2010-11 Student Photo Essays

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I chose to study in Mexico because I could learn Spanish and explore a new culture and people at the same time.

Mexico to me is an adventure. Every state within Mexico, every city, and every province has a beautifully unique essence. Here I am in Real de Catorce, an old mining town hidden by hills in the desert.

Ahh, Querétaro. They say, with its gorgeous colonial architecture, it is one of the safest cities in Mexico. The people are very cordial, and it's easy to make friends. But we must be careful, as foreigners, and have respect for the people in our host countries. Here I am resting my arm, completely unaware that I may be making this señora's day harder.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and many other items are sold in the many large markets in Mexico. Be sure to clean your produce well, know your limits with chili, and try new things to leave your stomach content.

Speaking of cuisine, Mexican food has an endless menu and a delicious variety of flavors. Here is a taco stand. I'll tell you, these things are dangerous—dangerously good! Nothing like a juicy gringa, taco, or volcan, smothered in salsas, onions, and cilantro, covered in any meat you'd like.

There is a very strong Catholic presence in the Mexican culture. Mexico is very traditional and conservative and is shaped by religion in many ways.

Big, grand churches, gorgeous colonial downtown areas, and religious sentiment are found across the entire country.

As you travel across Mexico, you see how incredibly diverse the land is. Here we are at Puerto Escondido, within the state of Oaxaca. The land is open, safe, and to a large extent, virgin.

Querètaro is a beautiful and tranquil city. In the Centro downtown area, there are many concerts, art and theatre. This is a display in El Centro for Los Dias de Los Muertos.

At the Tecnològico de Monterrey, a technology– and engineering–driven school, there are many opportunities to reach out into the Querètaran community through internships. Here is La Escuela de Lauderìa, where I teach students subjects ranging from mathematics to music theory.

It might get easy to get caught up in Querètaro, but do not forget what lies in store just in your backyard. Here lies the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacàn, about a two-hour bus ride from Querètaro.

I've begun my journey with a solid semester of learning many new things about the world. And I feel ecstatic about the opportunity. I cannot wait to continue the rest of my year here and see where this time in Mexico will take me.