When reflecting on my time in Merida, I am quickly reminded of the beautiful memories I made there, however beautiful, were also conflicting and intersectional. Going to the ruins and the pyramids I was in awe to realize that I was standing in the very same place as Mayans from long ago. I was basking in the glory that was their creations and learning of the process behind it. To learn that they built their cities in accordance with constellations, or that even the number of steps aligned to their calendar, was simply genius to me. I was truly blown away by how brilliant and tedious they were but by also acknowledging their accomplishments it’s also hard to forget how it’s been erased. Even though I know they were colonized, I just can never fathom how people can look at the Mayans and think of them as lesser. I cannot fathom how to this day people can look at another group and think of them as less, think of them as people who need to assimilate and change. If I were to be honest I never really reflected on my role as a tourist. I knew to be kind and I knew to be respectful but I never really reflected on how to be an ethical tourist. And yes we were there as students with the intent to learn and try to experience a life different from ours, but we also don’t have that written across our foreheads. When we walk into a restaurant or when we go to an exhibition, unless we say we are students, we will be seen as tourists. With our role as a tourist comes a power imbalance that people don’t often realize. If there are people whose livelihood depends on how much tourists spend, then the idea of pleasing tourists is daily. If a tourist tries to bargain or ask for accommodations, more often than not, their request will be made, because it is better to get some money or likeliness than none. Again if their livelihood is congruent with the happiness of the people who visit their country, then the power lies with tourists. It’s ironic really, because the power should lie with the people of their country. Even when going to the Mayan village or reflecting on cannibal tours, it is so aggravating to realize that some of the work that they were doing would not have happened if colonialism wasn’t still prevalent to this day. For instance, in the cannibal tours, they were talking about how they hoped to earn enough money to ride one of the boats that brought tourists in. However, they can’t do that because they have to get money from those said tourists, but then tourists never give them enough money, and it just leaves this cycle that does not benefit them. Tourists come into countries mostly from Europe and America, where first off have the least restrictions for traveling, and spend a great amount of money for a short period of time. To see that is a slap in the face at times. To see people who are not from your country enjoying all the wonderful and beautiful things your country has to offer, but not being able to do the same, because of money is unfair. To try to bargain for the fun of it when you are able to afford it is unfair. To be grossed out by food just because you’re not used to it is unfair. To try not to learn the language of the country you’re in and have others consistently accommodate you is unfair. To not try to respect other people’s lifestyles and customs is unfair. Unfortunately, this can’t be avoided and unfortunately, because of how intertwined tourism is within these systems, it can not be easily disassembled. I think to be an ethical tourist is to acknowledge that, to acknowledge that power imbalance and to acknowledge that you are not entitled to their space. We can admire, we can learn, we can love, but at the end of the day, we cannot claim.