Today marks the end of my second week in CDMX, which has been filled with many highlights, but has also come with challenges and valuable lessons that I will carry forward.
The main challenge this week has been with my team’s project. We have had a slow start to our project, sometimes feeling like we are lacking direction. This was due to confusion and miscommunication between my team and the organisation we are working with regarding the end product that is expected of us. My team and I are now feeling more confident following a productive meeting with Genera Territorios this morning, and we have a clear idea of what we are designing; over the next few weeks, we will be creating a functioning AI ‘chatbox’ assisting women in rural Mexico with their everyday economic strategy. This will include saving strategies and spending, and designing a curriculum that can be used as a tool to advance their understanding and practices in financial independence.
Whilst this week has come with challenges surrounding our project, it has made me appreciate the strengths of my team as a result; we have remained resilient and innovative, trying to pivot and create new ideas, working to each of our strengths, and have had effective communication within the group. This week has also taught me valuable lessons, such as the importance of clear communication, and not assuming that all of the individuals working on the project are on the same page, especially when there are translation differences and language barriers.
This week has also involved lots of fun outside of the office, and I am loving the city. I have settled into my routine, and have established my favourite coffee shop, supermarket, and bar. This week has involved lots of fun, such as attempting (very poorly) to dance salsa, visiting Teotihuacán and other cultural sites, watching and celebrating England’s win against Norway with the other English scholars, and commiserating their loss against Argentina. It is great experiencing CDMX and all it has to offer with my Laidlaw friends, and I am excited to explore more in the upcoming weeks!