Hi everybody, my name is Jacob Abraham Munoz and I’m happy to be writing for you as a Diverse Duck Ambassador! Before I get into my experience in Mexico in contrast to my expectations of the trip, I’d like to give a little bit of info on myself so that you can know what kind of perspective I’m writing from. 

To start with, I’m mixed Mexican-American although I’m very phenotypically white. This tends to give me a strong perspective on issues of race and how to participate in those conversations. The second most notable identity for the purposes of this blog is my sexuality. I’m openly bisexual which was a little confusing in my formative years as a practicing Catholic. I was fortunate to have a very educated Catholic as my mother and she indirectly taught me that it was nothing to be ashamed of and that it didn’t conflict with my faith as much as other far-right extremist religious groups may try to claim it does. This preserved part of myself that is deeply interested in philosophy and other religions around the world, and it’s safe to say that my mother is the only reason I’m still a practicing Catholic today. Another extremely relevant thing about myself is that I suffer from diagnosed cases of strong Persistent Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD. I have been medicated for all three in various ways for the past 2 years and have tried therapy to varying results.  

I have been fortunate enough to fully explore these aspects of my identity throughout my life. While America continues to face further division, it still stands as the second most inclusive country in North America at the very least, with Mexico taking third without a doubt due to the country’s very conservative religious culture and strong dedication to traditional gender roles. This caused me to be cautious about my sexuality specifically. For example, I currently have about neck length hair which I set back with a hairband and my father was worried about me going to Mexico with longer hair. As minor as it seems, to him it was a real concern. This caused me to prepare for a very conservative space where I would have to lay low on everything I have shared with you today. I’m happy to say that as of the end of my first week here in Querétaro., Mexico I needn’t have worried so much. 

As the GEO program began at the tail end of Pride month, I have seen many public Pride displays all over the center of the city, in advertisements from extremely large powerful companies, and from the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro through its public projects dedicated to inclusion. There is also the largest Pride flag I have seen in my entire life, hung directly over the entrance to the library in the center of campus. There are also a couple of pieces of graffiti on the side of a cafeteria on my walk to class that declare that trans lives matter which bring me a great deal of happiness every day. 

To sum up this first post from me, I want to assure all potential future students who shared my initial concerns to rest easy. You will find a great deal of kindness and acceptance waiting for you here and so much more. 

Hasta luego, amigo.

By Abraham Munoz, Diverse Ducks Ambassador

Mexican Studies and Spanish Immersion in Queretaro, summer 2023

Read More From Abraham

Experiencing the Intersection of Race, Religion, and Sexuality

Addressing Mental Health Abroad and Gaining a New Perspective at Home