El Paso Museum of History - Week #2 - Deborah

July 12th

As everyday passes I can feel the adult world consuming me more and more which would be responsibility and initiative in essence. Although it’s only week two it feels like I have been here longer due to the experience I have soaked up. I’m happy that so far I have been able to keep up with my tasks. Being in the museum makes me realize that ideas can be brought to life and they impact everyone who comes near. To be an adult is more than responding to emails and working in a cubicle. A good adult cares about their community and tries their best to bring something everyone will benefit from. 

July 13th 

There is another intern that works here and we got to sit together and talk more about ourselves and the work we were doing. Although there are people in the office sometimes it's nice having someone next to you because it makes the day go by faster. She told me about her experience studying abroad and we talked about our City and the new projects coming forward. I did another job where I translated an exhibit description from English to Spanish for the Sin Fronteras Print Exchange camp. 

July 14th
After coming to work and doing the usual (my research for veracruz) Nora invited me to see the opening exhibit of our first kids camp “Sin Fronteras”. The kids had a red ribbon and big scissors and opened the exhibit together. It was really cool seeing all of the kids work, they did relief prints and self portraits. As I was walking by the exhibit I saw my translation printed and put up on the wall. It made me feel good because most of the work I do is for the future and I don’t get to see it in a hard copy. Below I added some of my favorite prints from the exhibit.

Opening of Exhibit Ambos Lados

"Plaza Theater"

Self Portrait of Artists 

"The Cactus of the Luna"

My Translation to Spanish Ambos Lados

Original Description in English

July 15th

Today was my story time !!! When I showed up to the library I got to meet the staff and started working on setting the tables up for the kids with crayons and the activities. They worked on a turtle hat and the Maybe Something Beautiful packet. The woman who was in charge of the story time has a weekly theme. This week was all about turtles but they made an exception for me. My audience was not so big, and the kids I had were mostly toddlers with two babies who were all very attentive for the most part. Before I started reading I was a bit nervous that I wouldn’t give a performance the kids deserved. But as soon as I started reading the first page I got into character and I made expressions and gave my best narrator voice. I was happy I had the opportunity to read two books to the audience. After the library, I went to the Museum for our family event which happens at least once every month and is related to the exhibits. This event was in order to commemorate Ambos Lados which is an exhibit consisting of 158 prints from artists in six countries, primarily Mexico and the United States, including 18 artists from New Mexico and several Albuquerque artists. The museum gave free shirts, bandanas, and totes so we could print whatever design we wanted. Nora told me to do the activity first so I can have that experience and also help and teach people. Vanessa who led the workshop used a traditional form of printing which included a little stamp that was carved and used paint that was rolled on. Once I done I took pictures and helped with anything else that was needed. 

Story Time 

Audience View

Family Day

July 17th

Since Mondays are remote days they are generally the days where I don’t really see most of my coworkers. But the director of the Museum Erica Shoutout to Erica!!! was here and we got to talk more and bond when lunchtime came around. She told me something that stuck with me which is “A world where many worlds fit” - Zapatista. I then started to think about the work environment and I really appreciate everyone and I start to miss them because they're very accepting and they keep the world spinning. 

July 18th

Today I was suffering from success. The refrigerated air worked a little too well. I was freezing and chose the wrong day to not bring a jacket. Thankfully Nora, my rescuer, let me borrow a blanket and then it wasn’t so bad. Once I got lunch I decided to spend some time outside letting the Sun defrost me. I continued working on my project, since I was tired of spending a lot of time researching I decided to edit and see if I could make things flow a little more smoother. Later Tashi me invited to see some photos that I took being edited and the process. I learned that I take good group pictures but indivuals are not my forte.