For my last week in San Cristobal and Mexico altogether, the class wrapped up all of our projects and finally got to see the results of our testing.
Early in the week, the class and the professors went to a taqueria, El Tacolete, which was a great time and a great send-off for our professor, Dr. Loyo. With his projects, we tested raw lagoon water in a number of ways and our conclusion was… well that all of our testing methods actually ended up making the water worse. However, it was still a great learning experience and lead us to find even more alternative ways to disinfect water.
Early in our last week, we went to Pequeno Sol, an elementary school that used very resourceful methods in their infrastructure and teaching environment. We went there to learn about their projects and eventually got to scout the school for difficulties in their day-to-day lives that could be solved with engineering.
On my last night, I went to San Cristobal’s night market, which sometimes goes until midnight! it was a great time, and I was able to get a really cool hoodie from there. Overall, this was a great last night before an early flight the next day.
My time in Mexico is something that I will truly cherish my whole life. Four weeks in Mexico turned water treatment from classwork into real life. Having to carry lagoon water, mix cactus into flocculant, and witness how some of our tests made the water worse, I came to the realization that a solution to clean water for everybody is much more complicated and nuanced than anybody would think at first. Any fix must be cheap, use local materials, and be built with the people who will keep it running. NGOs like Isla Urbana, Cantaro Azul, and Pequeño Sol showed me that non-profits can be skilled problem-solvers, not just charities. They blend engineering with local culture and earn steady gains. Compared with lectures at Rice, this trip made everything come alive; it mixed language, history, and real risks, and it reminded me why I chose engineering.