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Holy Tamale !!!

Environment, Snapshots

The early bird catches the worm.  But what happens when you are earlier than the birds? Starting dark and early we beat the sun up as we headed to the cemetery.  I was incredibly surprised at the temperature. For some reason I imagined the moment I stepped outside I was going to melt, but it was actually fairly decent for the first few hours.  Getting started was very enlightening listening to the team go over the proper technique on how to grid.  Being very active in sports, teamwork is something that comes natural.  It was awesome to see that everyone was willing to work together to accomplish what we needed.  After we completed our shovel shining we took a break and had lunch.  I thought that it was a prime opportunity to go and do some bird watching.  For those of you who do not know me or why I am constantly commenting about birds, I am currently finishing up an Ornithology class.  This trip happens to fall right in the middle of the semester so I will be making up assignments here in Texas.  So on lunch today I did not see very many birds, but I heard a lot of them.  Of the birds I could identify were the Lesser Goldfinch, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, and an Oriental Turtle Dove (still getting verification).  I think today I have to pick two birds of the day: the Ladder-backed Woodpecker and the Loggerhead Shrike.  Once I got back from birding I grabbed some food and it was at this moment that my taste buds were as enlightened as I had been the entire day.   The many of first experiences had continued.  Today I had my first tamale…… and second ……. and my third tamale.  Holy tamale they were amazing.  I enjoy trying foods for the first time in an area they are particularly well known for.  Actually I enjoy trying new food period.  The temperature increased and we had come to the close of our day. 

Cheneta enjoying a tamale in her work gearFor the amount of work that was done today (although it was probably less than we will be doing for the rest of the project) it was a very rewarding feeling.  Working together for a common cause makes moments of accomplishments an overwhelming experience.  I think this is a great group of people and I hope we accomplish everything we set forth to do without getting devoured by mosquitoes.

Cheneta     

Day 1

Community, Environment

Group photo with everyone in their work uniforms

Today was our first day working in the field. The area of the cemetery we are exhuming has no shade and temperatures soared over 90 degrees today.  Our team knows the dangerous combination of heat and humidity means we follow two basic rules: 1) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and 2) work in 5 minute shifts (5 minutes on and 5 minutes rest). Five minutes may not sound like a long time to work, but when you are putting all your strength into digging in these temperatures, five minutes can be enough to bring you to heat exhaustion.

Plate full of tamales in corn husks

Tamales

We got to see some of our old friends from last year like Chief Benny Martinez of the Brooks County Sheriffs Department and Constable Arturo Garcia. We were fortunate to meet some new people today as well. Flavio Garcia, a local businessman, brought shredded beef tamales for the entire team to enjoy on our lunch break at the cemetery. They were the most amazing tamales I think I’ve ever had!  (I won’t tell you how many I had, but it might have been four…) Flavio was also gracious enough to supply six porta potties for us at the cemetery and cleaning services every three days.  This is an example of Falfurrias hospitality.  Everyone we meet is so gracious and so kind.

We were also able to spend some time speaking with Eddie and Irma of the South Texas Human Rights Center, a community based center dedicated to the promotion, protection, defense and exercise of human rights and dignity in South Texas. Their mission is to end death and suffering on the  Texas/Mexico border through community initiatives. Each day in Falfurrias we learn more about the many people and organizations dedicated to ending the preventable deaths on our border. We feel privileged to be a part of this mission, and while we are only one small piece we are proud that we are able to contribute in our own way to reuniting families separated by this crisis.

~KEL

People of “Privilege”

Human Rights, Migrant Death, Reflections

What would you risk for the chance at a better life?  If you are like me, then probably not much.  That is not to say that I haven’t sacrificed a lot in the pursuit of happiness.  I am a poor graduate student who has spent the last three years living in a different state than my wife because we both are following our career paths.  I rarely ever get to see friends or family.  Sleep has become more like a fond memory than a regular occurrence.  I’m here in south Texas volunteering my time to dig in a cemetery in the summer when temperatures average around  100 degrees.  When I compare the things that I have forfeited in the hopes of a better existence, it seems trivial when considered next to the tribulations of the people who try to cross the border.

A few weeks ago, several UIndy students and I had a conversation with Robin Reineke, an anthropologist who works on migrant deaths in Pima County, Arizona.  One of the things we discussed was the concept of “people of privilege”.  Let me take a moment to be abundantly clear:  This is not a diatribe about class warfare, and has nothing to do with social status.  By Robin’s definition, “privilege” meant not fearing death from starvation.  “Privilege” means no fear from institutionalized violence, or being killed for your political views.  The “privilege” lies in never actually considering those horrific events and never believing that they would actually happen to you.

This is my second year in Falfurrias.  It is both the most difficult and rewarding endeavor that I have ever undertaken.  It is both incredibly rewarding yet emotionally draining.  When I talk to other people about my work, they inevitably ask, “How has it changed you?”  In truth, it hasn’t.  I am the exact same “person of privilege” that I have always been.  I do not fear for my life or well-being, nor do I fear oppression or starvation.  The only thing that has changed is but the smallest notion of what might motivate another human being.  The only real difference is but a few lingering questions in the back of my mind.

Now, Let me rephrase the question.  What would drive you to walk across the desert?  What would cause you to abandon everything and everyone you knew and loved, just for the opportunity that your life might be better?  What might you give up for the chance at a better life?  Would you be willing to die knowing that your children might live without those fears?  How far would you go for that “privilege”?

Justin