I've visited a few different areas of Mexico and honestly, I loved every place I went. If I have any stereotypes of Mexico/Mexicans, it would have to do with some practices rather than the people themselves. As cliche as it may sound, I don't think the water there is safe to drink. Obviously that's not true for all places, but in general, I believe the stereotype that the tap water will make me very sick. Although it's not a negative stereotype, I perceive most of the people as being extremely friendly and cheerful. Also, I imagine that they love to barter in the marketplace. I used to think that the food preparation was a bit sketchy and that they might not follow the same kind of sanitary procedures we do in the US; but after Dr. Burton explained that they would never serve us food that would possibly make us sick, I'm not as concerned about that anymore.
I have a few expectations about Merida and what I'll do with my time there. First and foremost, I expect to become proficient (if not relatively fluent) in Spanish. I feel like I can comprehend spoken Spanish and read it, but I need to focus on my speaking abilities. I'm considering a Spanish specialization, so this program will help determine if I take that route or not. I also expect to learn about Merida and the Mexican culture. I want to immerse myself in new experiences and focus on their way of life since I'll be living there for three months. I've been to Mexico before, but never for more than a week. I want to take this opportunity to really experience life in Merida. Lastly, I expect to make new friends and many, many memories.