Expectations:   I have many expectations for Merida this year.  I hope to become a much better Spanish speaker and be able to converse easily with the natives there.  I also hope to get a good grasp on the culture in Mexico and participate in local activities. I am so excited to go on this trip and I hope it meets my expectations!

Stereotypes:  There are many stereotypes that go along with the people in Mexico.  I think that they will be quite intrigued by the fact that we all are Americans.  I also feel like they are interested in people who are not like them, so blonde hair and lighter skin seems to be more of a target for them.  I don’t exactly know how they are going to treat me, obviously the people we will stay with will be nice, but im interested into seeing how the people on the street will treat me knowing im not from their country.

Expectations:
I never could have imagined that this trip would be so successful.  I don’t think that I am at the level of Spanish that I had hoped to be at by the end of my time here, but for me this trip was so much more than to become a better Spanish speaker. I learned that there is a world outside of Columbus, Athens, Ohio and American. On Facebook, I do not have “traveling” under my interest and I could have never pictured myself living anywhere outside the United States. This experience has opened so many doors for me and made me realize I can do anything and everything I want.  That feeling is the greatest thing that I have gained and blew away any expectation that I’ve had on this trip. I was able to go on many trips to ruins, visit areas around Merida and participate in family activities that only this particular trip could have offered to me.

I knew from the very beginning that I would stick out like a sore thumb, but I didn’t expect to actually fit in a little bit as well.  I expected the Mexican men to stare, which they did plenty, but I was pleasantly surprised to not get it as bad as the blonde haired girls.  Now after being here for 2 and a half months, I have found how upfront Mexican men really are.  In United States, their actions would make girls uncomfortable, but here it is more normal for them.

Fuimos a la fábrica de galletas que se llama Dondé. La fábrica se fundo en 1905. La fundóLuis Alejandro Dondé Quintero y después de algunos años, se asoció con Alejandro Gomori Aguilar.La fábrica es una empresa familiar en Mérida y yucateca. Es una empresa de capital 100% mexicanoy ellos producen veintiséis tipos de galletas allá. Los productos que se producen también seexportan. Todos los tipos de galletas se exportan en Cuba y Estados Unidos. Mil personas trabajanen las dos fábricas y hay tres turnos de trabajo de 9 a 3, de 3 a 7 y de 7 a 9. Empieza a trabajar la fábrica desde las ocho de la mañana, y termina a las cuatro de la tarde. Se necesita algún tipode capacitación antes de entrar a trabajar a esta empresa.