhaps this was a trading center between the North and the South. It shows strong influences of Teotihuacán and Mayan art.

-by Hyacinth Mosse