Adventures of the Little Ameera

Hanging out at the orphanage.

Greetings my dearest friends! Mar7aba ya asduqatees! Hola queridos amigos! How are you all? What adventures have you been on? I am very well. I have just returned from Baja California, Mexico! I was able to spend some time in Ensenada, Rosarito, and Tijuana. The main reason I was there was to visit an orphanage called, Door of Faith, located in between Ensenada and Rosarito. I was there to deliver school supplies and other goodies for the children. I could not have done it without the help of my beautiful friends, who contributed financially and with school supplies to my campaign. I cannot wait to grow this passion of mine. It started off 4 years ago, when I started bringing small amounts of school supplies and goodie bags to kids in Central and Southern Mexico and each year since, I’ve been bringing more and more. I don’t expect anything when I help the kids out, just a smile. I also want the children to know that I believe in them. I may not know them personally, but I know we are human and we are striving for a good life…one without having to live in the barrios and worrying about the next meal.

The orphanage was very cute and happy, not exactly what you’d expect from an orphanage. But the Door of Faith Orphanage is truly breaking barriers. They care for 100 children, ranging from babies to high schoolers. They watch their children grow and it’s a very family like environment. They also teach the children to be empowered and abandon any victim type mentality they may have had in their lives prior to being at the orphanage. They do this by having the children help out in the community and help others who are even less fortunate than they are. I agree with this, because I feel that many of us have been victims of horrible experiences and only a fraction are able to move past that. I have always said that I would not let the mishaps of my life define me and I am glad these children aren’t either. I felt as a part of their family when I was there too. I spent time playing with the children and talking to them about their hopes and dreams. Some of the little babies even started calling me “Mama”, which was bitter sweet. I was happy they regarded me so highly, but it was sad because I could not bring them with me. At this point in my life, I cannot take care of a child, but I promised I would not give up and keep striving for greatness, not just for myself, but for them too! I am glad and grateful that I was able to be a part of their life and hopefully they were inspired to strive for their  dreams. I will be returning soon and I am keeping in touch! 

Sharing smiles and laughs.

Aside from spending a few days at the orphanage, I managed to spend a day in Tijuana, Mexico…all alone and quite ruthless!  I am glad I had been to Baja California as a child a few times because I was able to recall restaurants, streets, and shops, without the use of a map, since I had no data service and limited wifi access. I guess I have quite a good memory (only when I feel like it) and it was such kick to be able to eat at the places I once did when I was 11 and 12. Also, if you can drive in Tijuana and survive, you pretty much earn  badge to drive anywhere! I wasn’t just visiting Tijuana just for tourist reasons, I was there on a mission. I had always been curious about the Slums in Tijuana and “El Bordo”, the river levee area that divides Mexico and the United States, where many of the deported Mexicans from the US live because neither country wants them and they have no where else to go. I wanted to find out about these people…about their hopes and their dreams. They go ignored and are seen as a burden, but I wanted to know them because they live in this world too and I promised to take care of the whole world, not just the easy and nice part of it.

"El Bordo" (No Man's Land)

So what did I do? I parked my car in a secure lot in El Centro in Tijuana and got in a taxi to “El Bordo” and the slums that are south of it. The scenery changed and became more sluggish and dirty. It didn’t smell too pleasant either, so I only breathed through my mouth hehehe. I had to climb into the river bed and I walked alongside trash until I was able to greet some individuals who resided there. I could have gotten in a lot of trouble for hanging out there, not just in trouble with the slum people,but legal trouble with the Mexican authorities, because they even arrest the people living in “El Bordo” for no reason sometimes. You can say I’m lucky or blessed, but like one of my favorite music groups, Calle 13, says, “estoy protegido por los santos y los brujos” (I’m protected by the saints and witches).

I was able to speak with  two people who have been living in “El Bordo” for months now. Enrique and El Negrito have been stuck living in “El Bordo” because the Mexican government doesn’t want to deal with them or give them proper identification and the United States just dropped them off outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry and that was it. They got deported for minor offenses. Enrique got pulled over in his work truck for having expired tags and El Negrito got deported after he was stopped and ticketed for jay walking (crossing from one side of the street to the other without using the crosswalk). They said they were scared and clueless when they arrived in Mexico because they have always identified themselves as American…they paid their taxes and even had kids serving in the US Military. 

Making a home out of nothing.

I empathized with them and when I looked into their eyes, I could see sadness, but I also saw hope. They said they were still grateful for life, even if they were living in cardboard boxes and they said they would return to their home, the US, one day. They also acknowledged that they had an advantage over other “El Bordo” dwellers…they weren't addicted to drugs. They gave me a small tour of “El Bordo” and introduced me to some of the people. Sadly, many of them were high off of heroin and I could see the dirty needles. I just wanted to hug them and cry with them. I couldn’t give them much, except listening ears and we shared some snacks and cold Mexican Coca-Colas that I had brought in my back pack. I promised them I would work hard and keep pushing for success and one day help them. Not necessarily help them come back to the United States, but help implement programs that aid deportees and help drug abusers. Three quarters into my Coke, I said my good-byes and walked back up to the Slums. I ended up talking to a few women outside of a brothel. I wasn’t really intending to speak with them, but I couldn’t help but stare a little.  And not to mention, they had some Celso Pina cumbias blasted on, which I love! These girls looked younger than me, I’m 22 and they must have been 18 or 19. And one of them said, “Y tu que miras?” (What are you looking at?). I turned away and felt shy, but quickly said hello and introduced myself. I could tell they were a tad suspicious about me…who was I? This girl with big eyes and long eyelashes and a sun hat, holding a back pack…so displaced. 

They told me their stories and to my surprise, they weren’t Mexican. They were from Central America and were 19 and 20. They had run out of money reaching this final border and with no passport or Mexican visa, they couldn’t get a proper job. They had attempted to sell fruits and treats in the street, but that did not bring in enough, so they turned to the sex trade. They said there are always customers and they charge about 100 pesos to 500 pesos (at the current exchange rate, this is from 7 USD  to 30 USD) per 15 minutes, depending on the acts done. At first, I could tell they were ashamed, but I told them not to be. I wasn’t judging them, how could I? These girls were trying to earn enough to send back home and also to save up for their final border crossing. Plus, we have all done things that aren’t so proper and have our own unique stories. They weren’t hurting anyone, just surviving. I asked if they used proper protection, but they said anything goes. This got me thinking, perhaps there could be more organizations that hand out condoms and birth control in the slums. I know there are some that already exist , but they are really underfunded. I asked them to go back to the parking lot where I had my car, so I could give them some clothes that I no longer needed. They were appreciative and I’m proud to call them friends.We also had some tacos de camarones (shrimp tacos) and I bid them farewell, they had to get back to work and I had to cross the border into the United States. 

I really hope my Grandma doesn’t find out I went to these places, she’d have a heart attack because of all the infamous stories of the Tijuana slums and “El Bordo”,but I am glad I satisfied my curiosity and went there. I  learned so much more about humanity and am more determined. Before, I had days where I dreaded getting out of bed and wanted to do nothing…but now, there are no more excuses. The world is spinning and I must contribute my all to it. I will not fail you my friends. Also, as difficult as it may be, we must forgive people and life itself and move on to greater things, we cannot be afraid. This is our life now. With hard work, we can do anything! Stay sane and humble my habibis! See you in Dubai and Egypt next!