Our Professors emerged from the office:
leaving is the safest decision.

With my heart, body and mind still running on adrenalin mode, I began to unpack only the essentials. We were to meet at 7:00 p.m. with Anna Maria, who was to present options that we may and may not have available to us. As she walked through the door, she appeared stressed and obviously been walking a good distance. She claimed she did not want to drive her car into Centro de Oaxaca, for she is a teacher. Still panting, I offered her a soda. Fate has provided so many angels, the right angels, the short-lived trip proved protected.

Anna Maria began to present a couple of pamphlets she possessed in her hand; the shiny papers looked wrinkled. When Dr. Richter asked, should we leave? Anna Maria nodded, yes as she spoke.


Dr. Richter and Sub-director of Oaxaca Tourism, Mr. Jorge Gutierrez Martinez, owner of the El Cid Hotel.

Dr. Richter introduced the Sub-Director of Tourism of Oaxaca, Mr. Jorge Gutierrez Martinez, who shared the same sentiments as Anna Maria. Our Professors, Mr. Martinez and Anna Maria retreated to the hotel’s office. We waited for details, either an exit plan for the Service-Learning Study Group’s or do we risk the atmosphere will improve. At last, our Professors emerged from the hotel’s office with the decision: leaving is the only option, the safest.

What a bummer, our timing could not have been worse. Angry with the Governor of Oaxaca, glad we live in America, for these outlawed events could never occur in our great country-but no, they do and have.

Mrs. Marcotte claimed she is cursed, she just arrived back from China, (with another Palo Alto Group), and where she became so ill hooking up to an I.V. was necessary.

It took a village to make the Oaxaca study abroad possible and it took a village to ensure our safe return.

Gratitude towards Anna Maria Rodriguez-our contact person who became more than a teacher in Oaxaca-she became a teacher in San Antonio.

For Mr. Alberto Perez, who escorted us to our new safe haven and returned in the middle of the night carrying, in pesos, the refunded hotel balances. La Casa de la Tia’s staff provided lunch and accommodated our needs.

The gentleman who met us halfway to the new hotel-Muchas Gracias. I learned my lesson on why one should pack light.

Mr. Jorge Gutierrez Martinez, who with no advance notice, opened his doors and honored the lower rates of La Casa de La Tia. His position, the Sub-Director of Oaxaca’s tourism, I believe was no accident.

Our Professors, Dr. Denise Richter and Karen Marcotte deserve a huge-WOW! I am so glad you chose to teach at Palo Alto College and are so passionate about it. The fact that knowing how to conduct yourselves under extreme conditions ain’t so bad either.

Gracias a Dios por todos que de parte de nosotros volvíamos enteros.

My prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives senselessly.

The airplane ride back was quiet and necessary. Jewelette, who sat in front of me, called me over and said "I'm bored, I know it is only a 35 minute flight, (from Houston to San Antonio), but I'm bored". I responded with "With what we just went through, yes this is boring." My husband picked me up and I dropped him off at work. Driving again felt weird. When I pulled into my driveway and opened my door, our big yellow lab, Gracie greeted me. Her tail was banging against the car’s interior door when I heard mommy, mommy and soon felt the grip around my waste. Then I walked into my house, oh boy mommy has not been home.



















These are the images of Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico that I will forever remember and know that I will re-visit in the the near future. Si Dios quieres.