Durian

Photos

Durian is from Colorado, USA and is majoring in botany. She loves spicy food and traveling to places off the beaten path. She is a photography enthusiast and loves making scrapbooks of her adventures abroad.

Why did you pick this program?

I picked Adelante Abroad-Volunteer in Mexico originally because I wanted a program to improve my Spanish over the summer. When I found this program, I saw that I could get work experience as well! I picked to volunteer in ecology, since I had always been fascinated by the Earth and plants. I was placed with working on an organic vegetable farm that sold vegetables and herbs to markets and restaurants.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

I would tell them to DO IT!!! Going abroad is, in my opinion, the best way to change your perspective and realize what is really important to you.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would tell them to brush up on their Spanish before they get there, as many people respect that you can speak their language.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

My favorite story to tell is when I was on my way to the ranch, and I got stranded in a corn field. I had gotten off the bus at the wrong stop, so I thought I would walk the rest of the way, and ended up getting lost amongst all the corn. I was wandering around trying to ask someone for directions, and I kept getting turned around, when suddenly I saw a little motor taxi weaving through the fields coming right at me. I waved him down and got in - it turns out he was taking another woman to her farm. I was able to get to a place where I could call my supervisor and ask for help.

What was the hardest thing about working in a foreign country?

I would say the hardest thing was translating all the work I did into Spanish. The first few weeks it took me twice as long just to get one thing done, but soon I could finish everything with no sweat! It was also hard at first to find my way around the city, but eventually I knew the streets very well.