Experiences in Mexico

Getting out of my daily routine is a way of renewing and discovering myself. The busy and boring life at Berea had once again stopped for a while because short term was a time for me to renew myself, to relax, and to enjoy in this new world. At the same time, I learned about Mexican’s cultures through living in a Mexican family and the interaction with Mexican people in Mexico.

I learned so much from my host sister, Anali, who was seven years old. Anali is a very sweet Mexican girl, the daughter of my host parents, Lilia and Alfredo, with whom I lived in Morelia, Mexico. When I first entered her life, she ran to me and gave me a big hug, while she did not show that affection toward my roommate, Deidra, a Caucasian girl. She helped me remember what it was like to feel special. She made me feel welcome. By associating with Anali, I realize that I have always enjoyed talking to people, but the busy school life sucked my enthusiastic self away by taking away all of my leisure time. In Berea, I almost always was alone, and I was sick of being lonely. I was accompanied by Anali, Deidra, or Lilia. My feeling of loneliness did not exist in Morelia anymore. This was the greatest feeling that my roommate, Anali and her family had given to me.

I loved the social culture in Mexico-the fact that the host family, Deidra and I sat and ate dinner together for almost every lunch and dinner. While we were eating the food, we would talk for hours. Afterward, we kept talking and time passed fairly quickly. Although we did not understand each other much since Anali and our host mother spoke Spanish and I spoke only a little Spanish, I enjoyed their company. I liked the warmness in Anali´s house. Since my social culture was different, it was hard for me to communicate with my Mexican host family. Luckily my host father and host brother could speak English. Having a common language helped us to understand each other better. Americans and Mexicans are different people, who have different cultures, especially languages and custom.

Economic cultures were different in America and in Mexico. When I bought items in Mexico, I could bargain with the sellers. I was exercising my political power to bargain for the items, while the seller was trying to get the highest profit that he could earn. This political culture was fun for a while until I found out that I had overpaid the seller. The seller was very witty in persuading me that I had made a good bargain. Sellers in Mexico were entrepreneurs; therefore, they could decide on which price to sale the items. While in America, we did not even know who produce the food or clothes. Nevertheless, differences make us unique.

Political culture could have been observed in my host family. For example, my host mother prepared all meals, cleaned the house, and did all other household work. She stood most of the time when we ate our meal, while the husband and the children sat on the chair to eat. Family displayed a political hierarchy. Father had the most power, who went to work and brought the money home, while the wife took care of the house. For thousand of years, in Mexicans historical culture, they have been valuing family. Family members are close to one another. People eat family meals in Mexico, while today I see American culture lack of this practice. However, Mexicans are moving away from their traditional rituals.

In Mexico, I enjoyed seeing these differences. Differences helped me feel life again. I experienced the joys of being accompanied by people. My heart was open to learn new things everyday. I have trying to make a close observation of my environment and talk to people around me. This attitude will help me in the future when I teach my students. I will encourage my students to study abroad and be open-minded. They will discover the wonders and also will learn more about themselves when they are in foreign land. For some students, they will know what it would feel like to be a minority in another people land. I am so glad to see differences in social culture, political culture, and economic culture in between Mexico and the United States.