Biology Trip to Mexico Joshua Ball Spring 2006 MSC-Mexican Ecology & Culture

Hi, my name is Josh and this is a short description for what I liked most about the trip to Mexico. The ride down to Mexico was around 40 hours and everyone I have told about the trip said, “how did you ride in a van for 40 hours going and then 40 hours coming?” You know it really didn’t feel that long of a trip, in fact it was fun, just to look at all the different scenery, made the trip go fast.

The first stop we made to camp and get some rest was at Bustamante Canon. We stayed at a park that is between two mountains. It was so beautiful and I loved it there. There were a lot of people there that had probably stayed the weekend. Mr. Stewart told us that Sunday was a big day for family and having fun. I really was amazed at that and wish that my family was active and did more things together. I really respected that aspect of Mexican culture.

When we arrived at the campgrounds I was shocked at how nice it was. In fact my first thought was we are lost and we are just stopping for directions. Then when the Mexican students arrived it was a little weird at first. We mainly just looked each other for a while and then said hi a few times. I am shy around people I have never met, and I am sure that some of the Mexican students are too. But what really impressed me was that they didn’t let that stop them for going up to you first and trying to get to know you. I made lots of good friends and here’s two of them. Berto and Pancho.

These two guys really helped me out that week with Spanish and just being a friend. I loved just getting to talk to them and hear about their lives.

The best time I had at the campgrounds was about Wednesday evening. Aaron and I just went out to walk on the beach and look around. Well as we were walking Aaron found a hermit crab. I couldn’t believe he found a hermit crab that is alive. So we set out to find more. By the time we go to the end of the beach we had found 6. Then around the rock Aaron found box crabs, snails, and some sea cucumbers. This was an unplanned day to find animals and we ended up finding a lot of cool stuff.

Just walking down this beach is were we found the hermit crabs. The next night we went back to see if the crabs came onto the beach for the jungle or the ocean and sure enough they come for the jungle. After sunset we found about 70 crabs on the beach going for the ocean. I figure they are going to get water and food then go back into the jungle for safety because those sea gulls would eat them up in the day time.

My favorite day was Reptile day and we went to the Crocodile farm. It is really cool what the farm is trying to do. Poaching for croc meat is endangering the species. So the mission of the farm is to get the population of the crocodiles up. They also help wounded animals recover. This is me at the crocodile farm in front of some parrots.

The biology aspect of the trip was amazing I have learned so much more then you could imagine. The Mexican professors were so intelligent and knew the environment around them so well, to find the specimens we are looking for.

On the trip home we stopped in Real de Catorce. The last night was the best time I had with people from the other schools. About nine of us went out to eat at a nice restaurant with live music upstairs. I opened up to everyone more that night then I had ever before. I just told them more about me and heard more about others. My goal on this trip was from the very beginning to open up fast and get to know people. I really didn’t do that too fast but at least I did at the end. Then Aniesa and I stayed for the live music and it was great. Everyone in that band was amazing at the instrument they played. My favorite was the soprano sax player man could he play like I have never heard before. Then we left at about 11:00 to get some sleep before our big trip home.

I want to say thank you to everyone who went on the trip it was an amazing time. But most of all thanks to you Mr. Stewart for giving college students the opportunity to experience the world around us.

My perceptions of Mexico did change, but my negative perception was not that bad. I just always envisioned a Mexican family of about 7 or more kids, all packed into a single cab truck. And yes we saw that a few times but not much. I just thought that Mexico we mostly just dirt-poor farmers. Yes, there are those people but not everyone is that way. It is like any country you have your rich, poor, good, and bad people that make up the country. I guess my way of thinking changed too see all countries the same.