Expectations

One of the expectations I have for my time in Mérida this winter is that, at first, I will probably be very intimidated because I will be immersed in a culture (not to mention a household!) in which I do not know the language fluently. However, over the course of my time there I expect to expand my knowledge of the language (and the culture) and will hopefully return back to the states with a new understanding and appreciation of Mexico and its people. I also expect to be confronted with a few circumstances that may be out of my comfort zone. By going into this experience with this expectation I know that I need to be open and willing to break away from familiarity in order to take away as much as I can from my trip, not to mention it is also respectful to those who are basically adopting me for ten weeks. I expect to have fun but with limitations in regards to alcohol. I know the temptation will be there sometimes, but reminding myself that the memories I make in Mérida are ones I want to keep, not regret or forget. And perhaps most importantly I expect to form relationships with people (both from Mexico and fellow OU students) that I will cherish and learn from for the rest of my life.

Stereotypes

 Having not been exposed to Hispanic culture pretty much at all prior to this experience, I don't have very many stereotypes. I really don't know what to expect from the people or the culture. The one thing I have heard is the differences in gender politics between those in the US and those in Mexico. On the other hand, I have heard that the stereotype American women have to Mexican men is not entirely accurate. The way American women are seen is the way we are depicted in American film: sexually promiscuous partiers.

After revisiting my expectations of the OU Mayab program, I realize now that I have not only accomplished everything I wanted to in this short amount of time, but also gained more than I could have imagined. Of course it was intimidating at first, and at times very challenging, but in retrospect all of that only helped me learn more about myself. For example, I can still remember the first meal my roommate and I had with our host family. I remember the food, I remember being awestruck by the loveliness of the house, but more than anything I remember thinking, “what did I get myself into, I don’t understand anything”. Looking back to that moment, it is overwhelming to comprehend the amount of growth I have made since. In my first anticipations of the trip, I knew that I would need to be open and willing to break away from familiarity and comfort. And now, I realize that the reason I consider my experience here to be such a positive one is largely because I followed through with that mentality. I didn’t let fear or inhibitions, no matter how severe or remote, prevent me from enjoying and learning as much as I could. I became aware of new level of familiarity and comfort in Mérida, with my new family, friends and teachers. One thing I feel entirely compelled to adopt and bring back to the states with me is the Mexican state of mind: to enjoy life to the fullest, and to take in every moment because there is never a guarantee of a next time.

The only stereotypes that I recorded prior to the OU Mayab program involved sex/gender politics. Unfortunately, my experience here has not changed that stereotype completely. However, I have learned both in class and on my own that the machismo culture is changing and is less prevalent now in recent generations than in those of the past. Progress is being made. Additionally in Mexico, like gender issues in the states, it also correlates to class and location. Furthermore, I also learned that there are women here who hold high places of political power (the governor for example).