Ambassadorial Scholar First Two Months

iew from EL PIPILA, a statue overlooking the city

After two months of living, volunteering and making friends in this beautiful city, I now feel like I can at last officially declare myself a bone fid Guanajuatense! I finally feel settled and a part of everything around me. I know my way up and down many of the hills and corners, which are unique to Guanajuato and so much a part of its very special charm. I can now call some amazing people my friends and I am becoming increasingly fluent when it comes to many of the local colloquialisms. I love it here and am so grateful to the many people who made this possible and who have been so very kind and made me feel so welcome. Thank you, thank you very, very much.

I have certainly been blessed with regard to my travels and I must confess that I am often moved to tears of joy and gratitude when I look back on my many international adventures and think of the truly incredible people I have met along the way, the sights, the sounds, the smells and the flavors. I wish everyone could have the travel opportunities I have been given, the desire to step outside of what is traditional and get to know and to become part of something entirely different and unfamiliar. Living in a foreign country is the most unbelievably rewarding experience, meeting new people, learning about their history and customs, learning their language, experiencing their culture and growing to understand and to see how in spite of the many differences, we are, in the end, more alike than different. We all want exactly the same things for ourselves and our families - peace, love, harmony and the joy and security that comes from feeling that you belong and being able to share your laughter and our tears with a our loved ones in a community that truly cares and supports us.

I am very excited that this time, my experience has been and will be different to those in the past, it will be less rushed and busy and the reason for that is that this time I am an academic year scholar and that status allows me the luxury of time to actually relax a little and enjoy the every day challenges of setting up a new life in a beautiful and exciting new country.

Guanajuato, Mexico is a colonial city in central Mexico located five hours north of Mexico City and four hours east of Guadalajara. The population of this colorful city full of gorgeous architecture and winding roadways is around 100,000 inhabitants. Guanajuato was built around the silver mining boom of the colonial era and is renowned for steep slopes and narrow streets that twist around the hillsides and disappear into a series of tunnels. University students, as well as internationally recognized musicians, artists, and dancers also add to the city’s diversity. In addition to its historical importance, Guanajuato, is also distinguished by some unusual points of interest, including the Museo de las Momias, a museum of mummies; The Museo Iconografico del Quijote, a shrine to Cervantes; and the birthplace of Diego Rivera (world famous Mexican painter). Most importantly for me, Guanajuato, is an ideal walking city; however, endless and steep cerros (hills) quickly turn a fun leisure walk into intense exercise! Guanajuato, has no traffic lights or neon signs, creating an extremely enjoyable atmosphere, peaceful, yet with plenty of life, and plenty to see.

Not only have I settled into my new home these past two months, but also, I participated in two Rotary associated projects (Colima and San Miguel de Allende) and made three Rotary presentations regarding the scholarship program. Throughout this year I will continue to make presentations to Rotary clubs around the area/country (depending upon where opportunities lead me). :) Additionally, I am enrolled in master level courses at the Universidad de Guanajuato that compliment my M.A. degree in Educational Linguistics from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

These past two months have been filled with wonderful experiences and blessings and one of these has been the opportunity to meet a Rotarian from Reno Nevada, Bob Hardenbrook and his wife, Rosanne. They have taken me in and provided a home away from home. An example of their kindness and good humor was when I shared with them my craving for a good old American Hamburger, they promptly invited me to dinner and what do you suppose was on the menu, HAMBURGERS!! :) Additionally, they introduced me to Project Amigo (Colima Mexico), an educational program that I will soon be posting information to. Since Bob’s Spanish is limited; I have also found a key role at the local Guanajuato Rotary meetings on Wednesday nights (9 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.!) I am now the official interpreter! Unfortunately, Bob and Rosanne will be leaving at the end of this month, but I should like to take this opportunity to thank them for helping me with my initial transition and for their many kindnesses and support when I needed it most. Thank you and God speed, I will miss you.

Currently the Guanajuato Rotary Club is working with clubs in Salinas, California and in Indiana to install 15 water tanks in surrounding communities. Additionally, they are also busy preparing for the district conference in May, which will be held here in Guanajuato. I have very much enjoyed my Rotary experiences over the last months and as I continue to volunteer and be involved, I find myself gaining a much better understanding of the Mexican clubs, projects, and interests. In addition, I am presently looking into local service projects, in the field of education, with which I can become involved in the following months.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is here and time is flying by. As spring arrives there are many concerts and plays preformed around the city. In addition to the culture and socialization heating up, I have also lately had some unpleasant encounters with some less attractive and hospitable residents of my beautiful little neighborhood - creepy-crawly creatures – a scorpion even, right above my bed!!! I am now armed and ready; hopefully my next encounter will not be as traumatic or as embarrassing as my first!

Thank you for this opportunity. ¡

Hasta Pronto!

Samantha