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Immersion Experience: Tijuana
We Have Arrived!
Son de Allá, Son de Acá: They are from there, and they are from here.
Hello Parents and Regis Jesuit Community!
The first hours of our trip have been full of an immense amount of laughs and learning experiences.
The first hours of our trip have been full of an immense amount of laughs and learning experiences.
Starting early in the morning, we boarded the plane smoothly to quickly arrive in cloudy (but quaint) San Diego. With our two-hour flight ahead, some of us slept, while others had a viewing party of “La La Land.”
As we got off the plane, with quick speed and agility, we headed to our first spot, LUNCH, at Barrio Logan! Exhibiting a community-style lunch of corn tortilla tacos, we were all in for a treat. As we sat sharing the toppings, a random dog decided to join us. Adorned in a dog hoodie, we attempted to befriend the dog but were met with feisty snarls. Thankfully, the owner came to retrieve our furry friend, enabling a happy ending for all.
Izzy van Manen '24
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Izzy van Manen '24
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After lunch, we visited Chicano Park. This park is underneath a bunch of highways. There are some beautiful murals on the pillars underneath the highways. All of the murals tell a different story of the history of Chicano Park. We also visited their museum which included art from artists from New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and California. After visiting the park and museum, we got checked into the hotel and started making our way to dinner at Pizza Bella, an Italian restaurant. We had pizza and pasta; classic. We all talked around the table and had a great discussion. After dinner, we walked through Old Town, San Diego.
This small town looked very cartoony because it looked as though we were in an older town with the old-style buildings and the wooden barrels outside most stores. While walking, our guide, Alethea, showed us the “America’s Most Haunted House” where a lot of paranormal activity occurs. We learned that the spirits that haunt this house were Native Americans who were wrongfully punished by execution and other people who committed crimes and were executed. After walking a few blocks past the home, we arrived at the gravesite of the people who were wrongfully killed. A lot of the gravesites had people who were never identified, but the indigenous community still wanted to honor them. We also noticed that on the sidewalk, there are placards that are labeled “Grave Site”.
We learned that these people were buried underneath Old Town, but were not moved before constructing this town. After exploring Old Town, we headed back to the hotel and had a team meeting before heading to bed. Our team meeting was very meaningful as we reflected on the things we learned on our first day on this trip.
Alma Laleh '24
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This small town looked very cartoony because it looked as though we were in an older town with the old-style buildings and the wooden barrels outside most stores. While walking, our guide, Alethea, showed us the “America’s Most Haunted House” where a lot of paranormal activity occurs. We learned that the spirits that haunt this house were Native Americans who were wrongfully punished by execution and other people who committed crimes and were executed. After walking a few blocks past the home, we arrived at the gravesite of the people who were wrongfully killed. A lot of the gravesites had people who were never identified, but the indigenous community still wanted to honor them. We also noticed that on the sidewalk, there are placards that are labeled “Grave Site”.
We learned that these people were buried underneath Old Town, but were not moved before constructing this town. After exploring Old Town, we headed back to the hotel and had a team meeting before heading to bed. Our team meeting was very meaningful as we reflected on the things we learned on our first day on this trip.
Alma Laleh '24
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I awoke before dawn because I was cold. The Brit, Manus Largan, turned the AC to an arctic 61º. But I was grateful for an early start to my day as we crossed the border today. I packed my bags and went to the dining hall, where breakfast awaited me. I served myself two pieces of toast, a bowl of oatmeal, and a fluffy omelet topped with Cholula. Next stop: Mexico. We boarded a giant Volvo bus, made a quick stop at Target, then headed south.
At the crossing, we learned the hard way that we weren’t allowed to film the Mexican officials, but aside from that short, tense moment, the crossing was surprisingly easy and relaxed. I’m not sure if their metal detector was working correctly. I expected the process to be more elaborate, and I can’t wait to compare it to when we cross back into the States.
Next, we drove alongside the border wall until we arrived at our condo. I noticed a stark difference between the dense city on the Mexican side and the empty desert on the US side. It almost felt like Mexico was pressing against the border, while the US recoiled in fear. When we arrived at our condo, we met our guide in Tijuana, Ricarból. His nickname is a mix between Ricardo and Arból, the Spanish word for tree, which he earned for all the environmental activism he engages in. We went to the 12th floor, unpacked our bags, returned downstairs, and headed towards the beach.
On our way there, we saw construction on the border, where private contractors were erecting a new 30-foot wall, replacing its older, shorter predecessor. Ricarból explained that there was a scientific reason for why it was being rebuilt. At 30 feet, humans begin to feel disoriented, and anyone trying to scale the new wall would most likely fall and severely injure themselves. That was the most morbid use of engineering I’d ever encountered, and it shows how the polarization and separation between the two sides continue to grow.
Joquin Salazar Diaz '24
Joquin Salazar Diaz '24
Main-Visitor Entrance
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