St Ignatius College Prepatory - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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All eleven of us will agree that our two weeks in New Orleans this summer were completely life changing. Living in a marginalized community thousands of miles from the Bay Area widened our perspective on the way we see our country and the world. Every experience we had, from working on houses with Habitat for Humanity to meeting players from the Saints while visiting the Gulf Coast oil spill, was moving and inspirational. At first it seemed like adversity was everywhere we looked. During our reflection time, where we prayed, journaled and talked, our group tried so desperately hard make sense of everything we were witnessing. Together in Louisiana, we were able to recognize a strong need for social justice, something that especially resonated with us and our Jesuit identity. It was really devastating seeing the impact that Hurricane Katrina physically had on the city of New Orleans but it was equally, if not more uplifting to see that so many resilient people had come together to rebuild such a magical and vibrant city. The stories we heard, the people we met and the things we experienced will always be remembered and forever remain in our hearts. We worked hard, played hard reflected even harder. New Orleans Immersion 2010 - WHO DAT?! 1. The New Orleans Immersion Group have a day of bonding. 2. The New Orleans Immersion Group take a break during a long day of work. 3. The New Orleans Immersion Group hangs out together at the park. 4. The New Orleans Immersion Group spends a day volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. 5. Erica Yco makes friends at the Boys and Girls Club. 6. The New Orleans Immersion Group poses for a photo while walking around the neighborhoods of New Orleans 7. Kasey Cullinan shares a laugh with a friend she met while volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club. 19

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Forth Tlowuqk JuitLca 1. Olivia Raggio and Kendal Mitchell enjoy the beauty of El Salvador. 2. The El Salvador Immersion Group poses for a photo. 3. Erika Bruning meets a new friend at a local school. 4. Erika Bruning. Kendal Mitchell, and Katherine Dobberstcin with their host family. S. The El Salvador Immersion group at the Salvadoran Capital Building 6. Mr. Rhodes. Dylan Murphy. John Moran, and Daniel Doherty take a break and bond together. 7. Daniel Doherty. John Moran. Amelia Rudnicki, and Erika Bruning enjoy their empanadas. 8. Kendal Mitchell enjoys quality time with her host family. On July 5. 2010, we flew across the US and Central America to the small country of El Salvador. The first night, while still recovering from the long flight, we had our first reality check how we would be spending the next fifteen days (barbed wire, retaining walls and empty streets). We soon saw past these obstacles and into the homes and lives of the people living behind them. In the process, we not only learned about Salvadoran culture, but also learned to get along and have some fun. Actually, we had a lot of fun. Whether it was Dylan saving the day wearing only boxer briefs, Yvette showing serious signs of narcolepsy, Amelia leading us in song, Rhodes putting the moves on Ms. Doan (Doan give up Rhodes). Erika getting some numbers from the locals, Katie telling us about her fascination with the human body, Olivia keeping us classy and polite. Kendal slipping on everything, or Danny and John “mackin” on everyone, we formed close relationships that not only enriched our experience aboard, but also continue to grow everyday. So to all you future El Salvador groups, we leave you with one final question, jComo se dice “plunger” en espaiiol? Yours juice-ly, El Salvador Immersion 2010 18

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Nogales, a town split by a large, metal U.S.-Mexico border fence, is a center of many immigration issues. Throughout our two-week trip to this border town, we had the opportunity to not only learn about immigration, but also to get to know many migrants who have been directly affected by border issues. Upon arriving in Nogales, we took a walk along a migrant trail in the desert, and we were struck by the litter and make-shift shelters left by migrants. This set the stage for serving at the “comedor,” or soup kitchen, in Nogales, Mexico, where we heard stories of migrants who had been affected by long journeys along desert trails, similar to the migrant trail that we saw. The stories that we heard at the comedor taught us both about the border issues and about how to be present to and learn from all types of people. We'll always remember the migrant trail and the migrants we met and continue to spread the stories that we heard in Nogales. Building CouimuiCtg JPCNmo EL SASABE 1. Everyone saying goodbye on the final day at the EXPENDIO EL SASABi Comedor. 2. Samantha Schuetz and TheresJ Martin washing dishes. 3. Walking the Mexicc Desert. 4. The Nogales group getting ready tc cross the border. 5. Madrc Ingracia and the Nogales group pose for a photo. 6. Theres; Martin. Annie Dillon. Kelsey Merrigan. Samanth; Schuetz, and Ms. Shorrock at the bowling alley. 7. Alicia Martinez. Theresa Martin, and Samanth; Schuetz admiring the cactus. 8. Kelsey Merrigan Theresa Martin. Sophia Sepp. and Ms. Shorrocl enjoying the sunset. 9.The Nogales Group walk; around Sasabe. 10. Walking across the border.