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Apparently the NFL is pretty big in México. These are just some of the many people that are fans of football that I met during my monthlong stay south of the border. 

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Día de los muertos en Oaxaca. 

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Cruising Boyle Heights

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Students and teachers (past and present) from Lynwood gathered to deliver food and clothes to those in need on Thanksgiving morning. Various individuals and organizations including The Salvation Army, The Potter's House Church and L.A. Mission joined the effort to provide a Thanksgiving meal to people who live on Skid Row, Los Angeles' most populated homeless community. 

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On my next destination I made it to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Few cities have ever captured my imagination quite like the this metropolis in the heart of South America. Buenos Aires is beautiful 24/7 but the city truly comes alive at night. I felt inspired to capture some of this night life which features events like tango dancing in my favorite barrio, San Telmo, historic building like La Casa Rosado and the breathtaking Alterno Book Store. Buenos Aires is magical and so far the place that has me reconsidering returning back to the States.

FOR MORE PHOTOS VISIT:

WWW.JEFFREYMERCADO.COM/SOUTH-AMERICA

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Stepping Back to Step Forward

             These past couple weeks have offered me the chance to see the rural parts of Uruguay. It was to my great surprise when I discovered that over half the country’s population lives in the capital city of Montevideo. The rest are spread throughout small towns along the coast. I had a chance to visit two. La Paloma is about a three and a half hour bus ride east of the capital. I arrived to a familiar face from back home. Carol Ann Bassett is one of my former professors at the UO and has since retired in this community of about 500 people. It was a much-needed connection in order to help me find the story I have been looking for since before my arrival. After a slow week of poking around for sources that could lead to a story we located a fisherman that has relies on the natural resources of La Paloma and surrounding towns. Many people desire to live the simple life of a minimalist, taking only what they need and giving back to mother nature. Carlos Ibanez jokes that if he doesn’t catch fish on a given day then there will not be food on the table that night. A slight exaggeration due to his small surplus, but Ibanez relies on his hands to put food on the table in true hunter-gatherer fashion.

            I was able to visit him and his family this week when I bussed over to the even more remote town of Barra de Valizas. This was my first story since arriving in Uruguay and it was truly humbling to remove myself from technology and follow the life of this fisherman. During my short stay with Ibanez I went out on his rowboat twice and helped set his fishing net to catch that night’s dinner. While we waited to trap fish and crabs, we took a walk across the famous sand dunes of Barra de Valizas. At the summit of the largest dune it appeared as though I was facing all corners the Earth. To the west I could see the river we were fishing. To the east I saw the waves crashing on the shore of where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The south displayed a vast majesty of sand dunes that attract tourists during the high season and far off to the north I saw the edge of a nearby forest. I’ve been spoiled with natural beauty before but this experience was a simply bliss.

            The tiny cabin I stayed in was a brief test of endurance. On my second night, I was awoken by a thunderstorm and attacking mosquitos. It should be noted that I despise mosquitos. They have become the vain of my existence. This all served as a reminder that the accommodations that are afforded to those in the States are privileges, never rights. My optimism and adventurous spirit outlasted the giant mosquito welts on my ankles and the leaking roof and the next day it was time to bid farewell to Ibanez, his wife and his two precious daughters whom I believe could be the next teen sensation on the Disney Channel. Though I would never wish that evil upon them.

            Next week I begin my trek west to Argentina and one of the largest cities in South America, Buenos Aires. I cannot emphasize enough that without these past few weeks removed from the congestion and haste of the busy city I would have long since been plotting my escape plan back to the States. I have had a chance to see the natural beauty of Uruguay and more importantly, the people that welcome their fellow man with open arms regardless of what they themselves own. I think that each day I’ve been here I’ve managed to continue breaking the notions that travel is a dangerous endeavor. Of course there are risk that are taken, the same way stepping into a car and doing 80mph on a busy 405 Highway every day has its risks.  I leave La Paloma with fond memories of the people I met and the certainty that my friend is in good company in her new home. 

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On sundays the streets are abandoned across Montevideo for siesta, but in the evening one can hear the sounds of drums in the distance. Locals gather from all over Barrio Sur in Montevideo to watch local drum lines practice throughout the neighborhood. These groups gather in order to prepare for Carnaval in February, where each district will compete to become the best drum line in the capital.

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The Countdown

A little over one week before I venture to South America on a two month odyssey. The nerves are starting to set in with every garment I fold into my suitcase. I suppose I should start at the beginning of this tale. In early May I received the a federal scholarship to fund a study abroad program in Uruguay. However, that program was cancelled due to a number of different factors and so suddenly I was presented the opportunity to travel on my own to southernmost part of Latin America. It has always been my goal in life to travel vastly. The chance to travel, though, has been seldom. 

So here I am, recently graduated from college, attempting to start my career as a journalist and I'm about to hop on a plane to travel over 6000 miles in hopes of achieving goals as a professional and personally. I've second guessed myself over and over. I have spoken to mentors, colleagues, friends and family and many have given me their blessings to pursue this adventure as well as asked what it is I intend to do there for the next two months. Here is the best answer I've been able to come up with:

My intentions in South America is to take the next step in knowing who I want to be and what I want to do as I enter the next chapter of my life. I plan to meet people and find out what drives them as individuals. I will document this experience and tie it to a larger theme in as a travel. With a little bit of luck and a ton of perseverance I will return mid-November as a changed man and with stories to share. 

I figure in the next few days the nerves will kick in fully and I'll feel like I have no idea what I am about to do. I had a similar feeling two years ago when I left Los Angeles and moved to Eugene, Oregon. This is a quote that I have held onto over the last month or so, 

“The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong, that’s when adventure starts” -Yvon Chouinard

I'll remember this when I bid adiós to the U.S. in a week. 

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Alex Nieto was a a 28-year-old who man was killed after being shot 14 times by SF police officers in March in Bernal Hill Park. This morning family and friends gathered to bless his spirit with an Aztec sunrise ceremony. Thank you, Kathryn Boyd-Batstone for letting me tag along and help produce this piece for the San Francisco Chronicle. 

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‘Am I Next?': Ferguson’s Protests Through the Eyes of a Teenager

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Hiking Spencers Butte at 5:00AM. 

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Had the chance to work on a unique video project a few weeks ago through the Eugene Film Society 72 Hour Music Video Competition.

Cameras - Gerrett Guinn, Jeff Mercado and Monica DeLeon Editor - Blaine Bailey Producer - Arianna Trames Production Assistant - Anna Connelly

"Out of the Storm" by Gemiinii Riisiing

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The World Junior Championships ended yesterday. It was an honor to have been a part of this historic day. 

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Day 4 of the World Junior Championships.