Monday EOL Begins

Another all-you-can-eat breakfast at the hotel before the 2 hour drive to Tucson.  Lila counted the cacti en route to Tucson, turns out it's a really big number, and she said her brain isn't big enough to contain it.  She fell asleep, along with everyone else.


Arrived in Tucson on-time and intact, even with another U-Turn.  We were greeted by Ms. Mejia-Garcia.  Everyone got hugs and she remembered everyone's name the first time.

We ate Little Ceasers with San Miguel students.  The San Miguel kids call Little Ceasars "The Food of the Immigrant."  $5.00 for a large pizza!!!

The San Miguel students took us on a tour of their school: it's beautiful, austere, modern, and full of little pockets of traditional piety.  

The EOL journey began with a trip to the T.O. indian reservation, where the San Xavier Mission is located.  The San Miguel students--and most of southern Arizona--call it the Dove in the Desert.  Its white building is like a beacon of faith for those immigrants traveling north.  It's a place of deep spirituality for both the Indians and the the Catholics.  At night, it's like a giant party.

As the sun began to set over the red desert, we climbed "A Mountain," a famous hill smack in the middle of the Tucson desert area.  Its a place known for quinceanera limo parties, watching fireworks, U of A parties; but most importantly, we made the trek to get an idea of the immensity of the desert.  It's range is enormous and its beauty overwhelming.  The immigrant journey is as enormous but also full of suffering.

After "A Mountain," we raced across town and meet with an immigration attorney who volunteers for "No More Deaths," an organization that attempts to end unnecessary suffering and deaths for migrant trying to cross that Arizona border.  Speaking with Chad later in the night, he, like all students, were amazed to learn that 75% of all deportations are because of traffic violations. Also, that it takes 18 years to legally enter the country from Mexico, an option many cannot take. 

Minds saturated, we needed fuel of a different kind.  San Miguel treated us to a home town favorite, something that Bay Area foodies would find repulsive.  Dinner at El Guero Canelo: amazing, the pinnacle of South Tucson, Sonoron hot dogs (aka, mexican comfort food).  Everybody goes there.  The mayor, the plumber, the newly arrived kids from Berkeley.  The community hot spot, cheap and delicious.  Started as Taco truck, eventually covered the patio area, then added walls (barely).  The American Dream, lived through a Mexican immigrant whose kids now attend San Miguel High School. 

If you thought today was interesting, wait for Tuesday!!!