A Different War: As violence — largely from drug cartels — extends to the northernmost cities in Mexico and beyond the southernmost areas of Arizona, the gap between the traditionally “safe” and “unsafe” is shrinking.

This story is the second in a three-part series that speaks of the shifting violence from Mexico into Arizona.

As word of brutal unrest across Mexico spreads, many people in the ASU community are altering their plans to avoid the possibility of violence.

Spanish senior Leah Pigg said she and 15 of her friends canceled their plans earlier this week to spend three days in Rocky Point over spring break.

“Crossing the border is what’s dangerous … [with] kidnappings and car-jackings [occurring],” she said. “It’s not so much being in Rocky Point, but getting down there.”

Though the concern began with her and other’s parents, Pigg said she thinks their fear is valid.

“ASU students have no idea,” she said. “They’re blowing it off as some precaution.”

Though ASU officials have strongly encouraged students to read the U.S. Department of State travel alert for Mexico, they have not issued an official warning like UA, but rather are directing students toward the government alerts, director of Wellness and Health Promotion Karen Moses said.

“We’re doing everything we can to point students to the information that is available so they can make their own informed decisions,” she said.

Former ASU student and Scottsdale resident Jeffrey Yeh, 20, expected to be in Reynosa, Mexico — a small city about five miles from the border of Hidalgo, Texas — over the past weekend.

“I was going for a mission trip at an orphanage,” Yeh said. “We had been planning since October. It’s a trip our church does every year.”

Yeh said the group of 22 canceled the trip after learning civilians in the city were being killed because of a drug cartel combating government forces.

Though the issue has only recently started making major headlines in the news, Yeh said he remembers soldiers in the streets when he was there one year ago.

“We were told not to go to a nearby open field because it was dangerous, but we felt really safe,” he said, adding that he heard stories of violence but never had witnessed any.

Yeh’s group has been in contact with the director of the orphanage, which still remains on lockdown.

“No one can leave the compound,” Yeh said. The small site is made up of an orphanage and a church.

“At night they can hear gunfire,” he said.

Violence in the area does appear to be improving, Yeh said, and the group is hopeful they will be able to go later in the year when the area may be safer.

A newspaper headline reading “Reynosa streets turned into battle” stuck with him, Yeh said. Many small towns across the Texas-Mexico border are engaged in forceful struggles, he said.

Arizona Army National Guard Second Lt. Anthony G. Gallegos, 23, a 2008 ASU graduate, said members of ROTC at ASU aren’t discouraged from traveling in Mexico, though they are asked to take caution.

“[Leaders] come talk to you anytime you leave the state but especially out of the country,” he said. “For Mexico they always want to make sure you’re careful and have insurance.”

Gallegos said battalion leaders he dealt with during his time at ASU also told ROTC members not to advertise that they are part of the military.

John Snyder, a Spanish language senior, said he is going to Puerto Vallarta for five days during spring break with several of his friends.

Though he said his parents are concerned, Snyder said he isn’t worried about his own personal safety.

“I’ve been all over Mexico,” he said. “I would feel less safe on a border town than in a tourist area.”

Snyder has traveled through Mexico extensively and said Americans are more concerned about the violence than is necessary.

“I’ve seen and heard a lot of violent things happen [in Mexico], but I’ve seen a lot of violent things happening in the U.S., too, so I can’t say it’s any worse [in Mexico],” he said.

Reach the reporter at tessa.muggeridge@asu.edu.

If you're going to Mexico...

Helpful Spanish phrases:

¿Dónde está el hospital/ la policía?
Where’s the hospital/police station?

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
How much is this?

¿Dónde está el hotel?
Where’s the hotel?

Con permiso.
Excuse me.

No entiendo.
I don’t understand.

¿Podría repetir por favor?
Can you repeat that please?

Mas despacio por favor.
A little slower please.

¿Habla inglés?
Do you speak English?

7 tips to avoid a traveling nightmare:

1. Avoid displaying expensive jewelry.

2. Be aware of your surroundings.

3. Travel in groups.

4. Watch what you eat and drink, and don’t take drinks from strangers.

5. Use the Spanish you know, but don’t be overbearing.

6. Use taxis associated with a hotel, restaurant or nightclub.

7. When paying for something, don’t show too much cash.