Some final thoughts

This semester has definitely been a challenge for me to work on myself and work with others. I am glad I stuck with Borderbeat and I'm glad I got to meet some new people and challenge myself a little more by taking on more editing responsibilities. I thought we put out some really interesting stories and I hope Borderbeat wins the award next year because we all worked hard enough to earn it.

I enjoyed seeing our stories online looking professional, it's pretty cool to see your hard work polished and published for the world to see. Even though most of my own stories came out sub par, they were small accomplishments in the big picture. The blog could've worked out better if I managed to put more time and effort into it and had a better grasp of relating things to the border. If I stick around Tucson after I graduate, I'll try to get more involved with border issues.

Thanks to Jamie, Katie and the rest of the section editors in helping with the editing process. I think we worked well as a team to get things online as quick as possible while still doing a good job at editing. And thanks to Professor Rochlin for pushing me to contribute more and find ways to succeed in this class. I appreciate your efforts despite the way I went about posting my thoughts about it before. You helped me speak out and be more assertive in addressing issues. I think it's a big step in working on myself for the future work environment.

Best of luck to everyone in class with whatever you do after graduation. After a semester like this, I'm sure we'll all go on to be superstars in journalism, or whatever field we choose. It was nice working with everyone as a team, and even though I didn't get a chance to get to know everyone better, I'm still glad I stuck around to help with Borderbeat the rest of this semester. And like I said before, I will try to work on improving myself so I can be a better person than I have been and I know I want to be. Cheers.

Feel free to check out a few of the stories I've done this past semester.
Crossing the Border
El Ojito Springs
Taqueria Review

El día de las gracias

Mexico in Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for family, food, and good fortune just as it is in the United States. What differs between Mexico's celebrations and the U.S. celebrations are the traditions, the foods eaten, and the time it is celebrated, which is the third Sunday of November rather than the third Thursday like in the U.S.

"When I lived in Mexico, we didn't eat turkey and stuffing like Americans do," said Lupita Peréz. "We had things like tamales and Spanish rice."

Peréz' family here never followed U.S. traditions when it came to holidays. They wanted to hold onto traditions they left behind in Mexico.

"This year we will probably keep the same traditions. We just like hanging onto our lifestyles from Mexico," Peréz said. "We still give thanks for the family we have, the food we're provided, and our good health, there just won't be turkey and stuffing, and we'll eat on the 25th instead of the 22nd," Peréz laughs.

For a different perspective on Thanksgiving in Mexico, check out another family's story here

Dia De Los Muertos documentary

An interesting look at the history of Dia de los Muertos