tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-575381323694577832.post7659525104237663092..comments2023-04-29T08:00:56.283-07:00Comments on SIS Summer Abroad 2010: Mexico: Festivals and Fever DreamsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-575381323694577832.post-68123288629786556872010-08-08T22:01:11.027-07:002010-08-08T22:01:11.027-07:00great pic of the sea of hats.great pic of the sea of hats.Paul Rockowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540196192076208577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-575381323694577832.post-61973773575008947042010-08-03T13:28:31.000-07:002010-08-03T13:28:31.000-07:00Dear Team SIS 2010 (Mexico)
Congratulations to yo...Dear Team SIS 2010 (Mexico)<br /><br />Congratulations to your team on what appears to be a successful term.You suffered through heat and humidity, bathroom trauma, a dicy political season, and a sticky computer keyboard, all in the service of education by "takin' it to the streets".<br /><br />I (mostly) enjoyed your reflections on the Mexican culture--all were informative, many entertaining (i.e. the beating of the animals), and some (too few) insightful. In the end, however, I was mostly disappointed by your efforts to inform those of us who remained home.<br /><br />You see, at your stage of the academic game I expect you to report with insight that evolves from the struggle to reconcile book learning with street-level observation and common sense. I had hope that you could help me to understand the human/political conflicts of illegal immigration--and an opportunity presented itself when you visited with the priest who provided comfort(?) to men (and women?)--future illegals--as they apparently made their way north. However, nary a word beyond a mention of the camp.<br /><br />What about education for the local populace? I (earlier blog entry) remarked with sarcasm (intended) that when you stop at the Starbucks you may want to ask what the janitor there thinks about the future opportunities for his child--or might he encourage his child to seek a future by first visiting that priest at the transportation hub, and then hopping a train north?<br /><br />Or how about a consideration of the decline of farming in the region, or an insight on the impact of NAFTA? Or, a report on how locals view America? Or...Or... etc.<br /><br />I am sure that some of these concerns will find consideration in the papers you are going to write. How nice it would have been to see you grapple with them in your blog rather than read about visits to the taco factory. There is, of course, room for both in this blog. Trouble is you did not realize it.<br /><br />John Porthjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09168373754407229021noreply@blogger.com