Chiapas!

Tomorrow night I'm heading out of Mexico City allllllll the way to Arriaga, Chiapas to see my family. I've never been to Chiapas but I'm super excited. This will also be the first time I meet my aunt Azucena and cousin Norma IN PERSON. For years we have talked via phone or email, but since Chiapas is so far, we've never had the chance to meet. It's about a 16 hour trip by bus to Arriaga from Mexico City.

In addition to visiting a new place and seeing my aunt and cousin in person for the first time, I'm so excited that I finally get to the amazing state of Chiapas.....I've wanted to go ever since I was little. Let me fill you in on some facts about the state so that you can see why I'm so excited...

Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico and has a humid tropical climate and contains rain forest and mountains. And even more exciting....Chiapas is home to a Mexican indigenous armed revolutionary group called the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). EZLN currently has 32 rebel autonomous municipalities in the state. Their ideology combines libertarian, libertarian socialism, libertarian municipalism, and indigenous Mayan political thought. They align themselves with the wider anti-globalization, anti-neoliberal social movement and seek indigenous control over their local resources, especially land (Wikipedia). Awesome huh? Well anyways...you can look up a ton of information on the Zaptistas. While I'm probably not going to go to one of the 32 rebel communities, my cousin is going to take me to their region and show me around. I've heard it's amazing.

I'm so excited to be with my family, see new things and expand my mind. I'll tell you how it went when I get back.

Check this video out, I think it does a great job of giving an overview of los Zapatistas and their lucha.