Week 1
I didn't know what to expect with my first week in Mexico with MakeSense, but whatever I was expecting, that was not what happened. From getting acquainted with the lovely and welcoming MakeSense team to getting to meet the scholars on the programme, the first week was filled with excitement, joy, and curiosity. In our first week, we travelled to a sustainable organic farm called "Nuestra Huerta" in Xochimilco, in the south of Mexico City. We also got to hear from some members of the indigenous Mazahua people, where they recounted their experiences as indigenous people in Mexico, which was very impactful.
Week 2
Week two was one of the most physically intensive weeks I've had in a long time, and truly pushed me to my limit. The week started with an excursion to Xochimilco, where we engaged in eco-tourism, kayaking whilst cleaning the canals of plastic. Next came the leadership camp in Las Estacas, which was an idyllic tropical resort two hours south of Mexico City. At the camp, we engaged in raft building, swimming, a raft race, running, strength challenges, and 'mission impossible', which was an assortment of physical and teamwork challenges. Sadly, our team "Rapidos y Furiosos" did not win, but we had an amazing time. After two days of the leadership camp, the Saturday involved a visit to an indigenous Mazahua community located on the border of Estado de México and Michoacán. Engaging with the people there was deeply moving, as they discussed their struggles, experiences, and hopes for the future as Native People.
I have had an amazing two weeks so far, and cannot wait to continue the rest of LiA journey.
*Picture shows myself and friends at the National Anthropological Museum of Mexico