Women and Development in Latin America Information

An invitation to learn in Puebla, Mexico, January 2015: GWS
288S-1/SOC 288S-1/ANTH 288BS-1:
Women & Development in Latin America
Sharon M. Meagher, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Humanities,
[email protected], 610-499-1260
Beatriz Urraca, Ph.D.
Director, Gender & Women’s Studies and Associate Professor of Spanish
[email protected], 610-499-1112
What will we do?
 We will learn first-hand the
challenges and
opportunities for women
and development in Latin
America by hearing from
women who have
organized indigenous
economic cooperatives
 Students interested in
gender and women’s
issues, international
economic development,
environmental and cultural
sustainability, community
organizing, Latin American
culture, and allied health
issues are all welcome.
Where will we go?
The course visits 3 primary sites in the state of Puebla, Mexico, which is
located to the south and east of Mexico City.
Site 1: Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
After flying to Mexico City, we
travel by bus to the city of
Puebla, the capital of the state
of Puebla. Home of famed
Talavera tile among many
other arts, as well as famous
food dishes such as mole,
Puebla is a historic city that
boasts several universities.
We will stay in the Hotel El Colonial
in the heart of the historic district, a
designated UNESCO World
Heritage city.
http://www.colonial.com.mx/colonial
/hing.htm
Site 2: Huehuetla, Puebla, MX
We will then travel to the remote mountain town of Huehuetla, where we will
stay and learn at Kakiwin Tutunaku, an ecotourism lodge owned by an
indigenous women’s economic cooperative, Taputsama Talakxtumit, S.S.S.
What we will learn
Members of the
indigenous economic
cooperatives will share
their homes, their stories,
and their development
projects in their
community with us.
We will learn about
cultural, environmental,
economic, and health
concerns and work with
them to learn how they are
addressing those
challenges.
Key Features of
our Model
This is an experiential,
community-based learning
course in which we work with
our partners to improve their
communities.
Most importantly, they will
teach us valuable lessons
about community organizing
and its role in improving the
economy and the
environment and preserving
their language and culture.
Our stay will provide
important economic support
to the community. A one
week stay will provide
economic support to many
community members for up
to six months.
Social Sustainability: Transmitting
Cultural Customs
Egg cleansing ritual
Trying-on indigenous dress
Visiting Local Homes
Site 3: Cuetzalan
We will compare the work of
the indigenous cooperative in
Huehuetla with a second,
much longer established
ecotourism hotel in Cuetzalan,
Mexico:
“Hotel Ecoturístico
Taselotzin” owned by Socias
Masehual de las comunidades
de Cuetzalan.
http://taselotzin.mex.tl/frameset.php?url=/intro.htm
l
Frequently Asked Questions I: Costs
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How much will the course cost? The course counts in the students’ Spring course load, so the tuition is
included in the flat tuition rate for the Spring 2015 semester for students who can fit the course into their
schedules. Students who opt to audit the course (not count it for credit) will not be charged tuition.
The total travel costs (including airfare, internal travel and tours, and overnight stays) is approximately
$1600. Approximately half the meals are also included. Students are responsible for some meals and
incidentals, preventative medications, as well as passport application costs (if student does not already
have a passport; no visa is required for US citizens to travel to Mexico). Transportation to Philadelphia
airport is not included. Students will be asked to bring clothing and toy donations to the community. $250
is more than enough travel money for meals and incidentals. For students with demonstrated financial
need, travel stipends to offset some costs may be available to students. Travel costs are not refundable
except in cases of cancellation covered by travel insurance (e.g., illness that prohibits travel or an air
strike).
Is financial assistance available? In some cases, students may apply financial aid awards for course
related costs—see the financial aid office. In addition, a limited pool of funds is available to students who
would otherwise be unable to enroll in the course because of the financial burden of the trip. Students
should indicate financial need on their application form.
When is payment due? A deposit of $500 is due by October 31, 2014 by 4 p.m and should be made to
Widener University; the balance of $1100 is due by Nov. 21st.
FAQ II: Academic Credit
What does the course count for? The course counts in Spring
2015 course load. It may be counted as a Gender and Women’s
Studies elective for students enrolled in the Gender and
Women’s Studies major or minor, as a Sociology elective for
Sociology majors, as an Anthropology elective for Anthropology
majors or minors, and as a Social Science General Education
course or elective for other students. Note that other programs
(e.g., Political Science) may allow students to substitute the
course to meet a program requirement; speak with your advisor
and Dean Meagher about this option before you take the course.
FAQ III: Travel
How long is the flight? Because there are no direct flights from Philadelphia to Mexico City, it
takes about 6 hours to fly. As soon as we clear customs in Mexico City, we will board a luxury bus
for the 2-hour ride to the city of Puebla, where we will spend our first night. The bus ride from
Puebla to Huehuetla is another 4-5 hours, but then we will break that long ride in half by
stopping in Cuetzalan en route back to Puebla. We will be on Central Time, one hour behind us
here in Pennsylvania. Note: some travelers may need to take motion sickness medication prior to
the mountain bus rides.
Accommodations: We will stay in a comfortable tourist class hotel in the city of Puebla;
accommodations in Huehuetla are very rustic stone cabins with very basic cots and toilets in a
separate building (like camping in cabins). Cuetzalan is an ecotourism hotel with modest
accommodations. All are very clean.
Passports: Students must have passports with an expiration date later than June 2015. Students
who do not yet have passports must apply immediately to be assured of obtaining their passport
prior to travel. Visas are not necessary for holders of US passports but may be required for
citizens of other nations.
FAQ IV: Safety
Is Puebla safe? YES. Puebla is a big city and requires the same precautions that should
be taken in any city (taking care with one’s belongings, not walking alone at night,
etc.); Huehuetla and Cuetzalan are beautiful mountain towns with very low crime
rates. While the U.S. State Department has issued warnings about Mexico, they note
that some regions remain safe and Puebla is one of them. Dean Meagher has travelled
numerous times to these sites and taken classes in her previous position at the
University of Scranton without incident. She has worked closely with the groups with
whom we organize the course for several years. We would not be taking students on
this course if we thought that there was any danger. Dr. Sharon Meagher, Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Beatriz Urraca, Director of Gender and Women’s
Studies, will be the course instructors and will accompany the students at all times and
both are fluent in Spanish. At least one additional adult is likely to travel with us and
provide additional supervision.
FAQ: Medical Issues
•What vaccinations are necessary? There are no vaccinations specific to travel in the region of
Mexico where we will be.
•Is anti-malarial medication necessary? No, we are not travelling to a region that carries the
threat of malaria. But students should bring insect repellent with deet for use at dusk to ward off
mosquitos.
•What about medical care in Mexico? The University provides medical insurance to all Widener
University students while traveling and it is valid in the state of Puebla. The city of Puebla
provides state-of-the-art medical care; the towns of Huehuetla and Cuetzalan each have small
hospitals/clinics. In addition, medical evacuation coverage is provided in cases of extreme
emergency.
•What about gastrointestinal ailments? Students should consult their personal physicians and, if
appropriate, obtain and fill prescriptions for Ciprofloxacin and anti-diarrheal medication. Students
who have more specific travel medicine concerns may choose to consult Dr. Vera Howland, a
travel medicine specialist at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. 610-619-8500. The visit is not
typically covered by most medical insurance carriers.
Students or parents are encouraged to contact Dean Sharon Meagher at
[email protected] or 610-499-1260 if they have additional questions or concerns.
For more information:
• http://www.Xasasti.org
• Xasasti Yolistli’s home page (in Spanish):
http://www.hegobitaldea.net/xasasti_yolistli/index.p
hp?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=27
• Xasasti’s blog:
http://xasasti.blogspot.com/2008/12/video-dexasasti-yolistli-que-habla_16.html (with embeded
You-tube video)
• Video on Kakawin Tutanaku
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-b90yzYZ2s
• Contact Dean Meagher: [email protected]
or Dr. Urraca: [email protected]