Trip Journal for Mexican Ecology & Culture

Rhonda Upchurch

March, 13th.-25th., 1998

Complete Trip Journal

After a long day of delays, we are off on our journey. We were supposed to leave at 2:00, then it was 8:00, now it is 10:30 and we’re on our way.

We drove all night and reached the boarder at about 8:30 am March 14 Th. At first things seemed to be running smooth, then problems came up. The details escape me. Maybe because I chose to let the escape. Several hours later we were a "Band on The Run."

Feeling a little scared and a whole lot like a rebel we drove off into foreign soil. I had never been out of the United states before so things seemed pretty strange. My first impressions were not good ones. Along the boarder and for several miles beyond there was signs of filth and poverty everywhere. I wondered what kind of people could live like this.

After several hours of driving we came to a tiny cafe in a small town. It was very clean but not too modern. I couldn’t read the menu because it was in Spanish. After some help from Bruce and Dwight I ordered a dish with goat meat in it. It was very good and surprisingly inexpensive.

Back on the road again, we drove on into the night.

I must admit that things were pretty tense at first between the class. You put eleven strangers and a ton of equipment into an eleven passenger van and things get hairy fast. But this changed. There is something about driving upon a check point for the first time that builds a bond between strangers. It could have been the AK 47’s, I’m not sure, but we vowed to stick together no matter what.

At about 9:30 PM that night we reached camp. With the aid the head lights we set up our tents. There was a small creek there where we took our first bath on the trip. Boy we really needed it.

I awoke at 6:00 am. I stepped out of my tent and felt as if I had been shanghaied. The view was breath taking. I yelled at the others to get up and see where we were. I didn’t realize that we had driven into a canyon the night before. We were in Bustamante Monte’ Canyon (not sure about that spelling). There were huge mountains on both sides of us. The clouds were hanging low, or the mountains were standing tall, anyway the tops were in the clouds. There was a beautiful creek that ran along side of our camp. There were trees and plants like I have only seen in pictures. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

We geared up and went hiding. Garth, Kim and I headed to the outlet of the canyon. We took lots of pictures and saw things we had never seen before.

I thought it was odd that this goat herders shanty has a satellite dish.

At about 10:00 that morning we headed out again. We went through the Chihuahuan Desert. It was hot and dry with many species of plants that were new to me. We even stopped at one point to water the cactus. Any bathroom break was a welcome one.

Later that day we passed the Tropico De Cancer. We watered the plants there too. They looked like they needed it. We traveled the rest of the day and night through desert and then through mountains.

The first Spanish phrase I learned was "Peligroso Curva", dangerous curve, which we did encounter a few.

As the sun came up Monday morning I could smell the salt air. We drove along the coast to a palm covered beach where we pulled in and set up camp. We finally made it.

There was an ocean side diner called Ramada Rosita where we would have our meals for the next six days.

We pitched our tents under palm trees on a sandy beach. After looking around a few hours the Mexican students arrived. There was about 60 of them. I felt so out of place. They didn’t dress or look like us, and they didn’t talk like us. This was going to be tough.

They quickly set up camp and got organized. I was disappointed to learn that I was in group A. That meant I had to go out at 3:00 to catch mammals. I really could have used some rest but at 3:00 we went to set our traps. The teachers in charge spoke no English. Thanks to Dwight I was able to understand what was going on. They lead us into a forest that looked like something I saw in a Tarzan movie. We several traps and returned to camp.

After dinner we walked to another location where we set up some bat nets. We walked back and forth until midnight checking the nets. On one trip we found an opossum along the side of the road. They got very excited. We harassed him for awhile with our flashlights. When we came back by he had tried to make for the hills but a truck had hit him and ended his happy little possum life. we picked him up and used him for a specimen.

On the last trip we had finally caught three bats. We finally got to go to bed at about 1:00 am. At 6:00am we left out again to check our traps. We caught three mice and returned to camp. After breakfast we prepared our specimens for the museum. Garth, Mari and I had the rest of the day off.

Garth and I walked up the beach to a small town called Aticama. There we ran into Dwight. We looked around awhile and went shopping. On the way back we bought a papaya which the three of us shared.

I went to bed early that night and fell asleep to the pounding of the surf.

On Wednesday we were awaken by Bruce. We put on our swimming suits and went to catch fish. Being a Pieces I have always loved the water. Never in my life have I been afraid of it, yet I have the utmost respect for it. We stretched a 500 ft. (slight exaggeration) net out and battled huge waves out into a never ending sea. The water raged over us tarring and pulling at the net. Twice I was body slammed over the net, sent rolling head over heals toward the shore. I didn’t know up from down, it kicked my ass and demanded respect. I gave it as usual, only this time it was out of fear. After three drags and several fish we quit to eat breakfast. That was the last time I set foot in the ocean.

After we ate we went to a stream where we measured current, depth, temperature, and pH levels. It was very interesting and a lot of fun. It was here that I learned that most of the Mexican students spoke very good English. The language barrier was lifted and so was the cultural barriers.

From there we went to a crocodile farm where we went snorkeling. The water was wonderfully clear and cool. Snorkeling was fun but I was very tired from fighting the waves of the sea.

We returned to the camp, I went to my tent for a nap. When I woke up my throat was sore and I felt like hell. I didn’t go out to help with the net that night. I just stood on the shore feeling defeated.

Thursday, March 19th., 9:00am we left, destination: a banana plantation. Mission: catch lizards and other slimy, slithery critters. I felt as if I were being stalked by the Predator in that Swartzenager movie. It was hot and humid. I didn’t see one single lizard. Mari and I walked ahead of the others to hide and rest our aching feet. I had blisters on top of my blisters.

When the others caught up with us we joined the hunt. I followed Marti because I was hungry and I knew he would feed me. Well I ate bananas, oranges and something called a guanabana.

Friday, bird watching, what can I say. We saw lots of birds.

Marti and some of the other students left. I was sad to see them go. That night I stayed up late with everyone and felt so alone. I didn’t want to go home. I felt as if I had found my destiny.

On Saturday the entire camp had the day off. We took pictures and went on a jungle boat ride. We went down the river of a mangrove swamp. I saw many beautiful birds and plants. This place is a tropical paradise. At the end of the river we stopped at a lovely riverside bar and restaurant. We only stayed long enough to take a few pictures and drink a coke.

Later we went to San Blas for some shopping and sight seeing. There was a celebration going on, I think it had something to do with the lining up of the equinox.

Most towns in Mexico looked the same to me but San Blas was something special. It’s amazing how people carve a living out of what they have. I no longer feel the same as I did before going to Mexico. I am ashamed to admit I felt superior to Mexicans. They are such beautiful people. The only difference between them and I is that they don’t have to have the material wealth. They are rich in customs, culture and peace of mind. It is sad to know that I have been so closed minded, selfish and spoiled. Getting to learn about the culture in Mexico has changed how I feel about my life. I hope never again that the material worth will come before the self worth.

That night I lay awake not wanting to leave. I know I will return someday.

Sunday morning at 4:30 am we left our little home, although apart of stayed there. We followed the Mexican students to Tequila where we stopped briefly for some souvenirs. Then a few miles away we stopped for lunch and to say goodbye. It was sad to leave them behind. Like leaving family, never to see them again.

Late that night we arrived at Real De Catorce. I don’t think words can describe this place. I took lots of pictures so I wouldn’t have to try. The hotel was unbelievable. As I said indescribable.

The next morning we went out to see the sights and eat.

That afternoon Bruce, Dwight, Bunny, Lee Ann, Kim, Cindy, and I hiked to the top of a mountain. It was the hardest hike of my life. Again words can’t describe it. All I can say is it is a good place to get your shit together.

We left an offering for the Gods, and each of said a prayer. No one said what they prayed for but I think we all knew. I left with peace of mind and tranquillity that I have never before had. I am ready to take on the world. I know it sounds crazy but this trip changed my life.

That night we left though no one wanted to. The rest of the trip was straight through driving. We got back to Tishomingo at about 7:30 Tuesday night.

It has been over a month now and we can’t stop talking about it. Everyday I send and receive e-mail from someone on the trip. I think that educational opportunities such as this are a great way to learn. I not only learned about ecology in Mexico, I learned to open my heart and my mind to people. No matter how different they may seem, we are all just people.

It was easy to learn. It was fun to learn about their way of life, a life that is simple and pure. It is nice to smile once more.

Write me at: northamerican88@hotmail.com

Rhonda Upchurch