Bienvenidos a Mexico!
Noted on February 7, 2012 by IE3 Student in
Written by Victoria Leca: Portland State University student and scholarship recipient interning with ITESM in Queretaro, Mexico.
This is the first phrase I heard once I got off the plane in Queretaro, Mexico and this will be how my first month here will feel – like a welcome celebration where people are happy that you chose to try to learn their culture and their lifestyles. I have never met more hospitable and friendly people than my host family (together with all their relatives that I met at some point but that I can’t always keep track of) and my coworkers.
My first month here I got to experience the pre-colonial history and culture. The office I intern in, International Programs, which is designed to help international students while studying at the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, campus Queretaro, put together a trip to the archeological site of Teotihuacan. The Pyramid of the Sun, which is the second largest in the Western Hemisphere, is located here, together with the Pyramid of the Moon and many more religious temples and statues. We were also able to see ancient dances, which were believed to bring about rain in times of draught and get a guided tour of the archeological site. It was an amazing experience which really made people feel connected to a past that is long gone but that still influences the present.
In addition to trips, the office I work in deals with almost everything related to international students from immigration details to receiving packages from abroad. In the office I am in charge of a tutoring program which pairs up international students who want to practice Spanish with domestic students who want to practice another foreign language. I am also in charge of a newsletter which is given to international universities and which promotes Campus Queretaro and the services offered to international students. In addition to these projects, I also design material for presentations and put together statistics which reflect our progress as an office. The work is never dull and there is always something to do. This internship is teaching me very valuable skills which I will be able to use no matter what I choose to do in the future. The fact that I interact on a daily basis with the international community, in a language which I am still learning, is improving my cultural intercommunication skills, which are held in high regards by all employers. But what is most important, and what I treasure most since I would like to work in immigrations (either for the federal government, a private enterprise or a university) is the fact that I get insight into the Mexican immigration system and its requirements. I can draw comparisons between our two systems and by doing this I am actually learning more about our immigration system and what works for us and what doesn’t. This office is exposing me to various parts of the life of an international student and through this experience I can relate better to them and truly understand their needs.
My first month here has been marvelous. I love my new city and the people I intern with. I am very grateful for my fellow interns who are working in this office and to my host family who has made me feel like at home and who is sharing their life and home with me. The home stay experience is something I am glad I chose to do because I am seeing a side of Mexico that is not revealed to tourists. It is a side filled with love and traditions; a side I got to see when my host family together with their relatives and friends sat around a table filled with food and sang songs of love and friendship.