La Casa de Los Amigos…Mis Amigos
Wednesday, September 12th, 2012 by Sally Weathers
Professor Gómez and Nico in La Casa's reception area.
La Casa entrance.
La Casa's kitchen.
This post is a heartfelt (albeit unpardonably overdue) thank you to the organization that took me in while I was in Mexico City this summer. Thanks especially to Nico, the center’s director, who acted as host to the event the entire weekend . I would like to take the opportunity of this ‘thank you’ to dispel a few Haver-myths about the house, and to shed a little more light on an organization that has a remarkable partnership with Haverford.
Left to right: Haley, La Casa's Volunteer Coordinator, and Linnette, a Bryn Mawr student and La Casa volunteer, at La Casa's reception desk.
What is La Casa?
La Casa's women's dormitory. The guerrilla women spent two nights here; I spent the better part of two weeks here.
A quaker meeting house, a center for the promotion of global peace and non-violence, a hostel, a space for community organizing, a place where migrants can find a temporary home…and perhaps most basically, a community of individuals prepared to support a variety of projects that reflect the values of the Quaker tradition.
What sort of relationship does Haverford have with La Casa?
Mythbusters: La Casa has NEVER been an arm of Haverford. Our Center for Peace and Global Citizenship has a long-standing relationship with La Casa that has permitted many Bi-Co students over the years the opportunity to study/volunteer in Mexico City.
The porch adjoining La Casa's women's dormitory.
La Casa's living room.
What’s it like to stay at La Casa as a guest?
It’s one of those rare experiences when a group of total strangers welcomes you into their small, supportive community right in the midst of a huge and bustling city (population nearly 9 million). Mexico’s capital would have undoubtedly overwhelmed a visitor like me had La Casa not taken me in. La Casa has dormitories for both sexes, as well as single bedrooms. Breakfast can be purchased for a small fee every morning, and La Casa provides showers, towels, and sheets for its guests.
Profesor Gómez and I with La Casa staff, including Nico on the right.
La Casa's housekeeping staff.