My expectations for the trip: I expect to come back from Merida with an experienced knowledge of the Mexican culture and a very firm grasp on the Spanish language.  I expect to be able to speak Spanish fluidly and with confidence.  I want to have an understanding of the Mexican culture and how it compares to American culture.  I want to get everything I can out of this trip and leave with no regrets.

My (poorly based) stereotypes of the Mexican culture:  The stereotypes I hold of Mexicans are largely based on the media and Mexicans I know in Columbus.  I have an image in my mind of all Mexico being a 3rd-world country and although I know this isn't true, it is the only image I have.  I come in contact with Mexicans frequently in Columbus because there is a large immigrant population.  I generally find the men present themselves as perverted and disrespectful to women.  I also see the stereotype of large families living together in tiny apartments.

My principal expectation for this trip was to improve my Spanish by leaps and bounds.  I am by no means fluent but I am definitely better than I was 10 weeks ago and I have a lot of motivation to keep practicing and continue improving.  I wanted to get as much as I could out of this trip and I did meet this expectation through traveling around the Yucatan and making an effort to not waste a day.

One view that I held before living in Mexico was that the standard of living was lower.  I have learned that there is a broad range of economic statuses in Mexico.  I also saw that many Mexican men perpetuated the stereotype that they are creeps.  I could get a cat-call while wearing a Snuggie.  On the other hand I also met a lot of guys who were very polite and more respectful than many in the US.  In my opinion Mexico turned out to be not as different from the US as I thought it would be.