Stories from the field
On Assignment: Michelle Newlands' extensive coverage of Mexico trip 2010
Special reporter Michelle Newlands, a graduate of the e-journalism and print journalism programs at Loyalist College, is in Mexico for the next five weeks, sending new and views from the 2010 trip for Quest International.
Her news stories can be found at the Online Pioneer Plus
If you are looking for her personal reflections, please join Michelle at her own site Think Glocal, a vibrant, interesting site about local activism and international events.
This site will also be filling up with special reports from various participants as the trip takes it course. So, stay tuned.
Making sense of it all
by Gary Warren
It starts with a random comment about how much there is to do here, and so little time left. Someone is reminded about some last minute shopping that has to be done. Another then asks about our return schedule. It gets serious when one person checks their airline ticket and starts to count the ‘number of sleeps’ left. We are winding down. And with all the return preparation, we also have to make sense of it all. As one said, we have to connect the dots.
Jammin on the beach
by Gary Warren
A short one tonight ‘cause it is late. Caila (DSW student) is here now from Cuernavaca where she has been on placement in a school for street children. For her, it’s a long weekend, and it gives me a chance to ‘supervise’ her placement more closely.
Other friends will arrive tomorrow from Chiapas, so we will have a bit of a reunion.
Today we spent quite a while trying to figure out how we can support ourselves through experiential education when we return to Canada.
Day two in a fishing village
by Gary Warren
Early each morning I like to take a fitness walk and to get re-oriented to new places. Here, I also knew it was going to be hot, and it was still cool at 6:30 am. Two of the students beat me to it, and were up and gone before I got out to the street. They jogged in one direction, and I wandered in another (I’m afraid my jogging days are far behind me).
Here in Zihuatanejo
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
After an interesting four weeks our group has arrived in the city of Zihuatanejo. There’s a unique contrast here compared to the places we’ve stayed so far, Cuernavaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, The Lacondon Jungle and Palenque.
Zihuatanejo – the final steps
by Gary Warren
We have been in Mexico almost a month, in 4 different cities, and 3 different states. We have travelled by van, car, boat, 4 airplanes, the back of dump trucks, and public buses. And lots of walking and climbing.
Yaxchilan and leaving the Jungle
By Chrissy Peters
9th day: Today was our adventure to the ruins in Yaxchilan. We took a ride on a motorized fiberglass boat on a river between the Mexican and Guatemala border.
Today we took a trip through time
I found myself sitting in a small motorized canoe-like boat heading to the ancient ruins of Yaxchilan in Chiapas, Mexico. Wind blowing in my hair we passed families fishing and cleaning their clothes in the rivers tide. I felt as though from where I was sitting I was in the middle of past, present and future.
Our journey into the jungle
By Chrissy Peters
Today was probably the most fun travel day I have experienced yet. We left our hotel Baron de las Casas around 8:30 in the morning and headed to the Lacondon (jungle!!!) I can honestly tell you I wasn’t looking forward to 7 hours in a car, but enjoyed the view so much that I was awake and excited the whole time.
Conquering fear and recognizing street smarts
Written by Chrissy Peters - Second Year DSW Student
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
