Stereotypes:
I haven’t really thought much about stereotypes that I personally have about Mexicans. I have overheard different stereotypical antic dotes, but always took them with a grain of salt. I guess one stereotype Americans might have about Mexicans is that they are hard workers that will work for cheap. Other stereotypes I’ve heard of are that Mexican men are fairly chauvinist, and will not hesitate to stair an American women up and down. I haven’t met many Mexican people before and I don’t really buy into any stereotypes; so I’m excited to experience the people first hand. As far as stereotypes about the country itself, I have heard things about the water being contaminated and a pollution problem. I have yet to find validity in that, but simply because I’ve never been there. Can’t wait to see what life is like in Merida.
Expectations:
Espero que el viaje es suegro. Espero que mi familia en Merida estan muy simpatico y amable. Ojala que aprende mucho sobre de cultura y la gente de Merida. Tambien espero que todos los estudiantes pasamos buen tiempo. Espero vovler a los Estados Unidos con fluidez en Espanol. Deseo volver con un entendimiento nueve de la cultura de los Estados Unidos. Estoy muy excitado!
In Merida:
La escuela se llama “La Escuela Superior de Música” fue fundada en el 2004 por el maestro Javier Alvarez. Está ubicada en “El Centro Cultural Ibérica”. Antes de la fundación era un hospital construido hace muchos años por los españoles. Fue restaurado y reabierto en los años ochentas y noventas, como un parque recreativo para las personas de la 3ra edad. Ahora la escuela es para estudiantes de música y cuenta con un centro de investigación musical que se llama “Gerónimo Baqueiro Foster”, fundado en el año 2002. Tiene un laboratorio de restauración donde se limpian los documentos y se les eliminan los hongos y las bacterias. También hay una biblioteca musical donde se conservan partituras musicales y cancioneros. En la biblioteca hay un documento del siglo XIX. Hay un edificio con muchos pianos para practicar. Hay un laboratorio para recuperar música antigua. Hay una videosala para conferencias internacionales y clases de instrumento a larga distancia. La escuela tiene noventa estudiantes y hoy (11 de febrero) sale la 1ra generación.
After Merida:
Expectations:
Since my goal was to not have many expectations about this trip and Mexico, my only expectations were formed from imagining what things might be like. So almost all of my expectations were shattered upon my arrival. One of my expectations that was shattered was that the food would take a while to get used to and might give me health problems, but what happened instead was that I enjoyed all of the food and hardly had anything health problems.
Stereotypes:
I did not have many stereotypes before coming here other than the ones that are excepted by far too many. One thing that really shattered any stereotype I had was how my family treated me with the utmost courtesy and as if I were their own child.