Adiós, San Cris (for now…)
Final Blog Post about Chiapas, Mexico
Whew. Just like that, we’ve reached the end.
As I sit here writing my final blog post, I’m filled with so many feelings. Gratitude. Exhaustion. Pride. Nostalgia (already!). It’s wild how four weeks can stretch you, fill you, and reshape how you see yourself, your studies, and the world around you.
The last week in San Cristóbal was slower, but not quieter. It’s been about wrapping up, reflecting, and recognizing that while the experiments may be ending, the learning doesn’t stop here.
The Gardens at the Pequeño Sol school! So beautiful and lively.
Pequeño Sol!
Water Treatment is More Than a Method.
It’s a Mindset.
Before this trip, I understood water treatment as a technical challenge: something to be solved with filters, equations, and a well-calibrated system. But this past month has pushed me to see beyond the beakers and protocols.
Working hands-on with Moringa seeds, ceramic filters, solar disinfection, and even lime-boosted SODIS taught me something powerful: safe water is not a product you deliver, it’s a process you build. And that process must be slow, iterative, grounded in trust, and designed WITH the user, not just FOR them.
Some of the most “effective” tools weren’t fancy. They were accessible, understandable, and maintainable by the people using them every day. That’s what makes them sustainable. And honestly, that’s what makes them beautiful.
NGOs as Co-Designers.
Not Saviors.
One of the highlights of this trip has been getting to know the local NGOs: Isla Urbana, Cántaro Azul, and Tseinan. Their work has completely redefined how I see non-profits.
These orgs aren’t trying to swoop in with quick fixes. They’re deeply embedded in the communities they serve. They prioritize co-design, cultural resonance, and dignity. At Cántaro Azul, for example, we learned how community trust is just as important as technical efficiency. It’s not just “does this UV filter work?” but “do people feel safe using it?”
This was a massive shift for me. I used to see non-profit work as “helping others.” Now, I see it as partnering with people. And those partnerships are where the magic (and the impact) really happens.
Live, Laugh, Love Isla Urbana!
Beyond the Rice Classroom: This Was Learning, Rewritten
Don’t get me wrong, Rice classes challenge me. But this? This immersive, human, tactile experience felt like education in its most complete form.
We weren’t just learning about water, we were carrying it, testing it, treating it, and understanding its story. We weren’t just talking about systems, we were walking through them, from aqueducts in CDMX to community taps in Cuxtitali.
This study abroad experience blurred the line between engineering, anthropology, and ethics. It reminded me that data doesn’t tell the full story; people often do. It also reminded me that some of the best lessons come outside the lab, in the slow conversations, the trial-and-error, the late-night cohort laughs, and the moments when things don’t go as planned.
WHEN IN MEXICOOOOOO!!!
What I’m Carrying Home (besides 800 photos and a heart full of gratitude):
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I’ve learned that engineers should listen before they speak.
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That co-design isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a responsibility.
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That discomfort is often where the best learning begins.
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That joy, humor, and shared meals are part of the work, too.
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And that is what I want to continue doing: designing with intention, with people, with purpose.
Gracias, San Cris. Gracias, iSEED. Gracias to the excellent professors, classmates, NGOs, and even the rainstorms that taught us flexibility and patience.
Here’s to bringing all of this back home and to dreaming up what’s next.
With a whole heart and a well-worn water testing kit,
— Yaz
I will never forget how beautiful San Cris was!
I will never get over the beautiful water in Mexico!