Unveiling Mexico, at first, I did not know how to imagine the terrain of Mexico, but after reading some of the stories, it describes the desert very well.  Finally some reliable information about Indigenous resistance! I am finally learning of the Chilpancingo, Guerrero Mexico, and the dignity, and the stories of the indigenous and all Mexicans. It says on page 41, of the descriptive narratives and the feelings they convey. There’s some sort of healing happening here, and a battle won, of some kind. The indigenous are coming together to celebrate their lives, and describing it as having “hope in our chests”, and “so in our heart there was no longer just pain and shame. “our hands searched for liberty and justice, and so we rose to walk again.” I quoted these sentences from page 41, because there’s a bit of strength here, some sadness, but hope for a better future. Oh I see now that this is apart of the Zapatista movement, and so forth, and so on. The book also from pages 56-57 can serve as directions to places, and do’s, and don’t’s in middle Mexico, which is extremely interesting if your traveling there, you can take this book with you, and it would be very real to read I’m sure. As it describes how to get to Quintana roo, Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit. It’s nice that I have memories of traveling to Sinaloa but I would never go back to the same place twice, as Mexico is rather large. I would definitely go to a different place every time, or at least try to. I would love to see Cabo, and explore Cancun. I’m sure every place in Mexico has something to offer, even if some places seem more barren than others. It’s true what the book is saying about the living conditions, and it gives very realistic images that are believable, but I’ve personally traveled to Mexico and so I know what these conditions look like, but It’s actually quite interesting to see it described in a book. Also mentioning the high rates of marginalization in societies and low wages. It is true when they say lower Mexico is more seemingly dangerous.

I actually enjoyed reading the pages 213-263, 289-320, 341-416. It actually has a deep past of Mexico, and the environment described in the readings brings me joy to read. I’ve always had been curious to learn more geography in Mexico, and the terrains of the desert, and I think this book does a great job describing the outlay, and the rugged plains these people are surviving on, when talking about escaping, and being dropped off, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, or doing what it takes to become a true guerrilla.

“I didn’t look toward the twisted scribble of the river, nor to the weak lights of the bonfires that dimly illuminated a distant hamlet, nor to the neighboring mountains that painted the ravine, sprinkled with small villages, fields, and pastures.” page 215. I like this quote, from the book and how it’s trying to help you picture where they currently are, as the reader trying to make sense of it all. I guess everyone’s idea and notions about Mexico is different, but personally i’ve always pictured long plains of desert terrain, and foothills, and cacti! I think the reading does a great job by explaining the terrain and i’ve been looking for this type of book to satisfy this curiosity i had about gangs, and the lifestyle that Mexicans choose, for example becoming guerrillas. He talks about the anguish he is experiencing, the desolation and the loneliness. I can imagine it can be lonely, and the mud you have to trek through, to accomplish your dedication, and something you have to essentially “prove” for yourself. I am honestly trying to understand Subcomandante Marcos and what’s the storyline.

I am formulating so far that they are trying to “open a crack in history”, and that there is lots of democracy involved, and the Mexicans are fighting for their rights, in whichever way they choose. Rodolfo Pena, and Miguel Hernandez seem to have been very talented writers in their country. It seems these chapters are tales of the gang members, or civilians of Mexico in some sort. They are telling their true stories of their times perhaps incarcerated, or becoming fugitives. During the Zapatista movement.

So far I’ve been learning more about the Indigenous Chiapas, and the Mountains of Southeastern Mexico. I will admit pages 213-263 are very interesting !! So far, pages 213-263 are stories of hope, coming from Mexican Indigenous voices. Their experiences were like trekking through swamps, and families going through hardships living among military, from what I am gathering. Learning the lives of the Guadalupanos, and trying to understand who exactly they are, because prior to this, I had never really learned of them before. So I’m convinced this course is helping me to understand the different ethnic groups in Mexico. Apparently this is all happening in the Mexican southeast mountains, as it says before the recounts of these stories. There’s little life lessons in these stories, There’s sweet little poems, and quotes, and as the readers try to understand these stories, those familiar ways of communicating make all the difference. “find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground, mother earth will swallow you, lay our body down.” Deep inside the cave of desire. To be honest, I am really trying to understand this novel, or this autobiography, I’m not sure yet what this entire book is about. But there is a beetle who is Durito, and a turtle called Pegasus, so I’m not sure if this is fiction or non-fiction, and the stories seem made up… or resemble children’s books. But there seems to be a re-occurring theme such as life in the Lacandon jungle. I’d like to know whose the characters are in this book, or the names, Camilo, Dona Juanita, etc. There’s a lot of people being talked about. The remainder of this book seems to be resembling of small children’s book stories, “the tale of the little wisp cloud, of the little newsboy” ,etc. etc.  however the reviews for this book are relevant, and well liked. They say this book shapes Mexico? Not sure how that is? But personally I haven’t read much books about Mexico. So personally in my opinion I think this book is for everybody of all national backgrounds, and anyone can relate in some way or another.