Setting the Scene

Well I'm in working with the Canadian Education Centre in Mexico City. The Centre's role is the promotion of Canadian instutions to Mexican students interested in an international education. The organization does not just deal with colleges and universities but also with high schools, elementary schools and second language academies. The only thing I seem to have been hearing from before my departure in Canada to now is how dangerous the country is and how the swine pandemic is devastating. I shrugged these comments off not because I was not sensitive to these issues (Mexicans have been telling me how the crime is serious in some areas), but because these things exist in many countries. They are always going to be sketchy individuals, there have also been biological dangers such as SARS which has threatened the entire world over. Is it because the country does not have obvious ties to Canada and we are so different culturally that these fears have so much intensified. Other Commonwealth nations seem comparable to Mexico in my opinion.

I'm staying in a well-to-do part of the city just five minutes away from my placement. The landlord there is very nice and has lots of experience accepting international students so I felt at ease. I have not yet dove in to the real Mexican dishes but I am looking forward to doing so this week. The picanate will become part of my everyday dishes very soon. The high altitude has not affected yet perhaps because I have not been doing any heavy excercising. I was very interested since I have never been this high above sea level. I have also gone out on weekends to experience the night life in the city. It's very enjoyable leaving at night and the people there seem welcoming. Actually when people find out where I am from, I end up giving English lessons! Everyone wants a piece of the language. I guess I am lucky in some ways that English is the dominant langauge right now. I like to say everyone has an Englsih personality!! Last but not least. I got to see a game with the Mexican national soccer team at the national stadium. The atmosphere was good, the soccer did not seem that impressive...Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago maybe would not be my first choice for an international match but so be it...