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Border Links
(the house we visited in Nogales)
The visit to Nogales, Mexico was a very eye opening experience, especially for some one that has never been to Mexico. The only time I have been to Mexico before our trip was about a 10 min walk across the border, so I did not see what Mexico was all about. People talk about how bad Mexico is and that is why the Mexican people risk their lives to run across the border, but you cannot imagine how bad it is until you are actually there witnessing the living conditions. The first homes I witnessed when entering Mexico were shocking, they were made out of scraps of wood, tape and tarps. I tried to imagine what it would be like to have to live like that and I could not even think how it would be. The things that I take for granted on a day-to-day basis would be considered luxuries to these people. When arriving at the home of the family in Nogales, my breath was taken away where we ate lunch . I always hear all the bad things about the water in Mexico, now I can see why. When we were at the house I looked to my right and there was a blue trash can filled with water with a hose running to the outside. I went outside and there was a hole in the wall of the house that looked like it had been hammered through, with the hose coming through it, and then the hose ran to the roof to the water tank. The house was absolutely freezing and every thing seemed to be naturally dirty. The lady that brought us into her house only spoke Spanish so it was really hard for our group to communicate with her because none of us spoke Spanish, at least not enough to communicate properly. She told us that she made only 6 dollars per person that came to her house for lunch. She is able to live off that, and that amazes me. She told us that her 16-year-old daughter had already left home and was living in Arizona working to make a living. Her younger daughter showed up and regardless of how poverty-stricken these people are she was still happy. She had this absolutely beautiful smile; it just warmed my heart to see her smile. I actually spent about half my time out side with the younger daughter playing and taking pictures.
(the daughter of the lady at the house featured above) The whole trip made me realize why immigrants come to America. I always thought that it was not as bad in Mexico as people explained, but now I know that it really is. This trip softened my heart for the people coming across the border without permission, thank you. Pictures and writing by Nick Beal
(community down the hill from the house featured above) What immigrants have to do to get out of the picture above and better their families life. "March 27, 2000, when Cochise County rancher Daniel Morrison spotted nine migrants moving through a ditch along Highway 80. After ordering them to stop, Morrison fired six or seven shots, which the migrants "emphatically" told Mexican officials were aimed at them." Open Season By Bob Moser pg. 14 |
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