EIL Intercultural Learning

So I am just about to say goodbye to Oaxaca. What an experience it has been I have met some amazing people and eat some strange and wonderful food. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, I just hope that the place that I am going to is going to be at least half as good as Oaxaca. I didn’t really write that much while I was in Oaxaca because I wanted to live in the moment. I wanted to experience everything that Oaxaca had to offer that I could fit in while I was there. 

I’ll start at the beginning I guess. I got off the bus from Mexico with a pleasant sign saying ‘ANTONY’ (it may not be my correct name, but it is close enough). It was Evailia. Evailia was the woman that I was going to live with for the two weeks that I was in Oaxaca. When I got to the house I settled in and then met David. David was a Canadian that was going to the school to practice his Spanish as well. He was good enough to bring me around Oaxaca and show me how to get to the school in the morning. He was a really nice guy. I wish that I had gotten to know him a bit more but our timetable did not allow that to happen.

During my time in the school I met some amazing people. Some people that was a lot younger then me (Drew) and some who were a lot older then me (Sandy). I am glad that I had the chance to me everyone they all thought me something, about me and about the world around me. I especially thank Sandy and the rest of the Portland crew because they showed me that it shouldn’t matter what age you are to travel. You should just jump at the chance and take it. THANK YOU.

My first day in the school was kind of weird, I was told to do an exam, which to be honest I didn’t want to do. I had enough of doing exams I thought they were over (in 

the end I was glad that I done it, even if I did terribly). I was put into the A1 class, which was the lowest class (but I am glad I was put there). There were 9 people in my class and all of them brought something to the class. Drew was the class clown. Robbin and Sasha was the cute couple. Martha was the wise, calm one. Kate was the person who turned every English word into a made up Spanish word and made it work J. Kerry was great at Spanish. Cecilia was the one who knew so many different languages and translate English to Spanish and then into Chinese characters (I was amazed).  Shawna was one of the Portland crew, she may have got frustrated but she did learn a lot of Spanish during those two weeks.

I cannot write this and not talk about my teacher and my friend. Zuri knows exactly how to teach a new language to a group of people. She knew that it wasn’t all about write verbs all the time, but about practicing and having fun. She was the one who really made the class enjoyable. If the class was tired or needed energizing she would notice and pump the class up full of energy. I call her my friend because during those two weeks (and for a lot longer I hope) she became my friend.

So what have I done other then go to school for two weeks? Well I ate ants (not like the ones Irish people would be thinking). I ate grasshoppers. Both ants and grasshoppers and really good I wish I could bring some home for everybody. I ate mole (chili chocolate) with chicken. It is one of the best dishes of food that I have ever tasted.

Ok so it sounds like I did a lot of eating, well that is true but I did a lot of walking as well. There were so many markets around the place and I would walk around them for hours with friends or by myself.  Every time I went to a market I would have a different but wonderful experience. The people in Oaxaca were so nice. They would seriously try helping you with everything. I went to Monte Alban (which is a historical site). I went with Sasha and Robbin. It was a great adventure. Once we got there all I could think of was the hunger games and how it could easily be a hunger games arena.  After we walked around the area for a few hours and met the creatures that lived there we had a picnic. It was a great picnic everyone just added whatever we had brought with us. THANK YOU.

Oaxaca center is a very beautiful place and it brings in a lot of tourists I am glad that I saw it but I really want to see the other places in Oaxaca. During the last few days in Oaxaca Zuri (not my teacher but my friend now) brought me to different places. It was amazing. The culture even in small towns was amamzing. You could feel the power of family and community during my short visits to the little towns. After seeing such power I am encouraged to eventually see this power in the places that I work in, in the future.

I know my adventure isn’t over yet but really only starting. I hope who ever reads this feels that they could go on adventure themselves. Remember an adventure does not have to be to far of distant lands. It could be something as easy as putting on your shoes and going to your local park. I promise you, you will feel better after it.