Since I've become involved in Border Beat, not only do I feel like my reporting and multimedia skills have improved, but my awareness of the border truly rose to the surface.

Although I've lived so close to Mexico my whole life here in Arizona, I never really thought much or even really cared about border issues. I entered as a staff member of the publication without a real clue about what "border issues" even were, and had little sense of whom was really affected. Putting myself out there this semester - through reporting, discussing and blogging - for the first time ever, to me the border became less of a piece of land. For the first time in my life, I look at the border as home to many.

When I think I about the border now, I think about the people I have met from Mexico. I think about those that have crossed legally or illegally, putting their lives and money on the line and those that have family on the other side, who are unable to join them in U.S.

Six months ago, when I would consider the "culture" of the border, I'd think about the small businesses, the desertous landscapes and of course the food. Now, I think about the music produced by Mexican students in Mariachi Tesoro de Tucson, who pour there hearts out through instruments... in hopes to fully express the sounds of Latin America.

As I try to consider the "issues" surrounding the border, now I can only reminisce about the hundreds that came out to protest Michael Chertoff last month at the UA, those who screamed and waived signs to tear the wall down.

I also look at the students who attend Las Artes in South Tucson, the majority of whom have Mexico in their blood and unlike me, are bilingual. Their beautiful murals spot our city, Tucson, and fully portray the beauty of Mexican art through the colors and images.

When I first started this blog, I wanted to cover health issues. I wanted to talk about all the miscellaneous health problems and agencies that affected border communities. Now, I remember the 100s of children that come to Saint Andrew's Clinic monthly from all over Mexico, for their chance to receive free health services. These children's lives are changed through therapy, surgery and even the chance to see or hear for the first time in their lives.

Border Beat was more than just a reporting class. It was a lesson in history and news, and to me, an opportunity to learn about people. I have met so many; from children to elderly, teachers to doctors, Mexican and American. In the end, I really don't beleive a border can define us, but in the case of the Border Beat class, can really bring us together.

Issues involving the U.S.-Mexico border is highly prevalent today, however most people are not as informed about them as they probably should be.

The following is a list of useful websites that summarize border issues, agencies and resources:

Border and Immigration Issues

Border Studies Program

BBC News-'Vigilantes' set for Mexico border patrol

US Embassy Mexico City

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Border News

The Coalición de Derechos Humanos is a human rights organization headquartered in Tucson. The agency strives to promote justice and equality for humans - U.S. citizens or not - particularly in the Southern border region of the U.S. for over 30 years. Coalition members fight discrimination and injustice among law enforcement officials and work to end the increasing militarization of the border.

Their web site is particularly interesting - with a counter of all the bodies
recovered in the Sonoran desert each year. This year the number is at about 183.

People can get involved in the coalition by volunteering or attending some of their many events which include protests, movie screenings, awareness sessions and projects. Some projects in the past have been the Migrant Trail Walk in the summer of 2008 and the Bring Down the Walll campaign, started in 2003.

My favorite way to stay active is being part of the list-serve, which informs me about upcoming events and border-related news.

Thursday's outing to Saint Andrew's Children Clinic was quite the eye-opener, and no pun intended there.

I couldn't believe the services provided - from physical therapy, orthopedic care, audiology and optometry - the participating children were so lucky to receive this kind of medical attention.

But receiving the services isn't as easy as showing up, some families traveled from hours across Mexico, and some had to schedule their child's appointment months in advance.

Nidia Tinajero, 16, came from Hermosillo, Mexico, a three-hour drive away to receive orthopedic treatment for a rare disorder she has, Angelman Syndrome. Her mother scheduled her appointment six months in advance, a common situation the two have been in for about 10 years already, as Saint Andrew's is one of the only opportunities for Nidia to receive medical care, said her mother, Nidia Tinajero.

The volunteers that come to the clinic include doctors, University of Arizona medical students and interpreters.

Nidia has always seen the same doctor, Francisco Valencia, M.D., who works at at the Tucson Medical Center.

Unfortunately for Nidia, on Thursday she didn't come with X-rays, so her and Tinajero had to go to a local hospital to obtain them, and bring them back later in the afternoon to receive the services.

The clinic's busiest times occurred before noon Thursday, and things started to slow down afterwards. For families that couldn't get an appointment, there is always next month, on the first thursday.

Here in the U.S., getting medical services can be inconvenient, unpleasant and expensive. For some however, traveling across the border for attention is worth the drive.

"I got my teeth cleaned for $30," said Nogales native Zelida Hernandez, who goes back home from Tucson to receive dental work annually.

And $30 is quite a steal, some might agree. Especially for Shantel Spencer's cousins, who have gotten all of their braces and miscellaneous dental work done for free on the Navajo reservation in Gallup, NM.

Spencer says that all health care is inexpensive on reservations, because of treaty agreements through the U.S. government.

"It's an obligation of the government to provide health care to Navajo people," she said.

Though it might not be the most, "quality," health care, Spencer said, it's still readily available when needed.

As a kid Spencer's family had to rely on Indian health care because her family didn't have medical insurance. One time she remembers waiting for six hours in the reservations emergency room and almost fainting.

"They want to give residents quality medical attention, but it's hard sometimes because there aren't enough doctors," she said.

Perlita Rojas also travels back to her home in Nogales for doctor's appointments to save money. It might take 45 minutes to get there, but she can't resist saving the money, she said.

In Mexico, Rojas said, every resident has access to the universal health care plan.

U.S. citizens can benefit from health care on the border, and though they may not receive the deal that Mexico citizens do, the prices are substantially cheaper, and many offices even accept U.S. insurance.

"And the health care is high-quality and abundant in Nogales," Hernandez said, "I am lucky to be able to receive it."