Jeanne Simonelli, Erin McCulley, and Rachel Simonelliliving the experience years after the memories have begun to fade,
that the dream of experiential learning informs the reality of their
daily lives. Through our writing, teaching, and public speaking, we
give what we have learned to others, so they may use it. Through our
involvement with aid agencies and ngos we give something back to
those who teach us in the field. But to the general public, we can give
only our stories, so these must be readable and humorous, yet packed
with subtle insights into this complex and changing world. This chap-
ter, then, is not just to bring a smile to the faces of those who have gone
to the field, or evoke longing from those who wish they had, but it is
for the American public out there who will never get to go.
NoteThis chapter is dedicated to long-term Chiapas colleagues Natalia Arias Leal and Eduardo
Serrano, who died unexpectedly on August 16, 2006.