Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Jan. 29, 1993, edition 1 / Page 11
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January 29, 1093 :s its worth to Guilfordians 5, -ffijlßlL , c , j§||? , Photo courtesy of Allca Stubnova themselves to face whatever prob lems may arise in the future. We know there will always be prob lems in the poor communities. We are not trying to solve them all, but only to show the children that they are not powerless, that they can make a difference working to gether." Cari Boram Completing my education stud ies project was by far one of my most rewarding experiences in Mexico. I not only gained cultural knowledge and teaching experi ence, but I developed a deeper un derstanding of education as a uni versal issue. Most striking was the enthusiasm of these children amidst often unimaginably destitute sur roundings—so eager to learn, so free to love.. .1 now know why edu cation truly is a privilege. This realization was their greatest gift to me. 1 Alica Stubnova, third dancer from left, performs with her dancing class. Photo courtesy of Alica Stubnova if * - -A P9H > si 4 I Alica Stubnova For centuries, different pre- Hispanic civilizations blossomed in Mexico. By the time the Spanish landed on the shore, only ruins and legends were left of some of them. Others, like the Mayas and the Aztecs, welcomed the sailors. Wrong step. In the following years, their empires were destroyed, and Catholic churches were built on the bases of the pyramids. Mexico became a Spanish colony until the Mexican Revolution. On our travels, we visited some of the most important and beauti ful historical samples of both pre- Hispanic and Spanish cultures. Our first trips were to Guanajuato and Zacateca, important mining towns built in colonial style. The biggest adventure was a 10-day trip dur ing our fall vacation. Our bus be- Features To the left: Children from the Jardines de la Barranca hold up their handy work. Above: Guilford students pose with the children from the Jardines de la BarTanCa. Photos courtesy of Carl Bloom came our home, and we spent hours driving from one place to another, but it was well worth it. We made the first stop in an old colonial town, Querentara. For me, the most exciting part was meeting Eric Dawson there. (Eric gradu ated from Guilford last spring, and now works in an orphanage close to Queretero. It's been a long time since he saw anyone from Guil ford-he says "hi.") The next day we climbed the pyramids of Teotihuacan; many of us were left with almost no money after check ing out its numerous stores. From Taxco, we moved further south to Oaxaca, and walked through the Zapotecan and Mixter ruins in Nutla and Monte Alban. Our last stop was Mexico City, the biggest city in the world. It was the most depressing and fascinating city I have ever been to—polluted, crowded, and noisy, full of galler ies, museums, and architecture. These excur sions were my favorite parts of the Guadalajara semester. They helped me to un derstand Mexi can culture much better. Kelly George Two months in "Jardines de la Barranca" gave a group of na ive Guilford students the gift of friendship. The people of this community, our "amigos," invited us on a picnic into the vast canyon that slept behind their weathered homes. I, along with Kathryn, Alica and Cathy, met our friends at 9:30 a.m. (which really means 10:30 or 11:00 a.m.) in the dust of their streets. Hand in hand, children on our shoulders and food in our back packs, we departed into a world unknown to us. We were of all ages, 3 to 63, yet we were all to gether. Together we played soc cer, volleyball, and freezetag. They transformed a small flat of earth into a playground. A rope tied onto a board and thrown over a branch became a swing. A knobby rock became a spiraling slide. Later the same rope became a jump rope. A r '% ' rt - ■X f ■ ■'■ • * ____________________ I iew of Jardines de la Barranca Z\)t (^uilfortnan rock wall became an assembly line for ham and cheese "dc tipo amcricano" sandwiches. They prophesized our futures with a cistology book. Our last surprise was John Travolta in Dance Fever in the body of a nine-year-old Mexican boy, who bedazzled us with his "moves." It was fatigue alone dial took us home. We left the community in elation, as we did every other time we took bus #25 from the Barranca to down town Guadalajara. Hopefully, the Guilford groups in the years to come will be able to share the same family experiences that we did. Many thanks to Carol Clark and all the students who contributed to the stories on the abroad programs. Photo courtesy of Alica Stubnova 9
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Jan. 29, 1993, edition 1
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