While the average college student would prefer to spend their spring break on the beach, approximately 100 SLU students, faculty and staff members volunteered their week of vacation for a much different “Spring Break Experience” geared towards service throughout the U.S. and Latin America.
Some of my co-workers tease me because my ”blogs” always tend to be posted about a week or two late and never coincide with what’s happening on campus at the moment. And to little surprise, my “blog” about the SLUCAP trips, sure enough, comes two (if not three) weeks after our trips have arrived home safely to campus.
Even though the trips have concluded, a key component (that is often overlooked, and not to mention under-estimated) continues on for days, months and years to come amongst the participants: reflection. This fundamental aspect of any type of ”service learning,” “mission trip,” or ”immersion experience” is paramount for participants to fully digest their experience and assign it any meaning.
And so in the spirit of reflection, I’m happy to share my SLUCAP experience (from a couple years ago) through a few words and photos.
U.S. Border Patrol Agents at the Rio Grande, Texas.
My trip led me to the border “la frontera” of the U.S. and Mexico to work in a shelter for migrant workers traveling to the U.S. for a number of reasons. Of the many, most were looking for work and a better life in the U.S. Some others were escaping injustices in their home countries (seeking political asylum) or simply looking for family members (in particular, mothers) residing in the U.S. that had left them behind in their home countries to be raised by grandmother, aunts and at times, even neighbors.
Progresso, Mexico.
The trip was not so much designed as a “service” or “mission” trip per se but more as an immersion experience to help foster awareness and for years to come, reflection and growth amongst the participants.
One of the most challenging yet ultimately profound experiences of the trip was visiting the impoverished communities just beyond the Rio Grande. The small villages and towns were full of women and children and had seen very few men and teenage boys over the years due to the lure of better working wages in the U.S.
Progresso, Mexico.
While everyone welcomed us with open arms and a sense of generosity, I found it difficult photographing people living in such harsh conditions because of an overwhelming sense of separation; almost as if the people living in these towns were merely on display for the next high school or college group from El Norte to see. Every time the shutter clicked, I felt a sense of guilt and knew no matter how much I or others may try, would never experience a day in their shoes amidst such abject poverty. I wondered how many people like myself had visited the village and had a similar experience, or what the locals thought of us with our cameras in hand, fumbling to take the next shot and eventually returning to our homes with running water and electricity.
Progresso, Mexico.
While photographs are “worth a thousand words,” nothing compares to the simple human connection that I experienced throughout my SLUCAP trip. While it seems elementary to some, my shared experience of working and living together with migrant workers shed a light on the humanist characteristics of the Jesuit tradition through simple moments of laughter, shared stories, cooking, cleaning and working together throughout the day. It was a simple reminder of the somewhat Ignatian idea of embracing the world in which we live instead of separating oneself from its realities.
Progresso, Mexico.
Many might question what the purpose of the trip was if we did not provide any immediate assistance or relief to families and for a period of time I struggled with this question myself. I’ve arrived at the simple conclusion that every time I share my SLUCAP experience a ripple effect encourages awareness, and most importantly, others to be receptive to a similar “mission” or “immersion” experience.
While I know my “blog” is a fairly cursory glance at the issues mirgrants face, a great read, Enrique’s Journey, gives a first-hand account of what workers often encounter along the way.
And of course, it’s always good to maintain a sense of humor…
Brownsville, Texas.