Submitted by Jacob Wilmot on the 2013 spring semester program in Puebla-Cholula, Mexico…
Last week, classes started. Unfortunately, my class schedule was not completely worked out until just this morning due to some miscommunication between myself, UDLAP staff, and UD staff. However, now that everything has been settled, I am stress free. Classes are fun as far as classes go. They seem to be a bit more interactive here than they usually are back in the States. Most of my classes are full of international students, since they are Spanish as a second language classes. While it would be nice to meet some more Mexican students, having classes together allows all of us international students to form a tight-knit group.
While the first week here was like a vacation – each day brought something different – this past week I settled into a bit more of a routine. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure every day for the next four months will bring something new into my life. However, with the start of classes comes a more structured format to each day: go to school in the morning, have class for a couple of hours, return to my house for the midday meal, work on some homework, relax and enjoy the rest of the night. I have come to enjoy the custom of eating a large meal in the middle of the day and a smaller one at night. This way, there is a pause in activity for an hour or two which lets you relax and catch your breath before moving on to the rest of the day. As a person who’s life is framed around food, I enjoy nothing more than centering my day around a delectable meal at two or three in the afternoon.
Nothing specific in the way of events or cultural activities occurred this week since everyone has been settling in to classes, but I feel more and more comfortable in the Mexican culture and language by the day.