Hi there! I thought I’d wrap up the year by maybe answering some questions you all might have about how my first few months in Mexico were. So below is a list of questions to kind of update you as I reflect on these first three months of living in Mexico. I’d love to answer any other questions so feel free to message me and ask anything!
How have these first three months been different from your expectations? Better? Worse?
It has been better than I thought it would be. I have met a lot of great people, gotten my feet wet in ministry, have meaningful conversations in Spanish, and so much more. A hard thing has been working at getting good communication between the organizations, refuge, and me, and finding my place as a volunteer. I’m really excited to go back and jump in again to working more days a week and getting more training in helping the girls.
In what relationship have you seen the most growth during your time there?
I’ve seen the most growth in the relationships with my host family. I’m really excited to continue living with the same family after I get back and continue getting to know them and doing things with them. It has been so fun to be a part of their different activities and celebrations. I have a host sister who is 16 and a host brother who is 12 and then the parents and they have really tried hard to make me feel welcome while living with them. I’m also getting more involved with the young people at my church and it has been great to get to know them! I’m hoping to continue to do things and hangout with them more when I go back.
What has been the hardest adjustment for this semester?
Spending hours on public transport every day is definitely the hardest adjustment. I spend about 2 hours on average a day in public transport. In my hometown, we can get to the other side of town in 15 minutes and to a completely different bigger city in 30 minutes. Spending hours in the metro every day and having to plan that out is exhausting, but I’ve found an app that lets me rent audiobooks so that makes it a little easier. One of my goals for going back to the city is to slowly redeem my view of the metro.
What have you missed most about home?
My family and friends! It’s something we call relationship deficit when discussing culture shock and it basically just means I moved from a place where I had such a huge and wonderful support system, surrounded by friends and family, and now those people and that system aren’t as accessible and I’m trying to build another support system and new relationships in Mexico. That’s part of the reason I love communicating with and updating my supporters, friends, and family. It makes me feel just that much more connected to people.
What have you enjoyed most about Mexico?
I have enjoyed so much getting to live in my second language every day, building relationships in Spanish and seeing myself improve so much over the last 3 months. It has honestly been weird to be home for the holidays and not be speaking Spanish every day. I’ve also really enjoyed being a part of my host families life, celebrations, and activities. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be a part of a Mexican family and the culture this way. I’m so thankful for them and their hospitality.
What has been one thing that God has taught you this semester?
God has taught me that he has things to refine in me and grow in me before I can really make a large impact on others. I’ve seen a lot of growth in me and my relationship with God these past three months, and don’t expect it to stop anytime soon. He’s given me patience in building relationships and making new friendships, as well as patience with myself as I continue to learn, use, and make mistakes, in Spanish every day.
In this season of reflecting I’m full of hope and thankfulness to get to live this crazy adventure every day. I’m soaking up every sweet moment with my family and friends here as well and waiting expectantly for God to do incredible things when I return to Mexico I just one short week.
Thankful thankful thankful.