A number of the people involved in the planning of this program (and some of the people it has produced) call themselves geographers, which I first thought was strange. The word geography makes me think about elementary schools and colorful maps and memorizing things (some of which I don't entirely remember.)

But I am getting so into maps here. Because studying geography is another way (like history) of studying people and what we do and how we do it and when it might get better or worse.

It is good exploring a new city, and on Saturday we leave for Altar where most migrants coming up from Mexico and Central America pass through to find a coyote (a guide). We'll start our border-mapping project there. We will work in groups and create a map (this can mean something very different than what we usually think of when we think of maps) of Altar. We have to incorporate information that we collect while talking to people in the main plaza.

We'll do a similar thing in Tucson and again, twice, in Nogales. And through all that we're supposed to work toward making a map of the border. But maps can tell all sorts of stories, political histories and personal ones.

This is an intensely political and intensely personal place to be.