As usual, Omar and I talked about a variety of different subjects in our conversation. However, our chat focused mainly on different holidays in the United States and Mexico since Christmas is right around the corner. We talked about Christmas, and how it is equally a big deal in both the United States and Mexico. It is such a joyous and giving time of year, and Omar and I both agreed it our favorite holiday. We then got chatting about various other holidays throughout the year. One holiday in Mexico, called, “Day of the Innocents,” occurs on December 28th every year. Omar told me that it is a day where people play jokes, tricks, and pranks on innocent friends for some good fun. Immediately, the first topic my mind was drawn to was April Fool’s day here in the United States. It sounded strikingly similar to me since on April Fool’s day, we play practical jokes on our friends and family. I told Omar and he seemed to agree. I thought it was extremely interesting how there is practically the same exact holiday in the United States and Mexico, but on two completely different dates. It truly shows how similar the two countries are.
Another topic Omar and I focused on today was politics, due to the upcoming presidential election. Omar was amazed at how complex our government and political system is. For Mexico, the presidential election runs for two months. This is drastically different to the United States, where it seems as if events for the election have already been going on for ages. I also asked Omar further about politics and police in Mexico. I have always wondered if they are as corrupt as they are always portrayed in movies. Omar said that Mexico is just a corrupt country. The politics are unethical, and the police are even more dishonest. The police will often pull you over and ask for bribes instead of writing a ticket. Basically, if you have money, you can get away with doing essentially anything. I compared this to the United States. I believe that politics can, at times, become corrupt and dishonest. However, it is in the nature of the U.S. politician to lie in order to please their constituents. Often, corrupt actions will occur, but I do not believe that they will ever be to the extent of the situations that occur in Mexico. Moreover the police in the United States are, as a whole, not corrupt. It is generally believed that our police are well-trained, law-abiding individuals who are working for the good of the country. The Mexican police, on the other hand, are working for the good of themselves. I found this topic fascinating to focus on solely because it is so different. It truly highlighted the fact that Omar and I come from two different backgrounds. However, even though our backgrounds are different, we bond over these differences and have become amazing friends.
I cannot believe that this semester has come to an end and I will not be able to see Omar on a weekly basis. I had never thought I was going to have such an amazing experience with my conversation partner, let alone make a close friend from it. My time with Omar has created some of my favorite memories from this semester and I am grateful to have had this opportunity. He has taught me so many lessons throughout the semester that I know I would not have learned on my own. Omar was a primary reason I appreciate the importance of pushing myself to step more outside of my comfort zone, and gaining a deeper understanding other cultures. This semester has been truly unforgettable thanks to Omar.
It's great to hear that someone else has had such an amazing time getting to know their conversation partner as I have! I think getting to know a new person on a level that is beyond talking for academic gain was a main goal of this project. You make a good point about how your favorite memories of this semester have been the conversations with your IEP partner, because that is also true for me. After reading Omar's take on the police in Mexico, it makes me thankful for the law force and safety regulations we have in the United States. While there is a lot of controversy right now regarding the actions of the police, I think we should at least all be thankful they do not openly take bribes or exhibit obvious dishonesty in their duties.
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome that you were able to create such a great relationship with your IEP partner! Hopefully you will be able to see Omar again in the near future. It's crazy to think that the differences in law enforcement are quite drastic despite the fact that they are literally our neighbors to the south of us. My grandmother lives in Mexico and constantly tells me about the corruption and inefficiencies of the political and law enforcement spheres. For instance my grandmother was pulled over and given a ticket because, according to the officer, she was significantly over the speed limit. She of course tried to fight it, and when it came to the court date, the officer never showed up. It's weird that here in the U.S. we look at law enforcement as an entity that we can trust; however, it is a different ballgame just across the border.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a great time with Omar, Courtney! It has always been an amazing thing for most of us, I believe, to learn from other cultures. It can help us appreciate what we are having or push us to become a factor of change in the future. I can totally relate with what Omar described about the political system in Mexico. It is the same in Vietnam, where the police/gov will ask for bribes and use power to beat the citizens to death (literaally) if they dare to raise questions; those who are fighting for human rights and try to demolish the communist system are being enjailed and tortured by the gov system. Thanks to your blog, now I know that there are other countries in the South America parts that are going through what the Vietnamese are going through. Of course, I hope the corruption in these countries will die out soon in the next couple of decades, because there are more and more students studying abroad (like me) will probably go back and change the tides. Thanks for great post, Courtney!
ReplyDeleteCourtney, after hearing you speak in class and reading some of your blog posts, I have begun to appreciate Omar, too! Politics in other countries have always fascinated me, as well. I cannot imagine an American police offer pulling me over, only to ask for money! How blessed we are to live in a country like we do. Thank you for your insightful posts and have a great holiday break!
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