The Return: Reflections of Mexico

My oh my, how the time flies.

I have been home from Mexico for over a month now, which is frightening to realize. I’ve been so busy, yet my study abroad experience feels like it just happened, still.

The last few days I was there were CRAZY. Not only did I have oodles of studying to do and essays to write, but I also finally got sick. I’d been pretty lucky to be one of the few people to stay healthy the whole time, but, of course, with my luck, I had a terrible allergic reaction my second-to-last day. Luckily, the university doctor was very helpful and, with a lot of rest that day, I managed to finish everything in time and get back rolling for the last day.

All of my tests, papers, and presentations went pretty well, and before I knew it, it was time for the Farewell Dinner. All of us students came with our families to eat together at a nice restaurant, joined by our lovely coordinators, professors, and administrators from the Ibero. They gave us all certificates and, of course, delicious comida! Our one professor, Roxana, even hired a mariachi band to play! It was crazy that all of the families knew all the songs they played well enough to sing along, and everyone even got up to dance for a bunch of them! I even managed to passably salsa (well, according to me, anyway). It was an amazingly fun time, but it was so sad to say goodbye to everyone. It felt surreal that the trip was really coming to an end, and that soon we’d all be back, doing our separate things, here in the US.

It takes 2 hours to get to the Mexico City airport by bus from Puebla, and the earlier group of travelers, including myself, got to depart at 2 AM. Everything was smooth checking my luggage and getting through security, but the rest was a NIGHTMARE. The plane out of Mexico City was delayed about 2 hours which, sadly, was enough time to make me miss my continuing flight out of Chicago. After grumpily passing through customs, I got put on a standby flight to Allentown, which my luggage made, but I was not able to board. Long story short, it then took me 2 failed flights, lots of pointless waiting (on runways and near gates), tons of distraught phone calls to my parents, a night in the creepy, cold Chicago airport, and over 24 hours since I’d left my home in Puebla to FINALLY get home here.

Since then, it’s been a blur of Harry Potter premieres, family vacations, and catching up with friends—not to mention getting ready for the Fall semester. I think I’ve been putting off writing this last entry since it means that it really is over, that I really am back. Now, though, I feel like I can really look at the bigger picture of what I encountered.

The Mexico I experienced was neither one of pop culture dreams nor of horrific news stories. I wasn’t kidnapped or murdered, and though I did visit a lovely beach, it was far from being the highlight of the program. The true highlights were much more real. The highlights were chatting with my family for an hour after each meal, walking to the tienda down the street where the workers knew my name and taught me the names of all the fruits and vegetables, stopping to play with a friendly dog on the way to the bus stop. They included standing on the edge of a pyramid built hundreds and hundreds of years before, steps too small for us nowadays, and viewing paint strokes on pieces created only decades ago.

Mexico is a clash of the past and the present. Ancient temples are found in the middle of bustling cities, and buildings are built over the remains of others. There are literally layers and layers of history, all coexisting together to make the present what it is. And it’s not just in the lay of the land; it’s in the people, as well. Traditions, old, older, oldest, are all woven finely together like a beautiful tapete in a world just blooming with New, as well. Mexico is indeed related to Europe; it was and is still a kind of New Spain, only it’s so much more. Every state, every city, and every tiny pueblo has a different personality. This is a place where poverty and wealth coexist hand in hand, where different cultures have both parted and blended in every imaginable combination. The people know their past, however confused it may be, and are willing to teach it and learn from it in ways that make me question my own historical knowledge of my own country.

In my opinion, the Puebla program must be one of the most overlooked Spanish study abroad experiences. If it hadn’t been for a chance presentation and my own curiosity, I may have missed out on the experience of my lifetime. Many of my peers tend to look to other great cultures that are an ocean away when we have something so rich, so touching, and so beautiful right below us. We earned a solid 9 credits over 6 weeks in a summer, and of course our language skills improved, but I feel like we all gained much more than just that. The families, the professors, the university, the places we traveled, the things we saw, the people we met… If there is anything I have learned, it is that there isn’t ONE Mexico. It’s layers; nothing and everything is inherently Mexican. I’ve learned to go beyond stereotypes or expectations of a place and have found so much more than I ever expected.

I miss it and all the people who I shared the experience with, but, in the short amount of time I was there, I know that I discovered something that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Here’s to hoping all of your experiences are as great! Adios!

Classes and Ibero

Well—my experience in Puebla has come to its end!  I can’t believe it! But, before I write my farewell/final post (and about my TERRIBLE travel disaster), I thought I’d write a quick one about my actual STUDY abroad experience. I’d wanted to post this before I came home, but I got sick on my penultimate day, which put me behind work and packing.

Anyhow, our program was a PSU faculty-led one, and we were housed at one of the many universities in Puebla, Iberoamericana de Puebla. It is nowhere near the size of Penn State, but I absolutely loved it!

It’s a pretty big campus with gardens and a pond—and lots and lots of birds!

We earned 9 credits during our 6 weeks here. 2 classes were Spanish-based with our PSU professors. I took Legends and Myths of Mexico with Roxana, and she alternated teaching Mexican Culture and History with our other professor (who also taught a Conversation course), Monserrat. They are both giant sweethearts, and I enjoyed my classes so much! The workload wasn’t even toooo bad (aside from the crazy last week of essays and exams). Our third class was an Art class that was taught by a professor from Ibero, Hilda. Even though I do not have much artistic talent, her class was fun, too! We had a little exhibition of our works at our last group dinner with all our families!

Hoping to put a video or something together soon and post about the great farewell/ terrible travel fiasco. It’s so weird to be home. I’m loving it, but my thoughts at the moment are still just full of my experience in Mexico.

That's right-- I forgot it's STUDY Abroad...

So, I guess since it’s my last week and all, and I’ve got three papers/ one presentation/ two tests this Wednesday, I should probably use this time wisely and procrastinate by writing about my actual STUDY abroad experience.

Our program is a PSU faculty-led one, and we’re housed at one of the many universities in Puebla, Iberoamericana de Puebla. It is nowhere near the size of Penn State, but I absolutely love it! It’s a pretty big campus with gardens and a pond—and lots and lots of birds!

We earn 9 credits during our 6 weeks here. 2 classes are Spanish-based with our PSU professors. I’m taking Legends and Myths of Mexico with Roxana, and she alternates teaching Mexican Culture and History with our other professor, Monserrat. They are both giant sweethearts, and I’ve been enjoying my classes so much! The workload isn’t even toooo bad (I’m just complaining now that all of our big projects are due). Our third class is an Art class that is taught by a professor from Ibero, Hilda. Even though I do not have much artistic talent, it’s been fun, too!

Cuetzalan: Around Town and Domingo

It was nice just to be able to walk around Cuetzalan! We made friends with the worker at the Super/Pharmacy next to our hotel, got to eat some great ice cream, and did some exploring.

Sunday was pretty awesome because it brought tons of people into town for the weekly market. There were crafts, food, clothes, and delicious ice cream flavors involved!

We also got to attend a mass at the main church in town. It was so interesting to see how the indigenous people adopted and adapted Christianity/ Catholicism to fit in with their older traditions. The blend of native culture and language with familiar texts/ rituals (I honestly feel like I've heard the same sermon in English-- loving others and showing it through works-- how fitting) was just fascinating. For instance, there was a procession beforehand and an indigenous dance before communion.

And right after the mass we got to see the Voladores de Papantla again! Only, this tree/ pole was a LOT taller than the one in Cholula. It was absolutely breathtaking.

All in all, I can't believe that we are this close to the end already. I'm starting to get really sentimental/nostalgic/sad. I'm obviously excited to back home with friends, family, and familiar comforts, but this experience has just been so incredible. It's funny, but it was really, really sad to say goodbye to our bus driver, Orlando. He was pretty much a boss. I have no idea how he drove the giant Mextur bus down half the streets he did-- and in such good time, without making us sick. Just little things, like knowing we'll never be on that bus again, are making me start to hope Thursday doesn't come too quickly.

Cuetzalan: Cascadas y Grutas

Saturday was essentially a free day for us, and we decided that the best way to spend it would be at the nearby waterfalls and caves! We hired two children as guides and a truck to tow us around, and we were off on our adventure!

It was a bit of a hike to get to the waterfalls, and rain on the way down made things pretty slick. There were a few tumbles in the mud and a lot of worries, to say the least. BUT, that being said, the actual waterfalls were beautiful.

The first one, the main one, was actually REALLY full of people. But it had an awesome pool to swim in and a rock to jump off of. I'm not going to lie; I was terrified, but jumping in was a lot of fun. The water was cold but beautiful-- totally worth it.

We then made our way up even higher to the waterfall that fed into the first one. This one was a lot more secluded (and a lotttt colder), but also very fun!

After the cascadas and the dangerous hike back, we drove to some nearby caves (grutas)! Oh, we totally got to rock the hard hats and head-lights. It was also pretty scary but a lot of fun. I think we were eventually 700m or so underneath the surface?

The scariest part of our whole adventure, though, had to be the drive back into town. The windy, twisting roads were SURGING with water, but our truck driver kept ploughing forward full steam. But, thankfully, we made it back safe and sound-- just in time to watch US lose to Mexico and head out, everyone including the professors, to Toca Toca, Cuetzalan's best and only dance club.

Cuetzalan: Yohualichan Church and Archaeological Site

Right after visiting the school, we met a tour guide who took us to the village church and archaeological site. The village visit really was eye-opening. It had none of the affluence of the cities that we were used to, only the basic necessities. We were met by a bunch of really young children trying to sell us things, and when we gave them extra sandwiches or sodas, their smiles lit up the whole sky. It felt good to visit and be able to help in some small way.

This is one of the ginormous grillos, or grasshoppers, that was at the site.

This site wasn't nearly as polished as some of the other we'd visited, but it was just as beautiful and interesting. The Totonac tribe constructed it, including pyramids for deities of the four elements/ directions, and a field for the game of pelota.

Cuetzalan: Intro y Escuela Secundaria

For our final trip as a group this past weekend, we headed to a small town in the mountains called Cuetzalan. The fact that I'm super sentimental aside, I think it was probably my favorite trip of the entire program. We were far away from the craziness of any city we've been to; it was such a tranquil place, but of course we made an adventure out of it.

The first place we got to visit was a middle school, or Escuela Secundaria, in the nearby village, Yohualichan. This was certainly a highlight of the entire trip. Many of the people in and around Cuetzalan are indigenous and don't have much exposure to educational options or mainstream society. However, this school does so much for the children of this rural area, and the teachers are so dedicated to ensuring that all of the kids get a great education.

The program at Penn State has been visiting school since it's early years and our beginnings, as well. Each year, we've been able to give a money donation. We also managed to pull together money of our own to purchase food, amenities, and playthings for the kids. To see their smiles when we pulled in, hauling all the supplies, was absolutely priceless. They greeted us with flower necklaces, and we got to play school games with them, as well as a game of futbol or two! Many of them spoke primarily Nahuatl, the indigenous language of the region, but for others, their Spanish was good, too. They were all incredible at soccer. I'm afraid to say we met the same fate as our professional counterparts as far as US vs. Mexico goes (even the little girls kicked our butts during our chicas-versus-chicas game).

Unfortunately, it was REALLY hot, humid, and we were all a tad dehydrated, so we were a bit tuckered out by the time we got to eat a typical lunch (burgers and fries). All in all, interacting with the kids there was simply amazing. It felt great to know that we were able to directly help such an awesome cause, and we're hoping to continue giving to this school in the future.

Talavera Fabrica

So, last week was our final after-class adventure! We went to a Fabrica de Talavera, which is a special kind of pottery made from black and white clays. It's amazing how they make it all by hand! After they shape it and let it dry, they paint it in intricate designs using all sorts of colors. It can a few months after that for it to bake in the ovens to get the shiny, finished result!

Es Cultura!!

That saying above (translated: It's culture!) has pretty much been our group’s mantra the entire time we’ve been here, and it’s really quite fitting. Even though Mexico is right below the U.S., there are almost too many cultural differences to mention. I will still attempt to do so, because it’s been really interesting to learn and adjust, so prepare for a long entry!

Transportation. Let’s just say that all Mexican drivers are city drivers at their worst. It’s pretty much lanes/ turn signals optional, with no visible speed limits. My Mexican mother is a pretty safe driver, but some taxis we’ve taken have been terrifying. The public buses are really convenient and cheap, but there are no schedules, so you just have to hope a bus with your route on it passes soon (and you should ALWAYS ask to make sure it’s going to the right place—regardless of what the sign says).

Food. It is GOOD. The mealtimes are fairly different, though, and it took a little while to adjust. Breakfast (desayuno) is pretty much the same, with the sole exception being that, in place of my typical granola bar, my mom here feeds me to the point of immobility. But that goes for practically every meal; I feel like my stomach has expanded significantly since I came here. The next meal isn’t until mid-afternoon, around 3 or so. They don’t really call it lunch (or almuerzo); it’s just “comida”—the main meal. This meal is pretty much to Mexicans what dinner is to us; my father and brother come home from work, my sister’s home from school, and we all eat a big meal together. The last meal is sort-of-dinner, or “cena,” and with my family it consistently consists of sandwiches or quesadillas and maybe some fruit or sweet bread. Cena is usually later, around 9 or 10, and it’s the time of “platicando” or chatting.

Other things about food that I love here: every kind of “pan dulce,” or sweet bread/ pastries, has its own name. There are also tons of delicious fresh fruits, and a home-made hot salsa or peppers are placed out with almost every meal. They also adore salt here, but normal pepper cannot be found. Oh- and, as my father here said, [translated] “Coca Cola is the drink of the gods.”

Oh, look! We're practically straight out of a commercial :)

Interacting with people. It’s been hard to switch between Ud. and tu forms of addressing people (the first being formal and the other informal, usually reserved for peers). When you meet people, it’s usually with a handshake and kiss on the cheek. I will not really miss propinos, which are essentially call-outs to women and very common here; since we’re noticeably from the US, our group has been met by a fair share of these. Bartering and negotiating is also the norm here; from markets, where it’s expected, even to taxi cabs, it’s a tricky/ uncomfortable art I haven’t mastered. Also, I feel like I annoy my family with the amount of thank yous I give. I’m honestly spoiled rotten here and am hardly allowed to lift a finger to help, which is more awkward than it should be. I try to thank them for every little thing that they do for me, but I feel like they feel it’s simply their responsibility to take care of me.

Other little things. Many people keep dogs on their roofs to keep watch for robbers. The keyboards here are set up completely different—it took me like 10 minutes to figure out how to access the “@” sign, but one second to get an “n” with a tilde. Public bathrooms here can be a nuisance; there is a 50% chance that you will either have to pay a few pesos or there won’t be available toiler paper (or both). Museums and historic sites can sometimes have as much security as airports; it was a pain in Mexico City, especially with water restrictions (it got to be very hot). Tapwater is a no-no here. Our families have nice jars of purified water to drink, and there are free filling stations at our university.

But the weather! It is very strange, because it can get very cool in the mornings/ evenings (especially after rain), but it is pretty toasty most of the time down here. However, almost all locals wear jeans and/or sweaters; we’ve even seen people running in sweatshirts, which seems crazy to me. But we definitely stick out as foreigners in our shorts and t-shirts. I keep adding, but lastly, I love how close my family is here. When they’re not at work or school,(everyably of the bottle, almost every time! It't be found. ot to be very hot).as a ve to pay a few pesos or there won'sor, Mon they’re essentially together. Whether we sit and chat for hours at mealtimes or watch television together, it’s just the norm to spend time together. All members of my host family, mom, dad, sister, and brother, are so witty, funny, and wonderful. I’m going to miss them so much when I leave on Thursday!

All in all, there are lots of things I’m looking forward to when I head back home, but there are so many things I’m going to miss about here. I feel like I’m just getting really used to it all, and it’s just about time to go…

Veracruzin'

This past weekend was technically our second and final “free” weekend, but all 13 of us students decided to take a trip to the nearest beach state, Veracruz! One of the program coordinators hooked us up with a nice hotel at decent rates, so it was as easy as a bus ride to get there.

To be honest, most of the weekend was spent just relaxing on the various beaches, but that was just fine. After having to wake up early and follow semi-strict schedules, it was relaxing to just take our time, not having to be anywhere in particular. It felt good to know that, at this point, we can survive independently on our own here.

The water was absolutely lovely; you could walk right in without having to even do a toe test. We invested in a volleyball, which was a great decision, and we had a lot of fun playing on the beach! Oh, and for a mere 40 pesos per person, we got to go out on a crazy fun Banana Boat!

There may have been sandcastles involved, and there also was a really awesome aquarium nearby! It was a blast. The only major problem was sunburn. All of us got QUITE crispy, and the communal bottles of aloe ran low rather fast…

But it's hard to stay angry at the sun after seeing a sunrise like this. Waking up early with my friend Jessica was the best decision ever. It was a breathtaking view.

Now, we’re back at home base aka Puebla again, and we’ve entered our last full week of classes (which really isn’t a full week since we never have classes on Friday). I can’t believe there’s only a week and a half left! I feel like I mention the time flying every entry I write, but it is just cruising along too fast. I’m going to miss being here so much; the places, the people, the culture. But we have one last weekend traveling together to enjoy, and, of course, a bit of work/ final projects to get through. Here’s to making it all last!