Katherine's Wrap-Up Post

Tis the season to celebrate

by Katherine Ferry

We have arrived at our last week in Ziquítaro for 2008, and my near-reluctance to leave signals to me that despite the fall semester’s many challenges, there is much to celebrate of our experience here so far. 

Not surprisingly, I celebrate the handful of my students who scored a perfect 10 in my classes.  But I also celebrate the many students, whether they have perfect grades or not, whose enthusiasm for English class and efforts to make Rachel and me feel welcome assure me that our efforts in this town are worthwhile.  I have a personal custom of keeping certain items around to provide a risa or kind thought to counter life’s inevitable low moments; this holiday season I am thankful for the “gifts” from my students that added to this collection.  First is a picture of Alan, my fifth-grade student, smiling so completely that his cheeks almost cover his eyes.  I look at this and think of his unique humor and all the times he spied me from down the road and raced his bike as fast he could to greet me.  Next is a homework assignment by Noe, my eighth-grade student.  I asked the students to review the alphabet by writing a word they had learned in English for each letter, including a picture.  Noe choose mostly verbs and drew hilarious cartoons for each word, even for more abstract verbs like “know” and “invite”.  I look at his alphabet and remember his wonderful creativity and enthusiasm.  I also have my proud memory of Erika, my seventh-grade student, who during our last class did not say “my ee go to de batroom?”, but asked to go in an accent so outstanding I had to turn and look again to see who said it.  And finally, my letter from my fifth-grader which I mentioned in a previous entry is genuinely a treasure and a reminder of a super gal who is an example to all of us.     

I celebrate the unexpected outcome that our role in Ziquítaro goes far beyond merely being English teachers.  First, we strive to be good examples of educators in general.  I am grateful for the chance to be a teacher who sincerely wants them all to succeed and refuses to give up on them.  In addition to this example, we are ambassadors of sorts, a role which had various manifestations.  We have helped translate and explain confusing visa and employment paperwork to people who have returned from the United States or long to visit or join family members waiting for them in el norte.  I celebrate Rachel’s generous efforts to help our friend Alejo, an example of a fine young person completely thrown off course in life because he is trapped in the unforgiving reality of living between these two cultures.  I celebrate our role, however small, to give a perspective on what life is really like in the United States, especially the hardships for an illegal immigrant.  We have tried patiently to disassemble the idea that one can leave a life of poverty in Mexico to easily slip into a wealthy life on the other side.  And, perhaps most significantly, we have tried to emphasize that working hard in school can provide additional options besides leaving Mexico illegally.     

I celebrate the welcome Ziquítaro has offered us, and the friendships and connections we’ve made despite what we thought was a tremendous cultural divide between us and the people here.  I celebrate the new understanding I have of the complexities and contradictions which come as a result of immigration.  Ziquítaro is not simply a dusty forgotten town somewhere out in México, frozen in the past due to its isolation.  Burros on the town’s bumpy dirt roads are passed by fancy pickup trucks with their booming stereos brought back from the US. I celebrate our efforts to resist the urge to see Ziquítaro’s people, despite what’s on the surface, as unenlightened and living in an era gone by.  We are all living in the 21^st century and now all have our hearts in both countries.  They can provide us with more insight on the immigration phenomenon as we can to them.       

Finally, I cannot count my blessings without including my gratitude for the new administration we will welcome this month.  I hope this great change will begin to alleviate some of the problems I am fortunate to now feel a personal connection and dedication to.  Happy 2009 to all my dear friends and family on both sides of the border, and all the others working hard to make our world a safer and happier place.