Welcome to week 1 of iSEED Mexico!
To start off my first day in Mexico, I ended up at our hostel in Mexico City, where I immediately met Fernando! That same day he and I went to get tacos to keep from starving (and later became the only two out of the group sick a few days later… but maybe it was a coincidence…). But after I was introduced to all the other iSEED Mexico students. I also got to do this cool experience already knowing two of my friends, Yanelli and Isa!
Our first dinner together
Our group is split relatively in half between those who are fluent in Spanish and those who are not, and although the Spanish speakers carried us at times, these past two semesters of Spanish at Rice have taken me pretty far. These two important facts have allowed us to have pretty in-depth conversations with the people around us, and although at times I didn’t speak much in these conversations, I was able to listen to my friends ask questions to learn more about Mexico’s history through the citizens they spoke with.
I previously did not know much about Mexican history, and I can honestly say that in just a week I have been able to learn so many cool things and learn how rich in culture and history Mexico truly is. I was able to learn about the Aztecs and the importance of the history of water and the design of different water systems in the country.
Top View of Tlaltecuhtli Sculpture from Museo del Templo Mayor
These sculptures are on a pyramid in Teotihuacan. Fun fact from our tour: water used to stream from the holes that represent their mouths
This has also allowed me to reframe my perspective of he engineering process and truly see how there are advanced engineers everywhere regardless of how “advanced” the resources they have access to are. Our time in Xochimilco and with Isla Urbana taught me that design doesn’t always have to tackle the biggest problem directly. Instead, by analyzing the broader challenge, we can create solutions that help people navigate it; or even use the problem itself to address smaller, more immediate needs. I think this is very helpful especially when working on projects designed to help others because instead we focus more on how we are able to make a lifestyle easier for them.
The “Angel of Independence” is a representation of Mexico “sinking” as a good amount these steps never existed before but were added over the years.
Us on a boat preparing to work at Xochimilco
I truly believe the best part of this trip is and will continue to be learning more about the engineers and creatives from Mexico that worked to make it sustainable for its citizens. We had such a heavy week filled with many activities. I also spent a lot of time by myself exploring the city and what it brings culturally and really think this is what made this experience as good as it was. I can’t wait for what San Cristobal will bring.