My experience to Merida, Mexico enhanced my academic and career goals because it allowed me to see a different part of the world with a different type of struggle.

On the program I volunteered for a week at El Pastoral Del Amor. It's a home/church for abandoned disabled people, run by a group of nuns or sisters. As a future educator this showed me the importance of equity. Every one of the students at El Pastoral Del Amor has different needs and the staff were able to accommodate those needs or at least the staff tried the best they could to support them. This experience specifically affected me on a personal level because of the students at this church.

Although I enjoyed my time there, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wasn't given much information about what the experience was going to be like. When I first walked in, I wasn't afraid, I was shocked to see the extent of the disabilities the students had. I was aware that I would be working with children, but there weren't many children - mostly grown adults who have the mentality of a child. Their disabilities weren’t just physical, they were mental and emotional.

I feel the staff were trying their best but some things I feel they could have done better. I felt an overwhelming sadness for the way the students were locked in the building. Although it's their home, I couldn't help my sorrow.

A myth I could bust about education abroad might be that it's not as dangerous as it seems. I was terrified leaving the United states to go to Mexico. I had heard all these scary stories and warnings about Mexico, and I really didn't want to go. But I was assured in class that Michigan State takes extensive measures for safety. When I was in Mexico, I did feel the safety measures were adequate. Even though I was scared, I always had someone with me, and the area didn't give me any red flags to be worried. I had a very good time.

The place was kind of smelly. I think the gas is different and the cars are so close it smelled really weird like the air was polluted a ton.

My experience did allow me to better communicate with non-English speakers. My Spanish isn't very good. I'm not fluent but I think my experience in Mexico brought out more than I thought I knew. I know more Spanish which is awesome. I didn't really need too much help communicating with non-English speakers, it was great!

Name: Selena Pablo-Ramirez
Status: Freshman
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Kent City, Michigan
Program: International Engagement in Merida, Mexico