Valpo Voyager

Student Stories from Around the World

Author: Lydia Mertz (page 4 of 4)

While I Dance…

September 26, 2010 / / 5 Comments

On Friday night, I had the pleasure of going to a salsa club with friends in Puebla, about 20 minutes from my university. Although I have been a member of the Valpo Competitive Ballroom Team for the past two years, dancing in Mexico is very different. Here, we dance sin mente y con corazón…without mind and with heart.

While I appreciate the techniques I learned in ballroom dancing, I love the fact that I just get to go out there on the floor and move the body that God gave me. No longer do I worry about my posture or foot technique as much. Something about letting go and knowing that I do make mistakes with the dance is ok with me, because by letting go I gain more.

It’s funny because in high school, I was an awful dancer. My friends used to joke how I didn’t know how to move to the music. It was my dream to learn how to dance and well, move my hips to the music…I wanted so badly to learn. At Valpo, I joined the ballroom dance team, learned to dance and did respectably well. Now I’m living in a country where people crave dancing. It’s a dream come true.

Dancing salsa with my friend Ciceron at a family party.

When the music comes on and the gentleman asks to take my hand, well, I just can’t help but say no. I start dancing and everything in the world just stops. It’s just the music, my dance partner, and I all moving to the rhythm and expressing the music of singers such as Marc Anthony and Luis Enrique through our bodies. Pure, raw energy-I crave it.

So, do I dance perfectly? Certainly not! However, I am learning with each step and each turn to dance sin mente y con corazón…without mind and with heart. Yes, it’s a pure, sexy, and beautiful thing. Learn to dance. My wish is that you will find, as I did, that freedom with movement gives you freedom with life.

Saludos

Mexico: am I Actually Safe Here?

September 22, 2010 / / 1 Comment

When I first told individuals that I was going to study abroad in Mexico, the number one question was almost always about the issue of safety.  The campus of the Universidad de las Americas is perhaps the safest campus I have ever visited because the campus is gated and police are everywhere throughout the campus and at all times during the day and night. I feel very safe here on campus.

Now we go to outside of campus. Behind the campus of UDLA, is the Camino Real, the famous area for the clubs, bars and restaurants in Cholula (in a future blog post, I will discuss the party life here). Because the street is so close to campus, it is constantly patrolled by police. Think of it this way: if the Camino Real was dangerous, there would be no customers for the numerous businesses that consistently make a profit from students. No danger equals business and a good time for all.

The entire campus is completely gated and police protect the campus inside and out.

There are dangerous areas and violence happens in Mexico-and in the US. A foreigner can be a prime target for attacks. Traveling in a group is obviously safe but I actually recommend going to places with a Mexican (and Mexicans are extremely friendly so you’ll make friends easily here) because they will usually have a better sense of the area and how to conduct themselves because it is their culture. However, don’t act like a victim and always, always be aware of your surroundings!

Studying abroad is glorious experience and safety issues shouldn’t be reasons not to travel to an area unless the area is too violent. However, you are safe here. Just stay smart and do your research. Additionally, remember that there’s more to Mexico that drug wars and violence that the media always talks about. It’s a beautiful and vibrant country-and you get to explore it (and to learn more, just read this blog!).

Because this is an important topic, please feel free email me with any questions/comments at lydia.mertz@valpo.edu.

Saludos!

Mexico City (Part II: Out and About in the City)

September 20, 2010 / / 1 Comment

View from the top of Torre Latinoamerica-maybe it’s not as grand as Chicago, it still look my breath away!

Despite a lively celebration of Independence Day and birthdays, I was able to see a lot of the Mexico City and gained an overall view of the city. On Wednesday, my friend Ciceron and I traveled to the Historic District. There was an anticipating energy throughout the city as everybody prepared for the Independence Day. We visited the Torre Latinoamerica (Latinamerica Tower). This is like the Sears Tower in Chicago; you realize the grandness of the city-it’s spectacular!

Thursday night we went to the Zocalo, the center area of Mexico City. This is the heart and soul of Mexico City and includes the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace. Every September 15th, the president gives a speech to the citizens of Mexico to thousands of Mexicans celebrating the independence of their country.

The buildings in the Zocalo were covered with bright lights-here is the headpiece of the Aztecs.

The entire plaza was decorated with colorful light designs including historical figures such as Hidalgo, Morelos and the pyramids of the Aztecs. There is nothing like the Zocalo, you can just feel the pride and energy of Mexico all in one place!
On Friday, our group went to the Museo de Antropologia (Anthropology Museum). The museum is extremely well organized with an outside plaza with the different areas for the cultures of Mexico. An excellent representation of Mexico’s history and a must for those traveling here! For more information about Mexico City check out this website: http://www.mexicocity-guide.com/.

Palacio de Bellas Artes-a famous place for the arts from around the world (and you thought Mexico was a third-world country!)

During the five days I spent in Mexico City with Ciceron and his family and friends felt like a mere two days, I got a sense of the energy of this city but of this country as well. In Mexico City, the energy is evident as the buildings were dressed in red, white and green colors but also through the energy of the people. Mexicans love life and their country. I felt so honored and privileged to be a part of the celebrations with Mexicans. Like the US, this country fought hard for its freedoms and continues to do so. The enthusiasm of the culture and people make this country very contagious…so Viva Mexico!

Mexico City: Part I (There is Much to Tell)

September 18, 2010 / / 0 Comments

First of all I would like to apologize because after a rapid packing session to meet my friend Ciceron before we left for Mexico City, I forgot not only my hair dryer but my battery charger for my camera so sadly, this particular post will not feature any photos. No worries my friends, upon my return to UDLA (my university), photos will be displayed!

Currently, I am in Mexico City staying at the home of my friend Ciceron and his family. Mexico City is a vibrant city (with 20 million people, it better be) and HUGE! As we drove into the city on Tuesday night, all I saw was an endless sea of lights. This city just never seems to end.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we celebrated the Independence Day of Mexico. This was especially exciting because this year was the bicentennial and I’m in the heart and soul of this country! In addition to celebrating 200 years of Mexico, we also celebrated the cumpleaños or birthday of Ciceron’s grandmother. Before coming to Mexico, I wanted to celebrate Independence Day with Mexicans and oh man, did we celebrate! Initially, I thought a party for a grandmother would be somewhat quiet-nope, we’re in Mexico!

To make a long story somewhat short: in all honestly, I have never been to a family event or birthday party where it was so crazy and where I had as much fun as I did at this particular party. We ate delicious traditional Mexican food, had the best drinks, laughed and danced all night long By dancing, I’m talking family members from age twenty to seventy out there on the dance floor (pardon my expression), strutting their stuff as we danced salsa, merengue, and norteña. Oh, God bless the Mexicans. Celebrating life and independence to the maximum-this is Mexico. It’s a principle that is sticking with me. Having an experience like this was certainly unforgettable and a dear pleasure of mine-my hope is that there are many more to come.

More to come about Mexico City as we travel around the city.

Saludos and Viva Mexico!

Feria Fun!

September 12, 2010 / / 2 Comments

I’ve learned that no matter what culture you are in, people love fairs. No matter how grand or small, fairs somehow seduce individuals to join a throng of people to eat overpriced food and buy items that we really don’t need. After we return home, with our wallets much smaller, our feet aching and in a general state of exhaustion, we look back at the day and think, “Can’t wait for next year!”  After surviving a variety of fairs my entire life in the US, I was curious to see how the Feria Milenaria (the annual fair here in Cholula) would be.

At the fair, you can buy pictures of saints.

Boarding the bus on Saturday afternoon, our group headed to San Pedro, the downtown section of Cholula. Downtown Cholula on any given day is colorful and beautiful. However, with la feria, it became more vibrant than ever. Young and old mingled among the roller-coaster rides and endless stands of clothes, masks, shoes, pictures of saints, fruits, candies, bread and beer. Just imagine: only in Mexico could you go to a fair where one of your friends somehow manages to consume two micheladas while you are drinking a delicious pina colada and eating the best fish taco your palette has ever experienced. All this time, you listening to the sounds of Chino y Nacho (please look them up on YouTube!) as they proclaim their love for “niña bonita” and admiring pictures of revered saints-all in the blazing Mexican sun. Somehow the opposites, whether in age or activities, seem to function and flourish here in Mexico.

These kids were laughing their way through this ride!

Despite the fact that la feria was different from the fairs in the US in terms of food and such, there was one thing that was the same: the reactions of people. There were people that were tired from the heat and from one too many Coronas and others were excited as they bought their new shoes that they will probably wear only once. However, my favorite? The reactions of children:  watching the niños as they laughed their way through various rides and eating food that their mothers allow only during this time of the year. It’s a simple truth: no matter where you go in this world (in this case, when it comes to fairs), despite differences in language, food, and general way of doing things, people still get frustrated with the weather and too many people but somehow manage to smile, laugh and create memories. Hmm, I guess we are more similar than we think.

After the heat and rain (and ruined hair), we were still smiling!

Saludos (and with a delicious fish taco)!

La familia-the Definition

September 1, 2010 / / 4 Comments

Vero’s grandfather drinks his two servings of tequila.

As I mentioned previously, Mexican families offer the best hospitality. As I entered Vero’s house, her father told me, “Bienvenidos a tu casa”- “Welcome to your home” and I had only known them for only forty-five minutes! During the rest of the weekend, I met the other members of Vero’s family: grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins as we celebrated the cumpleanos (birthday) of her grandpa and cousin amidst piles and piles of tortillas, lengua, chorizo, pollo (chicken) and the tastiest cakes ever.

I knew family was important in the culture before coming to Mexico.  After being immersed in the activities of Vero’s family, I realized the strength and importance of la familia. Even at the party of Vero’s counsin (who turned nine years old), all generations were present. Here, family defines a person.

It’s like a painting, the family is the frame of a person and the painting is the individual. Without the frame, the picture is not complete, thus, the individual is not complete without their family. La familia is there during the good and bad times, during celebrations and times of mourning. Its importance is difficult to comprehend for the American but its strength is undeniable. Before Vero and I boarded the bus on Sunday evening to return to the university, her family told me “Nos vemos el proximo vez”-“We’ll see each other next time.” Being a stranger, I was blown away with their kindness and hospitality. Although I am extremely close with my parents, I felt some jealousy because this close-knit family feeling with cousin, uncles, aunts, grandparents and such was new to me but something I had always wanted. After spending a weekend with a Mexican family, I have learned that while the landscape and architecture define a place, its people make it unforgettable.

Saludos,

Lydia

Sorry, what’d You Say?

August 30, 2010 / / 12 Comments

“Sorry, what’d You Say?” When studying abroad, be prepared to ask this question-a lot. Additionally, get used to these: “Sorry, sir/ma’am, I don’t understand.” “Can you repeat that please?” “Huh?”

Three out of my four classes here in the Universidad de las Americas are completely in Spanish. The other day in my Marketing class, we were discussing the various concepts of marketing techniques. Mind you, this is an introduction class but is completely in Spanish. As my professor was explaining a concept, he turned and asked me a simple question concerning the topic. Well, if it had been in English, no problem. However, his rapid Spanish made it, well, extremely difficult for me.

Whenever this happens, my face turns red, palms become sweaty, my stomach becomes engulfed with queasiness and every knowledge of Spanish I ever learned becomes an instant case of amnesia. I normally stumble out some kind of Spanish, hoping it makes sense to my professor and hoping he never calls on me again. However, this time I decided to do things different. I asked him to repeat the question, “Que es la pregunta tambien?” My voice trembled at first and he didn’t understand me. So, I asked him again, “Que es la pregunta tambien?” He proceeded to ask the question again and granted my answer was not perfect, but I learned a very valuable lesson that day.

Whenever in another country, it is within your right to ask, “What is the question again?” “What did you say? I don’t understand” in addition to other questions that may arise. You are not stupid and never allow anyone to make you feel inferior. You are new to the culture and language. For heaven’s sake, be patient and respect yourself and expect nothing else from others. Never hesitant to look the person in the eye and ask them to repeat what they just said. Yes, you may feel shy but keep on asking until you understand properly-because it IS your right.

Concerning the constant mistakes I make with the language, well, I have to embrace them with class and charm. Every day I seem to become a stronger person because of this. Granted, my imperfections are many, but to feel inferior because of them, certainly not. It’s my inspiration to keep learning this beautiful language and exploring this beautiful culture…it’s all a glorious challenge.

With warmth,
Lydia

Despite challenges in the classroom, my friends are very patient with my Spanish-there are always opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them.

Hola!

August 17, 2010 / / 0 Comments

I’m in Mexico! More to come….

Newer posts

© 2024 Valpo Voyager

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑