On Feb. 14, world languages department chair Arnaldo Rodriguex and four other teachers brought 49 students to Cuernavaca, Mexico, for the annual Spanish exchange trip.
Arriving at the gates of Universidad Internacional, students like senior Shireen Kaul sought out familiar faces.
“Last November, I hosted one of the students from Cuernavaca, so this year I actually knew a few of the kids really well before attending,” Kaul said.
Others reunited with friends they had met on previous trips. Senior Michael Hoffman had participated in the program in both 2011 and 2012.
“The biggest difference this year was the interaction between Mexican and American students,” Hoffman said. “They were much more involved in our activities, and that made them more enjoyable.”
Initial reactions
“I wasn’t sure I would be able to communicate with the students there,” sophomore Larissa Chiu said.
Over the first few days, however, the first-time participant discovered how eager the Mexican students were to make new friends.
“They always greeted you with a kiss on the cheek,” Chiu said. “If they saw you during the day, they would always stop to have a conversation with you. “
Many Mexican students, such as junior Valerie Romero, shared Chiu’s initial worries.
“I was nervous as first, because I wasn’t sure they were going to understand me,” Romero said.
Describing herself as sociable, Romero, who is a junior at BIU in Mexico, quickly overcame her anxiety.
“I tried, and I found out that I could have a conversation with them,” Romero said. “They liked interacting with other people despite different customs and different ways of thinking.”
Changes in the Trip
Eternal friendships
“The most important thing is that there were friendships seriously worth keeping,” Mexican junior Lalo Torres said.
On Feb. 22, students from Saratoga and Cuernavaca bid one another farewell after an evening of performances and dancing.
“I got used to seeing them daily,” Romero said. “I really appreciated getting to know them.”
However, many have succeeded in keeping in touch.
“Now that I am back in the U.S., a lot of them chat with me every single day,” Chiu said.
In addition, Rodriguex plans to have 12 Mexican students visit in November. Torres hopes to be one of them.
“After making friends with some, I think the trip would be more comfortable,” Torres said. “I have more confidence and much happiness to go visit all my friends there.”
