Kristen Hanson

On the 23 rd 4 of us departed Chiapas for Guatemala. After a 6 hour bus ride we arrived to the border, stamped our passports, switched buses and we were off to Quetzaltenango. These neighbouring countries once, and still somewhat shared the same Mayan culture. I was not expecting too much of a difference. The first thing that struck me was magnificent and wondrous mountain ranges. They were huge and went on for miles. The second thing that struck me was the garbage. Within the first 20 minutes we passed a dump, mounds or garbage being dumped over a cliff. I wondered where the run off went and the I thought of Recycled Life, a documentary about generations of families that were ostracized and living in a land fill in Guatemala City. They resorted to uncovering what they could reused or exchanged for compensation. Although a miserable way to live, it is not completely without merit.             Our first venture after exploring...

This has become so what of an idiom in this learning journey and also a bit of a joke because of its frequent reoccurrence but fitting application. I apologize to those that I have told to follow my blog. But truth be known it IS complicated. I started an entry some weeks ago. It has branched out into so many directions that that is has been hard to complete any of them. Everything is so interconnected that it is hard to feel that the web is fully understood without all of the interconnected weaves.  For the sake of perseverance I have to bring it back, try again.   Its is interesting even strange to think how, as a civilization, we  place a value or worth on just about anything; people, time, occupations, a mountain, a gene, a life, righting our wrongs, even to make fatally destructive corporate practices go away(which as I recall hearing in one case in this area was 80,000,000$).  We have moved to a global place where this is entrenched, even for t...

for us   we covered our faces   Oliveira to   name us , we deny   the name bet the present to have  a   future and for life or death Subcomandante Marcos I talked to a man in the Zocolo today, who made a huge beautiful sand art mural  for 8 or 9 hours, just to sweep it up when he was done so that morning workers wouldn't have more work. He seemed only motivated by the art, smiles and looks of wonder he received. He said it was to give thanks to the people of San Cristobal. Made the think:) This land was sold by the president (Governor) of Chiapas for purposes of "development". Every day I ask myself more and more what that means. I think in this case they were expanding the highway so it was easier for the military to get back and forth. They also donated the land for the military. Also made me think. 

February 1st We woke this morning to have breakfast with our Mexican family and listen to the news on the radio.  We were told that president Calderon was coming to town. I couldn’t decipherer from the Spanish radio but was told by our other house mate that his purpose was to visit a women’s co-op, speak in respond to a Red Cross campaign on violence against children. According to what was interpreted, it sounded noble. I appreciate the optimistic interpretation or the public relation radio.  I wondered if any media outlet in Mexico was fully delivered for and by the people.  The interpretation was coming from a Dutch man, here studying Spanish. He said that the president was coming to speak to the indigenous communities to show his concern for them. I though that this would be a noble gesture following the death for their primary advocate.   I asked if he believed that that the president did truly care about the indigenous people of the area. He said yes, he b...