JE#9 And Gio' Border Consciousness level Is!... ...

I think the historical aspect of the U.S/ Mexico border as it pertains to gender and sexuality really stuck out to me, thus I was able to understand and learn about it best. It was such new information to me, I have never even considered what the history of the U.S./ Mexico border was like! Now I know that the border has been a site of deliberate exclusion towards people who were deemed a threat to the stiff, white, heternormative, nuclear-familied, patriarchal glue that holds the pretty picture of America together.

The path of the black and red ink! As an English Major, and just as a person who likes to express his own story while hearing others in order to learn about eachother in a personal way, I think this is the most beautiful aspect of Gloria Anzaldua's theory.

The Cuatlicue State is probably the most confusing for me. It is not because i do not understand it necessarily, rather, my confusion comes from my personal confusion over my own Cuatlicue State. Am I going through thi right now? It feels like it, but I'm not sure...

Actually, we have not. At least not collectively. It has been really difficult to meet this entire quarter, since my job has taken over a good chunk of my time, Janel is organizing with the worker's union and other groups, and Ana is busy finishing up everything for her final quarter here at UCLA. But, we still talk to each other in class a well as through e-mail. However, for the rating's sake, i would probably give border rhymes with hideous car wreck a 2, because we definitely have not been performing at the top of our mestiza consciousness game.

Through this course, I have figured out that my border consciousness journey has begun since Gio was a little child. I feel that I am still falling deeper and deeper into the Cuatlicue State. It is so deep and profound. Sometimes I do not know how I feel about this seemingly neverending plunge. The films and readings are merely backdrops for me, they are nothing too special. Interesingly enough, I feel that the other classes's readings, along with this class', have all just been minimal backdrops for my border consciousness experience. The real work lies within me.