My expectations of studying abroad in Merida for winter quarter 2010 are not only to advance and learn more Spanish but also to be able to experience a new culture. I have never been out of the country and being able to go out of the country and actually experience living with a family in order to actually get the experience of being in another culture is something I am really looking forward to. I am hoping to learn the history of Merida and the Yucatan in order to fully understand the way the people there live. Overall I am expecting to have the best quarter of my college career and I am very excited to be able to have the chance to experience and learn about a new culture!
The stereotypes I think about when thinking of Mexico are that there are a lot of poor areas, which is where people get the saying that Mexicans are dirty I guess. There is also a lot of violence and drug related problems. Mexicans are portrayed as to be wearing sombreros and dressing very different than we do in the United States. They are also considered to be very heavy drinkers but not beer drinkers they are thought to drink tequila and other liquors.
My expectations for this quarter were to be able to experience first hand a new culture and I definitely did that. I learned a lot about the history of Mexico and about the Mayan culture. It was an amazing experience to be able to live with my family and be speaking Spanish all the time. The loved getting to try all the traditional food and to see how another culture lives their every day lives. This trip has definitely been a great experience and my best quarter in college. What a great way to end my college career by coming to Mexico!
When looking back at my stereotypes before I came to Mexico they were very stereotypical views of how individuals from the United States view Mexicans. Since I have been here my view of Mexico has changed dramatically. Although there are some poor areas in Mexico for the most part the people who live in Mexico are living in homes just has nice if not nicer than homes in the United States. Also although there is violence in Mexico and drug problems it is not throughout all of Mexico but in places close to the United States boarder. Mexicans do not dress any different than people do in the United States. They are not wearing sombreros and ponchos like they are portrayed to be in the United States. Also Mexicans may drink but they have not seemed to be more heavy of drinkers than individuals from the United States, I feel the different with drinkers from the US and drinkers from Mexico is that Mexicans can drink a lot more than Americans and still be able to function and not appear to be drunk.