sintitulo

Hi!
I'm glad you're interested in reading what I'm writing!
In this entry I will just explain the purpose of the trip and what my jobs are about.

This trip to Campeche is basically an exchange program that is done every year between Stetson University and the Instituto Campechano. Every year one person from each place goes to the other for about 4-6 weeks to learn from a new culture, do an internship or take classes, and for some, learn a new language. At first, when I heard about the program, I wasn't too interested because I didn't think I wanted to go to a small town in Mexico for the summer, but after I was convinced to apply and I realized that I wanted to do something productive during the summer, I decided to apply without any hope. I wrote an essay and fortunately I was the one student selected to come to Campeche.

I didn't know what I was going to be doing and where I was staying until I got to the airport in Campeche. The teacher here that organizes the exchange program picked me up and took me to the family's house. He placed me in the "Secretaria de Turismo Municipal" which is the branch of the government that takes care of tourism in the city of Campeche. The director of the office wanted me as her personal assistant. So basically I call her doctor, her nanny, her husband, etc... I keep her agenda updated, carry her phone at events when she needs me to...etc.. it's interesting...reminds me of Devil wears Prada. But she is taking me with her to Calakmul, a beautiful city in the state of Campeche in which there are several Mayan constructions and there is also a lot of vegetation and wildlife (tigers, panthers,....)... or at least that's what I heard. So I'm very excited about that. But I don't feel like I'm learning anything with this job so I decided to ask if I could work somewhere related to the Environment. So I will be working in the department of Environmental Science in the University of Campeche, starting Monday, after I go to Calakmul. I'm excited to learn more about environmental science and I think working there will be beneficial to my career since it's more related.

Twice a week I have to give English classes. I thought I was going to help in a class but I am tutoring one guy who is the son of the director of the Instituto Campechano. He isn't taking any English classes so I have to make up a class. Today we had the first one and since I didn't know what to expect, I didn't have anything prepared and I've never given a class by myself before. So hopefully next time I'm more prepared and I can teach him something. Funny thing is that he was told that I was an English teacher, so when he saw me he treated me as an older lady (using the "usted" form, a formal way in Spanish in which people talk to elders to show respect). When he found out I was only a year older that him, he said he thought I was 30 years old!!!! ugh.....

Okay that's all I'm writing today because I'm too tired so I'm going to sleep. Good night! I will keep writing as much as I can. :)

SP