I never imagined having the privilege of studying abroad during undergrad due to the constraints of my major, but I am glad that I was able to gain this opportunity and I am proud to say that this experience really sparked new perspectives for me. As our time in Mérida is coming to an end, I definitely learned so much about my own capabilities and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I was very sheltered as a child, and my parents were even hesitant about letting me go on this trip, but I am glad that I took the leap, and now I am leaving Mexico with newly formed bonds that blossomed into beautiful friendships and experiences that will make a lasting impact on my life. Another thing that surprised me during this trip is how much Spanish I retained from taking it for six years. I started in 4th grade learning the basics and finished my sophomore year of high school learning the different tenses. It has been about five years since then, so I was happy that I was able to communicate with a lot of the people here, even though it may have been rocky at times.
After this experience, I definitely acknowledge my privilege and am definitely more aware of how I present myself as a tourist, especially after our discussions in class. I hope to share everything I learned with my friends and family back home and help expand their knowledge on colonialism and how that affects different cultural practices. The lectures provided insight on how there are so many untold stories regarding the history of different countries and cultures and how important it is to tell these stories to keep these things alive. An unforgettable moment I had on the trip was definitely our weekend in Yaxunah. It made me realize that sometimes we take what we have for granted. Our host family shared a piece of their lives with us and treated us like family, despite not knowing much about us. This is something that I will forever cherish, and I hope that everyone will keep in touch!
