Post-study abroad, I think I will be one who is more knowledgeable and confident in himself. I struggle with anxiety, but this trip was a challenge that I have conquered! The fear of the unknown, culture shock, and changes were not too much for me to handle. Now I know I more about what I am capable of in my future and I can take more trips and embark on other challenging experiences.
I learned that I have the physical, mental, and spiritual resilience to adapt and thrive in a new environment. About my position in America and the world, I learned that the fine line between being a tourist and a student is very thin so it’s important to show respect to local culture and check my privilege as an American abroad to be as open and understanding as possible.
What I learned that I never want to forget is that preservation of indigenous community and culture is still possible in the face of globalization and modern economic innovation. Our host families in Yaxunah still live modest and humble lives close with their ancestral heritage even with some integrations with the outside world like using wifi, forming economic relationships outside of the community, and participating in capitalism. With the business and success of humanity in the 21st century, we must still understand, appreciate, and conserve locally native indigenous communities and cultures for the sake of knowledge, justice, and history.
