monet.

"live like the air is only given to those who work hardest for it."

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Roman Catholicism is the largest religious group in Mexico and dates back to the Spanish conquest. When the Spanish invaded Mexico, they built many Roman Catholic churches on top of the temples that had been coveted by the people of Mexico. This is one of the many treacherous ways that the Spanish tried to erase the significance that already stood in the land of Mexico.

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Pictured here, is Frida Kahlo, and I had the privilege of capturing this photo at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City. Globally, Frida Kahlo was has been considered a hero and an inspiration due her talent as an artist and her strength as someone who was disabled. She suffered a tragic bus accident that left her with many medical complications. She was a free-spirited feminist, bisexual, and revolutionary. 

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The vendors along this road provide clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, etc. I had never seen so many children working alongside their parents and siblings, until I visited these shops. This speaks to the financial support that these families need. Child labor prevents children from reaching their full potential, intellectually and developmentally.

“A study released by UNESCO last year says the children [in Mexico] who don't attend school are mostly working. The report reveals that at least 21 percent of all Mexican youth between the ages of seven and 14 drop out of school - that's around 651,000 children.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/inthefield/2016/08/child-labour-mexico-160820085130210.html

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This mural can be viewed in the small town of Tepoztlán. It is made from a variety of beans and is well designed and constructed. The mural is recreated, annually, to represent the hard work of the people in the town and what they have done to contribute to their community; it stands to show appreciation for the people. 

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This display is in memory of the 40 disappeared preservice teachers. Their families came together to shed light on the reality that the government continues to hide from the people. These teachers were dedicating their lives to change within the education system, and their dreams were taken from them. 

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“La tierra volverá a quienes la trabajan con sus manos”  - Emiliano Zapata

This quote states that “the land will return to those who work it with their hands.” This photo represents the revolutionary ideals of Zapata and his hopes for better living conditions for the people. Tierra y Libertad means Land and Freedom. 

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The Mexican flag soars highs in the center of Mexico City. Throughout our discussions and cultural excursions, we learned a lot about how the Mexican government has impacted the education system. Capturing this photo was a moment to recognize the people of Mexico, rather than the systems of power within the government. This flag represents everything that this country has endured from The Spanish Conquest to the Mexican Revolution.

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This Panadería (bakery) was just a few blocks away from CETLALIC. I was able to try many different pastries, and this visit really made my experience more immersive as a whole. Pan dulce was integrated into Mexican culture by the French and Spanish who were accustomed to baked goods such as baguettes and crispy rolls. The indigenous peoples added their own touch to these pastries by creating different variations of panes dulces.

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During one visit to the Zocálo, I purchased these Huaraches (leather sandals from Mexico). These are hand crafted, like many of the other creations in Mexico. Seeing how excited my peers were, to be shopping for their shoes in the shop, helped me take in how connected many of them were to their culture. It was as if they had longed for these moments, and they were finally able to enjoy this experience.

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This is a vibrant painting of an indigenous community in Mexico. This piece shows the responsibilities of the men and women in these communities, by showing the woman carrying the beans and the man holding the knife. They are both contributing to the livelihood of their community. The many colors bring represent the life of Mexican culture. 

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I took this photo as I approached the Aztec Tepozteco Pyramid in the mountains of Morelos. The pyramid served as a temple to the Aztec god of Pulque -- Tepoztecatl. This hike was a magical part of my time in Mexico. The journey allowed me to push pass physical doubts that I didn’t even know I had. The way that this pyramid and trail were constructed spoke to the Ways of Knowing that the people of that time had. They were able to construct this sacred place without the influence of modern technology and society.

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This statue stands tall in the Zócalo de Cuernavaca and is in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as, the Virgin of Guadalupe. On December 12th, many people gather around the statues and shrines of her in Mexico to honor and celebrate her significance within the religious life of Mexico. She is one of the most popular religious devotions in Mexico, and Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe is a Catholic feast that many people hold close to their hearts.

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These photographs are displayed in CETLALIC, and they show the beauty and culture within the indigenous communities in Mexico. The founders and instructors of CETLALIC strongly believe in protecting and cherishing indigenous people and their land. Indigenous communities are often viewed as the “other” by those who live in the more modern areas of Mexico, which has caused a great deal of tension and animosity.

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This photo was taken in the Museo Casa de la Memoria Indómita. This museum was developed by families whose siblings, children, parents, or friends have been "disappeared". This particular exhibit had these ropes hanging to represent the countries that still use methods of torture to strike fear in those who are imprisoned. This shows that, globally, we still lack a sense of love and appreciation for the minds and bodies of others.

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I found this face cutout board at the market in Tepoztlán, and I thought that it was very unique in its appearance. As I delved deeper in to the reality of gender othering in a school context, I realized that this face-cutout is direct representation of how schools “educate” students about what is acceptable and ideal in terms of gender and sexuality.

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This mural is on the outside of Caminando Unidos, the school that we visited daily, and it shows the talent and creativity of the students. The mural that my peers helped create is now displayed on the adjacent wall of the building. Being creative was on of the main values at Caminando Unidos, so students were encouraged to let their visions flow freely.

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These are the first pesos I held in Mexico. I took this photo so that I could send it to my family, who had never been out of the country before. I was excited to become familiar with another form of currency, but the exchange rate from USD to pesos was quite disturbing to me (1 USD is equivalent to about 18-19 Mexican Pesos). The minimum wage is 88.36 MXN/Day, which is equivalent to 4.36 USD. America has had a large role in the economical hardships of Mexico through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).