I fell in love with a woman, that woman is ME. During my study abroad, as a woman who has had children who are now in their twenties, been married, been divorced, lived in different states, in the country and the big city. I still learned a lot during my time abroad. I learned about culture in a developing country, how people traditionally live in a different country, spicy food, a slower pace lifestyle, gender, language, living standards, and values. Most importantly, I learned a lot about me: how I operate under pressure in uncomfortable situations; what I am willing to tolerate; who I value and where I want to be, and whom I want to be with when I am not feeling well. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with the SOJC program in Mexico. I would like to believe that my level of gratitude has grown for living in the United States with clean water, flushing toilet paper, and food sanitation and standards.
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I think this experience has shown me that there are a lot of people who do not have the privilege of these simple pleasures we enjoy in our daily lives. I know I have taken it for granted up until now. I hope to find ways to help improve life for others that have less than I do. I think anyone who is looking for something bigger than themselves will have the opportunity to find that when taking the time to be away from the comforts of home and learning how to survive in uncomfortable situations.
By Nicole Fox, Diverse Duck Ambassador
Interviewing and Story Development in Mexico, Summer 2024