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University of Wyoming

Van Olphen, Rios lead Mexico study-abroad trip

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”  Mark Twain

 

   College of Education faculty members Marcela van Olphen, assistant professor of secondary education, and Francisco Rios, professor of educational studies, took a group of six participants on a study-abroad experience to Mexico in June. 

   Funded, in part, by a travel -abroad “innovative course” study grant, this experience offered an opportunity to learn about Mexican culture in and out of school settings.  The participants included three veteran teachers who took the class for graduate credit.  Two of these graduate students teach in a school district with a growing Latino newcomer student population in Wyoming, while the third teaches Spanish as a foreign language.  Two of the participants are undergraduate students interested in criminal justice and felt the experience would be worthwhile.  Finally, one participant was a high school student taking the class for university credit.

   The six students and their two faculty leaders began the program with a weekend class on the Laramie campus, which focused on learning about Mexican culture (specifically) and on how to learn about culture via study abroad (generally).  They learned about the history of Mexico, important cultural elements of Mexican people and culture, and the characteristics of cultural competency.  Discussions included the need for flexibility, open-mindedness, curiosity, and respect as some of the central characteristics of cultural competency.

   The group arrived in the seaside/tourist city of Acapulco in the state of Morelos on June 5 after an overnight flight from Denver International Airport.  After two days in Acapulco, the group took a bus to Taxco, the silver mining capital of the country with its charming cobblestone streets and narrow winding streets that run up and down the mountainside.  After a full day in Taxco, the group traveled to the ruins at Xocicalco with its especially impressive temple of the serpent before heading on to the large city in Cuernevaca.  The opportunity to see Rivera’s mural at the Palace of Hernan Cortez (now a museum) was a highlight of the stay in Cuervnevaca.  Finally, the group took a bus to Mexico City where they spent four days visiting the most populated city in the world.  While populated, it also has world-class museums, theatres, and historical sites.  One of those historical sites the group had a chance to visit was the pyramids of Tenochtitlan one hour outside of Mexico City (see photo).

   One of the key activities was walking around the streets of the city.  Participants were able to get a sense of the “life space” of the people who live there. In Mexico, this also included strolling through the central zocalo, the town square that serves as the hubbub for each cities’ inhabitants to meet and spend time in each others company.  During the travel, the group had a chance to walk through food and craft markets in each city, one of which (Taxco) is famous for its silver products.  The group also visited museums of anthropology and art especially those museums in and around Chapultepec Park, Mexico City’s central park.  The group also had the chance to visit important cultural sites. These included:  the National (Government) Palace, the National Cathedral, the Palace of Fine Arts. At the Palace of Fine Arts, the group enjoyed a cultural performance from the National Folklore Ballet. 

   With the help of a UW adjunct instructor in Spanish, Sonia Hicks-Rodriguez, formerly of Mexico City, the participants also had the chance to spend the day in a Mexican school.  The group visited a K-12 school on the outskirts of Mexico City, giving them the chance to see elementary and secondary school given that school was still in session.  Hosted by the elementary school principal, the group enjoyed the opportunity to watch a PE class using dance as exercise as well as to spend time in two elementary classrooms.  At the secondary school, the group was able to spend time in a math classroom where 8th grade students were learning fundamentals of statistics.

   Upon their return to Laramie, the group came together for one final meeting.  The group shared their research projects as well as used the time to reflect on the experience.  Almost all the participants felt the study abroad experience was valuable.  Karen said that “I think that every undergrad should do a study abroad.  It will make you both a better person and student.”  One of the advantages of study abroad experiences is the value of direct experience.  Sally, for example, recommends the following:  “Don’t accept what others tell you about any other culture unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.”  The focus of this specific study abroad experience was not lost on Zekial.  In his reflection, he said: “The cultural experience was invaluable.  Practicing the language with actual speakers was cool. Seeing how different cultures are and how people act was very interesting to me.”  The connection to learning and education here at UW was also an important reflection for two other participants.  The experience reminded Peter that, “Learning can happen outside of the traditional classroom.  Students need to participate in the international programs offered by UW.”  Shirley, a veteran Wyoming teacher, suggests the following:  “I think all prospective teachers should be required to study abroad to deepen their cultural awareness and sensitivity.”

   In all, the study abroad experience to Mexico was successful.  The group had the opportunity to see important historical sites, attend great cultural events, participate in a school setting, and learn about our neighbors to the south.