Tec Orientation: Culture Lessons and Lots of French People

For the past week or so, we international students have been roving as one big group (40-something) getting to know the system, the area, and each other. I think everyone is from either Europe or the States. Oddly the largest showing is from the French but there are also people from a bunch of countries that you never think about all that much (e.g. Finland, Denmark, Sweden). There are some really cool folks and, though hanging out with them inevitably means speaking a lot of English, it has been quite a pleasure to chill with them in the evenings, playing guitar or discovering the city bit by bit.

Though the schedule for the week included plenty of cultural information, the most prominent lesson has been that “schedules” are more or less simply a suggestion here in Mexico. I don’t think anything has begun or ended on time yet. Though this has been a bit frustrating for those coming from time-sensitive European cultures, it has only strengthened my suspicion that this semester is going to be the perfect respite from the breakneck pace and save-the-world mentality of my darling Chapel Hill.

Upon this realization, I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxation, turned down yet another offer to smoke pot, and played “Wagon Wheel” for a bunch of Frenchmen, Frenchwomen, and other assorted Europeans.

(ps...this post written 7 days before publish date...I'm working on Mexican time)