Student Testimonial: Shaina (Mexico)

Shaina S. 

I have always dreamed of being an adventurer and expanding my knowledge of the world around me; not just through books and films, but also by exploring these faraway places myself and forming my own views, instead of relying on those who have seen them firsthand.

While I have been privileged enough to travel outside of Canada, almost every year of my life, my Summer Abroad experience was different. It was my first time flying alone and the longest time I have ever spent away from familiar territory. Laying in my hotel bed reminded me of the thoughts I had upon embarking on my university career. Will I be able to live “in residence”? How will it be to have a roommate? Am I ready to leave for weeks or months on end? In the end, I chose to stay home and commuted to school for the entirety of my undergraduate studies. I was completely unaware of the answers to the aforementioned questions, and was not yet ready to find out. However, living in Mexico for a month answered them, four years later. Living on campus is not as scary as it may seem. Having a roommate can be a great way to improve important skills like independence and effective communication. If you take a leap of faith, you'll be ready and you can do anything you put your mind to.

My family usually visits somewhere in the Caribbean, due to conventionality and the fact that it holds our country of origin. Being the only fluent Spanish speaker, I am always responsible for translating simple words or phrases when at resorts in Hispanic island nations. During my time in Mexico, the circumstances weren't that much different. As I had previously assumed it would be, conversations flowed easily, and once again, I interpreted for those around me. This time it felt more rewarding as I was helping my fellow classmates gain a deeper understanding of where we all went, for the purpose of education informed by scholarly works, paired with local cultural context. I was glad to acquire new interesting information along with vocabulary, both from civilians in the town and from professionals in Migration & Health during guest lectures.

Apart from the course content, this trip taught me so much that is not commonly known to those without any connection to the country. Mexico is huge; this is clearly reflected in the noticeable (racial/ethnic, gastronomic, geographic, climatic, etc.) differences across state lines. Succulent plants are very multi-purpose; cactuses are cooked as a vegetable (nopal), they grow a fruit called "tuna" (put in cold delicacies), and agave is used for alcohol (like mezcal). Most public parks offer free Wi-Fi, sponsored by the federal government. The trains in CDMX are great; they’re clean, have televisions, and contain women-only (& small children) sections to combat gender based violence.

Ultimately, this was a wonderful learning opportunity that I will always look back on fondly. My time in Mexico led me to anticipate my return; I’d like to see Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza festival which takes place each July, and see how Dia De Los Muertos in November is celebrated in different regions. It also strengthened my desire to continue touring the world, basking in all of the beauty it has to offer. All students should complete a course offered by Summer Abroad whenever they’re able to. Even if the course is not part of your main academic field, you’re guaranteed to discover many valuable lessons that you will carry with you in the future.