If you follow me on SnapChat, then you know about what I did to my Nikon FE. Right before leaving on my trip, I broke my Nikon FE! I was devastated for a few reasons:
1. I only had one week to get my camera repaired
2. The cost to get my camera repaired would cost more than a new one
3. I went to my regular camera guy at Camera Heaven, but they were closed! In addition to this predicament, I didn't have another day off to stop by.
4. I didn't want to bring my DSLR with me because I was afraid it would get stolen and because iI didn't want to carry a heavy camera.
That same weekend I brought my broken camera to work in hopes my friend could take a peek at it and find a quick fix. He assured me it wasn't worth repairing at that point. Even more bad news... A few minutes later my friend Conrad peeped over my shoulder while I was looking at potential cameras to purchase before leaving.
Conrad: "Oh hey! You like those types of cameras?"
Me: "Yeah.. I have one that Grethel gave me but it broke.. Kind of sucks because I was hoping to shoot some photos when I arrive to Central America."
Conrad: "That's cool! I use to take photography class in college. I have a film camera somewhere in the closet. It's been sitting there for years."
Me: "No way! That's cool! How did you like it?"
Conrad: "I couldn't get the hang of it back then. I never really got into it. I never really had an eye. Let me look in the closet to see if I still have it, I'll give it to you."
Me: "Like sell it to me? or Give it to me?"
Conrad: "I'll let you have it. You might need to take it in to get it cleaned and make sure it's functional."
Me: "You've got to be kidding me!"
Have you ever heard that quote by Paulo Coelho: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." It's true.. I didn't know it then, but I understand this statement now.
Before leaving to Central America, everyone reminded me about the social conditions and events that were occurring in Guatemala and Oaxaca. I know everyone had good intentions and wanted me to return home safe. But deep inside, I wanted to see and experience things first hand before setting expectations or labeling an environment. I was traveling from Guatemala to Oaxaca alone.The morning I arrived to Oaxaca, I wasn't sure what to expect. When I arrived, I found a taxi outside of the airport and went straight to my apartment in Oaxaca City. On the drive there I noticed the houses resembled the ones from Guatemala- steel doors, metal sheets for roofing, small windows, and colorful. Deep inside I was excited to be alone and experience a whole new culture in hopes to also make new friends. My driver Carlos noticed I was gazing out the window intrigued by the scenery, he knew I was from out of town. Carlos asked if I was there to participate in La Guelaguetza, I had no clue what he was talking about. He explained to me that during this time of the year the state hosts a festival all month celebrating different cultural villages through parades, food, crafts, art, music, and textiles. Carlos mentioned coincidently this year a strike by the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Education (a teachers union in Mexico founded on 1979) broke out a few weeks ago and the event detracted tourism in their city. If you're not familiar with the event, this was the day Oaxacan public school educators protested to voiced their opinions against the government's decision to reform public policies within the public school system. Here are the need to knows:
1. The government suggests the public school system should be partially privatized. In this case, oil company PEMEX have been successful with tax breaks from the government and would partially own the public school system.
2. With education being privatized, the public schools would undergo standardize tests. Standardize tests could measure educators would undergo new "standards". With new teacher evaluations, comes accountability. If an educator does not pass their evaluation, they would be fired.
3. The educational reform and teacher evaluations would undermine the existing teachers union the 'Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación'. In addition, their union policies
4. Since the protest, Teachers have occupied El Zocalo in Oaxaca City- a plaza in the middle of tourists markets.
Although I don't have first hand experience with Oaxacan educational system, I left understanding the importance and value of educational reform and I was inspired by the organization of student and educators. I also saw first hand how the media portrays an event could damage the economy of a state due to a decrease in tourism. I empathize with the people from Oaxaca, because everyone deserves to see the true beauty and gifts the state has to offer the world. Oaxaca gave me a chance to fill my heart with love, build new and long-lasting friendships, and developed my knowledge. I hope the photos I've shared with you below reflect the inner beauty and culture of Oaxaca, and you experience the same love I did.
Portra 400 35mm film photos, using a Canon AE-1
