Valpo Voyager

Student Stories from Around the World

Tag: Mexico

Going Home

May 13, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Well the day has arrived. On my way back to the USA. Last night we had a good-bye celebration which was super bittersweet but still fun.

My travel plans have changed a bit and it looks like I am going by myself to the airport in Mexico City. So, I’ll just confess to the entire world that I’ve been crying since 8:30 this morning. My friend Pat McCoy told me to cry and let it out and to feel sad if I have to.

It’s hard because my experience was more than just two semesters of traveling and seeing cool sites. Because of my lack of money, I really got to dive into the culture. Although my journey consisted of traveling, it was more getting to know the people and how the culture functions. I discovered that I identify more with Mexico than with my own-which makes it ten times more difficult.

However, I am so excited to go home. My friends Amrita, Howard and Erin are coming to pick me up and I am so, so happy to see them and other friends and of course, Mom and Dad.

I just have to let out the tears and have faith that everything work out and to breathe.

It’s hard but I’ll be back in Mexico very soon.

This experience made me realize the beauty of life and to live with more passion and vibrancy. I remember arriving here in August all excited and nervous but now I feel I am leaving with more confidence and a love for life.

I don’t know the future but everything will work out and no matter where I am at, Mexico will always be in my heart.

USA…here I come!

Saludos

Mexico has given me more passion for life.

The Beauty of Spanish

April 11, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Spanish…gosh, what a sexy language!

What makes Spanish so enticing and such a beautiful language? Perhaps it’s my fault of always thinking of some hot latino papacito looking into my eyes and saying romantic things that should make my toes curl and want to be his senorita but blah blah, blah, such is the stuff for cheesy Hollywood films.

Spanish IS a beautiful language for various reasons but after a recent conversation with a classmate of mine, I realized that one of the reasons the Spanish language is very attractive is because it is very specific in its meaning and context. It makes it just downright lovely sometimes.

For example, take the phrase in English “I like you.” Now, that can be taken two ways. We can say in a friendship type of way or it can mean that we have a romantic inclination towards someone. However, in Spanish if you want to say “I like you” in a friendship type of way, you would say “me caes bien” which literally translates as “you fall well with me.” How cool is that?! Instead of saying to some guy “I like you” ( but just as a friend) and possibly creating an awkward situation, “me caes bien” or “you fall well with me” sounds like the perfect way to create a friendship don’t you think?

Without a doubt, I would say "te amo" to this guy 😉

Let’s look at another (important) example. In English, there is only one way to say “I love you.” However, we take a look at Spanish and oh wow, have a look at your options: me fascinas, me encantas, te quiero, and with the strongest being te amo. Although these translate differently, the meaning remains as being “I love you.” For example, me encantas would translate as “you enchant me” but it’s a way of saying “I love you” in Spanish that isn’t very strong.

For friends that I get along great with and love being in their company, I would say “me encantas” because I enjoy their company and love them but my love isn’t as strong in comparison to my close friends. For the friends who have been with me through the good and bad times and have been by my side I would say to them “te quiero” or “te amo.” Anymore it’s hard for me to just say “I love you” to somebody. Saying it in Spanish says it perfectly what it is in my heart…amazing how powerful words can be.

Saludos

Migrating to Mexico

February 21, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Saturday morning a group from our university hopped on a bus at 4:30AM to see one of nature’s wonders: the migration of the monarch butterflies in Valle de Bravo. I was so excited to wake up early (well, somewhat), go to a place that’s four hours away and watch a bunch of insects that fly around and look pretty. How wonderful that there were two busloads of people crazy enough to do the same thing.

A butterfly decided to land on Mari's camera.

Absolute beauty.

We arrived in the countryside outside the town of Valle de Bravo at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. A group of us decided to go up on horseback (which made this country girl very happy) and after two hours of riding through woods we arrived at our destination to see the monarch butterflies.

We got off our horses and just stopped-in wonder. In the warm, morning sun we saw the mountains and we saw the pine trees. However, this colorful profusion of monarch butterflies fluttering around like busy people on a New York City street enticed us and lured all of our attention to their beauty.

Despite a large group, we quietly explored the area as monarch butterflies fluttered and landed on us providing several quality photo opportunities. We further explored the area, walking in silent wonder to see trees be replaced with thousands of monarch butterflies draped across their branches in orange and black. As they danced around likes leaves in the fall air, the movement of their fluttering created a soft and gentle noise. Here was peace and solitude.

Branches were draped with monarch butterflies!

It’s somewhat interesting because the ancient Greeks called butterflies “psyche” meaning soul or mind. Being completely surrounded by thousands (millions??) of monarch butterflies at one time somehow awakened my psyche. It’s neat to see one butterfly flying around but so many at one time is just absolute and pure beauty and you can’t help but feel something.

Nature has a funny way of making us feel that something. Maybe I sound like a weird guru talking about the power of butterflies, but think about it. It takes ambition for a delicate butterfly to travel the distance from the harsh north to sunny Mexico. It’s no trip in the park for sure. However, what amazes me is that the monarch butterflies have this inner strength that empowers them to complete such a difficult task yet still remain graceful.

It’s a unique lesson in how we should shape our minds and spirits. They still dance and flutter around despite their difficult journey. Stay strong for the long and demanding tasks for life, but always keep that poise and grace-always.

Crazy how a little butterfly can set our minds and souls right.

Welcome to the World!

January 27, 2011 / / 1 Comment

Yesterday, on a cold January day in an Indiana hospital, my cousin Nadia was born. Although I haven’t seen her yet, she’s gotta be a beauty. I’m so excited and thrilled at the new life that has been given to our family. Despite the miles that separate my family and me, I still feel a connection to her.

It’s a sad fact but my family has never been that close. However, my experience in Mexico has taught me the importance of family. I remember sitting in my management class last semester and being asked by classmates (except for a girl from Germany, everybody was Mexican) how many times I saw my extended family. I mentioned once a year if lucky. The reaction across the room was a series of gasps. It would be like telling a Mexican that tacos are the crappiest food on the planet and that mariachi should be banned forever.

Granted my family has problems and they are far from perfect but who cares? They’re family. After visiting and staying with the families here in Mexico, I’ve learned the importance of unity among family members. Every time I visit a family in Mexico, it always inspires me to be a better daughter, aunt, cousin, niece, granddaughter and anything else that falls into that category.

I can’t wait meet to meet my beautiful cousin Nadia and see ALL of my family again. It’s painful being away from everybody but I keep them in my heart and think about them often. Mexico teaches the importance of life and to never take it for granted. Despite the hardships, it’s still beautiful and worth living for-especially when there’s new life. Welcome to the world, Nadia.

Saludos

How to Really Learn Spanish

January 23, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Learning to speak Spanish. So, you can take a class. Read a book. Do your homework, blah, blah, blah. How do you really learn a language though? Having had a semester in Mexico under my belt, I’ve picked up a few methods that really speed up the learning process. Obviously classes are necessary but these tools have helped me to learn this beautiful language.

1. Listening to Music
Any kind of music that features Spanish is excellent. My friend Ryan suggest listening to reggaeton (artists such as Daddy Yankee) because of its rapid tempo which aids in understanding the high speed in which Spanish speakers talk. You don’t have to understand every word but little bits and pieces is perfect. Reggaeton is amazing!

2. YouTube
Again with the music deal, I love YouTube because you can look up lyrics of the songs and learn new words that way.

3. Reading News

In general, I’m trying to read the news more but especially in Spanish because of the vocabulary build-up. Every time, I read CNN.com in Spanish, I always learn a new word.

4. Facebook/MSN chat

Whatever kind of chat system you use, you can learn so much! Usually, I’m chatting with a Spanish-speaking friend from Mexico and this helps with writing skills. Oftentimes, I’ll ask them a grammar question or they will teach me a new word. It’s a great way to create friendships (perhaps because you’re at the safety of your computer.)

5. Get lunch, go to a salsa club, do SOMETHING!

Getting to know somebody who speaks Spanish via chat is a good start but go plan something. Whether it’s getting a coffee at Starbucks or making plans for a group to go to a salsa club, do it! It’s fun and chill and a great way to meet people. Plus, Mexicans are fun to hang out with and many are very patient with people learning Spanish.

6. Visit a Family

One of the most overwhelming and beautiful ways to learn a language. I’ve visited about 6 or 7 families here in Mexico and every visit involves some kind of frustration because families talk very, very fast but that’s where you really learn your Spanish. My Spanish really improved when I went to visit my ex-boyfriend’s family even though I had trouble understanding them. Either way, you’ll learn a lot and get the chance to experience a very personal and beautiful side of a culture especially in Mexico where family is everything.

7. Throw yourself in and just do it!

Yeah, follow the Nike slogan. Make mistakes and ask questions. Yeah, there’s going to be times that you mess up but the important thing is that you keep trying. Don’t give up on yourself even though a basic conversation is frustrating and you want to quit. Little by little, it’ll get better.

Learning a language is a hair-pulling but exciting experience. I don’t know how else to say it-it’s super cool and a beautiful experience. Good luck and don’t give up!

My Mexican Apartment

January 16, 2011 / / 0 Comments

So, I’ve moved-finally! I have officially graduated from dorm life once and for all and now living in an apartment. It’s strange because this is the first time I’ve lived off-campus. The fact that I’m renting my first apartment and doing it in a foreign country makes me realize how independent I have become. Oh, the rewards of living abroad.

While I enjoyed my experience for the most part at the dorms in UDLA and partially at Valpo, I have missed my privacy. Also, I’m a student on a budget and let’s just stay dorms aren’t the cheapest way of living. Anyways, when I made plans to go live off-semester, I teamed up with my friend (and current roommate) Martina and she discovered a nice apartment. Basically, it’s a huge building that looks like a house but isn’t but technically not an apartment complex but it has apartments. Don’t worry, these kinds of technicalities aren’t important.

Our apartment is located about 5 minutes from campus on a quiet road. Martina and I live in the upper apartment. It’s simple, small, cozy and I love it. The interior is covered in brick just like the outside of my house in the USA so I always keep a piece of my home in my heart. My room is tiny but for whatever reason, it’s perfect.

Although it does get chilly in the apartment, the window that faces the street always embraces the sunlight throughout the day and cheers up the place. Our neighbors are from Mexico, France, Austria, Germany and other places. We’re a rather multicultural group. Our couch is yellow and comfortable and my new favorite place for writing. The internet is being stubborn today, but pics will come soon!

Being an Indiana girl, I love the simple things in life and this apartment for just starting out on my own, is perfect. Perhaps the fact that I’m starting another semester in a new place (my own place) makes the semester that more exciting. Whatever the reason, I’m happy in my simple, small, lovely apartment on a quiet street in Mexico. They say you gotta start somewhere. Well, this is the somewhere that I feel called to be.

Saludos xoxo

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