Conclusion

¡Hola!

I arrived home from Mexico just two days ago. This is my final post for this trip, and I will discuss some questions that people have had and some other big questions.

What have I learned?

I have learned so much. One of the biggest things that I learned though is that you don't need to speak the same language to understand each other. When my host family was happy, I would understand and feel happy for them. When they laughed, I knew that they were having a great time. When they were not understanding me, I could figure it out and understand. Basic human emotion will get you far in any country. I have a friend who went with me on the exchange who knew much less Spanish than me, but they managed to still touch everyone's heart because they were great at knowing what they were trying to say.

How has this been a positive experience?

I can name the top ten reasons:

1.  It was just awesome.
2.  The culture was amazing.
3.  It gave me a new outlook on ethics.
4.  The whole trip was one whole dream come true.
5.  My Spanish improved.
6.  My practical knowledge improved.
7.  I made many new friends and found a family in Mexico.
8.  I am more aware of other world problems.
9.  I have more experience being in a home away from home.
10.  I have made a positive impact there too.

What is the big message?

The biggest message on this blog is that no matter how one may seem, a person is still a person, and deserves to be a part of our world, connected by bridges, not separated by walls. Let us not forget that there was a time when we imprisoned innocent Japanese for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Rather than supporting the Japanese we knew to be good in this difficult time, we locked them away, behind the walls of "internment camps". We even put babies under the list of being a threat to national security by doing this to the Japanese. We should learn from our mistakes and do whatever we can to not wall out, but to connect the Mexican people in brotherhood with ours.

Did you like the food a crap ton, a lot, a little, or nah?

A crap ton, definitely.

Is there a Jewish community?

I asked my host brother about this one. He says that he does not know of a Jewish community in Guanajuato, although there definitely are a few here and there.

What is life like for deaf/hard of hearing people?

I also asked my host brother about this one. He said that I was the first deaf person he has known and even his family has never met a deaf person. That being said, I did catch a glance of someone else wearing cochlear implants, but I was too stunned to stop them. Other than this occasion, I have not had any experience with other deaf people in Mexico. Life for me there, being deaf, hasn't been super hard, except for me not being able to hear people very well, which is the same in America too.

How were they chosen?

The Mexican application system was actually more vigorous than the one at my school. At my school, anyone could apply. We had to write an essay, get teacher recommendations, and then go if we got good grades and passed the essay. After, we had to fill out many forms. In Mexico, five hundred or so students have to do a test. Only twelve people pass based on their answers. Next, those twelve have to be willing to get a passport in Leόn, which is forty minutes away. Furthermore, they have to get a Visa in Mexico City, which is about five hours away. Once that is all done, they host me and then fill out the forms for them to go.

Do you feel attached to you host family?

I felt very attached to my host family. I even cried when I left them. Furthermore, I did not know the word for host, so I would say "Eduardo es mi hermano." , meaning "Eduardo is my brother." it was just easier, but made a huge difference. I have become so attached to my host family that I even want to return to Guanajuato someday and visit them. Hopefully, in two years I will apply for this exchange again and do just that.

Would you go again? If so, for how long and how often?

Speaking of re-applying, I would definitely go again. Like, 10/10, would go back again. I would go back for as long as possible, and definitely at least one more time. I am even considering college there, but that is a long way off. I am so eager to return because it was really quite the best experience of my life, maybe even the greatest I will have for a long time. If it was my choice, I would expand the exchange to at least five weeks, adding one more week to Guanajuato, and another to Mexico City. But even then, I would probably wish it was longer in the end.

Guanajuato is a special place for me that I will never forget. I will not forget the hospitality, the mountains, the school, the friends, the family, the markets, the ambiance, the food, the house, the city, and most of all, I will not forget the journey. I will definitely be returning one day, knowing that I have a family to embrace me with open arms.

Adios,
Benjamín

Mexico City

¡Buenos días!

Note: This post is purely dedicated to Mexico City
On March 1st, I left Guanajuato for Mexico City. The bus ride lasted about five hours total, and it was really quite hot, although the views were gorgeous. Once we had arrived, we first went to El Castillo de Chapultepec, a castle in Mexico City full of art from the rich people who lived there, and it was really just a beautiful house. After that, we went to the hotel, unpacked, and set out again with a partner or two to get dinner in Mexico City. It was quite fun to go around and see all the night life. We saw a rap battle, break dancing, talked with some locals, and got wet at a fountain. 10/10, would go out at night again.

The next day, we got a tour of the streets of Mexico City and got a tour of the treasury, located next to a beautiful church. The treasury had these murals which depicted the Aztecs and their fall by Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador. After the treasury, the group proceeded onto La Casa Azul, the house of Frida Kahlo. We were not allowed to take pictures of the interior, but she did have a very beautiful garden. Most of her work is actually stored in museums, so they were not in the house itself. That being said, it still displayed her handmade dresses and all aspects of her life. We next went to a mercado, where I tried something that I've always wanted to try my whole life: chapulines, or grasshoppers, are cooked and often flavoured. I got some with salt and lemon, and they tasted great, kind of like bacon, but less flavourful.

Next, on the same day, the group split up and my half did something that I never thought I'd get to do: see the Museo Nacional de Antropología, the home of the infamous Olmec statue and the Aztec calendar stone, or Piedra del Sol. The museum was honestly one of the coolest places I had ever been to. They even had recreations of the Mayan temples. Overall, the museum was just a really awesome and positive experience.

The third day in Mexico City was probably one of the highlights of the whole trip, maybe even my life. We saw the grand pyramids of Teotihuacán. Now must of you, including me my think "Why isn't it Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs?". Great question. You see, Mexico City is Tenochtitlan. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs, they pillaged the city and destroyed the pyramids, so the whole time I've been in Mexico City, I have been in Tenochtitlan. That being said, these pyramids were not built by the Aztecs. They were built by an older civilization, possibly the Olmecs. We know this because the Aztecs described the city as "a city built by giants". If you doubt me, feel free to do your own research, I am just stating what the tour guide told us. Anyways, there are two main pyramids; the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon. I climbed them both and the open surrounding pyramids as well, and then splurged a ton of money on souvenirs. Climbing all the pyramids, especially the Sun and Moon one, was very exhilarating. The civilization who built them also had a complex understanding of mathematics, such as the use of the golden ratio, pi, time and astronomy, and more. If you go to Mexico City, this is the place that you do not want to miss, and definitely get a tour guide for this one.

Overall, Mexico City was a great part of the exchange. Next, I will be writing a conclusion to the exchange.

Hasta luego,
Benjamín

These images are various art works from Castillo de Chapultepec

Chapulines,
or grasshoppers

From the treasury:

The following are from the Museo Nacional de Antropología:

The following are from Teotihuacán:

Tour of the House and Last Day in Guanajuato

Hola,

Today is my last day in Guanajuato, so to commemorate/celebrate my last day, have a video for you that I made of the house here.

There is not much to say now on this post, simply because I will be writing a conclusion to my whole journey in Mexico, and it will be almost completely centered around Guanajuato, so I am saving my reactions to Guanajuato for later.

Adios,

Benjamín