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- Mohammed •
- Architecture Program in Oaxaca, Mexico •
- Architecture Major
“it just opened up a window for me to be able to experience what I did in this past spring, which I don’t think I would be able to experience that anywhere else or anytime even if I go back”
—Mohammed |
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Mohammed B. an Architecture major gained new inspiration by studying in Oaxaca, Mexico for a semester. The program included visits from international architects and group excursions to different cities and museums.
“It was a different setting all in all. The studio that we had, we didn’t really have classroom settings so we weren’t sitting in classes. And we had visiting instructors, Gustavo from Argentina and we had instructors that came from here and visited us for a week.”
Although Mohammed said he encountered challenges such as financial restraints, the Spanish language, and moments of homesickness he was able to overcome such obstacles and overall have a valuable experience in Oaxaca.
“Well a challenge that started here were financial challenges… So what I did was I applied for a scholarship, the Gilman scholarship… I reached a point where I thought that I wouldn’t be able to go and then the scholarship came in. And it just opened up a window for me to be able to experience what I did in this past spring, which I don’t think I would be able to experience that anywhere else or anytime even if I go back. Challenges there, well one was the language. I would say that it was a challenge but it wasn’t a problem, it was a challenge and it was a good challenge. It sort of pushed me to learn this new language. There will be a point where you reach, especially with a semester long that you miss home. Usually when I’m at that point I just call home and talking to someone at home kind of makes everything better and then you are back. So there is that roller coaster but once it’s all done and you look back a year or two or even five or ten, whatever, you just…best experience that you’ve had.”
The students on the program lived together in a section of a local hotel that offered a vibrant courtyard and community kitchen. Mohammed said that they would often try cooking traditional Mexican recipes using fresh ingredients that they bought at an outdoor market. One of his favorite places to eat was a small taco stand.
“My favorite place was a taco stand in Oaxaca. The owner’s name was Vulmar. It was a ten feet by five feet, stand in the park. He was always there every day from 5 to midnight he was there. And it was such a beautiful place. He had a really nice setting where he would have the place that he would make the tacos and then he’ll have all of these different ingredients and stuff. He’d grab something from here and put them all together, and then roll the taco. And then line it up really nicely and then you have these little tacos and you have all of these sauces. I got to practice my Spanish with him, his sister. It was something that I really enjoyed, not only the tacos themselves but the conversations that you would have with these people.”
Last modified on May 13, 2008 |