Sharing cultures

This is my written testimonial of how the program to Oaxaca, Mexico during spring break has substantially improved my college experience.

There is a saying that the site leaders would often mention, “It is going to be a long week, but the days will feel short.” That phrase could not have been more accurate.

Every day, we would wake up early in the morning and get everything ready for the work ahead of us, but many of us did not see it as work. The schools that we were working with were called agencies. I was fortunate to get the preschool agency as the people there were beyond grateful to have us there, and it definitely showed! The first day was obviously the hardest; no one knew each other and many of the staff were curious to see how foreigners reacted to their culture and their environment. To say the least, we bonded over our differences.

I often found myself pushing through the sun by making conversations with the staff and telling them all about the U.S. while they told me all about the nuances in Mexico. The best part about it all was the warm welcomes we received and the constant attention from the people there. Not once did they hesitate to show us what it meant to be Oaxaqueños. They shared more than just their food and their dances, they shared joy and happiness that will stick with me forever.

A conversation I will never forget is the one I had with one of the teachers helpers that was working with the preschool students. As I painted the mural, Carlos approached me with curiosity about where I come from. I was happy to tell him that I had people that reside in the heart of Oaxaca, where the school was located, but that I had grown up in the city of Chicago. Carlos took the initiative to tell me all about Oaxaca, as he too shared the same roots. Through this conversation I explained to him one of my biggest fears as a foreigner, which was to misuse the customs and somehow offend those within the culture. This is where Carlos took the liberty to give me some traditional pieces from Oaxaca and told me to wear them with pride. Such experiences made me realize that cultures ought to be shared, not exclusive to those who are in it.

Not only that, but the most important thing that I learned is to be a man of service. It was through this act of service that I was able to connect with people that knew nothing of who I was nor where I come from. My father taught me to always finish what I started and to always do things to the best of my ability, but what the traveling abroad experience has taught me is that these qualities are often best used when in service to others; in other words, serve before being served. This is a key component in leadership that is often missing in American culture but thrives in small communities such as the ones I visited in Oaxaca. People lead by example more than with words.

My mission has become to integrate these teaching into my everyday life, not necessarily for others to see, but to simply make this world better than how I found it!

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to experience the other side of the world, and as people from Mexico like to say, Que Viva El Amor!

Name: Yosmar Lopez
Status: Sophomore
Major: Business preference
Hometown: East Lansing, Michigan
Program: International Engagement in Oaxaca, Mexico