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.
Como estudiante de la Escuela Palapa y en mi último semestre de preparatoria, estas últimas semanas de clases han estado llenas de diversas emociones, experiencias y decisiones importantes. Todo comenzó con las semanas de exámenes, que, al estar tan cerca de la semana del proyecto, siempre logran ponerme nervioso e incluso asustado. Quizás sea debido a mi hábito de procrastinar y terminar sin tiempo para estudiar los temas importantes que podrían ser evaluados. Esto solo genera más estrés para mí. Sin embargo, como somos un grupo unido, cuando entro al salón, veo a mis compañeros estudiando juntos o incluso tomando un descanso, y por un momento, dejo de preocuparme tanto.
La semana de evaluación llega a su fin, con calificaciones satisfactorias o tal vez no, pero siento que todo ha terminado. Pero justo cuando crees que la tormenta ha pasado, me doy cuenta de que la documentación que completé aproximadamente tres meses atrás ahora me está exigiendo viajar para tomar un examen en la UNAM, lo cual podría determinar una etapa muy importante en mi vida. Y como siempre queremos más, ahora me encuentro a kilómetros de distancia de casa, estudiando incluso en el avión, tratando de llegar un día antes para tener algo de comodidad y mantenerme concentrado en mis tareas.
Me encuentro en un lugar desconocido, con nada más que Google Maps y las buenas vibras de mis compañeros que me desean suerte en el examen. Salgo de esa sala temblando, sin saber si mis respuestas fueron correctas o no. Me cuestiono si estudié bien y por qué los temas que estudié no aparecieron en el examen mientras que los demás sí. Pero es algo sobre lo que ya no tengo control; todo lo que puedo hacer ahora es disfrutar los días restantes de mi estancia mientras miro las notificaciones del salón que llegan a mi teléfono.
En mi mente, todavía tengo tiempo para atenderlas porque los profesores son muy comprensivos, lo cual podría causarme un problema, ya que, como mencioné antes, tengo el mal hábito/gran habilidad de procrastinar.
De vuelta a donde empecé, pero ahora con una sensación de calma después de quitarme un gran peso de encima. Ahora todos los exámenes y tareas restantes parecen más fáciles. Solo tengo que esperar los resultados y ver lo que el futuro me depara. Dos meses de espera que me mantienen inquieto, pero independientemente del resultado, sé que hice todo lo posible para llegar a este punto, y mi grupo me apoya pacientemente en esta dulce anticipación porque algunos de ellos también esperan sus propias respuestas.
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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