Story Circle Network

Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

May 2003

Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone
by Mary Morris

Traveling from the highland desert of northern Mexico to the steaming jungles of Honduras, from the seashore of the Caribbean to the exquisite highlands of Guatemala, Mary Morris confronts the realities of place, of poverty, of machismo, and of her own self. As she experiences the rawness and precariousness of life in another culture, Morris begins to hear echoes of her own life and her own sense of deprivation. And she begins, too, to overcome the struggles of the past...

  1. Why did Mary Morris move to San Miguel de Allende?

  2. "The Buddhists are right in their belief that expectation is one of the great sources of suffering." (p. 5) Why would Mary Morris use that quotation?

  3. How did her choice of a house in the middle of a slum called "San Antonio" influence her experience in Mexico? What are the advantages and disadvantages of her choice?

  4. Did her use of dreams add to or detract from the story?

  5. (p. 138, first full paragraph) What is your understanding of this? Do you have a place which is "peaceful" and you are "happy to be"?

  6. What did you think of the relationship between Mary and Guadalupe (Lupe)?

  7. (p. 22) "…the journey is never what we plan for; it's what happens between the lines." Have you found this true in your life?

  8. The book had excerpts published in 1987; book was published in 1988. It was a challenging time in Central America at that time. What do you think of her experiences traveling at that time?

  9. (p. 42) She took no picture. She took nothing to Mexico from her former life. Why?

  10. What types of Americans (from the U.S.) did she meet during her time in Mexico and her travels in Central America?

  11. What did Mary learn about herself through her relationships with Alejandro?

  12. (p.77) "I've often been weak and needy but wanted to be courageous and strong." Did she gain the courage and strength she desired?

  13. (p.90-92) What was your reaction to her account of the boy drowning?

  14. Any comments on accounts on p. 101, 107, 118, 175, 235?

  15. Did you like the historical information?

  16. Did you enjoy reading this book?

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