This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Diana. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, “Liberal Arts, Migration and Social Change” in Mexico.
Hello everyone, this is Diana coming from Augsburg CGEE Liberal Arts, Migration and Social Change Program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. We have been here for two months now and we have made so many memories. Participating in educational excursions and getting to know the community we are living among. So far we have been to the pyramids in Teotihuacan, Tepoztlan, Bosque de los hongos azules, Cortes Museum, spiritual site in Amatlan, radio station IMRyT, Casa Tochan in CDMX and Bosque de Chapultepec. Part of the program is to hear guest speakers stories on their work and life experiences in their profession/ dedication. Excursions and guest speakers are both part of the learning experience because not only are we visiting and hearing educational stories, we are connecting everything back to our classes.
In the beginning of October we finished our five week Spanish course in which we had the opportunity to practice our Spanish skills daily, giving us the chance to improve and advance our native language or our second language. This allowed us to immerse ourselves and put ourselves out there by talking to street vendors, Mexican University students, professors etc. Since the beginning of the program we have been having weekly engagement activities with International House Cuernavaca (iHouse) students who live in Cuernavaca and others who are coming from different parts of Mexico. We have a ratio of four Augsburg students to nine iHouse students. During these weekly activities we have the chance to help each other build our confidence, us Augsburg students are helping iHouse with their English and iHouse students help us with our Spanish skills. Having this intercultural experience gave us new life long friendships.
In the month of September we had a four day rural seminar and homestay in the Nahua indigenous village in Amatlan de Quetzalcoatl so we could learn about the practices of the community. Being there we stayed with a host family who accepted us in their home. Every one of us practiced our Spanish, attended guest speakers and explored everything Amatlan had to offer. After this, we started our four week urban homestay with families living by Casa Augsburg. I am currently with a host family of two loving parents with their sweet ten year old daughter and their dog. My host family has been very supportive and caring towards me. We are about to reach the end of this homestay but there is still half of the semester left and I can’t wait to report back to everyone who is interested in studying abroad in Mexico. Me and my friends have been having such a great time and we are honored to be able to study and have fun in Mexico. Thank you to our professors, IRA, staff members, guides, guest speakers and our friends for making our study abroad an unforgettable experience!
- The Augsburg CGEE Mexico ambassador has been active on both TikTok and Instagram! Follow along @augsburgcgee on both platforms.
