int'l correspondent?

Just filed my first story from Mexico. It felt as hard as the first story I ever wrote -- interviewing in Spanish is tougher than I thought it'd be. Here it is, though, and check out Friday's Daily to see it in print:

LINK

Mexican students oppose border fence construction
By Jared Taylor
Daily Staff Writer

CUERNAVACA, Mexico – As President Bush signed new fencing construction along the U.S.-Mexico border into law, Mexican students here said barriers would do little to deter further illegal immigration.

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 will create 700 miles of new barriers along the 2,100-mile southern border. Bush signed the law Thursday morning in Washington before his visit to Des Moines for a Republican fundraiser in the afternoon.

“Unfortunately the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise,” Bush said at a signing ceremony.

The project’s cost is unknown, though Bush approved an initial $1.2 billion for border security earlier this month. The money can also be used for access roads, lighting and security equipment.

Agustin Bahena, a 20-year-old business management student at Universidad Internacional, said a fence wouldn’t deter Mexicans who want to cross into the United States illegally.

“I think it is a waste of money,” Bahena said. “They are Mexicans, man. They are going to find a way to get into the U.S.”

While there are an estimated 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States, the U.S. economy still needs immigrant labor to prosper, Bahena said.

“The [U.S.] government doesn’t say it, but they need the Mexicans to be there to do their jobs,” he said.

Evelyn Hernandez, a 24-year-old communications student, said most Latinos migrate to the United States for better employment opportunities, even if they lack advanced skills.

“In Mexico, there is not much equal work and the poor go away,” she said. “[Immigration] is important because Mexicans work and your economy grows.”

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, a longtime proponent of border fencing, said the building more walls would deter illegal entries into the country. In July, King pitched a border wall that he designed to Congress that would cost about $1.3 million per mile.

“We are likely to see another terrorist attack in this country,” King said in a statement. “If so, the attacking terrorists are most likely to be smuggled into the U.S. across our Mexican border. We can dramatically reduce the risk by building a wall.”

Miguel Angel Rico Romero, a 21-year-old geography student, said there is no simple solution to the immigration problem for the United States or Mexico.

“I believe the wall will serve nobody,” he said. “With the wall, people will pass.”

– The Associated Press contributed to this story.

zihuatanejo

I returned from spending the week in Zihuatanejo (ZEE WA ten eh HO). Most of the time was spent on the beach -- sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. It's the dream location of Andy DuFrain in The Shawshank Redemption, though the end scene of that movie was filmed in the US Virgin Islands.

Cool animals of note include a stingray, a sea turtle, geckos, an iguana, and at least one cucaracha in our hotel room every day.

The environment in Zihua was similar to Acapulco, though it is much more laid-back there. If you go in October, rain is possible, but know that it is incredibly inexpensive. With a beachside room, food and drinks, I spent under $500 US.

I'd like to go back.

the weather is better

it is funny how a crappy vacation can turn around so quickly. it is beautiful here now, so i am going to leave this effing computer and snorkel or something. bye

check the forecast

When you embark on a seven-day vacation to the beach, you expect the weather to cooperate. But, when it doesn't, that really stinks. Especially when you forget your umbrella.

Swimming in the rain isn't so bad, though. The ocean makes it feel like you are taking a salty bath. The lack of suntannage is kind of a bummer, though.

ccr

You know a society is more laid back about most things when you're sitting in the outdoor courtyard of the library and the librarian is blasting Creedence Clearwater Revival for some reason.

parasailing

Here are some still shots from when I took my video camera up while parasailing in Acapulco.

If you ever get the chance, give it a try...it's the closest thing to being a bird that is tethered to a parachute while getting dragged by a boat with a manic driver.

enjoy it while it lasts

Coming to Mexico has been good for me, because I'm seeing how another part of the world does things and manages to survive. It just shows that there's more than one thing to get the job done and society rolls on.

I've made some good friends here, which is funny, because they are the type of friends you make when you're a kid...geographically and linguistically convenient, and you don't necessarily have much in common with them. Nonetheless, knowing people like that helps to look at things differently, whether you realize it or not.

The one gripe I have with the friending situation, though, is that most people (other than those in my IA group) are here for only a short period and then they're gone, and you probably won't see them again. It just shows that you have to enjoy the moment while you have it, because it'll never be here again.

el duké

My Mexican family found a puppy in the street last week and decided to adopt it, for now, at least. (They had a dog that ran away before I arrived and found another puppy, but it was a howler at night, so it's gone now, too) His name is Él Duké and he is cute as heck. I think he's a black Lab.

acapulco

Last weekend, I finally made it to the beach. Actually, a better description would be the rip tide. Nonetheless, we had a fabulous time in Acapulco with plenty of eating, drinking and dancing while the druglords took care of their dirty laundry on Friday.

Honestly, I didn't see any violence, but I did get to go parasailing, jetskiing and receive a five dollar massage from a Mexican girl on the beach. The hotel was on the ocean and cost only about $25/person/night. Oh yeah, I did meet an ex-patriot Texan with a fresh bullet hole in his gut. That guy was nuts.

una noche en la balet

I must admit that my first ballet experience was pretty cool. Yeah, the dudes wore tites, as did the mujeres, but it was still pretty cool to see the guy go at it with his lasso. That, and the ladies were pretty in their cultural garb. I wouldn't have gone if I had to pay for it outright... At $80 per boleto, it's a bit pricey, but I'm glad I made it.