Volunteering, food for the soul

Part of being healthy is being happy and feeling fulfilled. There is no place I feel more consistently whole or happy that Tijuana. Below is my blog post from our trip's blog read on to start to understand why, more reflections later on giving back and traveling...

" ...For me, this year's trip has been different from all of my other trips, having lived here for so long last year, returning is a little strange. I missed Mexico so much while I was gone, and now being back I am slowly realizing how much this place, and this organization has changed me and helped me grow as a person. While I was down here last year I saw small changes, but mostly I was wrapped up in what was going on while I was here, and the work we were doing. When I returned home change was slow and I'm not sure if I ever fully took the time to reflect on my time here, but now having been back for about a week and a half now (I came down a week earlier than the group), I have really had time to examine everything that has changed in Tijuana, and in me in the last year, and over the past nine years.

  It's easy to come down here for a week each year, and to have an amazing time, meet kind and caring people. It's hard to return home and continue living out the lessons learned while here. We get sucked up in the fast pace of our lives and work and forget this wonderful place. Being back here the last two weeks has been completely refreshing. People talk about how selfless volunteering is, and how amazing it is for people to come here, to somewhere perceived as very dangerous and give their time. It's hard for me to see this trip that way, I almost feel selfish coming here, because of how much I get out of this trip, and how much I love it here. I have never been somewhere that I felt more welcomed and loved. The people we meet open their homes and hearts to us daily. They would give us the shirt off their back if we asked. Even though for many of us there is a language barrier we still find a way to communicate, we find a way to work side by side with people from the communities to accomplish something.

  I'm often asked why I come here when we're only building one part of one house. There are so many problems in Mexico, we can't possibly solve them all so why should we try and help"...Continue reading on the trip's blog

Mexico, here I come!

For the last 9 years I have been traveling to Tijuana, Mexico for a week each winter to work alongside local families to build homes with a wonderful organization, Esperanza International. Last year I was lucky enough to spend three months in Tijuana as a long term volunteer. I have never had a more life changing or inspiring experience. Tomorrow I take off for San Diego, where I will be staying for a day or two and then I will be headed down to Tijuana until March 16th.

It is important to give back to your community and I do volunteer locally. This trip is always a nice step away from home, a good chance to take myself out of my comfort zone, out of my own "troubles" and get a perspective on the rest of the world and different ways of living, and hit reboot. I get as much out of this trip as I give, sometimes I feel a little selfish. It is always a reminder of the important things in life; friends, family, and community. I also see it as a reminder that in a cruel world there are still good things. The people I meet have very little materially but have so much warmth, love, and kindness. They are rich in the things that many people with so much more materially are completely bankrupt in. 

I will (probably) not be posting here during my time in Mexico, unless I learn something interesting to share that is relevant to this blog... such as...

Last year I learned that lime juice and salt together are not just great for margaritas but for sore throats as well!

If you would like to follow my trip and see what I am up to please check out:

My Esperanza Blog

Here are a few photos from past trips:

 The Beach at Rosarita, it is beautiful this time of year and there is a chance of seeing whales here as they migrate in March!

 Before we start building the families we work with make and tend to blocks to prepare for building. The families have to water the bricks so they do not dry too fast, this creates strong blocks and in turn a strong home.

 Our mixer, we pour every three - five layers of bricks depending on the home and the area it is in. In the background you can see completed walls. 

 Completed walls, they need to dry for a week or so before we can pour the ceiling. 

 Beautiful mountains just outside of Tijuana.

 Near downtown you can see the houses built up the mountains. Homes are built very quickly thousands popping up every week. Many are little more than ply wood, old tires and tarps.

The border between San Diego and Tijuana. We take a trip here to reflect and to see the ocean.