Hello! My name is Adri Jolie, and I’m a junior studying General Social Sciences and 3 PM, with a minor in Spanish. I chose this program to understand the Spanish language and Mexican culture better, as my goal is to one day work with Latina women in providing necessary reproductive care. More personally, I want to become fluent in Spanish to communicate with my family, and to better understand my own roots.
It was a rough start to the program—I experienced flight cancellations and delays that made me arrive a day later than almost everyone else. Luckily, my host family and the program coordinators were extremely welcoming and made me feel comfortable immediately upon arrival.
Even with a delayed start, it’s been an amazing first week. I’ve loved seeing the Baroque architecture in Querétaro that has made the city as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Everywhere I walk, there’s something new that challenges me, or sparks my curiosity. In the stands on the street, I can walk by vendors and smell oil from the tamales frying, or alongside a brightly painted wall that’s over three hundred years old.
As a mixed person, I’ve often felt conflicts over my identity, and my place in the world. I began the program worried that my appearance as a queer woman would be perceived negatively in the city, and although I do get stares here and there, most people converse with me as if I were any other student in the city. My Spanish has already gotten so much better, and everyone I've talked to has been very gracious when I make a mistake. My host family has been particularly patient with me as I learn grammar, local customs, and slang.
If anyone is debating whether to apply to this program, I would say DO IT. I was worried I wouldn’t fit in here, but everyone I’ve met has been so kind, and I’ve felt so comfortable in the city. Even with the missteps and struggles, this has already been an incredible experience: the start of this program has been exhausting, exciting, and wonderful so far. Something that’s kept me going through this beginning is a common Mexican phrase you might have heard before: “¡vale la pena!” or, “it’s worth it.” Well—they’re not wrong.
Adri Jolie, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Mexican Studies And Spanish Immersion In Querétaro
