EJ Chapter 3 Class Summary – Period One
Facing The Beast – Title refers to the train, “la bestia”
Enrique’s is 17 years old.
This is Enriques 8th attempt to cross through Mexico – he has learned several strategies to successfully cross through Mexico.
Chiapas is dangerous bc of the gangsters; The people there do not like immigrants.
In Guatemala to Mexico, he decides to stay in a cemetery. There is an immigration raid, he is protected by la Mara Salvatrucha (MS).
MS gang friend is young, 15, “Big Daddy”.
Enrique is arrested and he escapes to catch the train.
Train is headed to Huixtla.
He leaves March 26, 2000.
A boy on the train is almost mangled by the train, he shouts for help – the men help him.
GETTING ABOARD
No women on the train or young children. The youngest is eleven.
This section of the journey is especially dangerous; A group of people locked in a boxcar died a slow and painful death of asphyxiation.
April 2000
Enrique has to decide where on the train he wants to ride. different parts have different challenges.
He calls the train, the iron horse, it has the power to take him to his mother.
The train is crushed between a car and bridge; several derailment; tracks are old and rusty.
Migrants bring along mementos from home – toothbrush, phone numbers, San Judas Tadeo (patron saint of desperate situations), San Cristobal (patron saint of travelers), nail clippers, Bible with phone numbers…)
“The train ripped out my eye” – tree branch.
A DREADED STOP
Enrique is caught by la migra, he does not come down from the train.
La Arrocerra is a dreaded stop – strict immigration checkpoints (5 stops). There is no where to hide; desolate.
madrinas – undercover immigration agents who aid agents in detaining people attempting to cross.
He has to cross over a bridge in order to get back on the train; Cuil bridge. The bridge is dangerous bc people are ambushed by gangsters.
The people are not helpful anymore because they are afraid they will become the targets of gangsters, the immigrants may turn on them and there are several stereotypes (disease, crime, job stability).
Enrique is helped by a woman who gives him food and water (water, bread and beans).
A DECISION
Maria Isabel wants to go search for Enrique. Maria is talked out of going through the journey by her mom.
STAYING AWAKE
It is a hot day, the reflection of the metal on the train is hazardous. Travelers try to find shade.
Flor Maria Rigoni – street gangs, 19 groups (200 members), each controls a section of the tracks.
Rob migrants on the train and in the surrounding areas. Migrants are easy victims bc they don’t press charges out of fear.
They attempt to befriend people, they try to gain their trust, or spy on them. Then they board the train and wait until the train gains speed to rob people (machetes, baseball bats, iron pipes, pistols). Emboldened by drugs and threaten people with death.
Migrant who spoke up was badly beaten, he is threatened with death. He asked to be deported.
Enrique separates from the MS gangsters because he refuses to kill rival gang members; He is attacked by six men.
People sleep on the train, they use things to tie themselves to the train. Some people believe that snakes cannot slither over tracks. Train conductors cannot always stop the train on time, “simply ask God forgiveness and drive on”.
People by stay awake by taking amphetamines, slapping themselves, squats, alcohol in their eyes, sing and tell jokes.
Fear helps Enrique stay awake, he afraid of new people on the train. He is happy he is past Chiapas.
DEVOURED
El Tren Devorador – the train that devours (to gobble up).
Olga Sanchez Martinez, Shelter of Jesus the Good Shepherd – Albergue Jesus el Buen Pastor
We are given a lot of details about her life: she had cancer, she is cured, she promised God she would help others and in need.
She brings a boy who lost both legs and another who lost his arms. She learns by watching doctors.
1999 – opens a migrant shelter after she runs of out of space at home. She begs for money, food, medicine and equipment (wheelchairs, prosthetics – artificial limbs), blood, etc.
Churches let her solicit donations, she sells used clothing, she sells food.
Doctors also help. They offer their services and time.
Dead migrants, 40 total.
Broken – rape.
“The rapes are part of the general denigration (degrade someone, treat as inferior – not give respect, not intelligent, not worthy of dignified ) and humiliation of Central Americans in Mexico, where the migrants are seen as inferior bc they come from less developed countries…the targets can be men or women” – Olivia Ruiz, cultural anthropologist at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana.
OAXACA
Ixtepec, he helps out two migrants by going to town for them. The migrants stick out from natives. Migrants try to blend in with language, customs, clothing and their appearance. Migrant officials ask about differences in flag, 5 stars in Salvadorean flag; Mexican has none.
Enrique changes his appearance by getting a haircut and changes clothes so he does not look out of place.
Reflection enrages him bc he sees his battered face and his eyelid droops from a previous beating. This steels (metal – stronger) his determination to push forward.
Facing The Beast – Title refers to the train, “la bestia”
Enrique’s is 17 years old.
This is Enriques 8th attempt to cross through Mexico – he has learned several strategies to successfully cross through Mexico.
Chiapas is dangerous bc of the gangsters; The people there do not like immigrants.
In Guatemala to Mexico, he decides to stay in a cemetery. There is an immigration raid, he is protected by la Mara Salvatrucha (MS).
MS gang friend is young, 15, “Big Daddy”.
Enrique is arrested and he escapes to catch the train.
Train is headed to Huixtla.
He leaves March 26, 2000.
A boy on the train is almost mangled by the train, he shouts for help – the men help him.
GETTING ABOARD
No women on the train or young children. The youngest is eleven.
This section of the journey is especially dangerous; A group of people locked in a boxcar died a slow and painful death of asphyxiation.
April 2000
Enrique has to decide where on the train he wants to ride. different parts have different challenges.
He calls the train, the iron horse, it has the power to take him to his mother.
The train is crushed between a car and bridge; several derailment; tracks are old and rusty.
Migrants bring along mementos from home – toothbrush, phone numbers, San Judas Tadeo (patron saint of desperate situations), San Cristobal (patron saint of travelers), nail clippers, Bible with phone numbers…)
“The train ripped out my eye” – tree branch.
A DREADED STOP
Enrique is caught by la migra, he does not come down from the train.
La Arrocerra is a dreaded stop – strict immigration checkpoints (5 stops). There is no where to hide; desolate.
madrinas – undercover immigration agents who aid agents in detaining people attempting to cross.
He has to cross over a bridge in order to get back on the train; Cuil bridge. The bridge is dangerous bc people are ambushed by gangsters.
The people are not helpful anymore because they are afraid they will become the targets of gangsters, the immigrants may turn on them and there are several stereotypes (disease, crime, job stability).
Enrique is helped by a woman who gives him food and water (water, bread and beans).
A DECISION
Maria Isabel wants to go search for Enrique. Maria is talked out of going through the journey by her mom.
STAYING AWAKE
It is a hot day, the reflection of the metal on the train is hazardous. Travelers try to find shade.
Flor Maria Rigoni – street gangs, 19 groups (200 members), each controls a section of the tracks.
Rob migrants on the train and in the surrounding areas. Migrants are easy victims bc they don’t press charges out of fear.
They attempt to befriend people, they try to gain their trust, or spy on them. Then they board the train and wait until the train gains speed to rob people (machetes, baseball bats, iron pipes, pistols). Emboldened by drugs and threaten people with death.
Migrant who spoke up was badly beaten, he is threatened with death. He asked to be deported.
Enrique separates from the MS gangsters because he refuses to kill rival gang members; He is attacked by six men.
People sleep on the train, they use things to tie themselves to the train. Some people believe that snakes cannot slither over tracks. Train conductors cannot always stop the train on time, “simply ask God forgiveness and drive on”.
People by stay awake by taking amphetamines, slapping themselves, squats, alcohol in their eyes, sing and tell jokes.
Fear helps Enrique stay awake, he afraid of new people on the train. He is happy he is past Chiapas.
DEVOURED
El Tren Devorador – the train that devours (to gobble up).
Olga Sanchez Martinez, Shelter of Jesus the Good Shepherd – Albergue Jesus el Buen Pastor
We are given a lot of details about her life: she had cancer, she is cured, she promised God she would help others and in need.
She brings a boy who lost both legs and another who lost his arms. She learns by watching doctors.
1999 – opens a migrant shelter after she runs of out of space at home. She begs for money, food, medicine and equipment (wheelchairs, prosthetics – artificial limbs), blood, etc.
Churches let her solicit donations, she sells used clothing, she sells food.
Doctors also help. They offer their services and time.
Dead migrants, 40 total.
Broken – rape.
“The rapes are part of the general denigration (degrade someone, treat as inferior – not give respect, not intelligent, not worthy of dignified ) and humiliation of Central Americans in Mexico, where the migrants are seen as inferior bc they come from less developed countries…the targets can be men or women” – Olivia Ruiz, cultural anthropologist at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana.
OAXACA
Ixtepec, he helps out two migrants by going to town for them. The migrants stick out from natives. Migrants try to blend in with language, customs, clothing and their appearance. Migrant officials ask about differences in flag, 5 stars in Salvadorean flag; Mexican has none.
Enrique changes his appearance by getting a haircut and changes clothes so he does not look out of place.
Reflection enrages him bc he sees his battered face and his eyelid droops from a previous beating. This steels (metal – stronger) his determination to push forward.