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| Washington DC. August 2011. Only 4 of the 6 US teachers will continue on to the next semester. |
Here. I will restate it just in case.
This website is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
If you've happened upon my blog, it may seem like a Fulbright Teacher Exchange is an incredible experience. For me, it has been for the most part. But before you decided to apply for a Fulbright - here are a few things you should consider before signing your 9-month contract.
In the 2011-2012 year, six US teachers and seven Mexican teachers were selected to participate in this program. We were told it would be hard; we would deal with issues that may seem ridiculous and crazy.
And they were right.
We met in November for our "Midterm" conference and hashed out some of the problems we were having.
Here are the top five complaints I heard (and some, I have experienced myself). I have ranked them by severity rather than prevalence. Of course, this is from my perspective, not from my fellow Fulbrighters.
5. Everything is just harder. Whether it is finding an apartment, trying to connect to the internet, leaky roofs, learning the garbage route, or how to turn on your pilot light so you can finally take a warm shower, you will experience frustration every single day. Jeez, just trying to communicate will give you a headache. But do it. Learn to depend on others, ask for help, get recommendations and phone numbers for the gas guy and a good plumber. Then find the gym or a recreation center to work out the rest of your frustrations.
4. Location, location, location. Not every city in Mexico is a cultural mecca with traditional food, grand cathedrals and architecture, and indigenous mysteries and superstitions. In fact, you may find yourself in a suberb of Arizona, like one friend of mine. Make the best of your time by meeting great people instead, and save, save, save so you can take a plane ride to those magical places while you are here.
3. Work. We were told working in a university would be easy compared to a US high school. I thought for sure I'd be on a yearlong vacation with not having to deal with 4 levels of Spanish and almost thirty students in each class. Not true. I have 5 groups of 25 students each. I only teach one level. BUT the program is intense with a rigid curriculum of writing. I have little room to incorporate Gardner's Multiple Inteligience theory in my instruction, no games, no fun. I am so that boring professor I hated in college. And it is nothing for me to spend 3 extra hours a day correcting compositions on top of 5 hours straight of teaching, 1-2 hours of tutoring, and 1-2 hours of prep. Every. Single. Day.
And if you work in a public school, you may have large classes of 40+ (especially in public secundarias (middle schools) or prepas (high schools). Mexican public schools are a lot like inner-city public schools in the US. Parents that care about education send their children to private schools, so you are left with 40 low socio-economic students who have not learned the value of education, and who deal with drugs, crime, and abuse daily. Not exactly a place where an English teacher from the US will feel successful at the end of the day. Research your school before you agree to an exchange - and even visit if possible.
2. Loneliness. Your counterpart is required to put together a support team for you including a mentor who should be working directly with you. In the US, this mentor is paid a stipend and receives a trip to the International Fulbright Teachers Conference in October. Mexican mentors receive nothing. While the majority of the teachers I have met are friendly, these teachers are overworked and underpaid. They may not have time to help you, or may feel bitter they are asked to do more for no compensation. Don't expect them to reach out to you; YOU have to make the connections, maybe offer something in return - and being a newbie in a foreign land, this is tough.
1. Violence. (Mom, Dad, stop reading).
The State Dept. issues warnings for the most dangerous places you should not visit in Mexico, but that doesn't mean all of the rest of the cities are safe. Poverty and unemployment are abundant which means crime is expected in most areas. Usually, it is nonviolent muggings and robberies. Perfect strangers will tell me to hold on to my bag tighter so I'm not robbed. No one lets me walk after 9 at night, even if it's just around the corner and the street is bustling. Luckily, I haven't had any issues but almost everyone here has had a cellphone, purse or computer stolen from them at one point.
Other areas are not so fortunate. Drug violence, of course, is a potential danger, but there are other issues as well. Political action here isn't quite like the Occupy movement in the states. Teachers unions here are known to get out of hand, violence and chaos could be likely - especially in Oaxaca. In 2006, over 20 people were killed including one American journalist during a teacher union protest in this gorgeous city.
There is also a new radical group called Individuals Tending To Savagery who have modeled themselves after the Unabomber Ted Kaczyncsky mailing a bomb to the Polytechic University of Hidalgo. Luckily, my friend and co-Fulbrighter, was not on campus this day.
Kidnappings are a popular way to earn money; pets, husbands, wives, babies...whoever they can nab quickly. Most often, once the ransom has been paid, your loved one will be returned; however, one fulbrighter has neighbors who weren't so lucky. If the family member is returned safely, the criminals have your phone number and will call you periodically, threatening to repeat the crime (or worse) if you do not pay them again. You are in their debt for life. Police are scarce and underpaid due to the absence of public funds. Corruption is everywhere and there is not much hope for help. The US teacher who lives in a place like this will be returning to the US next month for good.
Take advice from the locals seriously, and research your city before you go; do not expect Fulbright to do it for you.
Now that I have scared you from applying for this program, please re-read my other blogs. Mexico is a HUGE country and the majority of it is an amazingly, magical place. Be smart, friendly, and open-minded. After all, it is an adventure, right?
MEXICO CITY - Midterm Conference.
And they were right.
We met in November for our "Midterm" conference and hashed out some of the problems we were having.
Here are the top five complaints I heard (and some, I have experienced myself). I have ranked them by severity rather than prevalence. Of course, this is from my perspective, not from my fellow Fulbrighters.
5. Everything is just harder. Whether it is finding an apartment, trying to connect to the internet, leaky roofs, learning the garbage route, or how to turn on your pilot light so you can finally take a warm shower, you will experience frustration every single day. Jeez, just trying to communicate will give you a headache. But do it. Learn to depend on others, ask for help, get recommendations and phone numbers for the gas guy and a good plumber. Then find the gym or a recreation center to work out the rest of your frustrations.
4. Location, location, location. Not every city in Mexico is a cultural mecca with traditional food, grand cathedrals and architecture, and indigenous mysteries and superstitions. In fact, you may find yourself in a suberb of Arizona, like one friend of mine. Make the best of your time by meeting great people instead, and save, save, save so you can take a plane ride to those magical places while you are here.
And if you work in a public school, you may have large classes of 40+ (especially in public secundarias (middle schools) or prepas (high schools). Mexican public schools are a lot like inner-city public schools in the US. Parents that care about education send their children to private schools, so you are left with 40 low socio-economic students who have not learned the value of education, and who deal with drugs, crime, and abuse daily. Not exactly a place where an English teacher from the US will feel successful at the end of the day. Research your school before you agree to an exchange - and even visit if possible.
2. Loneliness. Your counterpart is required to put together a support team for you including a mentor who should be working directly with you. In the US, this mentor is paid a stipend and receives a trip to the International Fulbright Teachers Conference in October. Mexican mentors receive nothing. While the majority of the teachers I have met are friendly, these teachers are overworked and underpaid. They may not have time to help you, or may feel bitter they are asked to do more for no compensation. Don't expect them to reach out to you; YOU have to make the connections, maybe offer something in return - and being a newbie in a foreign land, this is tough.
1. Violence. (Mom, Dad, stop reading).
The State Dept. issues warnings for the most dangerous places you should not visit in Mexico, but that doesn't mean all of the rest of the cities are safe. Poverty and unemployment are abundant which means crime is expected in most areas. Usually, it is nonviolent muggings and robberies. Perfect strangers will tell me to hold on to my bag tighter so I'm not robbed. No one lets me walk after 9 at night, even if it's just around the corner and the street is bustling. Luckily, I haven't had any issues but almost everyone here has had a cellphone, purse or computer stolen from them at one point.
Other areas are not so fortunate. Drug violence, of course, is a potential danger, but there are other issues as well. Political action here isn't quite like the Occupy movement in the states. Teachers unions here are known to get out of hand, violence and chaos could be likely - especially in Oaxaca. In 2006, over 20 people were killed including one American journalist during a teacher union protest in this gorgeous city.
There is also a new radical group called Individuals Tending To Savagery who have modeled themselves after the Unabomber Ted Kaczyncsky mailing a bomb to the Polytechic University of Hidalgo. Luckily, my friend and co-Fulbrighter, was not on campus this day.
Kidnappings are a popular way to earn money; pets, husbands, wives, babies...whoever they can nab quickly. Most often, once the ransom has been paid, your loved one will be returned; however, one fulbrighter has neighbors who weren't so lucky. If the family member is returned safely, the criminals have your phone number and will call you periodically, threatening to repeat the crime (or worse) if you do not pay them again. You are in their debt for life. Police are scarce and underpaid due to the absence of public funds. Corruption is everywhere and there is not much hope for help. The US teacher who lives in a place like this will be returning to the US next month for good.
Take advice from the locals seriously, and research your city before you go; do not expect Fulbright to do it for you.
Now that I have scared you from applying for this program, please re-read my other blogs. Mexico is a HUGE country and the majority of it is an amazingly, magical place. Be smart, friendly, and open-minded. After all, it is an adventure, right?
MEXICO CITY - Midterm Conference.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea sshell and gave it to my 4 year old
ReplyDeletedaughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell too her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab insie and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic
but I had to tell someone!
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