May 2009 Journal #7    Page 2

science, movies, or anything else that came across our minds. Each part of the trip was unique, with its own special value and if asked my favorite part I may have to answer simply: the whole thing.

One of the most surprising things about the trip was discovering that it wasn’t actually that difficult to get around in a country where Spanish was the national language. Our

families, student helpers, and even strangers off the street were very welcoming and always willing to help out lost or confused Americans. Even Sam, who had only had one Spanish class before coming to Mexico, was able to ask directions and hold conversations when he was on Spring Break with Rosie, Bethany, and I; the highlight being when he sat next a little boy in a combi on the way home from the zoo and they talked the whole way back about school and animals and more.

For our Spanish conversation, we often were sent out into the city on mini scavenger hunts. “Find out the ingredients for Cochinita,” our teacher Papusa would say, or “buy a trompo in the marketplace.” Off we would go, relying on perfect strangers and our skills in Spanish to get the job done. When we were forced to step outside our comfort zone, through these assignments or when traveling or walking around, it soon became clear that it wasn’t as hard as we had originally thought to speak with the natives, all we needed was a little confidence.


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