My perception of Mexico as I enrolled was acquired from books I had read, and tales from people who have been there, mostly about official corruption and poverty. But I also have several friends of Hispanic descent who are friendly, honest, and hardworking. I have to say that my initial perception was fairly accurate. I didn’t witness any corruption or misbehavior of the funcionarios, but the frequent military checkpoints, and the pickup patrols with M-16s at the ready gave the feeling that there could be no argument. And while the people were certainly poor, they were also proud and resourceful! They made the most of what they had, unlike their American equivalents, most of whom appear to be unmotivated and content to live in squalor.

One thing that really impressed me in regard to the culture was that people actually had social interaction with each other. Here in the United States, we leave the house only to drive alone to work, or possibly with our family to the mall or wal-mart, there to be totally surrounded by strangers who are all mutually attempting to ignore one another. In every town we drove through in Mexico, there was activity on the square, it was a place to meet and socialize for everyone: children, teens, and adults. The stores were small and one could find whatever one needed by simply walking along the street. It’s very hard to describe walking thru a Mexican town. It is truly sensory overload! The sights, sounds, and smells are overwhelming. The vividly colored buildings, decorated with leftover tiles, bricks, and whatever else was handy during construction, the conversation, dogs, birds, and church bells, and the odor of food cooking in stores and stands along the street combines for a rich, stimulating cultural and community experience.

The multi-institutional educational exposure was enlightening as well. I met some very interesting people from both sides of the border, faculty as well as students. The collaborative effort was impressive, and the fact that it came together as smoothly as it did is pretty amazing. On the other hand it can be frustrating to be forced to communicate in a mostly unfamiliar language. It really has to be experienced to be appreciated. None the less, I was fortunate to have made some friends who I hopefully will have the chance to see again. The hospitality and patience of the Mexican students and professors is very greatly appreciated. (I probably should thank the American professors as well.)

The diversity of flora and fauna at this latitude was indescribably spectacular! I wish we could have had more time to explore. It would have taken weeks to see all there is to see. I was lucky to have made the acquaintance of a Mexican botany student who could speak enough English to communicate. Many thanks to Aslan for the friendship and personal instruction!

In closing I have to say that the biological aspect of this trip was well worth the effort and expense. But the cultural lessons I learned are priceless. I knew it would be fun, I didn’t expect it to be this rewarding. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who has an interest in tropical biology or Mexican culture, and if you have both, well……