EXPECTATIONS: I have many large and small expectations for my time in Mérida, Mexico. I expect that it will be difficult to immediately adjust, but I know that I will after a few days. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be an awkward situation when I first arrive in the city, but I hope I will be well enough prepared to not make any major mistakes. I expect to learn a lot about the Mexican culture and be able to compare that to my own. I hear that you can never truly appreciate your own culture until you are placed outside of it for an extended period of time. I also expect to become very close to the group I am traveling with and make incredible memories with them. Even after only two Tuesday meetings, I’m starting to feel comfortable with a few of the students, and we all can’t wait to be together in Mérida.

STEREOTYPES: Even though I have traveled to different places in Mexico about four times, I think there are a few general stereotypes that I hold that are pretty common for many other Americans. The first stereotype that I have is that they are lazy, meaning they have no sense of urgency when completing a task or arriving somewhere on time. Another stereotype that I have is that they all drink a lot of tequila and eat tacos and burritos. One last stereotype that I have is that most men are very argumentative and do most of the work for providing for their families. I know it sounds like these are somewhat negative stereotypes, but I hope to learn the true personalities of Mexican people during winter quarter.