“Give A Break III” 2005
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Spring Break 2005
March 11th - March 18th 2005
The Give A Break (GAB) program is a service learning/cultural exchange opportunity for TAMU-CC students, alumni, faculty and staff. It is a weeklong immersed living, working and learning experience in central Mexico. Give A Break participants engage in service and explore the rich culture and history of Mexican communities in rural, mountainous areas of Guanajuato.
GAB participants will be exposed to the culture, religion, politics and economics of Mexico. GAB participants will gain bi-cultural experience and knowledge on many of the challenges facing the people of Mexico. It is anticipated that each GAB participant will have a deeper understanding of the complex social issues of another country and will appreciate and respect the differences between societies. Further, it is hoped that participants will have a clearer understanding of social responsibilities and their commitment to the global community.
Forty-five TAMU-CC students and seven staff members will travel to San Miguel de Allende, central Mexico, over Spring Break 2005. All participants will pay their own travel and hotel costs of $350.00 per person, based on double occupancy. GAB participants will travel by a charter bus service, OK Tours, San Antonio, TX.
Hotel accomodations have been made at the Hotel Refugio Del Molino, San Miguel de Allende.
Links:
From an article by Joseph Dispenza "Why We Travel," The Insider's Guide To San Miguel.
"Why do we travel? To find ourselves, I think. Travel is an inner experience as much as, and may be more than, an outer experience. Travel is the great metaphor for embarking on a journey of emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth. Who hasn't come back from a trip feeling "larger" and somehow more complete? A trip is the journey of life in miniature. The very act of going on it is a huge leap of faith that we will eventually discover something about ourselves that we had not known. The encounters along our path are the jewels of knowledge (self-knowledge, remember) that we went out to seek. Why do we travel? We travel to complete ourselves. We need journeys to understand how all the pieces of our lives fit together. Every time we go "out" we are going "in" - and seen in that way, all travel is a spiritual experience. All travel is spiritual practice. Every place we travel toward is a sacred place - because everywhere we stand is holy ground"
Give
A Break III
sponsored by
TAMU-CC
Title V
Photos from GAB I
For
More Information:
Deb Wilson 825-3962
Modular Bldg, Rm 102
debra.wilson@mail.tamucc.edu
Bob Wiedermann 825-5934
SSC, Rm 210
bob.wiedermann@mail.tamucc.edu
Projects include:
- Alma -Elderly care &
facility maintenance - Canada de la Virgen - Archaeological excavation
- el Charco del Ingenio - Botanical garden education programming
- Home construction - Rural community construction of small cement block adobes
- CASA - Midwives & rural prenatal health care
- Connecting Schools - Internet access in rural schools
Free Time Activities include:
- Swimming at hotel
- Shopping at the markets
- Mexican artist workshop with Carlos Hernandez
- Hot springs junket
- St. Patrick's celebration
- Side trip to Pozos (mining ghost town)
- Day trip to Tierra Blanca - El Salto recreational resort
Quotes from GAB II Participants:
"It was so awesome meeting and helping people
of totally different cultures. It is absolutely amazing to see the
intercultural connections that can be made between people of many differences
- including the language barrier. As an English major, I found this
truly fascinating how we the students broke down that language barrier
with a common goal, patience, determination, sheer desire and assimilation."
Gwynee, Sophomore / English major
"I am ever so grateful for having been a part
of this trip. I have a very special place in my heart for Mexico; and
going to these new places opened my eyes to a whole new part of the
country that I had not experienced before, but certainly hope to experience
again. This trip opened my eyes to the beautiful idea of being a citizen
of the world and helping our neighbors."
Shannon, Education - Graduated 2004
Quotes from GAB I Participants:
"This week has been one of the most beautiful,
exciting, fulfilling, eye opening, powerful
experiences I have ever had. In this one week,
any of the days would replace one hundred
other Spring breaks."
Simon, JR. Computer Science major
"This trip has changed our lives. I have a new
outlook on Mexico and the people there. I can't
wait to go back and see my new international
friends."
Martina, SR. Arts major
"Thank you for giving all of us this chance to
come to San Miguel and learn about their
culture and help out people in need. This trip
really opened my eyes and taught me more
about Hispanic culture than any of my Spanish
classes could do."
Sausley, JR. Bilingual Ed. major
Give A Break I Participants
Information
Sessions
to be held in the:
Modular Building Conference Room
February 1st - 6:00 pm
2nd
- 5:00 pm
3rd
- 6:00 pm
Cost per Person: $350.00
( $330 with active Mexican
Tourist Visa )
- Lodging (double) $180
- Charter Bus $130
- 2 GAB T-shirts $10
- Mexican Tourist Visa $20
- Work Site Lunches $10
- Includes:
- Lodging
- Breakfast Daily
- Welcome Reception
- 2 Special Event Dinners
— St. Patrick's
— Querra Blanca
- Work-site Lunches
- Area Transportation
- 2 GAB T-shirts
Application Required
Application & Deposit*
Deadline:
Friday, February 11, 2005
*A non refundable deposit of $75.00 is due by 3:00 pm Friday, February
11, 2005
*GAB III - Spring Break 2005 will be cancelled unless forty-five participants
make deposits by
Friday, February 11, 2005.
Remaining trip fee of $275
is due by
Friday, February 25th, 2005
Now Available:
Bus & Hotel Information
"To the world, you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world." -unknown
Last Updated on February 1, 2005