Story Location: Mexico
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Reflecting on Time Abroad in Mérida, Mexico
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In the midst of the end of your typical end of semester chaos (last minute edits to your essays, studying for final exams, etc.) my friend and I recently discussed some of our personal reflections and things that we could have done differently if we could go back in time. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed…
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“Was it worth it?”
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Was it worth the 10 months, 6151 miles from home, two different host countries, and a new language? The question still rings through my brain as I finish up my second semester of IFSA exchange in Merida, Mexico. Was it worth leaving behind my home college with my friends and community that I worked so…
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Exploring My Mexican Identity in Mexico
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I am the child of immigrants and a first-generation student. My parents moved to the United States from México before I was born. They wanted me to live where I would have opportunities they didn’t have growing up, to get a better education and live a better life. My mother believed in my future, so she…
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Are You Ready to Embrace a New Culture?
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An essential aspect of having an open mind when interning abroad is being able to embrace the culture of the place you visit. In my case, adapting to Mexico was not a problem because I love its culture. Starting from how welcoming the Mexicans make you feel, the exotic and delicious food you can try,…
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How to Organize Independent Travel on a Budget
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Looking back on my semester abroad in Mérida, Mexico, one of the things I’m most proud of and would recommend to anyone is to organize some trips by yourself to places you want to explore nearby. My travels to nearby towns and states were both unforgettable travel opportunities and a big area of personal growth…
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How Cheez Whiz in Mexico Helped Me Find My Path to Medical School
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“Cheez Whiz.” “Qué?” “Cheez Whiz!” I flush from the combined efforts of interpreting the command, understanding what Cheez Whiz could possibly mean in this context, and the lack of air conditioning in the hospital. Soon I will start sweating, which will only cause the latex gloves to stick to my skin and fluster me more.…
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How Study Abroad Helped my Mental Health and Emotions
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Mental Health Back Home My emotions are something I’ve struggled with a lot in the past. In particular, I feel this at my home university because at Colby I feel stressed and sometimes lonely. Being so far away from home at Colby is hard. I always miss my family and the comfort of Chicago: of…
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Exploring My Mexican Identity in México: Part II
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“Cuando la ire a ver?” “When will I see her again?” my grandmother says with such despair as tears gather in her eyes. She’s holding my phone, looking at a photo of my mom. They haven’t seen each other, hugged each other, or held each other in 20 years. “No, creo que ya no la…
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An Education Internship: Building Cross-Cultural Understanding
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Sandy beaches, bright sunshine, a frosty Coca Cola. This is the common conception of Mexico, and when I returned home after studying abroad, this is what many of my friends, family and peers asked me about: “How were the beaches?” or “Was it warm all the time?” While I did my fair share of traveling…
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Jumping Straight into the Deep End: Taking Classes Outside My Major and in My Second Language
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Prioritizing My Spanish Minor As a biology major in a science-intensive program with a Spanish minor on the side, I knew it was going to be difficult to find a study abroad program where I could pursue courses in both Spanish and bio. While there are certainly some incredible study abroad programs centered on biology, I…
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