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| At ¨Las Nubes¨ |
Ricardo’s thoughts on teaching in Comitan:
Since my days in school, I have always
dreamed of being a teacher and have tried to be one as a volunteer here in
Mexico. Last year I began my journey by teaching English conversation
classes two days a week in a high school in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Now
I have graduated to a different environment, here at the Instituto Tecnológica
in Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico. I began a 3 week conversation course with
business topics as the source material, having 2 classes a day for 3 weeks.
Enough said as I now have a much greater respect and admiration for all
the teachers in my life and the world. I would like to give each and every one
a big hug and a new car if I could. During this time my classes were
between 20 and 40 students with many conversations outside of class - enjoying
their thoughts or just having fun. I feel that when you teach someone or
just listen you are giving back to the world that has given you so much, except
in this case I got the better part of the experience. I am looking forward to continuing
this type of class in the future and maybe in different places in the world
with my sweetie Susan, who also has been teaching reading and pronunciation
classes having 3 classes per day. To
summarize here…after every day’s sessions my daily naps have never been deeper
nor longer.
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| Our house ... second floor |
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| Beaautiful downtown Comitan |
Susan’s thoughts on the Comitan
experience:
Once again I am
faced with a discussion of differences and/or comparisons. I wrote several
months ago that I was going to stop making comparisons and I think at that
time, I was talking about comparing myself to others. Living in another
cultural and traveling as we do has given me the opportunity to talk about
differences and comparisons of cultures and I just cannot help but use myself
and my culture as the basis of my comparisons. My goal is not to decide that
one is better or worse (maybe that is my personal growth) but just to note and
confirm my observations after three weeks immersed in a Mexican culture
teaching at a University in Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico. This city, larger than
San Miguel is a working class city with commerce as its main business. It is
not poor, nor backwards in any way and the Pan American Highway runs right
through town, in fact it is our bus route to school each day.
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| View of Comitan from Mirador |
- ·
People
are very friendly to outsiders – we are living in a small Mexican neighborhood
where no one speaks any English. We are living above a very large water
bottling and delivery company and whatever we ask for is given to us in a kind
way. The apartment was provided to us by the Instituto Tecnológica
de Comitan where we are working. It is simple but large and very comfortable
with a small kitchen and all the basic necessities.
- ·
Every
weekday morning I go to a dance/exercise class. I am the oldest, whitest,
tallest, thinnest (first time for this in my life) and just basically stand out
in this crowd but I never feel uncomfortable and they just treat me like I have
always been coming to this class. I can really see the difference in the way
the Mexican women can dance and move their hips. I get the footwork correct but
after three weeks I still cannot move my hips in the way that they can. Perhaps
it is in their blood but I will keep trying. I also noted the differences in
the way Mexican women dress, both in exercise and on the street. They seem to
be so much more comfortable in their bodies and with their curves then we were
in my younger days. They dress more sexily and wear very tight clothes to
accentuate their curves. I spent most of my life trying to hide the little
bulges here and there and they are happy to show them off. I think there is
much to be learned from them about body acceptance.
- ·
There
are no grey haired Mexican ladies – do they color their hair or just never go
grey? Clearly, I stand out in this manner.
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Birthday party for Daniel with
Jorge and Maricela |
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| Pineapples growing at Las Nubes |
- We
have not found ANY healthy (and certainly no vegetarian) restaurants in
Comitan. In three weeks, we have eaten only one meal out of the house. Richard
made oatmeal every morning for both of us and I packed our lunch for school
every day and came home to make dinner before our evening class. Shopping was
also a bit of a challenge until I finally found a little vegetable store in our
neighborhood. There are no large grocery stores within walking distance to our
home. The only option we had for bigger shopping was to go to Walmart (ugh)!
This probably reflects the fact that Comitan is not really a tourist
destination, but on the route to many beautiful natural areas in Chiapas.
- Time….oh
my, could I go on about this. Having grown up in the USA with German parents, I
only know one way of behaving – being on time and using my time in a very
efficient matter. Richard grew up in a similar culture, even with a Latina
mother. Mexicans have a completely different idea about time. I don’t think any
of my classes ever started on time (even though I was always there on time) and
the end time was also flexible. This is not just true here in Chiapas, but
throughtout all of Mexico. It was more apparent here as I was living and
working with only Mexicans so was on their schedule, not mine. I do not know
how a country can run with this type of time management. Also, no one ever seemed to
know when other events were happening on campus that would cause students to be
in another place other than class. (exams, presentations, assembly events for
the whole school). Suffice it to say, this was a difficult situation for me. The
amazing thing is that this Insitituto Tecnológica de Comitan is probably better run and more organized
than many other schools (2000 enrolled students).
- Happy
and relaxed – that is the lot of the people. Nothing to complain about here –
when we went for an all day trip with some friends we just ate our picnic lunch
and then just sat around for several hours relaxed on the grass – talking, napping,
laughing – no cares in the world. I think had it been in another culture we
would have felt (I should say I would have felt) that it was time to either go
home, or go somewhere else. Just “being” is fine with the Mexicans. Spending
time with their families and friends is much more important than anything
else.
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| My night class for 3 weeks |
- Now
a bit about my students, and the teaching experience. I don’t think I ever had
it as a “goal” like Ricardo, but I do feel good when I give of myself to
others. I enjoyed the fact that all of my students were voluntarily taking my
classes – we were reading the Francisco Jimenez book “The Circuit” that we read
in San Miguel de Allende. The students were prepared reading each chapter in
Spanish before the class. At first all were very shy to read in English but as
the weeks went on they were much more comfortable reading out loud. We will
have a “Skype conversation” with Francisco Jimenez in April with all the
students on the campus who have read the book. Richard and I will return to
Comitan for that event. The students really enjoyed the days when we talked
about some of our expressions, slang and of course, curse words! In this way,
young people are the same in all cultures. (fart=pedo....always good for a laugh!)
- Here
is a strange comparison…toilets and toilet paper. If any of you have traveled
to Mexico you know that many places require tp to be placed in the garbage bin
because of antiquated plumbing. I have also noted in some areas that there are
no toilet seats…and have heard it is because people steal them. Well here in
Comitan it is the same….no places with toilet seats. When I first got to campus
I also noted that there was no tp in any of the restrooms (thank goodness I
know to carry my own). I did have the courage to ask in the office one day and
was told it was also because people steal it. All the people in the office have
their own rolls in their desk to carry to the ladies room. Am I comfortable
with this cultural difference….I think not!
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| Rivers at ¨Las Nubes¨ |
- There are many beautiful natural resources in Chiapas. You may remember my blogs in Sept/Oct 2013 of some of the places that we saw on our last visit to Chiapas. This time we went to Las Nubes and enjoyed a day with Artemio, Natalia and their son Luis.
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Waterfalls through the tunnel at
Las Nubes |
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Artemio, Natalia and Luis at
Las Nubes |
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| Always ready for a dip! |
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| All these for $2.00! |
Thank you again
for sharing our adventures with us. I am grateful for so much in my life and
travel is one for sure. I do not think I ever realized as a youth how valuable
this experience is, especially when there is time to really immerse in the
culture. This 3 weeks has been great for confirming for both of us our love for
Mexico, the culture and the people.
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