Expectations:

My expectations for Merida are very hopeful. I am really exicted to meet my Mexican family and adapt how I live my life, to their standards. Also excited to go into Merida knowing a little bit of Spanish and coming out able to have full conversations; and have secret conversations with my fluent roommates.

Stereotypes:

There are the traditional American misconceptions, stereotyping the Mexican population living here as dirty or lazy (which is confusing because we also see them as hard workers). It comes from a lack of personal experience with other cultures; many Americans choose to ignore and be ignorant to cultures other than our own. If you look outside the American perception, you see a rich culture with a long heritage rooting back to the Native people with traditions of European influence from the Conquistadors. Taking to my roommates who both have mothers from Latin America I hear that the Mexican mother is very caring and takes care of their guest like their own children. I am excited to see that and much more for myself!