Scenes from 2007

Excursion to Mexico City
Relfections by Julie Knopp (Kalamazoo) and Erick Garcia, on-site Program Assistant.

A month ago, the first thoughts to come to my mind about Mexico City were danger and enormous size. Now, after our trip, upon the mention of Mexico City, I think of naked protestors and amazing murals… but I suppose there are a few other things to note.
Our group of twenty students arrived to a top-notch hostel in the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico City a few weeks ago on November 15.  On our first day, we spoke with Alejandra and Rodolfo about human rights and the roots of migration, respectively. We also learned the protocol for safely riding the Metro, the public transportation system in Mexico City. Later, many of us visited the Museo Nacional de Antropología, the national museum of Anthropology. We saw incredible archeological finds from the prehistoric period through the Mexicas period.
The next day, a friend of the program gave us a wonderful tour of the murals at the National Palace (by Diego Rivera) and another historical building. One mural at the palace encompassed the entire history of Mexico! Later, a few other students and I headed for the Teotihuacan pyramids, just outside of Mexico City. By the time we got there, the pyramids were already closed for the day, but it turned out to not be a total loss. We spent the rest of the evening in the city around the pyramids, also called Teotihuacan. It was strange to see the vast contrast in the attitude of the people and the pace of the city between Mexico City and Teotihuacan. Mexico City is pulsing with fast-paced movement, whereas Teotihuacan has a more relaxed, personable feel. In Teotihuacan, the people more often stopped to do things like… talk (and watch Anneka kick ass in Foosball)!
  On our last day in Mexico City, I visited the Castle of Chapultepec, which proved rich in history and architectural beauty. Later, we went to Coyoacan where we had the opportunity to mull around and eat Churros (a fried-dough pastry originally from Spain) filled with a liquid form of chocolate, tequila, fruit, or whatever else you can imagine! More importantly, we visited the former house  (now a museum) of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, known as the Casa Azul, or Blue House.
            Really, Mexico City is a lot more than dangerous, big, or full of amazing murals and naked protestors. It’s full of a fascinating history that celebrates its rich culture. It’s a bustling, modernized city, yet it still doesn’t fail to embrace its past and its traditions. Yay for Mexico City.

>>Read Erick's reflection

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