Monday Morning brought the teased Oaxacan group back to familiar lab/class room surroundings. It was good to see everyone again. Reviewing the passed events removed any doubts, yes, this really did happen.

Professor Marcotte reviewed our reading assignment and discussed what the nine characteristics are which constitute a civilization and the history of Mexico from 2000 B.C. to the 1960’s.

We also viewed a film “This is What Democracy Looks Like”, http://www.thisisdemocracy.org . The producer, Jill Freidberg utilized 100 cameras documenting the peaceful protests of the 1999 WTO, World Trade Organization, meeting in Seattle Washington. The video enlightens the viewer to what is capable in our country. Of the 50,000 protestors, 630 were arrested and numerous counts of civil liberties violated. I laughed aloud when the Mayor of Seattle implemented a law prohibiting citizens from buying a tear gas mask.

History is my favorite subject, so I am excited that tomorrow, we will be visiting two Missions in the San Antonio area, Espada and Concepcion. Mission Espada, located on Espada RD., http://nps.gov/saan/, happens to be where my dad is from. As a child, many a Sunday was spent at my grandma’s home and where my older cousin, (Dr. Rob Akridge), exposed us to exploring, mini excavation sites and fishing with tadpoles. Unfortunately, my excursions were limited for I was extremely susceptible to poison ivy.

The Acequia, (aqueduct), between the Espada and San Juan Missions, embarked so many great memories of collecting rocks and picking up trash. Today, the National Park Service resurrected a sign at the aqueduct prohibiting anyone from climbing on the aqueduct. Around 1974, the San Antonio River Authority purchased the property owned by my dad and grandma. The area, next door to the aqueduct, was a proposed site of a new recreational park. It never surfaced.

I will definitely be bringing my camera tomorrow.

Manana,

Maria, Maria