Welcome to the junior class blog of our trip to the US/Mexico borderlands. We traveled in southern Arizona and northern Sonora for two weeks this February in order to study the complex issues playing out in this region. We hiked in the desert, met with border patrol, minutemen (civilians who patrol the border), humanitarian groups, and an immigrant rights lawyer. We interviewed migrants recently deported, volunteered at a soup kitchen, hiked water into the desert for those crossing, toured a Maquiladora-- a US garage door making factory in Mexico, made paper flowers, lived with families in a "colonia" in Nogales, visited a town through which 1000 people pass each day before walking 3-5 days through the desert to reach a US highway. We made crosses and hung them on the border wall to represent the lives lost while crossing the desert. We swam in the Sea of Cortez. We lived with Mexican families in the town of Carbo where we learned the true meaning of the expression "Mi casa es tu casa." This was a profound journey for students and staff alike. We return full of stories and images, and full of gratitude for our lives and the opportunities we have. Many, many thanks to all of the people who met with us. You have made us think, and you have inspired us.

The most recent entries are posted first, so please scroll down to the bottom and read up.

Thanks!