The Feria Internacional de Libros (FIL), is the second largest book fair in the world, just slightly behind the Frankfurter Buchmesse, in size and scale. November, 2023 marked the 36th FIL, and this year, the European Union was the honored invitee so in addition to authors and publishers from Mexico, and central and South America there were literary guests from Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Sweden as well as authors
Held annually in late November in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the Feria is a forum for authors, illustrators, publishers, agents, editors, and of course the public who come out to buy tens of thousands of books. The first five days of the Feria are reserved for professionals, so as a librarian, I qualified to attend talks and panels, and browse the book seller’s stalls before the public entered. It was a time of great comradery and recognition, as we “professionals” sat together in the salons to listen to a variety of presentations by academics, authors, editors, and publishers. I attended a workshop given by Carlos Armenta of Impronta Editorial, on the letterpress, a somewhat antiquated form of printing using movable lead type, which is being revived for small press runs, like poetry chapbooks.
I also attended several talks by Chilean authors who through collective memory are attempting to come to terms with the details of the September 11, 1973 military takeover of the Democratic government of Salvador Allende. The 50th anniversary recently passed, (September 11, 2023) and many fiction and non-fiction books related to the golpe or coup were presented. One of the most interesting, yet disturbing take-ways from the conference was the importance of children’s literature to a country’s culture and collective identity. According to author and academic Vivian Levin, the seventeen years during the Pinochet dictatorship was time devoid of independently published children’s books. In essence this created a huge cultural void for children, who use age-appropriate literature to process family, social and historical events, and did not have books to help them through those difficult times.
January 1, 1994, is an important date for Mexico, as January 1, 2024, will mark the 30th anniversary of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN)’s 12-day uprising in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. I attended a panel moderated by author Juan Villoro, who presented a magazine, published by the UNAM, dedicated to the anniversary of the EZLN movement, which includes academic essays, and speeches and writings by Subcomandante Marcos and Comandanta Ramona. There will be a copy of this magazine-style book in the library.
Attending the FIL, was an incredible experience from the exposure to a variety of Latin American authors’ presenting their books, and the freedom to browse book stalls from various countries, universities and independent publishers. I plan to attend next year, but hope to gather a group of people to represent Todos Santos, and Baja California Sur, and I would love to share this incredible cultural experience with others.
By Dulce G,
My name is Dulce G, and I am currently in my fourth semester. In a year’s time, I will be living my last days of high school with these people who, for better or worse, have been with me throughout this educational journey called school.
Personally, I believe that a good school is composed of various factors, but one of the most essential is the camaraderie and the relationship we have with each other as classmates. After all, it is with these people that you spend the majority of your time, and yes, it can be very challenging and complex at times. However, in the end, we can always find something that brings us together.
We are currently the fourth-semester group, but we were also the nervous new kids in middle school. Over time, we grew, faced numerous changes and challenges, but there was always something that united us. That something was the school, the space where friendships, feelings, relationships, laughter, tears, and stress emerged.
It started as four walls with chairs and a chalkboard on that first day, but over time, it became a safe place for many of us. Each classroom holds different meanings and memories for each of us, but for all of us, it is that place where we have grown, changed, matured, and shared different things with one another.
Today, we are closer to finishing, closer to leaving our last mark in the memory of this school that has shaped us for these five years. We have one classroom and one more year to live new adventures and create even more memories, and for my part, I intend to enjoy every moment until the end.
I still remember when we arrived at this school. We were small and clueless, watching as the world spun around us, about to board that train to start a life within the school full of adventure and secrets that, out of loyalty, I won’t share here. Hahaha.
However, I will share the time our entire class came together to present to our mothers a dance on their special day. These are the women who always support us in everything, from bringing us things we forgot to listening to our presentations before important assignments. So, even though not all of us had the talent for dancing, we united as a class and practiced until our legs trembled. After many rehearsals filled with laughter, embarrassment, and sore feet, we coordinated ourselves and put on a spectacular show for all the moms.
They left with roses, laughter, and the knowledge that their children had put in a lot of effort and had learned to dance a little more. And we left with the satisfaction of having achieved it, the unity as a group, and the certainty that we can achieve and do anything we set our minds to. So, if you ask me, “What is my class like?” My answer is, we are like a great variety of fruits and vegetables, different and with very different flavors. But if you know how to combine and bring them together, we can become the best salad of all.
As a student at The Palapa School and in my final semester of high school, these past few weeks of classes have been filled with various emotions, experiences, and important decisions. It all started with the exam weeks, which, being so close to the project week, always manage to make me nervous and even scared. Perhaps it’s due to my habit of procrastinating and ending up with no time to study the important topics that could be evaluated. This only generates more stress for me. However, since we are a close-knit group, when I enter the classroom, I see my classmates reviewing together or even taking a break, and for a moment, I stop worrying so much.
The evaluation week comes to an end, with satisfactory grades or maybe not, but I feel like it’s all over. But just when you think the storm has passed, I realize that the paperwork I completed approximately three months ago is now requiring me to travel to take an exam at UNAM, which could determine a very important stage in my life. And as we always want more, now I find myself kilometers away from home, studying even on the plane, trying to arrive a day earlier to have some comfort and stay focused on my tasks.
I find myself in an unfamiliar place, with nothing but Google Maps and the good vibes from my classmates who wish me luck in the exam. I leave that room trembling, not knowing if my answers were correct or not. I question whether I studied well and why the topics I studied didn’t appear in the exam while the rest did. But it’s something I no longer have control over; all I can do now is enjoy the remaining days of my stay while I glance at the notifications from the classroom that arrive on my phone.
In my mind, I still have time to attend to them because the teachers are very considerate, which might cause me a problem since, as I mentioned before, I have a bad habit/great skill for procrastinating.
Back to where I started, but now with a sense of calmness after getting a great weight off my shoulders. Now all the remaining exams and assignments seem easier. I just have to wait for the results and see what the future holds for me. A two-month wait that keeps me restless, but regardless of the outcome, I know I did everything possible to get to this point, and my group patiently supports me in this sweet anticipation because some of them are also waiting for their own answers.
As the end of high school approaches, the question of what to do next can be daunting. Some students have a clear vision of what they want to pursue, while others may feel uncertain or overwhelmed by the options. In my case, I have a strong sense of what I want to do for my future and the goals I want to achieve.
My goal after high school is to attend a virtuous college and earn a degree in computer science or software engineering. I have always been fascinated by the workings of the computer and cellphone we use everyday, and I believe that studying these two will pave the way for a fruitful and interesting future. I have already begun researching potential universities and have discovered many that align with my academic and personal interests.
One of the reasons I feel so grateful about my plan is the support I have received from my family and teachers.. They have encouraged me to pursue my interests and have provided guidance and advice throughout my high school years.
My teachers have challenged me academically and provided a well-rounded education that includes many interesting subjects. I have also been able to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs, which have taught me valuable skills like teamwork, leadership, and time management.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I am also grateful for the relationships I have formed in high school. I have made many friends and have had the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.
These experiences have broadened my perspective and taught me to be more empathetic and understanding towards others. Looking ahead, I know that college will bring new challenges and opportunities. However, I am excited to take on these challenges and to continue learning and growing as a person. In conclusion, I am filled with gratitude as I look ahead to my future after high school. I am grateful for the support of my family, teachers, and mentors, the education I have received, the relationships I have formed, and the opportunities that lie ahead. I am excited to pursue my dreams and to see where my journey will take.
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