Katie Laughlin

Brownsville by Bus

Reflection

When embarking on this voyage I truly did not know what to expect, nor did I have many expectations. I tried to approach this adventure with an open mind, curiosity, and a quest for knowledge. My only prior experience with the area to be explored was in Southern Texas. The entire area North of McAllen, Texas all the way West to San Diego, California was new territory for me. The sixteen days it took to complete our route taught me more than I can capture, and insight not conveyed in a classroom.

The knowledge I gained on this trip can not be reproduced, nor taught from a traditional classroom setting. Observing the way a culture operates and functions can not truly be conveyed through a text. It is something felt and experienced; it is engaging in an interactive learning environment. The information and insight I acquired is very difficult for me to express. The expansion of my thoughts did not occur in the conventional sense that one would find in a class room, but rather through embracing my surroundings. For example, I felt how welcoming and loving the Mexican people were. I saw the desperation and longing felt by some Mexicans to come to the United States. We tasted the food, walked on the streets, smelt the air, and spoke with the people, none of which could be done behind a desk listening to a lecture.

Leaving the classroom allowed me to experience the culture of the border, observe the continually transforming landscape, and discover the dynamic personalities of those who accompanied this journey. However, what made one of the greatest impressions in my mind was the ever changing degree of security along the border. For example, the border crossing between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico had numerous different Customs lanes and a seemingly large staff. Other towns like Douglas, Arizona have built huge fences along the border spanning the entire length of the town and further. On the other hand, driving along Highway 2 in Mexico, between Sonoita and San Luis Rio Colorado, south of the western Arizona border, the only thing which separates the United States from Mexico is a mere cement post.

I was astounded. There is so much hype and controversy about illegal aliens in our country and ‘high alert’ warning for terrorism and yet there are areas which appear virtually unregulated. I realize there are cameras and an occasional border patrol vehicle, but the main deterrent is the natural environment; a brilliant concept which I had never really considered prior to this trip. This is just one example, of many, on how my thoughts were changed.

After completing the adventure and attempting to digest everything I have more questions and fewer answers.