The stereotypes that come to mind for me are ideas that have been perpetuated by my parents and the other people in the community that I grew up in. Their perceptions are untrue, but run rampant. Anyone that looks like they are hispanic are seen as lazy, dirty, and unlikely to speak English. They also work under the assumption that Mexicans are here illegally to avoid Mexico, which the perceive to be a desolate country. I don't believe these stereotypes, but it is hard to completely shut them out.

While in Mexico, I expect to not only further my knowledge of the Spanish language, but also get the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and learn about a culture that is unattainable to me while living in the States. By getting to experience another culture, I hope to expand my understanding of the world. As a Creative Writing major, the experiences that I encounter will aid in my future career. I genuinely hope that this trip will aid me to grow to know a country that we, as Americas, live next to, but hardly take the time to understand. On top of this, I hope to receive real world Spanish experience that will help me in my day to day life.