Statement of Chris Jones
Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio
Last summer, I went to Mexico with a group of students from my Spanish class. It was a great trip; we visited a bunch of beaches, traveled to different parts of Mexico, partied a little, tried the local fare, and made friends with a burro vendor on the corner. We walked all over the place. We stayed for six weeks and took classes for college credit (that is the point of studying abroad, after all), but aside from that, we had some really cool experiences that just aren’t that common in the US.
We went with a group and taught some orphans some English and played games with them. They weren’t terribly disadvantaged, but I still felt bad for them. I’m still working on writing a letter to keep in touch with them. On the negative side of things, I did get some things stolen from me, and I got acquainted with the Mexican penal system.
In wondering whether or not Mexico changed the way I feel about being from the US, the answer is yes. Spending six weeks in Mexico dramatically increased my appreciation for our police force. It also made me very happy that we don't use concrete as a universal construction material. Spending the time in Mexico also aided me in knowing what it felt like to be a minority in a country where you don't speak a language fluently and you're afraid that everyone is out to get you. People in the United States don’t usually understand that concept. My trip to Mexico helped me see how privileged I really am to live here.
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