As student journalists we talk a lot about the transformation of journalism from what we have known as traditional print and broadcast to online and multimedia. In August, I don’t think I really knew what that meant and I certainly didn’t have the skills or knowledge to make it happen.
And to top it off, we were covering border issues. Over the last semester I have taken on a new appreciation for journalism. In August, I wanted nothing to do with journalism after college, but I think I have grown to appreciate it in ways I never expected.
Talking to Matthew Casey, the president and founder of Think Immigration, forced me to reexamine my views on the border and immigration.
La Celebracion y El Sufrimiento art exhibit opened my eyes to the mothers and the real life stories of those who make the dangerous journey across the border.
Talking with new Americans for this blog gave me an appreciation for my own citizenship.
St. Andrew's Clinic was an experience that reminded all of us that the need for humanity far exceeds that of borders and politics.
And on November 9, Lisa Burris and I covered the All Souls Procession, an event that I will always consider to be a celebration of life and a reminder of the wonderful culture and traditions that make Life on the Line so unique.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Preparing for our culture
After a sangria reunion with the students that I traveled to Spain with, and spending far too much time looking for a topic this week, I got to thinking about the customs that we were warned about before heading to live in an entirely different culture, one that has different acceptances and expectations.
For example, Spaniards, we were told and later observed, do not hesitate to let you know that you have a bad hair cut or that you are overweight as many think you should know.
I wondered if similar instructions and lists were available for students who travel here to the United States to study abroad. I found such a list on International Student Resources: Life in America.
Here’s a few of my favorites of what they had to say about Life in America:
1. “Never pick at your nose in public.”
2. “Never talk about someone's weight --"you are very fat".”
3. “Use deodorant and brush your teeth or use mouthwash. Americans are very sensitive about body odors.”
US Education Guides also offers insight to cultural differences and things for students to expect. The one that stuck out most to me was relationships.
“Men and women in the United States often form friendships that have no romantic involvement,” according to the US Education Guides’ Understanding American Customs and Cultures.
I love the idea of sending our students around the world and the world sending theirs to us. We were treated differently, it was like we weren’t Americans, we were students so politics and world affairs were cast aside.
Still interested: Here's some guidelines from InternationalStudent.TV the Web site, which is full of other video interviews, is designed to help students with the "academic and cultural adjustment process."
For example, Spaniards, we were told and later observed, do not hesitate to let you know that you have a bad hair cut or that you are overweight as many think you should know.
I wondered if similar instructions and lists were available for students who travel here to the United States to study abroad. I found such a list on International Student Resources: Life in America.
Here’s a few of my favorites of what they had to say about Life in America:
1. “Never pick at your nose in public.”
2. “Never talk about someone's weight --"you are very fat".”
3. “Use deodorant and brush your teeth or use mouthwash. Americans are very sensitive about body odors.”
US Education Guides also offers insight to cultural differences and things for students to expect. The one that stuck out most to me was relationships.
“Men and women in the United States often form friendships that have no romantic involvement,” according to the US Education Guides’ Understanding American Customs and Cultures.
I love the idea of sending our students around the world and the world sending theirs to us. We were treated differently, it was like we weren’t Americans, we were students so politics and world affairs were cast aside.
Still interested: Here's some guidelines from InternationalStudent.TV the Web site, which is full of other video interviews, is designed to help students with the "academic and cultural adjustment process."
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Cultures colliding and a reminder of what it means to be alive in this great country is the best way I know how to describe the annual All Souls Procession in Tucson, Ariz. 
There is celebration in the air and a sense of harmony among the masses. With influences from all over the world, including traditions from Dia de los Muertos, All Souls is a unique experience that more than 12,000 members of the community show up to participate in, according to Technical Director Paul Weir.
Even behind the lens of my camera, glued to my face for nearly four hours, and 508 photographs later, the experience is one I hope all Tucsonans take part in at least once.
Walking with the crowd of people honoring everything from the death of a fiancé like Dick Dixon, who now performs in the procession to a group of friends who come together to honor “sweetness” by walking as bees and bee keepers and handing out spoonfuls of honey onto the tiny honey-drenched fingers of children watching the procession.
And then there are the comedians who show up like the men walking for disco.
“Because God knows it should be dead,” they hollered as they walked by us.
And as the procession comes to an end, the performers, the fire and the excitement begins.
I was raised around the arts, as a child I sat in rehearsals and watched my parents put on theatrical productions and I too participated. I am an advocate for the arts in any community as a means of a life line to heal and grow, experience and imagine. I truly believe nothing better defines the United States and what it means to be an American quite like the blending and collision of many cultures, artistic expression and the coming together to celebrate life.
And that’s what All Souls is…simply put: A celebration of life.
There is celebration in the air and a sense of harmony among the masses. With influences from all over the world, including traditions from Dia de los Muertos, All Souls is a unique experience that more than 12,000 members of the community show up to participate in, according to Technical Director Paul Weir.
Even behind the lens of my camera, glued to my face for nearly four hours, and 508 photographs later, the experience is one I hope all Tucsonans take part in at least once.
Walking with the crowd of people honoring everything from the death of a fiancé like Dick Dixon, who now performs in the procession to a group of friends who come together to honor “sweetness” by walking as bees and bee keepers and handing out spoonfuls of honey onto the tiny honey-drenched fingers of children watching the procession.
And then there are the comedians who show up like the men walking for disco.
“Because God knows it should be dead,” they hollered as they walked by us.
And as the procession comes to an end, the performers, the fire and the excitement begins.
I was raised around the arts, as a child I sat in rehearsals and watched my parents put on theatrical productions and I too participated. I am an advocate for the arts in any community as a means of a life line to heal and grow, experience and imagine. I truly believe nothing better defines the United States and what it means to be an American quite like the blending and collision of many cultures, artistic expression and the coming together to celebrate life.
And that’s what All Souls is…simply put: A celebration of life.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Flowers and Prince Charming
Stop by Nature’s Art Florist and owner and master florist Ferial Malaika will tell you all about her “prince charming.”
She’ll giggle like a school girl. And although she has quite the love story now, it was a long time coming.
Malaika is from Saudi Arabia where she married, but “not for love.”
Malaika and her ex-husband moved to Tucson, Arizona on student visas to attend the University of Arizona. They had two children, both later became Wildcats.
“I never knew what it was like,” she said about being in love.
After a divorce she began her struggle for citizenship. Frustrated with lawyers who “drain your money” she was told to wait until her son, a US citizen by birth, turned 21 so she could get her worker’s visa and then green card.
“When I would go to the immigration place, they would make me feel so low that I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me,” Malaika said.
For now she has her green card, and is working on her citizenship but is hesitant to deal with lawyers again. She’s a local florist who works on weddings and other events in the community and at the university.
She attended design school and later studied to become a master florist. But she’s now working on deciding what dress to wear and other details like “who will do the flowers,” she jokes.
She never banked on a happy ending, but her “prince charming” showed up after all.
Monday, October 27, 2008
La Lengua
Here's a look at the language side of New American issues as well as the support programs available.
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Sunnyside citizenship classes (Pima Community College)
Tucson Literacy Coalition
Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA)
Subscribe Free
Add to my Page
Sunnyside citizenship classes (Pima Community College)
Tucson Literacy Coalition
Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Dual citizenship and a few sponsorships
Chris Wood moved to the United States in 1999 for a “combination of politics and taxes.”
Wood has dual citizenship in the United States, where he was born and in Canada, where he grew up.
Wood was living in Montreal working as a commodities trader when he decided to move to Chicago where he had an apartment and a job set up.
“It was a time when the economy was booming,” Wood said.
But after a vacation in Arizona and despite all well made plans, Wood decided to move to Arizona instead.
Even after moving to the US, Wood continued to travel back to Canada on business and to see his family. It was there that he met his wife Jody.
“I met her in Canada, I met her in a bar of all places,” Wood said. “And I said I live in a place called Carefree, Ariz., how bad can it be?”
She eventually came to the US with him where they are now living and raising their daughter Jade.
Jody has her green card and is continuing through the process to get her citizenship which they expect will be another two years. Wood is sponsoring her.
He also sponsors a friend and former business partner who came around the same time Wood did and still only has his green card.
Wood says it’s complicated why he chooses to stay in the US.
“The US, I think, is the world’s only superpower,” Wood said. “We do a lot of wonderful things for the world, that's the short answer.”
Wood has dual citizenship in the United States, where he was born and in Canada, where he grew up.
Wood was living in Montreal working as a commodities trader when he decided to move to Chicago where he had an apartment and a job set up.
“It was a time when the economy was booming,” Wood said.
But after a vacation in Arizona and despite all well made plans, Wood decided to move to Arizona instead.
Even after moving to the US, Wood continued to travel back to Canada on business and to see his family. It was there that he met his wife Jody.
“I met her in Canada, I met her in a bar of all places,” Wood said. “And I said I live in a place called Carefree, Ariz., how bad can it be?”
She eventually came to the US with him where they are now living and raising their daughter Jade.
Jody has her green card and is continuing through the process to get her citizenship which they expect will be another two years. Wood is sponsoring her.
He also sponsors a friend and former business partner who came around the same time Wood did and still only has his green card.
Wood says it’s complicated why he chooses to stay in the US.
“The US, I think, is the world’s only superpower,” Wood said. “We do a lot of wonderful things for the world, that's the short answer.”
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