Intercambio. Heading out of town tomorrow (Saturday). I´m heading to the mountains here in Sonora with some friends from Intercambio. Monday is a holiday here so it´s a long weekend and therefore I may not write until next week.
Hasta pronto.
Michelle
PS My favorite moment of the week was Monday morning. It was overcast and cool and it felt like fall. All I wanted to do was enjoy a cup of coffee outside and skip my classes. Of course, I didn´t, but it was simly delightful while it lasted.
Showing posts with label Hermosillo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hermosillo. Show all posts
Friday, November 16, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Lists 1:
My classes:
- Mexican Literature II...
My most difficult class, but best homework (reading short novels!) - Español II…
Easiest class /Most success in this class, Class in which the teacher loves me - Taller de Redacción I / Writing Workshop I…
Most directly helpful class (since I have to write a text weekly) - History of Mexico/US Relations ...
My favorite class in terms of content.
Things I miss:
1) Colorado in the fall
2) Chocolate, especially dark chocolate
3) Self – sufficient return transportation at night
4) Comprehension, comprehension, comprehension. (In case it hasn’t been obvious from my other emails!)
5) Friends and family
6) The mountains, of course! In general, just having easily accessible spots to be in nature.
Things I am thankful for…
1. My Chaco sandals
2. Internet (Even though I do a great job of checking, sending emails is a different story.)
3. My scholarship…not having to worry about money.
4. Cell phone
5. My backpack with its Nalgene pockets to hold water bottles!
6. A good place to live.
7. Not having to cook or clean. I am utterly spoiled in this area.
Pet peeves…
1. English television and music
2. People trying to talk to me in English
3. Some of the fatalism I have encountered here (both positive and negative)
This week (October 8-14, 2007): Highlights and low points
Highlight #1: Going to the Hermosillo’s baseball team’s, The Naranjeros, opening game. (Baseball is pretty big here in Hermosillo, probably due to the proximity to the border and the US influence). It was fun to see participate in this cultural event, compare it the US, and just enjoy the social event of going to a game along and drinking a few Tecate (beer made in Sonora). To top off the night, the Naranjeros won!
Highlight #2: Thursday was one of those days that I was reminded why I wanted to study abroad, why I am in graduate school, and how lucky I am to live out this desire. It wasn’t anything earth shaking, just several conversations with professors, but I felt blessed none the less.
Highlight #3: Saw two Burrowing Owls when walking home from school at 9:00 p.m.
Low point: I had a class Saturday and Sunday to learn Movie Maker (also next weekend). The reason for learning Movie Maker is that I need to use it for my final project for my History course. However, the focus this weekend of the class was more advanced than I need to know. As a result, I was frustrated and upset to the point of tears, both yesterday and today. I ended up leaving early today as a result, but the good news is that I know that the both the professor of the Movie Maker class as well as my History class will be understanding.
Left to right: Leti and Ceci (students who work in the Exchange office), myself, and Marisol (primary Unison contact who has arranged many many details and has made it an easy adjustment for me)
At the opening game of the Naranjeros
View of Hermosillo from the Top of the "Cerro of the Campana", see Pictures of Hermosillo post last week. The bigger building in the center is the main cathedral.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Hermosillo Hospitality
One of the most striking things to me so far has been the hospitality this city has given me. From the beginning, the University´s Education Exchange program has demonstrated a extemely warm welcome. From picking me up from the airport to having a place to live until I find my own place (up to a month!), they have made the transition easy.
Next, I encountered the helpfulness of the locals. As we learn our way around the city, people are always willing to give us directions or help us get to our next spot. (I was initially worried about asking for help as that meant I didn´t know my way around and would feel vulnerable. However, in requesting their help, I have always felt safe and in truth, am probably more safe for asking.)
Then, there is Hermosillo´s hospitality at the University. Every professor, when I have approached them about extra help or to explain the concerns I have with my comprehension, has made me feel at ease with their understanding and willingness to work with me. Furthermore, the students have also demonstrated kindness and helpfulness, be it rides home, copying lecture notes, brining previous course material to catch me up to speed, etc.
The students once again demostrated this past Thursday. When my classmates in Mexican Lit. III found out it was my birthday via Veronique, they all gave me their congratulations. After class, I was talking with two of them while waiting for Veronique. They lameneted the fact that they didn´t bring me a cake. So instead, they suggested going out for dinner to celebrate. So six of them, along with my house mates, and the professor ended up having dinner and drinks at a great local restaurant. One of them, Marta, gave me two books (which is a great gift as it is practical for class, appropriate for my enjoyment of reading, and extra special in the fact that most of our school reading is photocopies of books). They were all students I didn´t know very well and aren´t the ones I have connected with in class. However, despite that, they took me out to dinner and celebrated with me. What a beautiful gift!
As I have reflected on the town´s generousity and hospitality, I have been reminded of how I fail often in this area. Sure, some of you might disagree. However, that´s because you are friends and family and
I tend to do a slightly better job because of our relationship. Even so, I have often still respond or act out of self interests or selfishness. With stangers or even people I know, but am not close friends with, I am much worse. I often ignore them or keep the interactions at arm´s length, protecting myself. Here, I am a stranger and yet I have been treated with open arms. I am humbled both as an individual, but also as a representive of the US. They surely have given me a lesson in hospitality. I hope some of it rubs off on me.
Next, I encountered the helpfulness of the locals. As we learn our way around the city, people are always willing to give us directions or help us get to our next spot. (I was initially worried about asking for help as that meant I didn´t know my way around and would feel vulnerable. However, in requesting their help, I have always felt safe and in truth, am probably more safe for asking.)
Then, there is Hermosillo´s hospitality at the University. Every professor, when I have approached them about extra help or to explain the concerns I have with my comprehension, has made me feel at ease with their understanding and willingness to work with me. Furthermore, the students have also demonstrated kindness and helpfulness, be it rides home, copying lecture notes, brining previous course material to catch me up to speed, etc.
The students once again demostrated this past Thursday. When my classmates in Mexican Lit. III found out it was my birthday via Veronique, they all gave me their congratulations. After class, I was talking with two of them while waiting for Veronique. They lameneted the fact that they didn´t bring me a cake. So instead, they suggested going out for dinner to celebrate. So six of them, along with my house mates, and the professor ended up having dinner and drinks at a great local restaurant. One of them, Marta, gave me two books (which is a great gift as it is practical for class, appropriate for my enjoyment of reading, and extra special in the fact that most of our school reading is photocopies of books). They were all students I didn´t know very well and aren´t the ones I have connected with in class. However, despite that, they took me out to dinner and celebrated with me. What a beautiful gift!
As I have reflected on the town´s generousity and hospitality, I have been reminded of how I fail often in this area. Sure, some of you might disagree. However, that´s because you are friends and family and
I tend to do a slightly better job because of our relationship. Even so, I have often still respond or act out of self interests or selfishness. With stangers or even people I know, but am not close friends with, I am much worse. I often ignore them or keep the interactions at arm´s length, protecting myself. Here, I am a stranger and yet I have been treated with open arms. I am humbled both as an individual, but also as a representive of the US. They surely have given me a lesson in hospitality. I hope some of it rubs off on me.
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