WEBVTT 00:00:03.749 --> 00:00:06.669 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:06.710 --> 00:00:09.789 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my team and I produce 00:00:09.789 --> 00:00:12.650 content that's informative, positive, fun, and 00:00:12.650 --> 00:00:15.310 uplifting. This podcast is created and produced 00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:17.210 with the help of students from the International 00:00:17.210 --> 00:00:20.309 Community School of Bangkok. Hello and welcome 00:00:20.309 --> 00:00:22.250 back to the show. We've got another exciting 00:00:22.250 --> 00:00:24.910 episode for you. I'm joined by co -hosts Mia 00:00:24.910 --> 00:00:27.390 and Frank. In our first segment, we'll be talking 00:00:27.390 --> 00:00:29.469 with several student athletes about their high 00:00:29.469 --> 00:00:31.870 school sports career and the difficulties of 00:00:31.870 --> 00:00:35.009 balancing both academics and sports. Then in 00:00:35.009 --> 00:00:37.009 segment two, we'll continue part three of our 00:00:37.009 --> 00:00:39.149 adventure story titled Legends of the Yucatan. 00:00:39.409 --> 00:00:42.750 So stick around. But before we get started, let's 00:00:42.750 --> 00:00:44.229 hear our quote of the day and get some headline 00:00:44.229 --> 00:00:47.049 news. Our quote of the day comes from Haywood 00:00:47.049 --> 00:00:49.829 Brown, an American sports writer, journalist, 00:00:50.189 --> 00:00:53.049 and social commentator. He's quoted to have said, 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:55.939 Sports did not build character, they revealed 00:00:55.939 --> 00:00:58.420 it. The quote means that sports won't magically 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:00.679 give you character. Whatever you're born with 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.479 just shows up when you play. In the heat of competition, 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.459 your real traits, whether it's teamwork, integrity, 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:09.560 or even selfishness and competitiveness, taken 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.120 too far. Become clear. So rather than sports 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:14.939 making you a better person, they're more like 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:17.180 a mirror that reflects who you truly are on the 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:20.019 field and gives you a reality check on who you 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:22.670 are. And that's our quote of the day. Now, on 00:01:22.670 --> 00:01:25.290 to some headline news with Mia. For the news, 00:01:25.430 --> 00:01:27.469 let's look at some recent headlines in sports. 00:01:27.769 --> 00:01:31.010 First off, the 2025 Major League Baseball season 00:01:31.010 --> 00:01:33.790 kicked off with the Tokyo Series, which featured 00:01:33.790 --> 00:01:36.530 the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Clubs 00:01:36.530 --> 00:01:39.390 at the Tokyo Dome. This event marked the 25th 00:01:39.390 --> 00:01:42.129 anniversary of MLB's regular season games in 00:01:42.129 --> 00:01:44.609 Japan. This is a little special because our very 00:01:44.609 --> 00:01:47.409 own Toto went to Japan and watched the preseason 00:01:47.409 --> 00:01:52.219 game. Next up, the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:54.780 Tournament, known as March Madness, is officially 00:01:54.780 --> 00:01:57.560 underway, kicking off with the first four matchups 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:00.280 in Dayton, Ohio. The action ramps up with the 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.780 first round, featuring powerhouse programs like 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:06.120 Duke, Florida, and Houston aiming for deep tournament 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.300 runs. Meanwhile, red -hot teams like Texas Tech 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:11.580 and St. John's are making waves as potential 00:02:11.580 --> 00:02:14.360 bracket busters. With the final four set for 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.319 April 5th in San Antonio, the stage is set for 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:19.550 a another thrilling march filled with upsets, 00:02:19.650 --> 00:02:22.669 Cinderella stories, and buzzer beaters. Finally, 00:02:22.830 --> 00:02:25.250 get ready for some massive football clashes. 00:02:25.409 --> 00:02:28.669 From June 15th to July 13th this year, the FIFA 00:02:28.669 --> 00:02:31.710 Club World Cup will be held in 32 stadiums across 00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:34.509 the U .S. The competition will be in a tournament 00:02:34.509 --> 00:02:37.090 format, with group stages and knockout rounds, 00:02:37.270 --> 00:02:39.729 and concluding with a championship in the MetLife 00:02:39.729 --> 00:02:42.719 Stadium in New York. So, if you want to see famous 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.379 players like Messi and Mbappe compete, you should 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:47.900 definitely go. And that ends our headline news 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:59.939 for this episode. Thank you for the quote and 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.740 the headline news. We welcome several student 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:03.960 athletes to the studio for this segment, and 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:08.020 Mia will start us off. Hello, everyone. So could 00:03:08.020 --> 00:03:10.219 you all introduce yourself and tell us what sport 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:13.500 you play? Micah, you can go first. Hello, I'm 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:17.680 Micah. I'm a senior and I play football. I'm 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.439 Asa. I'm also a senior and I also play football. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:23.659 I'm Mimi. I'm a senior too and I play volleyball. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:27.259 I'm Ingrid and I'm also a senior and I play basketball 00:03:27.259 --> 00:03:29.919 and football. Very good sports from everyone. 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:31.919 So how long have you guys been involved in this 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.139 sport and what initially got you guys started? 00:03:34.990 --> 00:03:39.810 So I've been playing basketball since I was probably 00:03:39.810 --> 00:03:42.909 in fifth grade. And I started playing basketball 00:03:42.909 --> 00:03:46.270 because my parents made me do taekwondo, but 00:03:46.270 --> 00:03:48.490 I didn't want to do it anymore. So they said 00:03:48.490 --> 00:03:50.389 if I quit, I had to pick up another sport. So 00:03:50.389 --> 00:03:52.090 that was basketball. And I stuck with it ever 00:03:52.090 --> 00:03:56.229 since. I played volleyball since eighth grade. 00:03:56.310 --> 00:03:59.090 And I think my friends just invited me to a tryouts. 00:03:59.250 --> 00:04:01.969 That's just how I got started with the sport. 00:04:02.509 --> 00:04:05.050 I started. Playing football when I was five. 00:04:05.969 --> 00:04:09.530 My parents signed me up for like a little league 00:04:09.530 --> 00:04:13.449 thing in America and I really enjoyed it. And 00:04:13.449 --> 00:04:15.789 so I played all through elementary and got really 00:04:15.789 --> 00:04:20.589 into it. I also started when I was five and my 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:23.750 friend brought me to this club. And ever since 00:04:23.750 --> 00:04:26.449 then, I've been playing for that same club. All 00:04:26.449 --> 00:04:29.329 right. Thank you. So how do you guys think that 00:04:29.329 --> 00:04:31.529 your sport has shaped your high school experience 00:04:31.529 --> 00:04:36.540 so far? I think it's made it much more enjoyable 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:39.220 and I think I've gotten to know a lot more people 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:43.579 through the team. Yeah, kind of like Micah said, 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.920 it's been probably my favorite part or one of 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:50.459 my favorite parts of high school here. And a 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:52.899 lot of my teammates are my really good friends 00:04:52.899 --> 00:04:56.060 because of that. Same as Asa and Micah, I think 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:58.060 sports has gotten me the opportunity to meet 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:04.410 new people. Sports. made me like take my mind 00:05:04.410 --> 00:05:07.009 off of academics, which really helped. And I 00:05:07.009 --> 00:05:09.529 also met a lot of people who I normally wouldn't 00:05:09.529 --> 00:05:11.790 talk to at school and also hang out with friends 00:05:11.790 --> 00:05:15.250 outside of school is also really nice. Definitely. 00:05:15.310 --> 00:05:17.790 Sports can change your experience inside and 00:05:17.790 --> 00:05:20.189 outside of high school. So how has participating 00:05:20.189 --> 00:05:22.750 in your sport affect your time management and 00:05:22.750 --> 00:05:26.829 schoolwork? Actually, I don't think it really 00:05:26.829 --> 00:05:29.910 affects my time management much because, but 00:05:29.910 --> 00:05:31.930 I think that playing sports after school does 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:34.629 make me more motivated during guided studies 00:05:34.629 --> 00:05:36.709 since I will not just sit around and do nothing 00:05:36.709 --> 00:05:38.750 I'll actually try to finish my work but if I 00:05:38.750 --> 00:05:40.930 don't go to practice and I go home I won't be 00:05:40.930 --> 00:05:43.230 doing work anyways I'll just be probably taking 00:05:43.230 --> 00:05:47.269 a nap so yeah I mean I kind of did struggle with 00:05:47.269 --> 00:05:49.689 time management the first few years joining varsity 00:05:49.689 --> 00:05:53.089 but then later on I kind of adapt to it it really 00:05:53.089 --> 00:05:57.269 helped me develop and understand my priorities 00:05:57.269 --> 00:06:00.129 more because when I spent so much time practicing 00:06:00.129 --> 00:06:04.300 after school I had to really focus and be diligent 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:07.759 to get my schoolwork done. Yeah, for me, the 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.759 same as Asa, especially like when we had away 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:14.819 games, I would have to do all of my work like 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:16.699 a lot faster than I would normally have to do. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:19.360 And it taught me to be more diligent. All right. 00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:21.420 Thank you. I mean, like kudos to you guys. I 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:23.399 don't think I could ever do like what you guys 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:25.399 do, especially with a lot of like away games 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:28.540 and ACSC as well. So good job, guys. All right. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:31.730 So. After high school, do you see yourself continuing 00:06:31.730 --> 00:06:34.189 the sport? Or what's your future goal in the 00:06:34.189 --> 00:06:39.029 sport, if you have any? My future goal is just 00:06:39.029 --> 00:06:41.970 to become the best player I can and get to the 00:06:41.970 --> 00:06:46.930 highest level I can. And I hope that I don't 00:06:46.930 --> 00:06:50.889 get injuries that will stunt that growth. I would 00:06:50.889 --> 00:06:53.850 say my goal is to play for as long as I can and 00:06:53.850 --> 00:06:57.069 at the highest level I can. And next year I'll 00:06:57.069 --> 00:06:59.089 be playing in college, which is something I'm 00:06:59.089 --> 00:07:01.689 very excited about. And then I'll just see where 00:07:01.689 --> 00:07:05.490 that takes me. I'll probably play like club volleyball 00:07:05.490 --> 00:07:09.129 in my university. So yeah, I'll just have fun 00:07:09.129 --> 00:07:12.750 in my sport in the future. I would say that my 00:07:12.750 --> 00:07:14.850 basketball career will probably end in high school 00:07:14.850 --> 00:07:17.850 because I'm just too small of a fish and too 00:07:17.850 --> 00:07:19.930 big of a pawn in college to be able to amount 00:07:19.930 --> 00:07:21.970 to much in basketball. So I'm going to start 00:07:21.970 --> 00:07:24.750 picking up golf and start being a golfer instead. 00:07:25.810 --> 00:07:27.490 Definitely. But like, you know, like some people 00:07:27.490 --> 00:07:29.129 like you shouldn't just give up on your dreams, 00:07:29.209 --> 00:07:31.170 even if it's just small or big, you know, just 00:07:31.170 --> 00:07:34.029 keep going. But yeah, so what advice would you 00:07:34.029 --> 00:07:36.329 give to younger athletes who are just starting 00:07:36.329 --> 00:07:40.689 their high school sports careers? The most important 00:07:40.689 --> 00:07:42.990 advice I would give is as a younger athlete, 00:07:43.029 --> 00:07:46.470 you might not get as much playing time as the 00:07:46.470 --> 00:07:49.629 other people. And I think that should not discourage 00:07:49.629 --> 00:07:53.350 you from like trying to work harder. Instead, 00:07:53.569 --> 00:07:56.680 like take, use that. use like not having enough 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.040 playing time to motivate yourself to improve 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:01.279 so you can eventually get more playing time yeah 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.740 yeah I agree with Ingrid but most importantly 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:06.100 just try to have fun with your friends and then 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:08.860 use that opportunity to bond with other people 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:12.639 too yeah I would say do your best work really 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:15.420 hard to win but don't forget your reason for 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:16.959 playing the sport which is because you enjoy 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.360 it so don't put too much pressure on yourself 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.339 to perform and win all the time I think you should 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:25.379 just try your hardest because you might be really 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:28.439 talented at it and you should take it as far 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.779 as you can. All right. Thank you very much for 00:08:31.779 --> 00:08:34.299 being here in the studio today. We appreciate 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:36.799 the sacrifice and all the time that goes into 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:38.980 being a student athlete. It's a lot of work. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.240 And on top of that, you have to do the same amount 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.700 of homework that all of your. friends and other 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:46.500 students have to do so thank you for that all 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:49.220 right we'll be right back after this short psa 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:52.120 announcement when we bring you part three of 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.240 the legends of the yucatan we'll be right back 00:08:55.240 --> 00:09:03.519 let's talk about tri sports this unique tournament 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.419 blends basketball volleyball and soccer over 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:09.200 three action -packed days it's also the final 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:12.179 competition for senior student athletes making 00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:14.700 a meaningful and memorable way to close out their 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:17.259 high school sports journey. Players compete in 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:19.740 soccer, then volleyball, and finally basketball, 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.860 creating an unforgettable experience filled with 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:26.440 teamwork, competition, and camaraderie. For many 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:29.100 seniors, Tri Sports holds a special place in 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:31.379 their hearts. making it a highly recommended 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:34.799 event to cap off their high school athletic careers. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.360 Then we have the Varsity Badminton Tournament, 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:41.080 hosted as an ISB invitational event. This prestigious 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:43.620 international competition will welcome schools 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:46.639 from across Asia for two days of high -level 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.480 badminton play. The tournament will be held this 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.419 Friday and Saturday at ISB. Don't miss the chance 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:54.600 to cheer on our teams for both tournaments this 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:01.240 weekend. Go team! And we are back with our second 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:03.759 segment and we'll continue with part three of 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.500 our story, Legends of the Yucatan. Part three 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:09.539 is titled The Incident. If you missed parts one 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:12.100 and two, you can get caught up by listening to 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:15.899 episodes 87 through 88. Legends of the Yucatan 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:18.779 is a sequel to our season two story, The Secrets 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:21.840 of El Dorado. We released last year during episodes 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:26.490 55 through 64 in audio narration. It's also available 00:10:26.490 --> 00:10:29.570 in book form as a downloadable PDF from our website 00:10:29.570 --> 00:10:33.470 or in paperback version on Amazon .com. Just 00:10:33.470 --> 00:10:36.230 visit studentsincorporated .com to find out more. 00:10:36.429 --> 00:10:39.629 Now moving on, Camden will give us a quick recap 00:10:39.629 --> 00:10:54.009 before we jump into part three. Recapping part 00:10:54.009 --> 00:10:56.759 two, the interview. The students and chaperones 00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:59.399 from El Dorado College arrive safely at UNOM. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.899 Ava interviews Miranda and David about the artifact 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:04.240 while Professor Hawthorne guests lectures. There 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.019 is a book signing event in the student union, 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.220 and the group meets museum curator Anthony Garcia. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:12.039 And without further ado, let's jump back into 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.240 our story where we join our eclectic group of 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:21.669 characters and their continuing adventure. Prof. 00:11:21.809 --> 00:11:24.269 Amanda Chase has been back at the college in 00:11:24.269 --> 00:11:27.009 Coloma, California, while Professor Hawthorne, 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:29.350 Ava, Lily, and the students have been enjoying 00:11:29.350 --> 00:11:32.210 their first couple days on the ground at UNAM 00:11:32.210 --> 00:11:35.950 in Mexico City. As she finishes one of her classes 00:11:35.950 --> 00:11:38.570 and while walking out of the lecture hall, her 00:11:38.570 --> 00:11:41.649 phone gets a notification with a not -so -familiar 00:11:41.649 --> 00:11:45.019 ding. It catches her attention because it's a 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:47.820 very different sound from the usual notification 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:51.539 ding she receives from her other messaging apps. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.100 Hmm. She thinks to herself and then looks more 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:57.679 closely at the screen on her phone as she's walking 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.860 down the hall toward her office. The message 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:04.500 reads, the U .S. Embassy has issued a level three 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:08.360 travel warning for parts of Mexico. Amanda clicks 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.340 on the notification and a longer message then 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:14.779 appears and reads, Level 3. Reconsider travel. 00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:18.559 Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.500 security. The Department of State provides additional 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:24.320 advice for travelers in these areas in the travel 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.480 advisory. Conditions in any country may change 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:30.799 at any time. Oh my, Amanda thinks to herself 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:33.860 as she gets situated at her desk in her office. 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:37.789 She sends a quick text. to Professor Hawthorne 00:12:37.789 --> 00:12:40.950 asking if he has seen the same message or has 00:12:40.950 --> 00:12:44.850 heard of anything. It reads, Hello, hope things 00:12:44.850 --> 00:12:47.950 are going well for you all down there. It's been 00:12:47.950 --> 00:12:51.490 really quiet here for the last few days. Anyway, 00:12:51.710 --> 00:12:54.470 quick question, did you happen to receive a notification 00:12:54.470 --> 00:12:57.210 from the U .S. Embassy about a travel alert? 00:12:57.450 --> 00:13:00.649 Just wondering, asking as a concerned friend 00:13:00.649 --> 00:13:04.529 and colleague. Amanda impatiently stares down 00:13:04.529 --> 00:13:06.750 at her phone screen, waiting for a reply from 00:13:06.750 --> 00:13:09.389 the professor, hoping he sees it immediately. 00:13:09.730 --> 00:13:12.529 All of a sudden, it hadn't been but a few seconds. 00:13:12.669 --> 00:13:15.629 Amanda sees the small dots in the messaging app 00:13:15.629 --> 00:13:19.070 bounce, which indicates that the professor is 00:13:19.070 --> 00:13:27.820 in the middle of replying. So she waits. Professor 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:30.179 Hawthorne stopped mid -stride as he was walking 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:33.340 back to his temporary dorm room on the UNAM campus 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:36.460 after a long day of being with students, signing 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:39.340 books and talking a lot. His phone had dinged 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:41.779 with a familiar message, which indicated he had 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:45.019 received a text message. He noticed it was from 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:47.639 Amanda Chase, who was back at El Dorado College 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:50.960 in Coloma. He was thankful to have her join as 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:53.240 a faculty member this past year. She had helped 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.460 make this trip possible for him and his students. 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:58.340 helping with logistics, planning, and taking 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:01.500 some of his classes while he was away. Zoe felt 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.960 he owed it to her to keep all communication lines 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:07.100 open while he was away from the school, especially 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:09.840 if she had any questions about one of his classes 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.159 she was covering. He looked down at his phone 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.759 and read her message. He then clicked a few other 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:17.399 messaging apps open and saw nothing. There was 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.440 no notifications or messages from the U .S. Embassy 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.610 about a travel alert. He thought to himself as 00:14:23.610 --> 00:14:26.889 he was messaging Amanda back, hmm, maybe a false 00:14:26.889 --> 00:14:30.210 alarm or just formality the U .S. sends out pre 00:14:30.210 --> 00:14:33.909 -summer travel season. He proceeds to text her 00:14:33.909 --> 00:14:36.370 back letting her know that they are all fine 00:14:36.370 --> 00:14:38.909 and have not heard any news like that from anybody 00:14:38.909 --> 00:14:42.970 they've met. He texts back and it reads, Thanks 00:14:42.970 --> 00:14:45.409 for the message. We're doing good. Did not get 00:14:45.409 --> 00:14:48.169 any notifications on this end. Maybe a false 00:14:48.169 --> 00:14:50.730 alarm or just a pre -summer travel precaution. 00:14:51.789 --> 00:14:54.350 BTW, thanks for holding down the fort while I'm 00:14:54.350 --> 00:14:57.129 gone. I really appreciate it. And with that, 00:14:57.169 --> 00:14:59.370 he opens the door to his temporary dorm room 00:14:59.370 --> 00:15:01.629 and plops down on the uncomfortable small bed 00:15:01.629 --> 00:15:10.809 and zones out. Amanda reads Professor Hawthorne's 00:15:10.809 --> 00:15:13.149 message and feels a sense of relief and texts 00:15:13.149 --> 00:15:16.809 back. Okay, sounds good. Take care, and if I 00:15:16.809 --> 00:15:19.429 get any more messages, I'll text you back. And 00:15:19.429 --> 00:15:22.169 with that... A thought comes to mind. She then 00:15:22.169 --> 00:15:24.669 remembers that when she was helping set up all 00:15:24.669 --> 00:15:26.870 the travel plans for the team several months 00:15:26.870 --> 00:15:29.950 prior, she actually entered her phone number 00:15:29.950 --> 00:15:32.690 as one of the main contacts for the team and 00:15:32.690 --> 00:15:35.629 forgot to add Professor Hawthorne's number. She 00:15:35.629 --> 00:15:39.309 thinks to herself, well, if I get any more notifications, 00:15:39.750 --> 00:15:43.080 I'll just pass them along as well. I'm hoping 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.559 Hawthorne's assessment is correct, that this 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.539 U .S. Embassy travel alert notification is just 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:52.259 a formality for tourists ahead of the heavy summer 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:54.759 travel season that's just around the corner. 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:02.600 Anthony Garcia is still with anxious pride. He 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.080 can't believe that he has the honor of helping 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:07.059 emcee the museum fundraising gala. In a little 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:08.860 more than eight hours, he'll be mingling with 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:11.320 prominent politicians, famous Mexican actors, 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:13.840 and a lot of very wealthy in this very own museum. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:16.700 Well, let's just say the city's museum, but he 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.840 likes to call it his museum since the shows and 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.980 items he has been able to curate over the years 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:23.440 have helped propel this unknown old building 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.960 into an international destination. Not to mention 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:28.759 the world -renowned stuff he's been able to recruit 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:32.139 and keep. He thinks to himself, tonight is the 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:34.379 accumulation of many, many years of hard work, 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:36.820 and I'm going to enjoy myself. After all, I deserve 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:39.659 it. Mexico City, this district, and the community 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:42.419 owes me a great deal of gratitude for the past 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:45.019 many years. And deep down, Anthony also knows 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.740 that the artifacts that will be unveiled at the 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:49.500 gala and be displayed in the museum also come 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.919 with some territorial and cultural baggage he 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.580 hopes does not ruin the excitement everyone will 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:56.580 be feeling. He's got plenty to do in the next 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:58.779 eight hours before the event begins, so he gets 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:00.899 busy. He's focused and determined to make this 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:08.069 one of the best evenings of his career. It's 00:17:08.069 --> 00:17:10.890 mid -morning and the El Dorado College students 00:17:10.890 --> 00:17:13.269 who came on the trip have the day off. There 00:17:13.269 --> 00:17:15.329 are no scheduled events all day until the evening 00:17:15.329 --> 00:17:18.589 gala at the museum. Yesterday had been a long 00:17:18.589 --> 00:17:21.250 and fun day, but they were all glad to get to 00:17:21.250 --> 00:17:23.710 sleep in a bit, relax, and get some free time. 00:17:24.349 --> 00:17:27.250 Max, Danny, and Joe were sharing a four -person 00:17:27.250 --> 00:17:30.730 dorm room and were only a few doors down from 00:17:30.730 --> 00:17:32.509 the room Professor Hawthorne was staying in. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:35.440 Each night, Professor Hawthorne had come down 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:38.160 to the room, checked in on them, shouted, and 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.380 hung out before turning in for the night. He 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:42.779 even played a few hands of five -card draw. The 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.920 guys mentioned more than once that getting to 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:47.119 hang out with the professor outside the classroom 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:49.480 was actually quite fun and that it was quite 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.900 entertaining to see another side to him. Max 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:54.460 gets up and starts rummaging through his suitcase. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:57.559 Hey, Danny, Joe, so are your clothes as wrinkled 00:17:57.559 --> 00:18:00.190 as mine? Max asks his two roommates as he sifts 00:18:00.190 --> 00:18:02.170 through his suitcase that's been laying on the 00:18:02.170 --> 00:18:05.769 floor of the Yunam dorm room. He and his El Dorado 00:18:05.769 --> 00:18:07.589 classmates have been staying in for the last 00:18:07.589 --> 00:18:10.710 few days. Max continues. My mom would be so disappointed 00:18:10.710 --> 00:18:13.049 in me right now. I mean, I totally forgot to 00:18:13.049 --> 00:18:15.250 set out the outfit I packed for the gala event 00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:18.450 and now it's full of wrinkles. It looks so unprofessional 00:18:18.450 --> 00:18:21.650 and juvenile. Danny jumps in. Well, you can do 00:18:21.650 --> 00:18:23.690 what I've had to do before. Hang your wrinkled 00:18:23.690 --> 00:18:25.529 clothes in the bathroom and turn on the hot shower 00:18:25.529 --> 00:18:27.950 water and shut the door for a few minutes. The 00:18:27.950 --> 00:18:29.349 steam from the hot water should help get rid 00:18:29.349 --> 00:18:32.430 of the wrinkles. Really? That works? Joe turns 00:18:32.430 --> 00:18:34.769 and looks at Danny and then over at Max as he 00:18:34.769 --> 00:18:37.490 and Danny watch Max unfold and hang up the one 00:18:37.490 --> 00:18:39.809 formal outfit he had brought up on the trip. 00:18:40.089 --> 00:18:42.710 This is my formal outfit for tonight, Max says 00:18:42.710 --> 00:18:44.789 as he holds it up to show the other two guys 00:18:44.789 --> 00:18:46.789 who are still lounging around on their beds. 00:18:47.049 --> 00:18:49.789 I'm going to try the bathroom steam trick and 00:18:49.789 --> 00:18:53.190 see if it works. Max continues, guys, how often 00:18:53.190 --> 00:18:56.029 do we get dressed up this fancy back home? Hardly 00:18:56.029 --> 00:18:58.470 ever, right? So we need to look classy and sharp 00:18:58.470 --> 00:19:01.009 tonight. Besides, we need to match the girls 00:19:01.009 --> 00:19:03.170 and styles. I'm sure they'll be dressed to the 00:19:03.170 --> 00:19:06.009 nines. We can't have them outclassed us. Joe 00:19:06.009 --> 00:19:08.690 cracks a smile, looks directly at Max, and then 00:19:08.690 --> 00:19:11.789 says, Sounds like there's a certain someone you're 00:19:11.789 --> 00:19:14.269 trying to impress tonight. It's okay to admit 00:19:14.269 --> 00:19:17.750 you have a thing for Olivia. Danny jumps in again. 00:19:18.549 --> 00:19:20.829 Well, the question you need to be asking yourself 00:19:20.829 --> 00:19:23.809 and then finding out the answer to is, does Olivia 00:19:23.809 --> 00:19:26.430 have a thing for you too? Until you figure that 00:19:26.430 --> 00:19:28.789 out, I think you'll just be another dude in a 00:19:28.789 --> 00:19:36.430 nice suit this evening. Meanwhile, an across 00:19:36.430 --> 00:19:39.309 -the -small -campus street that separated several 00:19:39.309 --> 00:19:42.210 of the boys' dorm from some of the girls' dorm, 00:19:42.309 --> 00:19:44.750 the four college girls, who are also part of 00:19:44.750 --> 00:19:47.069 the El Dorado college group, were essentially 00:19:47.069 --> 00:19:50.539 doing the same exact thing boys were doing. That 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.940 is, they were looking through their suitcases 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:55.759 and prepping their formal clothes for that evening's 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:59.460 gala event at the museum. It was still mid -morning 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:02.019 and they were happy to have some downtime as 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:04.940 well. The past few days have been quite busy, 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:09.019 enjoyable but busy. Hey Olivia, did you end up 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.140 packing that one outfit you were talking about 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:14.880 last week after class? Vivian asks as she holds 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.599 up her formal dress to make sure the wrinkles 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:20.880 are not noticeable. No, I didn't. Olivia responds. 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:24.019 My parents gave me some trip money at the last 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.740 minute, so I was able to actually buy a new outfit 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:29.240 a few days before we left. Oh, let's see it. 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.859 Isabel remarks as she is in the middle of reorganizing 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:35.279 her own suitcase and her clothes she had just 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.680 been stuffing back in the suitcase after she 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.359 had worn them. Yeah, let's see it, Liv. Vivian 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:43.950 chimes in. Okay, guys, here it is. Olivia says 00:20:43.950 --> 00:20:47.490 as she reluctantly holds up the new dress she 00:20:47.490 --> 00:20:50.230 had just purchased a few days prior to them leaving 00:20:50.230 --> 00:20:53.230 California to go on this trip. She continues, 00:20:53.549 --> 00:20:56.829 okay, what do you think? Be honest now. Isabel 00:20:56.829 --> 00:21:00.089 jumps in and immediately says, oh wow, that's 00:21:00.089 --> 00:21:02.950 awesome and it's totally you. Yeah, not bad. 00:21:03.509 --> 00:21:06.630 Vivian says as she looks over at Emily who hadn't 00:21:06.630 --> 00:21:09.049 really said anything yet. What do you think of 00:21:09.049 --> 00:21:11.410 Emily? Well, it's not my style and it probably 00:21:11.410 --> 00:21:13.690 won't fit me, but it'd look really pretty on 00:21:13.690 --> 00:21:16.029 you, Olivia, Emily says as she puts down her 00:21:16.029 --> 00:21:18.190 phone after scrolling through her social media 00:21:18.190 --> 00:21:22.049 accounts. Well, thank you. And you could totally 00:21:22.049 --> 00:21:25.410 pull this look off if you had to, Olivia says 00:21:25.410 --> 00:21:28.450 as she proceeds to hang up the dress, making 00:21:28.450 --> 00:21:31.730 sure it stays nice and wrinkle -free before having 00:21:31.730 --> 00:21:34.809 to put it on later that day. Just then, there's 00:21:34.809 --> 00:21:38.160 a knock on the girl's door. Lily knocks on the 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:41.160 girl's door and it opens immediately. There stands 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:44.480 Olivia with a big smile on her face. Lily then 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.140 says, you all seem to be enjoying some downtime. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:50.059 How's it going? Great. We were just hanging up 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:53.619 our formal outfits for tonight's event. We can't 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:57.099 go looking like we just pulled our outfits out 00:21:57.099 --> 00:22:00.619 of our messy suitcases. Olivia responds. Oh, 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.839 right. Thanks for the reminder. I need to do 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:05.730 that too. Lady says as she steps halfway into 00:22:05.730 --> 00:22:08.009 the room to look at the other outfits hanging 00:22:08.009 --> 00:22:11.150 up. Isabel then asks, what's Mrs. Turner doing? 00:22:11.609 --> 00:22:14.890 Miss Turner? Oh, right. You can totally count 00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:18.269 her by her first name, Ava. She would probably 00:22:18.269 --> 00:22:21.309 laugh if she heard you being that formal, Lady 00:22:21.309 --> 00:22:23.990 responds. She's just hanging out in our room 00:22:23.990 --> 00:22:27.210 and trying to catch up on work. Well, I just 00:22:27.210 --> 00:22:29.710 wanted to come down and check on you and see 00:22:29.710 --> 00:22:32.009 how things are going. Remember, we need to be 00:22:32.009 --> 00:22:44.720 out front. Hawthorner spent the better part of 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.519 the morning scouring the internet looking for 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:48.900 information about why the United States had put 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:51.059 out the travel warning. Of course, the information 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:53.440 was not specific and there was nothing online 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.200 that he could find that would justify any type 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:59.480 of heightened anxiety on his part. He did feel 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.519 a lot of responsibility for the students who 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.839 had come but also knew that this trip offered 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:06.339 them a great experience that many of them would 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:09.420 not be able to get anywhere else. Professor Hawthorne, 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.500 noticing that it's a little past noon, leaves 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:13.900 the room and makes his way down to the dorm room 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.980 where the boys are staying. He knocks on the 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:20.440 door. No answer. After a few more unanswered 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.480 knocks, the professor decides to head over to 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.880 one of the small student unions located on the 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:27.720 other side of campus and grab a bite to eat for 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:30.450 lunch. The professor enters the student union 00:23:30.450 --> 00:23:33.029 building and immediately sees Max, Danny, and 00:23:33.029 --> 00:23:35.910 Joe sitting at a table eating and notices they 00:23:35.910 --> 00:23:38.410 had just gotten started. He walks over to them 00:23:38.410 --> 00:23:40.670 and then says, hey guys, glad you found some 00:23:40.670 --> 00:23:43.130 food. Do you mind if the teacher joins you? Of 00:23:43.130 --> 00:23:45.309 course not. We just got started. They're actually 00:23:45.309 --> 00:23:47.809 serving American -style hamburgers today. And 00:23:47.809 --> 00:23:50.569 well, you can tell that we're pretty excited 00:23:50.569 --> 00:23:53.430 about that. Max responds as he looks down at 00:23:53.430 --> 00:23:56.369 his two plates full of food. All right. Sounds 00:23:56.369 --> 00:23:59.630 good, Hawthorne replies. Let me get my tray of 00:23:59.630 --> 00:24:01.789 food and I'll be right back. Oh, and by the way, 00:24:01.809 --> 00:24:03.609 if you have any questions about the gala tonight, 00:24:03.829 --> 00:24:06.049 we can talk about it over lunch. The professor 00:24:06.049 --> 00:24:08.269 then turns around and walks off to get his food, 00:24:08.289 --> 00:24:10.549 which is served cafeteria style. As Hawthorne 00:24:10.549 --> 00:24:13.049 walks off and is out of earshot, Joe makes a 00:24:13.049 --> 00:24:15.890 comment to the other two guys. I don't know about 00:24:15.890 --> 00:24:19.109 you, but it's kind of fun coming a trip with 00:24:19.109 --> 00:24:21.769 the professor. Getting to see him outside the 00:24:21.769 --> 00:24:24.130 classroom and realizing he's just a normal person. 00:24:24.329 --> 00:24:27.029 Well, besides the fact that he's somewhat famous. 00:24:27.869 --> 00:24:30.589 Yeah, well, I don't really think about the whole 00:24:30.589 --> 00:24:33.069 Gold Rush scandal thing. He was involved in a 00:24:33.069 --> 00:24:35.589 couple years back. Well, Miss Turner and Lily 00:24:35.589 --> 00:24:38.950 too. And there he is, well, Max responds. Danny 00:24:38.950 --> 00:24:40.990 then says as they watch Hawthorne start walking 00:24:40.990 --> 00:24:43.329 back to their table with his tray of food, I 00:24:43.329 --> 00:24:44.970 wonder what kind of scandal we'll find ourselves 00:24:44.970 --> 00:24:47.630 in on this trip. Professor Hawthorne sits down 00:24:47.630 --> 00:24:50.069 with his tray of food, looks up at the guys and 00:24:50.069 --> 00:24:51.970 then says, Alright guys, what questions do you 00:24:51.970 --> 00:24:59.480 have about tonight's event? Meanwhile, and on 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:01.539 the same day, there was a scurry of activity 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:04.180 in an old abandoned two -story building just 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:07.220 a few blocks away from the museum. The museum 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.599 at which the night's activities would be happening. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:12.619 The old abandoned building was known to local 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:15.420 residents as the Old Broom Factory and had been 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:18.099 sitting empty for the past few years. When the 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:20.480 business had been operational, they produced 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.940 all kinds of brooms, which were sold and distributed 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:26.460 all over Mexico. However, many of the locals 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:28.660 knew... that the business was used for more than 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:31.740 just making brooms. Rumor has it the old broom 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:34.180 factory had also been a money laundering tool 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:36.960 for one of the local gangs that had ties to the 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:41.460 cartel. Is everything in place? Maria asked her 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:43.339 niece and nephew, who were sitting a few feet 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:46.059 away from her on old half -broken wooden chairs. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:49.839 Si, senora. Everyone is prepped and ready for 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:52.119 this evening. Carlos responds as he looks at 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:54.559 his older sister, Renata, sitting next to him. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:58.569 It's an easy in and out. No problem. We've done 00:25:58.569 --> 00:26:01.289 much more difficult jobs than this one, Renanta 00:26:01.289 --> 00:26:05.309 says. Well, don't get too cocky. There's a lot 00:26:05.309 --> 00:26:07.769 more at stake with this job. Maria snaps back 00:26:07.769 --> 00:26:10.190 and then continues. There will be a lot of people 00:26:10.190 --> 00:26:12.289 there, so just follow the plan and see that it 00:26:12.289 --> 00:26:15.069 gets done and done right. Speed and coordination 00:26:15.069 --> 00:26:17.529 is the key to grabbing both of the items tonight. 00:26:17.650 --> 00:26:19.970 I'll be here waiting. Don't deviate from that 00:26:19.970 --> 00:26:23.250 plan. Get back here as quickly as you can. And 00:26:23.250 --> 00:26:25.170 remember to connect with our guy on the inside 00:26:25.170 --> 00:26:32.460 when you get in there. Professor Hawthorne and 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:34.980 the three young college guys walk out of their 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:37.380 dorm building and toward the white van that's 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:40.519 parked out front. He notices his friend Prof. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:43.119 Tommy is standing outside next to the van already 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:46.019 talking with Ava. He then notices the college 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:48.480 girls and Lily walking toward the van from the 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.279 other side, having just exited the girls' dorm 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:54.119 building. As everyone stands around the van, 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:57.000 Hawthorne says, Thanks for being on time, everyone, 00:26:57.160 --> 00:27:00.200 and you all look great. We clean up real well. 00:27:00.829 --> 00:27:03.250 All right, everybody, let's load up and get going. 00:27:03.450 --> 00:27:05.609 We'll probably hit some traffic on the way there, 00:27:06.150 --> 00:27:08.029 Palmer says as he jumps in the front passenger 00:27:08.029 --> 00:27:10.970 seat. A few minutes later, the van is moving 00:27:10.970 --> 00:27:13.289 and on its way to the museum for a night that 00:27:13.289 --> 00:27:21.569 no one will forget. About 30 minutes later, the 00:27:21.569 --> 00:27:24.109 van arrives at the museum's front entrance, which 00:27:24.109 --> 00:27:26.940 was a drop -off only. The American college students, 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:29.680 along with Hawthorne and Ava, exit the van and 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.319 take in the surroundings. The evening was starting 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:34.740 to settle in, and the day's light was dimming. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:37.079 I guess you could say it was dusk. There was 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:39.960 a mariachi band consisting of about 12 members 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:42.299 playing close to the foot of the main stone staircase 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.500 leading up to the main entrance of the museum. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:47.440 Photographers, along with reporters and news 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.859 agencies, were scurrying around as guests and 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:52.559 spectators started arriving. Upon getting out 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:54.859 of the van and after taking a headcount to make 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:57.500 sure everyone was accounted for, Professor Hawthorne 00:27:57.500 --> 00:28:00.140 looks over at Ava and says, Looks like quite 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:02.900 the media event. Did you know this evening's 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:05.799 event would be so popular among the major news 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:09.200 outlets? Ava responds, I knew it was going to 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:11.380 be popular, but I didn't know it would be this 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:14.119 popular. I mean, I see another Reuters reporter 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:16.339 here. Probably to make sure they get the whole 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:19.049 story from different angles, I suppose. Tommy 00:28:19.049 --> 00:28:21.170 puts his arm around Hawthorne's shoulders and 00:28:21.170 --> 00:28:23.829 says, You all ready to go inside? It'll be much 00:28:23.829 --> 00:28:25.890 quieter and more calm once we go inside the museum. 00:28:26.309 --> 00:28:28.410 There's a reception area with snacks and beverage 00:28:28.410 --> 00:28:30.829 you can enjoy while waiting for the planned agenda 00:28:30.829 --> 00:28:33.109 to begin. As the group makes their way through 00:28:33.109 --> 00:28:35.190 the crowded outdoor area in front of the museum 00:28:35.190 --> 00:28:37.920 and then up the main stone. steps towards the 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.779 large wooden entrance doors. Ava looks back down 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:43.519 toward the road and spots both David Silva and 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:46.440 Miranda Martinez getting mauled by reporters 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:48.559 and cameras as they were trying to make their 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:51.460 way toward the steps and entrance. Prof Tommy 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:54.079 notices Ava's reaction and shouts over the noise 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:57.119 back at Ava. Yup, they're like local celebrities 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:59.940 now. And I think secretly the public would love 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:02.299 to see them become a couple. Six months ago, 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.819 no one knew them and they didn't know each other. 00:29:05.150 --> 00:29:08.349 Now they're more famous than the cartel. Ava 00:29:08.349 --> 00:29:10.829 cracked a half smile and nodded her head back 00:29:10.829 --> 00:29:13.849 at Prof Tommy and thought to herself, being more 00:29:13.849 --> 00:29:16.789 famous than the cartel is not necessarily a good 00:29:16.789 --> 00:29:19.630 thing either. After entering the main entrance 00:29:19.630 --> 00:29:22.609 of the museum and then walking through the large 00:29:22.609 --> 00:29:25.170 museum atrium, Professor Hawthorne and the group 00:29:25.170 --> 00:29:27.609 make their way to the main reception area, which 00:29:27.609 --> 00:29:30.359 was already packed with guests. Everyone was 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:32.680 dressed to the T and standing around talking 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:35.880 or leaning on one of the many tall cocktail tables 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:38.819 with wine glasses in hand while talking about 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:41.759 the things ruling class elites talk about at 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:44.539 these sort of events. Hawthorne thought to himself, 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:48.160 but said out loud, these two artifacts must have 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:51.000 some significant historical and cultural relevance 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:54.140 to attract all these people here tonight. The 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:56.119 crowd of guests who had gathered in the reception 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:59.000 area included some of Mexico's most rich and 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:01.980 famous, along with prominent politicians from 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:04.779 Mexico and other influential Latin American countries. 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.660 Tommy leans over to Hawthorne and says loudly, 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:10.940 I'll leave you all here to mingle. Have fun tonight 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:13.359 and enjoy the spectacle. you have your own seat 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:15.880 assignments so i'll meet you back in the atrium 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:18.119 by the front entrance later after the fundraising 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:20.660 auction and the artifact unveiling they aren't 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:23.240 auctioning the two artifacts though stays in 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:26.359 museum permanently however anthony and his team 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:28.500 have chosen some rare items from the museum we 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:31.700 auctioned off for the fundraiser i'm sure your 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.940 student will get a kick out of watching all the 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:36.460 rich people here tonight trying to outbid and 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:38.980 outspend each other. I'm sure they will, Hawthorne 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:41.180 replied, and then watched Tommy snake his way 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:43.059 back through the crowd and toward the atrium 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:45.740 of the museum. Professor Hawthorne felt a bit 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:48.019 out of place among this crowd and knew that the 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:50.119 rest of his group probably felt the same way. 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:52.839 He recognized several different celebrities and 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:55.529 politicians. He thought to himself, it's quite 00:30:55.529 --> 00:30:58.109 funny, the celebrities and even the politicians 00:30:58.109 --> 00:31:00.950 he recognized all look shorter in person than 00:31:00.950 --> 00:31:03.549 they do on TV. He was glad to be able to just 00:31:03.549 --> 00:31:05.910 blend in with the crowd and not have anyone recognize 00:31:05.910 --> 00:31:08.789 him. However, he wondered about Ava since she 00:31:08.789 --> 00:31:11.529 had been on a lot of news segments over the past 00:31:11.529 --> 00:31:14.250 year telling their story. As he was thinking 00:31:14.250 --> 00:31:16.630 this, he looked over to see her standing several 00:31:16.630 --> 00:31:19.349 tables over with two people he did not recognize. 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:22.119 Ava was laughing and having a good time with 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:24.539 the two old reporter acquaintances from a different 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:26.759 network she had met earlier in the year while 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.660 doing an interview with the governor of California. 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:31.599 They were reminiscing about the fun and awkward 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:33.720 moments that typically come with meeting and 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:36.480 then interviewing a prominent politician, and 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:39.059 all the weird and special requests from the politician's 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:42.079 office and the amount of concessions the reporters 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.400 usually have to make just to get the interview. 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:46.880 Ava looks down at her watch mid -sentence, then 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:49.700 says, Hey, it was so fun running into you both 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:52.099 here and a guest to see on the TV. I've got to 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:54.440 go find my group and then find our seats. And 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:56.400 with that, she walks over to where Lily and the 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:58.940 students were standing and says to Lily, We should 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:00.759 probably make our way to our seats now. I think 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:03.220 the event is starting soon. She continues, Have 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:05.559 you seen the professor? He's over there. Lily 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:08.220 responds as she points in the direction she saw 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:11.539 Professor Hawthorne stop at when they had first 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:15.230 arrived in the reception area. Lily and Ava notice 00:32:15.230 --> 00:32:18.009 that he's a short distance away and leaning on 00:32:18.009 --> 00:32:20.829 one of the tall standing tables. He's by himself 00:32:20.829 --> 00:32:23.069 and just standing there casually looking around 00:32:23.069 --> 00:32:25.930 at the crowd. Hawthorne notices the large group 00:32:25.930 --> 00:32:27.950 walking toward him through the crowd. He sees 00:32:27.950 --> 00:32:30.650 Ava and Lily leading the way and then says to 00:32:30.650 --> 00:32:32.509 them as they get close to where he's standing, 00:32:32.730 --> 00:32:35.549 man, some of the best form of entertainment is 00:32:35.549 --> 00:32:38.809 people watching. He then snaps out of his people 00:32:38.809 --> 00:32:41.210 watching gaze and then says, it must be time 00:32:41.210 --> 00:32:44.740 to go find our seats now. Yeah, it's time. Aver 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:47.000 responds and then continues. I think the MC will 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:49.680 take the stage in about 10 minutes or so to officially 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:52.559 kick off this evening's events. As the group 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.480 makes their way out of the crowded reception 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:57.819 area, Lady looks down at her ticket, then at 00:32:57.819 --> 00:33:00.480 several of the students' tickets and says, Looks 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.880 like we're on the left side and tower the back. 00:33:03.369 --> 00:33:05.650 As the group walks back towards the main atrium 00:33:05.650 --> 00:33:08.210 and then down a long corridor in the opposite 00:33:08.210 --> 00:33:10.750 direction of the reception area, they enter into 00:33:10.750 --> 00:33:13.009 another large space that looks similar to the 00:33:13.009 --> 00:33:15.670 atrium. This large space is located in one of 00:33:15.670 --> 00:33:18.309 the museum's wings and has the capacity to hold 00:33:18.309 --> 00:33:21.269 up to 500 people. At least, that's what the sign 00:33:21.269 --> 00:33:23.470 up there on the wall says. I see where we are 00:33:23.470 --> 00:33:25.690 sitting, Ava says as she points in the direction 00:33:25.690 --> 00:33:28.490 Lily had mentioned. That's cute. There's little 00:33:28.490 --> 00:33:30.549 welcome bags on each chair and it looks like 00:33:30.549 --> 00:33:32.849 the chairs are cushioned. As Hawthorne finds 00:33:32.849 --> 00:33:35.369 a seat next to Ava, who is sitting on the end, 00:33:35.470 --> 00:33:38.190 he nods his head in agreement to Ava's previous 00:33:38.190 --> 00:33:41.230 comment about cushioned seats and says, Wow, 00:33:41.410 --> 00:33:43.589 these are nice and comfortable. Well, if you're 00:33:43.589 --> 00:33:46.289 a paying celebrity guest, there are certain expectations 00:33:46.289 --> 00:33:48.690 that come with this event, like having a comfortable 00:33:48.690 --> 00:33:52.150 place to sit. I like it. He says this as he looks 00:33:52.150 --> 00:33:54.829 down the row where the students have all gotten 00:33:54.829 --> 00:33:56.970 seated and are now rummaging through their gift 00:33:56.970 --> 00:33:59.289 bags that were left on the seats for each guest. 00:33:59.690 --> 00:34:01.589 The crowd that had been in the reception area 00:34:01.589 --> 00:34:04.990 just moments ago were now all finding and taking 00:34:04.990 --> 00:34:08.409 seats as well. Even though the room had a capacity 00:34:08.409 --> 00:34:11.849 of 500, by the looks of it, there were only about 00:34:11.849 --> 00:34:15.829 maybe 300 -350 seats set up. The stage itself 00:34:15.829 --> 00:34:18.570 looked like it took up about a fourth of the 00:34:18.570 --> 00:34:21.130 area, and there were several dozen more standing 00:34:21.130 --> 00:34:23.909 cocktail tables in the back of the room for those 00:34:23.909 --> 00:34:25.869 who might want to get up and stretch their legs 00:34:25.869 --> 00:34:28.840 during the ceremony. Just at that moment, Hawthorne 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:31.199 felt someone touch his shoulder. Prof. Tommy 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:34.400 looks down at Professor Hawthorne and Ava as 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:36.519 he stops and stands next to the row. He then 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:39.440 says, Hey guys, glad you found your seats. Pretty 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:41.679 cool, right? Some of these guests here tonight 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:44.340 have dropped a fortune to be here, so I'm glad 00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:47.059 we were able to get you all complimentary tickets. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:49.780 He then looks up and over the crowd and says, 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:52.539 Alright, the show is about to start and I'm about 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:54.360 to go find my seat, which is towards the front. 00:34:54.670 --> 00:34:57.150 Anthony owes me a favor and sent me up front 00:34:57.150 --> 00:35:00.469 closer to the stage. Okay, I'll see you later 00:35:00.469 --> 00:35:03.489 when it's all over. And with that, Tommy makes 00:35:03.489 --> 00:35:05.690 his way towards the front, just as the light 00:35:05.690 --> 00:35:18.960 starts dimming and the music begins. Ava watches 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:21.360 and observes as the entire room goes silent with 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:23.460 the dimming of the lights and the music. She 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:26.260 looks over at Professor Hawthorne and down the 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:28.659 row at all students who are staring at the stage 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:31.400 now. She then says under her breath to Hawthorne, 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:33.940 Never thought we'd be sitting here doing this. 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:36.760 Hawthorne replies, Well, the surprises just keep 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:39.219 coming, don't they? It's fun to be witnessing 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:41.739 in person what a lot of times goes on behind 00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:43.780 the scenes when something like this happens. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:47.079 These artifacts must be pretty significant to 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:50.079 demand such a spectacle. Just as he finished 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:52.760 saying this, the music jumps in in volume and 00:35:52.760 --> 00:36:04.780 intensity. Lights start flashing and numerous 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:07.400 dancers come onto the stage wearing traditional 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:11.059 Mayan cultural dress and mask. It appears the 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:29.329 celebrations have begun. After an exciting and 00:36:29.329 --> 00:36:31.170 loud kickoff dance and light show, which lasted 00:36:31.170 --> 00:36:33.730 several minutes, Anthony Garcia, the museum's 00:36:33.730 --> 00:36:35.530 director, made his way onto the stage, which 00:36:35.530 --> 00:36:37.570 was elevated about four feet from the main floor 00:36:37.570 --> 00:36:39.710 level. This was so that everyone in attendance 00:36:39.710 --> 00:36:41.510 could see the stage from where they were seated. 00:36:41.769 --> 00:36:43.789 Even the back row seats where Hawthorne and his 00:36:43.789 --> 00:36:45.670 group were sitting. Anthony grabs the microphone 00:36:45.670 --> 00:36:48.829 and says, Welcome to this grand gala event. It's 00:36:48.829 --> 00:36:50.789 a one -of -a -kind event and we're so happy you 00:36:50.789 --> 00:36:53.110 could join us. I hope you enjoyed your pre -gala 00:36:53.110 --> 00:36:55.349 cocktail party and you're able to network with 00:36:55.349 --> 00:36:57.340 each other for a bit. Let's give a big round 00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:59.260 of applause to our excellent dancers as they 00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:01.539 exit the stage. Don't worry, you'll see them 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.860 again later. While Anthony continues talking, 00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:06.860 introducing himself, and thanking several sponsors, 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:09.480 the dancers make their way off the stage and 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:11.639 then begin exiting the main hall through a side 00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:14.360 door, making sure not to interrupt Anthony as 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:16.659 he was still speaking. There was still lingering 00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:18.739 smoke on the stage and around the sides of the 00:37:18.739 --> 00:37:21.079 stage from the smoke machine that was used during 00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:23.130 the opening performance. The smoke, which was 00:37:23.130 --> 00:37:25.449 actually from several dry ice machines, still 00:37:25.449 --> 00:37:28.570 obscured the sides of the stage. One of the dancers 00:37:28.570 --> 00:37:31.230 who left the stage paused by the exit door, waiting 00:37:31.230 --> 00:37:33.329 until all the other dancers had exited through 00:37:33.329 --> 00:37:36.289 the door first. This dancer, one of the male 00:37:36.289 --> 00:37:38.610 dancers, wanted to be the last one through the 00:37:38.610 --> 00:37:41.389 door. Finally, as he walked through the side 00:37:41.389 --> 00:37:44.070 door, he pulled a small but wide piece of clear 00:37:44.070 --> 00:37:46.469 tape out from under his left arm and quickly 00:37:46.469 --> 00:37:49.300 placed it over the inside door latch. He then 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:51.460 glanced back out at the audience sitting in the 00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:53.699 darkened room whose attention was still directed 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:56.239 towards the stage, making sure no one saw him. 00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:59.440 He then closed the door softly and quietly behind 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:02.760 him as to not make any sound. The tape held tight 00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:05.420 and the door latch and lock did not engage. This 00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:07.980 side security door was such that one could leave 00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:09.940 the hall through this door but could not enter 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:17.139 back into the hall through this door. Lily looked 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:20.039 down at her phone to check the time, looked back 00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:22.900 up, and then glanced over at the Professor Hawthorne 00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:26.500 and Ava and said, This is going so quickly. I 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:29.019 didn't realize how fast auctions like this went. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:32.199 I've never seen this before in real life. It 00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:34.719 had already been 45 minutes since the dancers 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:37.619 left the stage. There were several other notable 00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:40.699 guests introduced, a few short speeches from 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:44.199 politicians, and a live auction of other expensive 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:47.179 artifacts. and collector's pieces the museum 00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:50.199 was selling to help raise money. Lily then held 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:53.199 up her program, pointed to the cover of it, and 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.360 asked quietly, When will they bring out these 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:58.639 two pieces? She was pointing to the photos of 00:38:58.639 --> 00:39:00.860 the jade jar and the golden mask, which were 00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:03.659 prominently pictured on the cover of the evening's 00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:06.980 program. Hawthorne whispers back, I'm sure it's 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:10.030 coming next. They always save the best for last 00:39:10.030 --> 00:39:12.949 at events like this. Plus, I think they're planning 00:39:12.949 --> 00:39:15.730 to be done within an hour, and we've already 00:39:15.730 --> 00:39:18.110 been sitting here for about 45 minutes or so. 00:39:18.530 --> 00:39:21.190 Ava glances over and then says, in that case, 00:39:21.210 --> 00:39:23.389 I'm going to get up and go stand over to that 00:39:23.389 --> 00:39:25.449 side so I can get a better angle for my photos. 00:39:26.110 --> 00:39:28.869 Ava then pulls out her press pass she was given 00:39:28.869 --> 00:39:31.559 earlier in the evening, gets up, walks towards 00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:34.219 the side wall and then moves up closer to the 00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:37.219 stage. Her press pass allows her to roam around 00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:39.880 the hall more freely, taking photos and even 00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:42.960 try to interview guests. As Ava is maneuvering 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:45.059 closer and closer to the stage along the side 00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:48.019 wall, she sees Anthony Garcia walk up on the 00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:50.400 stage and then take his place behind the podium. 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:53.579 While he is doing this, she notices four museum 00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:57.019 workers carry up two heavy vertical stands, assuming 00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:58.780 that the two special artifacts will be brought 00:39:58.780 --> 00:40:01.260 out and placed on the two stands so that the 00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:03.940 guests can all see them. She gets her camera 00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:06.480 ready. The music plays in the background again, 00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:15.659 and the light dims. Anthony takes his place behind 00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:17.420 the podium and waits for the music volume to 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:19.210 be lowered. Before he makes the announcement, 00:40:19.429 --> 00:40:21.590 the music is lowered, which is his cue to make 00:40:21.590 --> 00:40:23.710 the announcement. He grabs the mic and says, 00:40:24.070 --> 00:40:26.510 And without further ado, something you have all 00:40:26.510 --> 00:40:28.670 been waiting for this evening. Something that 00:40:28.670 --> 00:40:31.030 has been hidden and buried for a long time. Something 00:40:31.030 --> 00:40:33.489 that holds great cultural and spiritual significance 00:40:33.489 --> 00:40:36.150 to all citizens of Mexico. I'd like to present 00:40:36.150 --> 00:40:38.570 to you... At that moment, there were four loud 00:40:38.570 --> 00:40:43.210 bangs, perfectly synced to detonate one after 00:40:43.210 --> 00:40:45.250 another, followed by white, blinding flashes 00:40:45.250 --> 00:40:47.690 of light. Guests were startled and screamed. 00:40:47.949 --> 00:40:50.309 The bright flashes of light and the loud bangs 00:40:50.309 --> 00:40:53.110 confused everyone in the room. It created chaos. 00:40:53.429 --> 00:40:55.630 People were fighting to find the exits and running 00:40:55.630 --> 00:40:58.510 around dazed and half -blind. Not only was there 00:40:58.510 --> 00:41:00.610 chaos on the floor of the hall with hundreds 00:41:00.610 --> 00:41:03.230 of people scattering for the exits, the fog machines 00:41:03.230 --> 00:41:05.670 had also been turned on somehow and were pumping 00:41:05.670 --> 00:41:09.219 out dry ice smoke at maximum levels. Moments 00:41:09.219 --> 00:41:11.860 later, after getting his wits about him, Professor 00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:13.940 Hawthorne, still seated on those comfortable 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:16.960 cushy chairs in the back row, and in some shock 00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:19.619 from the loud noise and flashes of light, looks 00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:22.420 down the row toward where Lily and all his students 00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:25.139 are sitting. To his surprise, not one of them 00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:27.659 had panicked or had gotten up out of their seat. 00:41:27.719 --> 00:41:30.800 All Hawthorne saw was their scared faces staring 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:33.300 right back at him. Without thinking, he yells 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:36.710 out, lay down on the floor and don't move. Hawthorne 00:41:36.710 --> 00:41:39.190 knew that if the students panicked and tried 00:41:39.190 --> 00:41:41.650 to run out of the hall along with the rest of 00:41:41.650 --> 00:41:44.469 the panicking guests, they may get trampled on 00:41:44.469 --> 00:41:47.789 at worst or separated from each other at the 00:41:47.789 --> 00:41:50.329 very least. His only thought was to keep the 00:41:50.329 --> 00:42:06.360 group together if at all possible. And that ends 00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:08.920 Part 3. Stay tuned for next week as we bring 00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:25.619 you Part 4 of Legends of the Yucatan. As we end 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:27.900 this episode, I want to again thank our student 00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:30.900 -athletes from Segment 1 for joining us. And 00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:33.480 keep listening as our adventure story will continue 00:42:33.480 --> 00:42:36.719 as our heroes are wading deeper and deeper into 00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:40.119 the plot with a lot more tension to come. Stay 00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:42.460 tuned for our next episode as we discuss the 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:45.739 topic of different shapes or styles of employees. 00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:49.420 Are you an I -shaped, T -shaped, V -shaped, or 00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:53.190 M -shaped employee? And as always, this podcast 00:42:53.190 --> 00:42:55.510 would not be possible without the hard work and 00:42:55.510 --> 00:42:57.610 support of our international student production 00:42:57.610 --> 00:42:59.889 team. All music and sound effects are courtesy 00:42:59.889 --> 00:43:02.849 of Pixabay .com, a vibrant community of creatives 00:43:02.849 --> 00:43:05.590 sharing copyright -free images, videos, and music. 00:43:05.769 --> 00:43:08.489 And we are signing off until next time. We are 00:43:08.489 --> 00:43:11.429 Students Incorporated, because your voice matters.