This week, students had the opportunity to learn more indepth about what life is like for a Mexican university student, as all participated in a week long academic exchange with a group of students from the National School of Social Work at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Throughout the course of the week, students got to know each other both inside and outside of class, as they listened to speakers, gathered in small groups to discuss social policies both in Mexico and the United States and shared stories about their lives as they enjoyed some delicious tacos.
While the week was focused primarily on themes relating to social work and learning about the differences in the profession and the policies between both nations, the migration and globalization students found that they too could relate to some of the students. Many walked away feeling as though their experience here in Cuernavaca had been enriched for having met and heard the stories of the UNAM students, many of whom travel many hours and confront many obstacles in order to pursue their education and subsequently achieve their professional goals.
As one of the UNAM students put it so eloquently when discussing the challenges of discrimination, as social workers they are determined to acknowledge the inequalities present in society and work positively to change them. Listening to her words, many of the students felt that they could relate to such a sentiment in their own efforts to combat the injustices faced by those forced to migrate in the hopes of finding a better life for themselves and for their families.
Overall, it was a wonderful week shared by all, as new friends were made and a new consciousness was gained about the experiences of university students here in Mexico.
Photo: The group poses together at the conclusion of the week-long exchange
Studying abroad in Thailand, I've also had the opportunity to meet with Thai students, though never in the same organized setting you describe. The first time I really interacted with students to discuss education was on a visit to the site for an alternative school being built by a group in another province. A professor let them use a couple rais of land (about an acre), where they had a rice paddy, a fish pond, and other vegetables and plants. They hoped to grow everything organically and use the space to teach people about agriculture and self-sufficiency. The students envisioned a school where anyone could come to learn or teach, where global and local issues could be addressed, and where people would be challenged to confront social issues and their own lifestyles. While we were there, members of clubs from the university where we're enrolled also visited them. One of the groups is focused on social justice issues, while the other draws members from the school of community development. What strikes me about my interactions with these students as compared to yours is their attitude toward school. You mention how hard students work to get to school, so it's clear they value their formal education. The students we talked to, though, often stated that they didn't care about grades or class, because they think the most worthwhile education comes from personal relationships and action. My understanding of the Thai educational system (which is admittedly limited) is that programs focusing on human rights and related issues are rare, which is probably why these students all strive to find space outside of the classroom for investigating them. Do the students you talked to seem satisfied with the opportunities and lessons offered to them by their school? Or do many of them seek ways of redressing the problems of inequality they study outside of the current system?
ResponderEliminarJust as Rachel describes, I too had the chance to engage and learn from Thai students during a few personal days. To me, spending time with Thai students was so refreshing compared to being with elders in the villages (even though that is amazing) because there is so much more to relate to with people our age. Language barrier and all, the six of us were all able to explain a typical day for us in the states at school compared to the Thai context. Like you mention, "new friends were made and a new consciousness was gained about the experiences of university students here in Mexico," I feel the same now about my experience here in Thailand.
ResponderEliminarIt is great that we both had the opportunity to connect to students our age, try and keep the relationships up if you can!
Maggie McLagan
University of Colorado at Boulder
Hiya, not to focus on a little detail, but sadly the most important idea you brought up was tacos. Seriously, its awesome the way that students are able to come together over food. Some of my best experiences, including the camping trip with Rachel and Maggie, was cooking and eating food with Thai students. For us, it went a long way to overcome the language barrier, and deepened friendships with roommates and strangers. I also think that its been really amazing to visit a country that has a much more solid food identity. America truly is a melting pot and we can wander around and eat food from all over the world, which I will admit I miss. But seeing the way that whole communities gather around types of food, whether its Isaan in Thailand, or the different areas in Mexico, its been amazing to experience a completely new food culture.
ResponderEliminar