Category: Study Abroad

My adventure’s while living and studying abroad

Pozole

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While in Mexico City I was told to try a new dish: Pozole. I have since fallen in love with this warm and delicious soup. Pozole has an interesting history to go along with its interesting flavor.

This soup has pre-hispanic origins, dating back to at least the 14th century. It has a corn base known as tlacatlaolli, or “man shelled corn”. This was considered quite a delicacy and the dish was reserved for people of the upper class and during festivals. The most important piece of the soup was the protein, traditionally: human leg meat!!! Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the ethics of you, my dear reader, when the spanish arrived the put a stop to that and  changed the meat to pork or chicken.

In case you are  interested in trying this ancient delicacy, here is a recipe:

  • 400 grams of precooked maiz pozolero
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 6 tomatillo
  • 1 chile serrano
  • 1 cup of cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds
  • 2.5 liters of water
  • 1/4 of a white onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • avocado, limes, and salsa for serving
  1. Wash the maiz well until the water runs transparent. Cook in a generous amount of water until bursting, about 50-70 min. Drain and put aside.
  2. Bring the 2.5 liters of water to boil. Add the chicken and cook on medium heat until cooked through and able to be pulled apart easily, about 15-25 min.
  3. Blend the tomatillos, garlic, onion, cilantro, salt, cumin, oregano, and pumpkin seeds with 1 cup of water until a smooth consistency. Pass through a colander and cook in a pan without oil for about 5-10 min or until the color changes.
  4. Remove chicken from the water and pull apart. Add the maiz, the sauce from the pan, and season to taste.
  5. Cook for about 20 min until the flavors develop and serve with radishes, dried oregano, lime, and avocados.

Note: if you want to make it spicier save the seed from the colander and blend with lime and as much chile as you want, depending on spice preferences.

Provecho!!

 

original recipe 

The Eagle, The Snake, and The Cactus

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Day 0: The Beginning of the Adventure

We started this trip late in the day, with an 11:30 pm flight out of Monterrey to Mexico City (CDMX). Unfortunately, this already late night just got longer with multiple delays to our flight. Finally we got on our plane at 1:30 in the morning and were on our way to Mexico City!

 

Day 1:

After finally making it to our airbnb it was all we could do to set up our beds before falling asleep -there’s something about planes that really drains your energy. By the time we managed to get ourselves out of bed almost half the day had passed. We decided to explore the area around our house for awhile and found an amazing market. In the traditional mexican style it was packed full of vendors selling everything from halloween costumes to chicken feet. It was a lot of fun to wander through and find new foods for the day. 

That night we were invited to a birthday party of a friend from TEC. We took this as an opportunity to figure out the metro system. CDMX is the biggest city in Mexico, and its public transport system is extensive. The metro is very efficient, cheap, and easy to use, if you ever visit don’t be afraid to use it to get around the city (it is important to keep your valuables close, but that’s just a typical danger from a big city). I found the metro particularly amazing, maybe because I come from a place where the public transport is not very efficient. 

Enjoying our first ride on the subway

 

Day 2:

Today we decided to head down to the Coyoacan area of the city. Here we found our way to a museum inside an old monastery. The museum chronicalled Mexican history, starting at the conquest of the Spanish up into modern history. As a person currently taking classes in Mexican history I found it very interesting, and didn’t have to worry too much about understanding the spanish descriptions. 

A group photo in the center of the Museum

After this we headed over to the Coyoacan market. The market tends to be full of tourists, and for good reason: there are venders there to meet your every need. The market is huge, and I’m really not sure if I managed to see all of it. It’s like a maze wandering through the narrow paths between booths. There are people, colors, and amazing smells everywhere, it’s hard to keep any sense of direction or control over your wallet. 

Some of the brightly colored items available at the market

 

Day 3:

We started this Sunday early by heading down to the Zocalo for church. We decided to go to the biggest Cathedral in all of Latin America – Catedral Metropolitana de México. This magnificent building was started in the 16th century and was only completed in the 19th, and is a mix of many different styles of architecture. The resulting building is a statement in its own right, with towering walls watch over downtown Mexico City with a beauty and grace that comes from such a dedicated project. 

The service itself was also very interesting. I am not a Catholic and have never been to a Catholic sermon before, but I found this one enchanting and beautiful to listen to. While everything was in spanish, and my comprehension is not good enough to understand most of what was being said, I found it fascinating to watch the presentation underneath the sky-high ceilings and in front of the amazing art.

Exploring the streets of Mexico City

When we left the church we discovered we had accidently arrived into the middle of a festival, complete with a parade and so many people it was almost impossible to move through the crowd. It was accidentally an amazing day to explore the city and be able to see the festivities around the Dia de los Muertos holiday. We had the opportunity to watch some of the parade, wander through a market, and get stuck in the Palacio de Bellas Artes when it began to rain. 

Day 4:

On day 4 we decided to head out from CDMX and drive about an hour to get the Teotihuacan, an archaeological site home to what was once one of the largest pre-columbian civilizations in mesoamerica. There are three pyramids here, but beyond this there are many remains of other buildings and residences that have taught us so much about the people that used to live here. Here are some places where you can read more about the history if you’re interested: HISTORY, National Geographic, and Live Science.

While we were there we explored the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, walked the Avenue of the Dead, and climbed to the top of the Temple of the Sun. The Temple of the Sun is in the top ten largest pyramids in the world, and you can really feel that in your legs as you climb to the top. But believe me, the view is more that worth it. From the top you can look out over the entire site, really driving home just how amazing this place is. 

Jozef and I at the top of the Pyramid of the Sun

There is something about walking through the ancient houses of people we know nothing about that makes me wish time travel was a possibility. There is so much we still don’t know about the people who built these buildings and the lives they lived. It really makes you consider the fleetingness of human lives, yet the lasting impact we can make. 

Day 5:

This was our last day in Mexico City before we left for Oaxaca, so we decided to head back to the Zocalo and try to explore a bit more without the crowds of saturday. We started our day by heading to the Pasteleria Ideal, a huge bakery with seemingly endless options of bread. I think we may have gone a bit overboard and bought too many desserts, but it was really worth it. 

Sugar Skulls on display at Pasteleria Ideal

After this we went on a free walking tour around Mexico City. This was a great opportunity to learn about the buildings and history around the downtown of CDMX. The architecture here is incredibly varied, featuring many different arquetects and styles. There is also a great deal of history built into the center of this city, from the spanish conquest to the mexican revolution.

Some of the pre-hispanic ruins discovered underneath Mexico City

El Torre Latinoamericana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6:

We started day 6 at 4:30 in the morning as we gathered our bags and headed out to catch our bus to Oaxaca. Being able to explore this city was an amazing time, and having the opportunity to see this all with some amazing friends made it a truly memorable trip. I am so thankful for all the amazing chances I have had to see new things and experience this culture while I’ve been living here in Mexico.

 

As a school project we had to make a video about our time in CDMX, which you can watch here.

El Día de los Muertos

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This last weekend was the Mexican holiday El Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This is one of the most well known holidays from Mexico, especially after the release of Disney’s “COCO”, however this holiday has far more history and traditions behind it than most people realize. 

I can’t claim to know everything about this holiday, it’s got such a long history and so many different traditions that I could never hope to understand it fully. However, I did have the opportunity to spend this holiday with a family in Oaxaca that invited my friends and I to join their celebrations. Their kindness allowed me an unforgettable glimpse into this wonderful holiday and the traditions that go along with it. 

First for a bit of history: El Día de los Muertos is a pre-hispanic tradition that the people in the south of Mexico we practicing for many years before the Spaniards landed on their coast. Much of the modern traditions that are used during these celebrations are based firmly in those used by Indigenous Mexicans. When the Spanish arrived and began converting those Indigenous people into Catholics they ended up creating what we now know as El Día de los Muertos. 

The Pre-Hispanic traditions relating to this famous holiday were much smaller, and usually done in August, not November. The people understood death as a part of life, and set up altars for the dead containing food and drink to honor them and help them through the journey of the afterlife. 

 

An example of a Pre-hispanic ofrenda honoring a Zapotec God – note the representation of all four elements

In Europe, the Spanish also held their own traditions to honor the dead, occuring on the Catholic holiday of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (the first and second days of November). It was on these days the the Spaniards would bring bread, wine, and flowers to the graves of the deceased for when their souls returned to earth. 

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico these traditions mixed and created the holiday we know today. The festivities usually start on October 31, though it is not until November 1st that the holiday actually begins. November 1st is known as El Día de los Innocents, or the day of the children. It is believed that on this day the souls of departed children return home to visit. November 2nd is the actual El Día de los Muertos, and this is the day for the rest of the souls to return to earth to see their families. 

To celebrate this holiday people set up ofrendas or altars in their homes to honor the returning souls. They decorate these altars in bright colors and fill with the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks, and other pieces of their life. In the center is a photo of the deceased to call them home. People also decorate the graveyards, with candles, food, and marigolds, the traditional flowers of the dead. 

Modern ofrenda located in the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca

You may also witness people dressing up as La Calavera Catrina, a woman with her face painted as a skull. This is a newer tradition, again with mesoamerican roots. The Aztecs and other mesoamerican cultures used images of skelatines to represent some of their gods, and in the 19th century these images were re-imagined by the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada and became associated with this holiday. This relationship to the pre-hispanic gods is also want influenced the creation of the sugar skulls commonly eaten or placed on the ofrendas.  

Jozef and I with traditional face painting

I spent this holiday in Oaxaca, one of the most famous places to go to see these traditions. During this time of year the city is full of decorations, markets, and tourists -so if you plan to go, make your reservations early. Everywhere you look there is papel picado hanging and marigolds lining doorways. The streets are colorful and full of vendors as people celebrate the lives of their loved ones. While I was there we were taken in by the family of a friend. They treated us like their own family, bring us to their favorite places, showing us the amazing traditions of their homes, and even inviting us to their own family celebrations (sometime soon I will be uploading a post on Oaxaca itself where I will talk more about the city itself). 

 

November 1

On November first, El Día de los Innocents, we were taken out to one of the towns just outside of Oaxaca known as Etla. This town has its own traditions with this holiday that seem similar to Halloween on the surface but with a strong Mexican twist. It is basically a giant, town-wide party, where people come together to drink, dance, and show off costumes that they created. People work for weeks to build their own costumes, some based off of something in the current culture, but most are just creative designs. The town comes together in different groups to party, and eventually begin parades with music and dancing to find the other groups. It’s a giant competition to see which part of town has the best music and the most people.

Being in the middle of it was a crazy experience. There was so much joy and excitement in peoples faces as they danced to the music, as well as quite a bit of beer being flung around in the air. The costumes were amazing, you could tell just how much work people put into them and why they were so famous. When the parade started moving out you could really see the excitement, and the alcohol. We didn’t end up staying very long, but the party can go on all night. If you ever end up in Oaxaca for this celebration it is more than worth the cab fare out. 

A girl in a homemade costume, who was walking around on stilts all night!

November 2

For this day we were invited into a traditional family breakfast. The table sat outside and was quickly filled with family members coming together to celebrate their loved ones, both alive and dead. They served traditional Oaxacan pan de muertos, atole con chocolate, tamales oaxaqueños, and chicharron. Besides the amazing food, the family had a few other traditions relating to their loved ones who had passed on, such as smoking a particular cigarette (which I did not participate in) and drinking mezcal (which I did try). The joyous talking of the family lasted all morning until noon arrived. At this time it is traditional to take a piece of fruit from the ofrenda before leaving for any other activities of the day. The belief is that after 12 the spirits of the dead return to the other side and the food can be removed.

The families ofrenda. The painting on the wall and the figures on the table are painted every year. On the table you can see pictures of the deceased surrounded by their favorite foods and drinks.

It was so incredibly kind for this family to take us in and give us an inside view of this amazing holiday. There is so much I had never been exposed to before, and so much still to learn I’m sure. If you ever get the chance to experience the joy and love that surrounds this holiday you should make sure to try anything you can. Some traditions are older than history can say, and some are very recent, however all share an unmistakable love and joy that create a truly unforgettable experience. 

 

Thank you to the Mane family for taking us in for the week and allowing us to be a part of their celebrations!

 

Interesting note: For this holiday, it is traditional to eat Pan de Muerto or bread of the dead. There are actually many types of bread that use this name, however there are two that are more common than the rest: a sugary bread with a cross baked onto the top, and a slightly less sweet bread that is decorated with a face baked into the bread. It is this one, with the face baked into it that you will find in Oaxaca, while the sugary style of bread is more common in the north. The bread in Oaxaca is especially interesting because each of the faces baked into the bread are handmade and painted to represent the faces of the dead. 

Pan de Muertos found in Oaxaca and the south

Pan de Muertos found in much of northern and central mexico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More on bread

Day of the dead info

 

Halfway Thoughts

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I have reached about the halfway point of my stay here in Mexico and I think it’s time I address some of my day to day experiences here. By choosing to come to Mexico I put myself in a position where I have to live in a culture that’s pretty different from my own. While it’s an amazing experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world, it did take a little getting used to. 

One of the main differences I have found is how friendly people are here, and how open they are to talking to you and inviting you into their lives. Talking to strangers and making friends wherever you go isn’t just common, but almost expected. People sit out on the street and will talk to you as you walk by, just to wish you a good day. When I first got here I felt a little overwhelmed by all the talking, for one it was in spanish, but for another this open, welcoming spirit is not as common at home. Now I absolutely love it, there are people on my street who I don’t even know their names but everyday smile and say “buenos dias”! It’s a lovely feeling to know there are people out their who take notice and want to spread a little joy.

Another little thing I had to get used to here is the touching. People are not afraid of physical contact, the most common being the kiss on the cheek. In the states its very weird to give anyone anything more than a handshake if you’ve just met, here however it would seem rude not to reach out and at least press your cheeks together (admittedly this is from the perspective of a girl, most of the men do stick to shaking hands with each other). For the first few days it was a little startling when someone would lean in to kiss me, but it’s one of those habits that are easy to adopt pretty quickly. I think I would like to bring it home with me if I can, there’s something so welcoming and warm that comes with a little bit of human contact, now I just have to see if my friends will go along with me. 

Not so much a cultural difference but one of my favorite things about this city (and I will stretch to assume the rest of Mexico, but I can’t confirm as of yet) is their love of food. There is food everywhere you go, and lots and lots and lots of tacos. There are street venders everywhere, and as of yet, I have only had delicious food. There is something so amazing about a culture where eating is seen as more than just a necessary act, and is instead enjoyed and savored.

The last thing I want to touch on in this post is my university. I spend most of my time at school, so it seems important to include some information. The classes here aren’t that different from home, except for the benefit of having small class sizes for all of my classes. On the other hand, the approach to studying here is amazing. I’m specifically referring to the study spaces that have been designed here. They are made to be comfortable and welcoming. The library is full of bean bags and colorful chairs. I have taken more than one nap in there while doing homework, and let me tell you, it makes so much difference in my ability to get things done. I think I’m going to have to petition my home university for some nap spaces of our own.

Having the opportunity to study abroad and be a part of another culture is truly an amazing experience. Sometimes it can be pretty difficult and tiring as I have to navigate a world that is so different from my own, but in the end I think the benefits are more than worth it. I can say, with complete certainty, that I made the right choice in coming here, and has been one of the best decisions of my life. Never let the fear of the unknown hold you back, the world has so much to give that you can’t afford not to take a few risks. 

A Little History and Culture

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Independence day – dieciséis de septiembre

Mexican Independence day is officially the 16th of September, the day of the Grito de Dolores. It was this day in 1810 that a priest by the name of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave a speech urging the people of Latin America to stand up to their Spainish oppressors and gain independence. While the young priest died not long after, the war continued to be fought until 1821 when the Treaty of Cordoba was signed declaring Mexico independent.

So how is this holiday celebrated? The answer: partying with as much Mexican pride as you can get. Mexican’s love their country and they aren’t afraid to show it in as big of a celebration as they can get. Lots of people host parties themselves, with traditional foods, Mexican flags, and of course tequila. But the city also hosts an amazing event highlighting some of Mexico’s truly amazing music and dancing. 

The Macroplaza lit up by fireworks

I had the opportunity to go to this city event and see the amazing enthusiasm people have in this country. There was traditional music and dancing, and of course, fireworks. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I was blessed to be a part of. However, the best part about it was having the opportunity to experience it with a group of amazing people, from all over the world.

 

I hope you enjoy these photos and had a great independence weekend!!

 

History source

 

Time for…. SALSA!!

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What’s the most important piece of Mexican cuisine? SALSA!!

So what is Salsa? Google defines it as: “Mezcla de sustancias comestibles trituradas y desleídas que se emplea para condimentar la comida, mezclada con ella o servida aparte.” Basically, a crushed mixture of edible substances used to flavor food.

Like every other house in Mexico, my host family consumes a lot of salsa. Every Sunday my host mother makes this delicious salsa for every meal for the rest of the week. Now, there are a lot of different types of salsa, but this is the one we eat the most in my house, and believe me, its worth making.

This recipe is very simple, and a lot of it is up to how you want it to taste. There are two ingredients: tomatoes and green chiles. You can choose how much you want, usually my host mother uses three medium/small tomatoes and one chile, you can change the ratios to determine how spicy and how much salsa you want to make. 

Boil the tomatoes and chiles until soft. Cut the top of the chiles, then put everything in a blender with enough water to blend until smooth. Viola! Ya terminaste! Enjoy your delicious salsa on top of any dish you can imagine. 

 

Provecho!

Before I left – A glimpse into the Past

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So I know I have safely made it to my city, but there are so many things I had to do to get here and so much that I went through that I think it would be valuable to type up. Lucky for me, I love journaling. 

I’ll be honest, this trip didn’t feel real for the longest time. I had known for years I wanted to study abroad, but I only realized it was really happening when I was sitting in the airport alone at 5 AM. Not to mention I had a bit of a difficult time with approvals – the state I am living in, Nuevo Leon, happens to have a safety warning in place (meaning my school wasn’t really sure they wanted me to go). Luckily, it only took three extra months of stress to get my travel plans approved!

As a note: Mexico in itself isn’t the safest place in the world, but as long as you take proper percauctions and don’t act super dumb you’ll be okay. Monterrey is a lot like any big city, there’s crime and danger, but it’s also full of people who have lived here their entire life and have never experienced any violence. The media always shows the worst that can happen, and while that is important to know, it’s never the whole story.

I realize most people reading this probably aren’t coming to Monterrey, for some reason it’s not the most popular destination for US students. But one of the things I found most difficult about preparing to come here was the lack of information. Monterrey is not a tourist destination or a traditional little Mexican town, it’s a huge city based in engineering and business. There are pretty much no books on this city and very few travel bloggers come here (at least the ones in english). The best resource I found was youtube, gotta love travel bloggers. 

I watched every video I could find on this city, which is only about five in total. I could see it was a huge city and there was like one place for tourists to go (the macro plaza which I’ve only just scratched the surface of, it’s on my list for next month). All this means i left the states with very little idea where I was going and what life would be like when I landed. 

So, how did I cope? I made up my mind before I had even packed my bags to say yes to as many opportunities as I could. If I wanted to learn about my city and experience life here the best thing to do is throw yourself into it. Maybe not the most calm and collected plan, but man, its paid off. I talk to every new person I meet and say yes to as many things as I reasonably can and have had so many life changing memories in just two weeks. I took all the nerves and doubts I had about my choices and used that energy to plunge headfirst. I’m already uncomfortable here, so adding a little more doesn’t hurt, talk to strangers, try new food, go on adventures. This is how you grow. 

My goals for studying abroad was to learn and grow. There is only so much you can learn in a classroom, full of people who have lived lives similar to yours. Studying abroad gives you a new perspective on life, and more than anything changes who you are. Life is about learning, and that requires you to grow, change, and experience new ways of life. My wish is that when I come home I’ll have grown as a person and be able to share that new knowledge and experience with people around me and in the conversations that matter to me. 

My advice for anyone taking the plunge and going abroad: when people say its life changing, they aren’t exaggerating, there is nothing that compares to immersing yourself in a new culture. You are forced to learn and grow, it’s hard and honestly pretty terrifying to get on that plane, but the experience cannot be replicated. Take those fears and anxieties and challenge them. Accept the nerves and just push on, use that energy to start running headfirst into your new life.

¡Viajes Seguros!

 

My New City

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Es Viernes! Sea feliz! 

I am writing this in a seat that’s far too low for my desk (but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to raise) inside the library of my new University: Tecnologico de Monterrey (the double ‘r’ gets a pretty serious tongue roll, and it shouldn’t be forgotten). I have successfully completed my first full week of classes, and am a few days from having lived in this city for two weeks. 

(FYI that metal was very hot, I kinda thought I may have burned my hands on it lol)

My school, TEC for short, is a private university that has campuses all across Mexico, both for secondary students and college students. The campus I’m at has a focus on engineering, business, and sciences. The best part about this school, for me, is that there are a good amount of classes taught in english. The campus is stunning, not only is it situated in the beautiful city of Monterrey, but there has been quite a bit of time and money put into the architecture. The buildings are beautiful, especially the library, with most of its out-facing walls made up of glass panes and the furniture looking like someone spilled a rainbow across the building. 

This Saturday I had the privilege of taking a tour to the big spots of the city. It was about 100 °F so I can’t say it was the best time of my life, however once things begin to cool down I’m excited to see more of these places.

The first place we visited was the ‘Mirador Asta Bandera’, or ‘Priests Point.’ This is a GIANT flag on top of an overlook giving you an amazing view of the city. When I say giant flag I mean it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a flag as big as this one. But the really amazing part of this view is the mountains. Monterrey is surrounded by beautiful mountains that stand out starkly against the skyscrapers of the city. 

After this we went to the ‘La Gran Plaza’ or ‘macroplaza’, which is the place to visit if you are ever traveling through Monterrey. This is the biggest park of the city, and the seventh biggest plaza in the world. I didn’t have the chance to walk the length of it, nor did I want to succumb to heat stroke, but I did get the opportunity to see one of the many museums that dot this park. The museum of Monterrey’s history is free to enter and is also home to the Governor’s office on the second floor. In addition to the many museums there is a beautiful river running straight through the park, giving rise to fountains and an incredible boat tour.

Just like any other big city this one has so many places to go I’m sure I wont find them all in my short time here. Just one more suggestion today: ‘Barrio Antiguo’. This is the old town of Monterrey, and the center of young fun and art. There are a number of restaurants, bars, and clubs here that all contain a great artsy vibe. It may sound a bit touristy, but since Monterrey has very few tourists in the first place you will be partying with locals. 

 

New Discovery- Crema de Calabacitas

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One of the best things about living in another country is being exposed to new foods and recipes. This is a dinner my host family made for me a few nights ago, and believe me it’s worth a try. This is a crema, not a sopa, on account of the use of milk. This soup is a creamy, think, and delicious dish that would be perfect for a chilly autumn day.

Ingredients:

1/2 of an onion

garlic

3 medium zucchini

about 1 cup of milk (to taste)

Recipe:

Boil zucchini until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Put the zucchini in a blender, along with the onion, garlic and enough of the zucchini water to allow perfect blending. After blended to smooth, add the milk until creamy, and pour back into the pot. Add salt and pepper to taste, and heat the soup until preferred temperature and serve!

 

The Beginning of an Adventure

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Hola desde Monterrey, Mexico! After six hours on a plane and not nearly enough food I made it safely to Mexico. The first thing to note about this place, its very hot. 80 degrees is the low here and 100 is common. Just five minutes outside walking from the airport terminal to where my ride was and I was covered in sweat. Truly feels like summer here.

The city is very beautiful. There are both the high rise buildings like those you can find in New York, as well as the little casas and store fronts associated with Mexico. All of this is set up against beautiful mountains that tower above you wherever you go, and with the constantly sunny sky the view is always amazing. 

Everything feels both fast paced and slow here at the same time. Maybe its because its all so new but I feel as though there is always something going on, but there is no rush to get there. The people are some of the nicest I have ever met, they are happy to be here and excited to show their amazing country to you. Even the air feels welcoming as it envelopes you in its warm embrace.

I have been meeting new people everyday, a lot of them are exchange students, though I hope that will change when classes start. There are so many activities to help us meet other students and experience life here in Monterrey. You can never run out of things to do, that’s for certain. 

The most important part of the trip: the food. Every type of food I have tried here is amazing. The people here have pride in their cooking and the food they put on the table and the hard work and dedication shows through. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what anything is called, I just know that it is all amazing and worth the trip in itself. 

 

There is so much happening and so many things to explore that I don’t think my one semester here will be enough, but I hope to make the best out of what time I have here and bring back new ideas and experiences with me.