I miss Anapra

It has been 3 months since the last time I went to Juarez. My old car died after it took me back to Albuquerque.
Now, I really miss that place and all the lovely people.

The first trip I will do when I find a car is driving down here. Hopefully, I can make it before Easter.

a few photos from Anapra, Juárez, México.

a few photos from Anapra, Juárez, México.

Family Portraits

update the family portraits from last trip to Anapra
I'm leaving for Juarez again this Friday and will have more to put into this album next week.

brothers

I found this picture when looking through all the photos I took from last trip in Anapra.

Finally, I scanned all the films this morning. I am going to edit those images taken by kids tonight. I am really amazed by the way they look at their families.

the other side of the fence is another world-Part One

On the other side of the fence is another world

I took another trip to Juárez last Thursday to start my project in Colonial Anapra. On my way crossing the border back on Sunday, the US border patrol asked me if I went to Juárez by myself.

I said yes.

Her respond was "You are so brave."

Before I left for this trip, so many of my friends told me not to go, regarding the violence.

I did not really listen to them but I got scared everyday by reading the number of people being killed from the news everyday.

I called my parents the day before I left, the only thing I said was "I think if I don't bother anybody, nobody's going to bother me." My parents are in China, and media there don't really talked about the drug related violence on the border of the U.S and Mexico. One reason was there's no Chinese media there. Because of that, my parents don't know what is going on in Juárez.

---------------

The next post, I will talk about what I've done in Juárez.

---------------

I took the photo below on Saturday after the bi-national anti-war, anti-racism protest on the border.

Those kids are holding the balloons they got from the people on the U.S side. On their left is the fence which divides the land into two different countries. In the back is the Mount Criso Rey which is on the intersection of New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

art in war time

The Daily Lobo published those two photos on Monday's issue.

I see it as the beginning of my project in Juárez, México. I've visited a lot of people on UNM campus today to talk to them about my project idea and see if they are interested in giving grants.

And I am also trying to get into an independent study class with this new project in the Communication & Journalism Dept.

I will have a lot more people to talk to tomorrow.

Hope everything goes well and I can accomplish what I expect!

Doris Judith Loera, 8, shows her painting of Anne Frank in the Amigo en Cristo Community Center in Colonia Anapra, Juárez , Mexico on Jan. 8. Loera says children in Juárez are locked in the house due to drug-related violence, and she said Anne Frank’s captivity was similar.

Ana Karen Garcia,11,(right) and her sister Samanta Garcia, 9, swing while displaying their paintings in the Juárez center Jan. 8. Children in Colonia Anapra go to the community center for art class every Saturday. Artists from Juárez teach classes.