Justice Journey: Ensenada, Mexico

Apr 01, 2013

Bright sun, warm afternoons, sandy beaches, and breathtaking afternoons were just some of the assumptions I had about Mexico’s state of Baja, California. Spring break was going to be perfectly sublime: one week filled with cultural experiences and not a worry toward school or work. Of course, traveling with Concordia, I expected more than just a vacation, but I wasn’t ready at all for what was to transpire.

One week is a flash in the epochs of time, but can feel like an eternity when packed with life-changing events. Our van drove past expat condos along the coast, expansive shopping centers, flea markets in back alleys, razor-fenced yards, and people sleeping among items most of us would throw away. Never have I seen such riches juxtaposed with such poverty.

Living in the United States, I have become accustomed to clean drinking water, ample nutrition, accessible education, respect of our government and neighbors, and every freedom promised by our forefathers. I now realize how fortunate we truly are. It is no longer just enough to exercise my civil rights and privileges. Seeing how the government has stacked the deck against some of the most honest, hard working people in Baja makes me want to take my skills and fight until equality is realized.

Now don’t get me wrong – I know Mexico is a diverse, complex country. In Ensenada where we lived and worked, I always felt very safe. Most families had access to electricity. Ensenada even had a Starbucks. A Starbucks! Our group walked around at night with more ease than many Americans feel here at home. I especially appreciated the culture’s easygoing ways compared to the go-go lifestyle we carry on here.

Looking back, my spring break was truly awesome. We were awe-inspired by the dedication of mission workers, awestruck by the multitude of scenic vistas, caught in awe by stark injustice, and overwhelmed by the awesome power that people have over each other.

Though I’m back on campus now, spring break is not over. It was not something that I simply checked off. It was the beginning of an internal dissonance that I can only hope continues to shake my entire being until the world has quelled it.

Tony Sang ’14, Karlstad, Minn., is majoring in physics.

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