Reflections from Participants (cont.)

1. What are two or three significant learnings or new understandings you came back with?

-From our trip to Oaxaca I have a greater understanding on how difficult it must be for Hispanics to come to Iowa and become accustomed to new foods, new living accommodations, a colder climate and a foreign language. Where do they find Chapulines or Oaxaca string cheese or mole or Mexican chocolate? Just as I longed for good American coffee by the second day, so it must be with Hispanics when moving away from their traditional foods. I often stayed close to someone in our group who was more fluent in the Mexican language, and realize living together in homogenous groups in the states is protective until they can learn the language.
-Experiencing a typical family meal prepared in a family setting certainly can't be replicated by going to a Mexican restaurant in the states. It gave me an appreciation of the hard work that families go through to make a living, and an appreciation of the type of foods that they eat. Vegetables seem to be served in soup or stew and fruit was so available for snacks or dessert. Beans served for breakfast was a real "WOW" moment and something Americans would be wise to adapt.
-Color is such a huge part of the life in Mexico - whether in their dress or house paint or colorful tablecloths. I would love to see the colorful tablecloths used in Iowa restaurants as they are in Oaxaca ! I bought one for my dining room table and it is a lovely reminder of the colors and memories of Mexico .

-They do much more as a total family unit; 2) They are very hard workers; 3 ) Mild weather enables them to survive in shelters rather than having to have as much protection as would be needed in North Dakota.

-I appreciate the hardships and poverty in Mexico . I appreciate their struggles they face to improve the quality of life for their families.
I have a better understanding why many of the Mexican workers try and send a high percentage of their salary back to their families.
It has raised my awareness of how blessed and cursed our American society is with processed foods. It is a convenience, however, it has had a major impact on our health (obesity) problems.

-As a society, we have become too comfortable and that has made us less creative, and entrepreneurial. I wish we could can that drive to survive that we witnessed in Mexico and bring it back and infuse it into the communities that sit and whine because they have lost their school (identity), businesses, etc. If they could combine forces and become a destination site for visitors (like the wood carving village or the rug village); if they worked with each other rather than seeing others as competition, they could breath life into the communities they see are dying. It's kind of like Extension:  when things got tough, we became more creative and entrepreneurial and I believe, are doing a better job of programming and determining needs since we have had budget challenges.
-I hope I and my staff are as patient with those coming to our communities as those in Mexico were with me as I struggled with the language barrier. I need to learn Spanish.
-They want for their children exactly the same things I want for mine. They believe in a work ethic, education, honesty, respect. I need to work harder at getting the immigrant children into our 4H programs.

-Greater understanding of living conditions of families and socio-economic status of families in Oaxaca
-Learned good overview of history of Mexico/Oaxaca
-And how the history has influenced present-day life and customs.

-Their cultural and artistic heritage is so rich, combining centuries of various cultures. They work so hard and are so entrepreneurial, despite such formidable constraints. Family life and home are very important.

-there is diversity in Mexico -- including the economic --- at time I felt like I was in Storm Lake -- just warmer weather
-Candelaria -- this was new to me ---- Religion is very important
-I was amazed at the number of fabric, trim and button stores within a small area --- they have better choices than I have (in the city)


-The mass of young men that come to the US for work.I didn't realize the extent to which this affects the Mexican economy with fewer able bodied men to work in factories and industries....remarkable.
-Due to the lack of males available in the workforce, women are taking on these positions.  With insufficient day care, this is a complicated endeavor. Children sometime have to ride buses to the next community after school is out and spend half of the day at their mother's place of work.
-Mothers are working tremendously long hours and still have trouble making ends meet.
-The differences in villages was astounding on an economic level. The painted animal village and rug village were much more prosperous than the other villages we visited.  Even within those villages, however, there was economic stratification based on the quality of their wares.  It was very, very interesting.

-Social services are weak especially for those non-governmental workers. Youth and family needs are great.
-The family support network is strong, the culture is more social than ours and less isolation was observed. Our technological lifestyle in the US is contributing greatly to isolation, depression and at risk behaviors.
-Ideas on community development. How small communities are finding market niches for artistic products. Could this be replicated in small communities in Iowa ?
-The impact of young men leaving the communities-living in the US and who is left to care for families.

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