Last Minute Chances: My College Spring Break in Mexico

Desert Orientation had been canceled, and my Spring Break Plans had been thrown array. I had friends who had offered me to join them on their various adventures and endeavors all over the country, to which I denied because of my intentions to be in Big Bend National Park. I wasn’t going to find myself at home in sweat pants rewatching old episodes of Hawaii Five-O when there are so many possible opportunities to explore, encounter and experience the world.

At first administrative approval for me to attend the trip in lieu of Desert-O, I was a little uneasy, as I had never left the United States before. Countless people spoke of the negative aspects of Mexico, and how dangerous the people, and communities were there. Even my own parents were notionally concerned about me being attacked or mugged, when I told them that I would be heading south for a week. New experiences have never really been something that scared me, but a trip like this was definitively beyond what I’ve ever done. Something in me knew that much of the assumptions about the country that so many people made were wrong, and that a Spring Break trip like this would be unforgettable.

Friday March 16

Since my decision to spend Spring Break in Baja was very last minute, flights for that week were few and far between, and any convenient flights were far out of my college student budget. This in turn would mean having flights with long layovers, and anomalous times. My first flight left Denver at 8:07 PM meaning that I needed to be there at 6:00 or so PM. This wouldn’t have been such a big deal except I had to stay at the school until 2:30 for my Chemistry lab. Fortunately I beat traffic through Springs and Denver, and miraculously avoided a speeding ticket, getting to my actual gate a mere 15 minutes before boarding.

The flight landed in Los Angeles, late, and after doing some people watching for a couple hours, waiting for the number of people in the terminals to dwindle, I curled up on the floor next to the wall in a corner to catch some sleep. Sleeping in an Airport overnight was the first of many firsts over the week.

Saturday March 17

After waking up to roughly 25 alarms on my phone to ensure my rise from slumber, I devoured a St. Patrick’s Day Dunkin Donut, and boarded the plane. For ironic and sentimental purposes, I watched Disney’s ‘Coco’ in route from LAX to SJD. When we took off, we were immediately over the ocean, and it was so immaculate, as I hadn’t seen the sea in several years.

After we landed, we deplaned onto the tarmac to board a bus that drove us to the entrance of customs. In the back of my mind, I was a little paranoid that I would be missing something, or that my paperwork would be incorrect, and that I would be kept out of the country. It was definitely an irrational fear, as I made it through with no issues, but it was my first ever encounter on international soil.

After having my first taste of Pico de Gallo in Cabo, I immediately fell in love with the food, and was thrilled to taste a wide variety of Mexican cuisine. The bartender even put one of my ‘Embrace Inadequacy’ stickers on the glass fridge door, leaving my mark on the city immediately.

After everyone arrived, we met Bernardo our guide, boarded up the vans, and headed from Cabo to Todos Santos, for our first night at the CSU Center. We all played cards together, and began breaking down the walls of uncertainty all while expanding our relationships with each other.

Sunday March 18

After waking up early, we made a run to the grocery store for breakfast supplies. This was the first real encounter as a day in the life of a Mexican citizen. My first insight about the grocery store was the awareness of how much smaller the quantities of every item were, as opposed to in the United States. Paper towels were sold in single rolls instead of 8 count, butter was sold as individual sticks and the majority of the boxed items were ¾ of the size. My mind was immediately spinning, wondering if part of the obesity crisis in the U.S. was in response to the scale of size in which our items are packaged. On the counter, how much waste is being saved in countries like Mexico where the scale is lessened.

We indulged in some Corn Pops, (which are significantly tastier) then packed a bag to head to Los Cerritos Beach. When we arrived my heart was in awe at the vastness and beauty of the water.

Following a quick on shore lesson, we jumped in the water with staff members from Mario’s Surf School. I had surfed once before in Monterey, California, but this was on a whole other level. Even if I spent the majority of the time getting tossed around as I ventured into water far beyond my abilities, the endorphins in my mind fired valiantly giving me the sensation of feeling so alive. Before I left for the week, I had held onto many worries that are far out of my control back at home, and getting doused in the waves helped to clear my mind and begin to soothe my soul. There’s something so uniquely healing about the wondrous natural forces, and being caught face to face with them.

The afternoon consisted of a downtown History lesson and tour of Todos Santos. Sergio, our guide presented much of what I knew, but spoke in language that was so tangible and depicted things based on the present moment. Much of the perspective was so valuable because in the United States schooling systems we teach based on the Eurocentric view, and neglect much of the influence that the Latin Americas had on colonization and development. This gave the culture an entire new layer of significance and fostered my global contextual understanding. Expanding our knowledge in real world scenarios is the greatest classroom because it appeals to reason, and makes fact fathomable. Being a history buff, being able to palpably grasp the geographic bearing allowed for an encompassing understanding.

My favorite part of our tour was visiting the churches on Calle de Centario. It was interesting seeing the Jesuit influence on Mexico, as well as standing in the same places that historically had so much relevance to the development of the town. As I’m currently authoring my first book on an Objective look of Christianity, it was so valuable to see firsthand, religious ideologies in a foreign nation, as my lens had previously been restricted to within the U.S.

Monday March 19

My perception of Ecotourism was shifted dramatically during a three and a half mile hike on a bluff that overlooked the water. Rationally, I had never processed that some of the structural designs of the resorts had neglected the very predictable ecological factors like water runoffs from the mountains that could actively destroy the foundation and rupture the building’s construction. This comprehension made a full circle and helped me understand how capitalistic desires can supersede practicality, because a short term fiscal gain, is often considered more valuable than that of natural environmental factors. Ignorantly, it’s easy to fall captive to that mindset, but ultimately it causes individuals to do a reaffirmation and assessment of values. This lesson was taught so perfectly on top of a cliff which seemed to be perfectly divided between the ocean and the mountains. Returning to town and having a meal in Todos Santos after this lesson was almost wholesome and irrefutable as it showed the polarity between a small Mexican town and the massive financial enterprises that international resorts abide by.

After eating, and hanging around town, we were walking home to the center where I came across a group of five or so middle school aged kids playing soccer in the street. Using some broken Spanish, I said something along the lines of asking them to pass it to me. After reluctantly thinking about it for a minute, they passed it to me and I did my best to juggle the ball in my Keen sandals. It had probably been ten years since I played soccer, (they could definitely tell) but their smiles and laughter broke down the language and cultural barriers that divided us. It was something incredibly special, and was one of those unscripted meetings that you can’t ever plan to arrange, but that you can’t ever forget.

Tuesday March 20

Often times, our predispositions prevent us from experiencing the fullness of life. Visiting fellow college students at the Universidad de Baja California Sur in La Paz was a firsthand interaction supporting this notion. Getting to have time to have one on one interaction with their students, profoundly shaped how I saw the country. This was an amazing opportunity to practice Spanish with students who for the most part were strong in English. They were so supportive in helping relay messages, when my conjugations were incorrect, and they could still decode what I was trying to share. We repetitively hear of the negative parts of a country in the media; and the stories of greatness are muted, and prevent a full understanding of a nation. Despite our differences in degrees, ages and cultural backgrounds, our similarities as students, individuals, and world visionaries were remarkably analogous. This was totally unexpected to me because of the assumptions we as humans naturally make about others. They live lives just like young adults in the U.S. I spoke with students who were roller derbiers, garage-band drummers, a dancer who is in a troop with Korean students, community activists and advocates for positive change. It was so soothing seeing that the same passion so many University students have in the U.S. translates itself over borders. It restores my hope moving forward, with regards to my optimism for progress in the future.

Wednesday March 21

Today we packed out bags, drove to La Paz, and hopped on a boat to head out to the island. After setting up camp and unloading the boats, we had the chance to practice snorkeling around the island. I saw an extensive variety of stunning fish, a couple wild sting rays, and even learned how to dive down off the surface. This was the first time I had ever snorkeled outside of a swimming pool, and it was one of the most magic and majestic experiences I’ve ever had. There’s something so tangible about a world entirely unknown that’s within our grasps. The colors and the sea life were remarkable and captivating. We then came back to the main island where we all ate, watched the sunset then camped in the sand. Being on an island was special because being ‘isolated’ from the world does something emotionally ungraspable for people. This is similarly to the feelings that I get working at summer camps. These environments allow people to let their guards down, be more open, and share a collective sense of vulnerability with each other. It makes having difficult conversations less difficult, and breaks down the walls we put up, and removes the masks we as innately broken people put on. Desolation breeds a new found form or community. I also got to shoot some “stellar” photos of the night sky, which still couldn’t fully capture the beauty and essence of the entire experience.

Thursday March 22

This morning we boated northward towards the Sea Lion (Lobo Marine) Sanctuary. From the minute I saw the promotional video for the trip, swimming with Sea Lions enticed everything within my soul, and it didn’t disappoint. From the moment we pulled up on the border of the island, there wasn’t a second that I wasn’t smiling. My heart was just overjoyed seeing them in their natural habitats (unlike seeing them in a zoo or a show) and it unlocked all my childish wonder regarding the animal kingdom. In my entire life, this was easily in the top ten lists of things I’ve ever done; it’s even pushing the top five. The beauty and immaculacy of the earth is just unfathomable. The coral, and reefs spoke something so clearly to me, about reminded me of the complex web of life that we work to unravel in our time on this planet. We seek answers to uncertain questions on a daily basis, and being in the ocean, surrounding myself in a world beyond what we’re normally exposed to helps redefine my role here on earth.

After boating back to La Paz, then heading back to Todos Santos, we hung around town, did some shopping and continued to practice our Spanish, when walking back through Tres Santos Huerta; we heard a live band playing American classic rock and pop music at the Jaza Mango Restaurant. The music stood out, and we had to explore where it was coming from. We had wanted to go clubbing at some point during the trip, and this seemed like our best compromise. As we walked closer, we realized that it was a wedding rehearsal dance. It wasn’t planned at all, but we embraced the mindset of “…When in Mexico.”After speaking to the security guard, he told us to go on in to the courtyard and have fun—so we snuck onto the dance floor. It was comical because everyone was dressed in white, and well, we stood out. We were there for probably two songs when two of the groomsmen made an attempt to pull off the nostalgic lift from Dirty Dancing. It would have been great, expect for both of their heavily intoxicated bodies were unable to hold the form and “Benny” was dropped square on his back from easily five feet in the air. It was insane. Everyone was shocked and gasped. They unconcernedly asked if he was okay, but everyone was far too drunk to actually see if he needed real medical attention. Everyone just stood around, and internally, I knew that if I didn’t step in, nobody else was going to. So I approached him, asked for permission to help, and began NOLS Wilderness First Aid Protocol. (I guess Mexico isn’t really Wilderness, but for all intensive purposes, let’s pretend that it is.) Worrying about him going unconscious I quickly asked how many drinks he had, if he was on any medications, and if he had any allergies. During my exam on his head, I noticed that he had cracked his skull and was dripping blood. I took a breath, kept my composure as I applied pressure, until the paramedics showed up where they took over on his treatment. Even through his heavy intoxication, and the fact that we just randomly showed up at a wedding party, he was truly happy and grateful (evidenced by a hug) that I stepped in to help him even if he wasn’t truly cautious of all the things that were happening to him. I’m so glad we decided to go dancing at a strangers wedding this week.

Friday March 23

Today we got to meet with students from a local middle school who got to tour the CSU-Center for a field trip. It was interesting when I was asked to give a tour of the facilities with one my depth lack of knowledge about the center, but also my restricted Spanish fluency. Normally middle and high school students are my best friends, but it was definitely difficult and required me to open my previous foreign language experience and knowledge in a very real and practical situation. Even though I got to practice my Spanish all week with natives, this was the first moment where I realized and was truly proud of my abilities. I was able to communicate and partially break down a language barrier. Often times our Americana ego often prevents us from relating to other cultures and ethnic groups, and this week was a chance for me to lay that all aside. As a high school student, I absolutely resented foreign language classes, but in this moment I was so fortunate that my instructors and educators had prepared me for all aspects of communication and expression. It was a truly accomplishing moment.

When all the students left, I had the chance to go back to shore with Bernardo for one more afternoon on the ocean. It was a great summation of an amazing eventful week.

Saturday March 24

I’m busy doing nothing today and spending the majority of my time hanging out in the SJD, and the LAX airports. Even though traveling like this alone, can be often tasking on your mind and body, I’m content because it gave me some time to decompress and rest before I return home. It’s some time to relax and reflect on the trip before returning to the states. It was an amazing first time out of the country, and I’m so glad I made the last minute decision to come to B.C.S. It’s so wholesome because I’ll be in the Pacific Northwest in the same body of water that I was in throughout this week in two more months. This world is crazy, complex and amazing. Adios Mexico, I’ll come back soon.

Going to Mexico was far from what I expected. Little did I know that I would fall in love with the culture, history, food and people the way that I did. I not only brought home a crazy flowered shirt and a bracelet that I’ll wear until it falls off, but also returned home with numerous memories, videos and photos documenting the experiences and encounters that are far from describable. Never could I anticipate the countless things I learned and experienced during my week. Traveling internationally for the first time made me more appreciative of the diversity we have globally, grow as an individual and expand my desire to continue to travel and experience the world. I hope to be able to visit the mainland of Mexico and definitely return to Baja soon.

I didn’t know what I’d learn when I agreed to leave the country for the week, but quantifying the experience numerically isn’t really possible. As I look back upon Spring Break, I am so grateful I took the risk and embodied the chance with an open mind and heart. Learning shouldn’t be limited to curriculum, because you can’t grade or assess the intrinsic value of a memory. In the same way, you can’t quantify an experience because it’s nearly impossible to accurately measure true joy that international travel provides.