Anahi and Blanca at Yosemite

A lot of Northern Californians never make it to Yosemite - one of the most beautiful places in the world. We weren't going to let the girls miss out. So my daughter Sara and I decided to take them up.

It is a five hour drive from Menlo Park, so we left the night before and stayed near the park. We got up early the next morning and went straight to a Sequoia grove at the park. I think the girls weren't ready for a one-mile hike. They had to stop a few times on the way back which was uphill. But they did enjoy seeing the giant 2000 year-old trees. We saw one stump of a tree that had a hole cut in it from the old days. You could drive a truck through it.

Next we headed to the main valley. The waterfalls were still flowing nicely and the girls loved the "cascadas". We also stopped and waded in the Merced river and I taught them how to skip stones.

They ordered their own lunch in English at the historic Ahwahnee lodge. While we ate outside a wedding party paraded by for the coming nuptials out on the lawn.

After lunch we headed up to Glacier Point overlooking the entire park. It was beautiful and clear, despite all the fires in California. It was an awesome sight. On the ride back home, the girls had a 2 hour siesta, having been worn out from the day.

Blanca and Anahi at the beach and in San Francisco

The long awaited day arrived when the girls would finally get to see the ocean. After a vigorous second week of English classes, they were ready for a break. It was really fun to take off for Half Moon Bay and have a conversation in English. It was amazing how much they knew after a week plus of classes.

It was cool and cloudy at the coast as we walked to the ocean. The smiles were huge as the girls rolled up their jeans and stuck their feet in to the cold water. They were both shocked to feel how cold the Pacific is in Northern California. But they loved it. We walked up and down the beach. The girls wrote their names in the sand and picked up shells.
Next we headed up the coast to San Francisco. Traffic was heavy for a Saturday, so the got to experience their first traffic jam. We drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and then walked across the bridge as the fog blew across the top of the bridge.

We next headed off to the S.F. Museum of Modern Art for an exhibit by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. I coldn't really get a read on what the girls thought of it. Maybe they were too worn out to have an opinion.

Anahi and Blanca - Independence Day

We had a great day initiating Blanca and Anahi into the American culture with an old-fashioned block party at the home of the Hobbs family, Blanca's hosts. There was a hamburger BBQ, picnic, bike parade, and bagpipes. Later, after lunch the girls participated in a balloon toss.

After the festivities we headed off for pizza before and then took in fireworks. Brooke Hobbs joins the girls on the bench by the bay in the photo below.

Anahi and Blanca – July 2 – Class and Dentist

Today, the Anahi and Blanca had their first day at their English class. With the help of Bill Elmore we were introduced to Helen Kim at East Side Prep in Palo Alto. Helen worked with Stacy Ishigaki and Shaneka Julian, two language teachers at East Side to put together a program for the girls. They will be studying three hours per day with Stacy and Shaneka trading off as teachers. Kelsey Seabolt, a young volunteer, will be helping as well. (In photo from left, Kelsey, Stacy, Anahi and Blanca)

Their first class was at 9 am. I stopped by at 11:30 to see how it was going. They all seemed to be having a good time. Stacy was teaching the girls how to talk about their past, the present and the future. Each one stood up and used drawings they had made to tell me about what they liked when they were ten years younger, what they like now and what they will be doing in ten years. I was pleased to hear that both girls had college in their plans. Blanca also envisioned herself married. Anahi said she would be an administrator. (She really wants to study criminology, but her dad thinks it would be a dangerous career.)

In the afternoon, the girls went to a dentist that Joni had arranged for Blanca. While the dentist filled teeth and pulled a tooth, Anahi assisted. Lots of thanks to Dr. Dale Weibel who volunteered his time to help.

In the evening they returned home, did homework and had dinner with their hosts. Anahi was so worn out, she took a nap before dinner.

SK

Blanca and Anahi come to the USA

The big moment finally arrived today. Blanca and Anahi would come to the USA from Juarez. After three years of studying as JCEP students and graduating from high school on June 17, they were going to visit their sponsors and get some English immersion in the U.S. (The girls say goodbye to their familes in front of Blanca's house in Juarez.)

I decided to pick them up at Blanca’s house at 8 am. I arrived about 15 minutes early. Blanca was ready to go. She wheeled out her new suitcase that we had sent her for graduation. Her Mom, sister and little brother were out to see her off. A little later Anahi pulled up with her Mom and Dad. Her Dad was very emotional. He cried as he hugged her good bye and asked me to take good care of her. I promised him I would.

We headed off to the border in the Chevy Tahoe I had borrowed from Missions Ministries. We decided to go to the Santa Teresa, NM port of entry. It is quieter and, while farther, more consistent in the time it takes to get through. The girls were very nervous as we pulled up. The border agent asked us a few questions. He then directed us where to park and see the agent in the office to obtain a “Permiso”. (In the next photo the girls pose in front of the border in Santa Teresa, NM)

The Permiso is a document that states where the applicant will be staying in the U.S. and for how long. They are required to check back in when they return. I guess this was instated to track visitors that overstay their visas. It took about 10 minutes. Blanca and Anahi were fingerprinted and photographed again. I paid the $6 each and we were on our way. As we pulled out of the lot, there were big smiles on the girl’s faces.

The trip through New Mexico and into El Paso was very quiet. Blanca seemed impressed by the freeway overpasses; particularly the cloverleaf in downtown. At one point on highway 10, we had a view into a particularly bad slum in Juarez on the right and the University of Texas El Paso on the left. The girls focused on UTEP.

After dropping off the car, we shuttled to the airport. We checked the bags at the curb. I bought the girls Spanish language magazines and we proceeded to security. As we snaked through the cue, a border patrol officer decided to check identification and ask us some questions. He was a pleasant young fellow with blonde hair. I was surprised when he started asking the girls questions in Spanish. After a nervous moment while he had a colleague double check the visas using a magnifying glass, he smiled and gave us back the passports and we proceeded to x-ray.

I could tell the girls were very perplexed by the process. They had never been far from home, let alone in an airport. They took off their shoes, jackets and put their purses and backpacks through the x-ray.

Next we went off toward the gate. The crossing had gone so smoothly that we were two hours early for our flight. We decided to have an early lunch. The girls ordered chicken burritos and were treated to a large-portioned, bland burrito that neither came close to finishing.

Finally we boarded the plane. Southwest’s complicated new numbered boarding procedure is hard for most English speakers to understand. I think they would have been lost without some help. Blanca took the window seat. I was on the aisle. Anahi was in the middle. I had warned them about the acceleration. There were nervous giggles as we took off, but they both handled it well. Blanca took some pictures with a disposable camera she had bought. The desert and mountains looked pretty impressive from the sky. I told the attendant that they had never flown before. She brought them some plastic pilot’s wings, Southwest playing cards, a luggage tag and a pen as souvenirs of their first flight.

As we descended into L.A. Blanca had some trouble clearing her ears. When the landing gear banged into position she gave me a wide-open-eyes look. I assured her it was okay. We were soon at the gate and deplaned. We had an hour to kill at LAX, so I bought them some See’s chocolate. The clerk gave us 2 samples each so the girls were too full to eat what I bought.

Next we boarded the plane for San Jose. Already pros at flying, the girls traded seats with Anahi on the window. They loved seeing the ocean as we climbed out of LAX. They had told me that the ocean was their number one site to see in the U.S.

After arriving in San Jose, we met Joni and her daughter Haley at the baggage claim. The bags came off without incident. We piled into Joni’s Prius and headed to Menlo Park where Judy Hobbs was prepared to greet the girls. (Below, Blanca on the left and Anahi with Haley and Joni Cropper)

Judy’s daughter Brooke joined us. Brooke had just returned from our Mission Trip. The Hobbs’ will be hosting Blanca while she stays in the U.S. Craig and Donna Largent, Anahi’s hosts, joined us soon after. Then my wife Pat and daughter Sara came. Despite some great fruit, and chips with guacamole, the girls still did not eat much. I think they were still a little shell-shocked. (Judy and Brooke Hobbs with Blanca)

(Below are Craig and Donna Largent with Anahi)

After Brooke showed Blanca her room, Donna gave them some gifts of greeting. We then walked to the Largent’s house just a few blocks away and across the street from our house. Blanca and Anahi got to see Anahi’s room.

It was very strange to them that all of us here have pampered dogs. We learned in meeting the Hobbs’ poodle that Blanca is not comfortable with dogs, despite the fact that she has one back home. A dog’s life in Juarez is pretty bleak. None are neutered. All are skinny. Most are strays and few live very long. As I drove around the other day I saw a man throw a rock at a dog who was following him home. I saw another dog with a stump leg. Our dogs, mine included, are given more medical care than most people in the Colonias of Juarez. I wonder what the girls must think.

As I said good night to both the girls and they went off to spend the evening with their hosts, I hoped that they wouldn’t be confused by all they saw around them. I want them to realize that we want to aid them in their lives, not by changing them or making them like us, but by giving them opportunities for education so that they can make their own choices. I hope while they are here that they can learn English and see the love we have for them as God’s children and that they will be changed for the better. Somehow though, I also hope they don’t become like us in many respects. I hope they see all the good I see in the people of their community and that poverty or wealth doesn’t make the person valuable in God’s eyes.

SK