Day 3: From Cactus Tacos to Border Diplomacy: A Day of Surprises in El Paso

Today we started with a continental breakfast before amping up where we went over itinerary and concerns for the day ahead. From the Springhill Suites in Las Cruces we made the fifty-minute drive to El Paso, where we planned to meet with a representative of the Border Patrol. Although this representative cancelled at the last minute, we were able to spark a conversation with another agent while he was on the job. This experience was unfiltered, which led to a unique conversation where we asked questions and gained valuable information relevant to our research questions.

After this serendipitous encounter we made our way to a scenic viewpoint where we could see both El Paso and its sister city Juarez. We took note of the evident institutional differences of each city and how that reflects the divergent cultures on either side. We then made our way to Cafe Mayapan where we bonded through fun table games and riddles. On top of the group bonding we got a taste for authentic cuisine native to the region. Some of the more adventurous even tried the cafe's specialty: Nopales (cactus) tacos. After lunch, we ventured to Chamizal National Memorial where we learned more about US-Mexico relations, specifically an instance where a lengthy land dispute was eventually settled through diplomacy. We reflected on how American foreign policy has changed, especially when it comes to the border. 

Finally, we went to the Border Servant Corps house back in Las Cruces, where we listened to an enlightening presentation from two Venezuelan sisters in law. With passion, they told us about their immigration stories, touching upon the problems that have arisen in recent times within Venezuela including the coming of the Maduro dictatorship and how that has caused them to move to the U.S. since it is no longer safe for them to live in Venezuela. After this presentation they directed us in making arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish, one of our best meals so far. We then finished up with reflecting on the day and drove back to the hotel for some free time before resting up for our exciting day tomorrow.
 
--Danny, Avi, Rafe
 





 

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