This is an example of a fruit and vegetable stand in Mexico. Photo by: Patricia Ortiz-Corona

By Guadalupe Ortiz

The weather is warmer and the spirits are higher for some of PHS Hispanic students as they are packing up their things and getting ready to head south of the border.

Mexico has 31 states and one Federal District, to the west it has the Pacific Ocean, to the east the Gulf of Mexico, north the U.S, and south it has Guatemala and Belize as its neighboring countries. Though the students go to the same country, not all go to the same town. Senior Fabiola Arias visits CDBA, Jalisco, and freshman Diana Peynado visits Acambaro, Guanajuato. As a student who travels to Mexico, my family and I visit Santiago Capitiro, Guanajuato as well as Victoria de Cortazar, Guanajuato.

Most of the students say that they get to Mexico by airplane, though a few said that they arrive there by car.  The average car ride to Mexico for my family would take around thirty-eight to forty-two hours. That includes taking short stops to eat, pump gas, take restroom breaks, and a few hours so the driver (my dad) can get some sleep.

Before arriving at their destination, certain students are already thinking about meeting up with old friends and family. Senior Michaela Moreno says, “I look forward to the freedom [being inside with the bad weather] and seeing how everyone has changed since the last time I had been there.” On the other hand, senior Kevin Quintana was just looking forward to packing in order to leave.

For some it may be a culture shock when visiting Mexico, but others already know the atmosphere. Peynado says, “ People’s daily routine seems so simple and easy to handle. Time just flies by! [I] Love IT!” I myself have noticed that my friends and family that live in Mexico seem more relaxed and have a simple schedule.

While I stayed in Mexico, my routine was a lot less chaotic than it is now. It consisted simply of waking up, dressing, eating, visiting family, coming back, showering, and getting ready for a night out with friends.  This schedule may be typical for many teens that live in Mexico. Moreno says, “In Mexico I would wake up early, go down to the Placita [the same as a town’s center or downtown] to hang out. Come back to my Grandmother’s, eat something, shower, and get ready for going out of town to shop or something. Come back to town, take a nap and then go back to the Placita to hang out some more or go to a party. Then go to sleep and do it all over again.”

Another thing that changes is the food. Quintana comments that he eats a lot more tacos while in Mexico. Students visiting their hometown in Mexico may find themselves  eating much more food than normal, and getting back to their normal eating routine is going to take awhile to get used to. The food is different from the food they may be used to eating. It seems to have a stronger flavor, more spices, and plenty more chiles (peppers).

An example of Mexican cuisine would be quesadilla with cheese, homemade tortillas, pork, and chile sauce. Photo by: Patricia Ortiz-Corona

Eventually everything must come to an end, and the students must return home. Moreno says that the hardest part for her to get used to again is the sleep routine, and Peynado says that for her it is the fact that she has to come back to school.

This is an example of a little shop that families put outside their homes so people can purchases gifts. Photo by: Patricia Ortiz-Corona