One World

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If you have a story or memory that you would like to share please e-mail them to me and I will have them posted as soon as I can. Please include your name and any pictures that you would like to go along with your story!

To Robin in 2 Months

March 11th, 2003

Always Remember:

Although right now I am not fully appreciating and valuing this experience,
know that remembering these 10 days will have a great influence on my actions,
thoughts, and words in days, months and years to come.

So far, Cuernavaca has been a time unlike no other. I do not know yet how to
describe my feelings and emotions put towards it. But, there are select things
that have impacted me to a degree that, right now, I cannot push myself to
acknowledge.

Entering into Mexico, I realized that my purpose from this trip cannot be
compared to any other participants. However, I�ve come to the vague conclusion
that in order to prosper as a human, student, and world community member, I need
to embrace all that this experience has to offer.

I keep thinking that maybe I should have not embarked on this journey, because
ignorance eliminates countless responsibilities and feelings of guilt that I am
bound to experience. Remember, it will be worth it. To refuse my ability to
learn of the world�s ways, would be putting my mind and soul to sleep.

The squatter settlements, Zapatista�s video, and People�s Market are only a few
representations of injustices that our global community contains. The actual
amount is intimidating, but I find that exposure is the only way to reduce this
number.

Traveling is a gift. Use it accordingly. Keep in mind being a child of God, a
neighbor of those oppressed, and a human with the same basic needs as all.

Remember the desire to cry when seeing those pictures of people, innocent
people who live in fear; no shelter, no food, no security.

Do not take for granted this blessed lifestyle. Instead, use it as motivation
to share what I have been given � deservedly or not.

Treat all people with respect and dignity. Beneath the faces, places, and
personalities, we are all the same.

You are not superior.
You are not inferior.
We are all equal.

Being alone is not the same as being independent. Appreciate those who love you.

Choose your words carefully. Take pride in your actions. Think with reason,
humility, intellect and the common good in mind.

Remember the yearning to learn, to succeed, and to earn respect.

Friends are more than a source of fun and amusement. Be to them what you need
them to be for you.

Faith will be your aid and your guide. Develop it. It is much more simple to
portray the image of a good Christian that it is to act and be a true servant of
God.

Cuernavaca is a stepping stone to becoming focused.

Focus.

If you say to keep in contact with someone do so. If it is two months later
and you have made no effort, do so now.

Liz is an angel. Value her.
Holly is special. Appreciate her.

Keep your promises.

Take care of yourself. No more excuses.

No more drama. Don�t say it, eliminate it.

I am fortunate.

Carry this experience with you forever.

Remember the feeling of upliftment when understanding that I chose to not be
ignorant.

Do not let yourself become corrupt. Having nothing can make you happier than
when having everything.

All we are is Dust in the Wind.

Cherish your family.

I�d rather be in the palm of your hand
Though rich of poor I may be.
Faith can see right through the circumstance.
Sees the forest in spite of the trees.

Everybody has a story. A story that deserves to be heard.

I�m not quite sure how to approach my life after Cuernavaca. My hope is to
improve as a person. I need to find happiness within myself.

Remember the smells of the squatter settlement. Remember the pride and sense
of faithful bliss on the single mother�s face who suffers more in one day that I
will in a lifetime.

I will find my way.

God�s creations are beautiful. Do not let them be destroyed.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you�re gonna get.

Remember the face of the begging elder in the market.

Remember the guilt. Remember the pull at your heart.

Mexicans are beautiful.

Music I not an escape; it is a means of evocation.

Treat everyone with fairness.

Take risks with justification. Spontaneity is a separate entity in itself.

My stigma of the poor is an indication of my need to love them, of my need to
admire them.

Education is the key to growth.

Experience is the key to understanding.

Always Remember,
~Robin Dales

Everytime I see someone throw out a half �eaten sandwhich I think of the people living in La Estacion, sometimes not eating for days.

Everytime I hear someone complain about not having something material, I think of Ascedro and his family living in his corn stalk house sleeping on cattle-feed bags.

Everytime my little sister slips her small hand in mine, I think of Benail at the orphanage clinging to me not wanting to say good-bye.

When I walk by fresh fruit in the grocery store I think of the sweet smells of food at the CCIDD center.

But overall I will remember the motto we used throughout our journey,

Live simply so others can simply live.

~Emily Clarey

The spirit and energy of your group continues to fuel my desire to work for a better world.
Thank you for opening your eyes, minds, and hearts. May you continue to struggle for a
peaceful and just global community, creating a beautiful tree from the seed planted last spring.

~Elizabeth Bennett

Hey everyone!!!!

I realize that everyone was influenced by Cuernavaca in one way or another, but I've felt strange not being able to talk to anyone here about it and it really made me wonder how others were coping. Its been too long since I've really spoken about the subject... well at least to people who can understand what I'm actually talking about. The frustration or guilt from not having done things I hoped to do when I got back, or the special little connection you feel when you hear someone talking about anything at all relating to Mexico! Well I figured it was time to reminisce with people...

Well the first thing that comes to mind for me when I think about Mexico are the people. I can still picture some of the faces, and I can't forget some of the names. To this day I just adore the name Laticia because I associate it with such a strong, intelligent and loving young women. No one can deny that she had to be the sweetest girl and I'm sure that if any one of us had the money or power to just take her home and give her safe place to live we would... but i guess that goes for almost all the people we met.

So many memories built in such a short time... It was always Matt who introduced our group to new speakers... you did a damn good job! The wrestling game the one we played and then there was the one we were supposed to see as well! I think it was during one of the ice breakers that we played it though. It got pretty rough! :) The massage circle, ultimate game, volleyball, the pool, early yoga...Brenda and Nessa having the pineapple eating contest. The food and fresh fruit!(I don't know about you guys but when I had fresh pineapple here I couldn't help but feel like I was back in Mexico.) The bugs. I mean how can I forget the cockroaches... especially the one that crawled up my neck! Climbing the mountain at Teopoztlan. It was so gorgeous and was very symbolic. Running up the side of the temple. (probably not the smartest thing to do but nevertheless it was fun!) Playing the guitar whether out on the porch or on top of the guys' roof. Dave Matthews... sitting silently with candles glowing while we heard crash playing softly in the background.Traveling with our buddies in those huge vans in the insane traffic, and singing songs... or in some cases yelling out songs! :)Then becoming quiet as we walked through the villages smiling at the Mexicans because almost every single time they would smile back if they weren't too shy. They live so simply yet are able to understand the most important things in life. So many lessons learnt...The breakthrough on the Wednesday... I don't think I have ever been in a hug that big!:) So many inspiring stories.... Tlamacazapa, La Estacion..

I know that the time I had in Mexico wasn't perfect... obviously nothing can be perfect but for some odd reason I can't remember anything going wrong. The taste, the smells and the people. Maybe it's because I associate these with discovering the truth that I have such a positive feeling about the whole experience...It was such a bitter sweet way of being plunged into the cold realities of our world.

well I should end here! I've already gone on for too long! I hope you guys are doing well with school and/or work! I hope it brought back some memories! I hope to hear from you guys soon! Well I'd still love to hear from everyone! Even if its just a line! Its funny because this experience has somehow made me feel tied to you guys in some strange way. I guess since Mexico had such a huge impact on me and since you guys are the ones who shared the experience, even though I may never even talk to you guys, there's this weird special connection.It's something that people can't understand or ever replace!

Well buenas noches!!!!

Love always,
~Beatrice

I can't believe that it's been a year since we were there, the time has flown by, and somedays it feels like we just got off the plane. There are lots of things that I remember; most of them I remember at odd times and then get frusterated that I don't have anyone here to talk to about it...sometimes it happens when I'm talking to my roommate; and then I remember our sing alongs, I remember us talking about university, even while we were there, and not realizing how lucky we are to be getting a degree. Then I think about the girl who had never been out of her village, and that man in Telamakazapa that wanted to send his kids to school so badly, but couldn't and still neglected to judge our lifestyle.

I'll be brushing my teeth, and thinking that the water tastes like crap, but then I remember that well we saw up in the mountains, the green film that lined the top, and how we weren't even allowed to touch it; but even so we proceded to watch a man pull up a rusty bucket full to bring home to his family.

I remember the wonderful cooking at CCIDD ( I hope the families of the people serving us at as well) all the colours and fresh vegetables and fruit; not even compairable to the bland food we're fed in my cafeteria. And when I catch myself complaining about there being nothing to eat, I remember the night we really did go to bed hungry...my tummy grumbles a little quieter.

I remember flying over the beaches on the way there, and wanting to jump out of the plain and have a little vacation because I was scared about what I might discover in Cuernavaca and how my life might have to change. I remember looking at those beaches on the way back and wondering why anyone would want to go there when they could go a little farther and experience what I had. I get really frusterated when people here travel to resorts and then think that they have seen poverty. Like you said, I know that I haven't seen much, but it's so tough to explain to people that we've seen people dying because they drink the only water available to them.

I saw a poster here the other day advertising a play about the zapatista struggle in mexico, I was excited until I continued reading only to discover that it was a comedy. How can the story about the struggle of a people be funny? Needless to say, I didn't go.

I try to go to church here, because I remember how special God was to all of the people we visited. I remember parading a little crucifix through the streets of some squatter settlement the night we went to the church. I found all their reverence and thankfulness hard to believe since they didn't appear to have anything. That little church stands out in my mind because I think it was there that I really began to understand that what they had didn't have to be something you could touch and hold. That it was bigger than that, it was family, and friends, and relationships; support systems, working for change and helping one another.

Most of all I remember the experiences of just being there surrounded in such a "rich" environment. Picking up lemons and limes from the ground, exploring the CCIDD grounds, the smells, the incredible views, the peoples market that was so overwhelming and most importantly the wonderful group of people I experienced it all with.

Sometimes I worry that I haven't changed my life enough to do the experience justice, that I haven't contributed enough to ending the struggle of the people we met. I suppose I don't know how I'm going to make that happen for myself, but I know I have the tools to figure it out and do something about it. Its just a matter of time.

Love and Memories,
~Emily S.

(insert deer face here)

Love.
~JAe.