(this is a mass email that i just sent out... so i think most people that read my blog have already read it-- but i never put anything but pictures up here, so i thought i'd add this too)
wow! my time on the border is almost over! crazy!! of course, it seems like now-- just when i'm about to move on-- i've finally settled in here. work is good, i have a great group of friends and just discovered an EXCELLENT salsa place with live music and amazing dance partners... what more could i ask for?
we had a long weekend for the 4th of july and i spent the first part of this week up in the beautiful green mountains of new mexico. renee and hilary (2 other volunteers) and i camped out at a lookout tower and watched a couple storms roll in all around us-- it was a better light show than any fireworks i've ever seen! we spent the day enjoying the cooler weather and the beautiful view before heading to a mescalero apache ceremonial. there was great dancing and drumming with singing that gave me goosebumps. we watched the blessing of a young man about to head off to iraq. all the veterans of his tribe gathered behind him and wished him a safe return as he made his way around the center fire. the next dance was led by smokey the bear-- a fuzzy mascot dancing to the beat of a drum circle and surrounded by little kids!
last saturday my office sponsered "national citizenship day." we opened our doors at 7:30 am and the crowd didn't clear out until the afternoon. we filled applications for legal permanent residents to become citizens of the united states (and hopefully they will become citizens in time to register to vote in the midterm elections this november!!). over 200 applicants and their families were here so it really felt like a party-- complete with rockin' music, nacho venders, and big screen world cup coverage.
on a daily basis, my work is not nearly so festive, but it has been really good lately. last week i got a work permit for one of my favorite clients. she's been living in the US for 35 years and has her whole life here, but she never got her papers. and her husband is a drug addict and abusive and she's just gotten a really bum deal in so many ways. and they almost denied her petition, but we fought it and i got to give her her work permit last friday. we were both in tears. it makes it worth it to spend 40 hours a week at a desk in an over-air-conditioned office staring at a computer!
i'm not sure what my future plans were the last time i sent out an email update... but here's the final plan (for the next year, perhaps a little longer): i'm moving to chicago at the end of august where i will be working and living at su casa catholic worker house as the house director. su casa started 20 years ago as a refuge to the torture survivors fleeing the central american civil wars and has continued to be a place of hospitality and shelter. presently it is home primarily to spanish-speaking (mostly immigrant) domestic violence victims and their families. i'm really excited to have the chance to work with another part of these strong women's lives. i remember last fall when i first started my job i didn't understand how anyone could ever want to work with domestic violence victims... but i have been so inspired by my clients this year. they are amazing, brave, compassionate women and i feel so fortunate to be a part of their lives. and now i get to be a part of their lives that extends beyond immigration paperwork!
i'm taking 2 weeks after i finish my job to play around in mexico before i leave the desert. my friend jennifer is going to come down and travel with me!! i'm really looking forward to that. and even though it will be quick, i think it's healthy for me to give myself a little vacation before i start another committment. we're headed to copper canyon (bigger than the grand canyon!) in south-western chihuahua and then to the beach for a couple days! i'll be back in el paso for my birthday and then fly into chicago the next day.
