Teaching English in Tijuana, Mexico
Laura volunteered in 2006
Project: Travel to teach
Work: teach English
After several colorful postcards from friends in Mexico City,
accompanied by enthusiastic invitations to visit them, I finally
decided that I would have myself a Mexican adventure on my first uni
summer holidays. Originally I just planned to visit my friends in the
city and travel around for two months, but I soon started to feel that
wasn't enough – I wanted to actually do something, experience Mexico in
a richer way that would bring me into contact with its people and to
learn about the lives they lived, away from the beautified tourist
trail (in a country where a substantial percentage of the population
still lives on less than $2 a day).
When I arrived in the most visited border city in the world, Tijuana, I
had already spent an amazing month in and around Mexico City. Tijuana
was a big change of scene, but the reality was actually a nice surprise
compared to the awful stories and bad reputation I had heard about in
Mexico City. But TJ sure ain’t pretty! It lacks the charm and
prettiness of many other Mexican towns and cities. But if you focus on
the people and character of Tijuana, it can be just as enchanting and
fun as anywhere else I have visited in the country. It’s got more than
its fair share of delicious tacos (of a dazzling array of body parts,
if you're so inclined), bizarre and hilarious and warm-hearted
characters, and plenty of sunshine (even if it is might chilly in the
mornings and nights!) – what more do you need?!
There are the nasty parts of Tijuana, too, but only if you go
looking for them. Avenida Revolución is best avoided at all costs,
unless of course you enjoy being heckled, ogled and confronted by the
horrendous sight of poor donkeys painted as zebras, parked in front of
painted ‘Mexican’ photo backdrops. Truly Tacky Tourism.
I was given an enthusiastic welcome at the airport by Ana and Hector
-complete with sign!- and a very warm welcome by the rest of the T2T
team when I arrived home. Guille, Jesúz, Ana, Gato and everyone else I
met from T2T all opened their arms and hearts to me from my very first
day in Tijuana.
My first week in Tijuana ran on typical Mexican time – I spent a lot
of the week organizing where and when I would be volunteering. To be
fair, I arrived just after Xmas, so many of the places volunteers
usually work, including schools, weren't operating on normal hours, if
at all.
The second week, things really got going, and I had classes in an
arts center, Artistika, where I taught about half a dozen young kids
before their capoeira class three afternoons a week; and in Afabi, an
HIV clinic, twice a week, where I was working with the amazing
half-time-paid, half-time-volunteer staff. In my last two weeks in
Tijuana, I also worked five days a week at CRREAD, a drug and alcohol
rehab center. I loved working in such different environments because it
meant the people I was working with, the teaching itself and the
atmospheres were so varied.
Classes with the kids in Artistika were very casual and relaxed. The
kids were far more interested in testing (and improving) my Spanish,
asking questions about Australia and playing Alphabet Bingo than they
were in learning English. But I think the intercultural exchange is
much more important than them remembering how to say the days of the
week and the colors of the rainbow in English.
My most ‘serious’ class was with the staff at Afabi, who needed
workplace English to deal with clients and write reports, but also
wanted to practice their conversation skills. ‘Serious’ doesn't mean
boring, though! Every day at Afabi was an absolute joy – they are a
beautiful group of people to work with.
The guys at CRREAD were an absolute hoot! They constantly kept me on
my toes, but were so enthusiastic and keen to learn, and made me truly
welcome and comfortable in what was, for me, a very new environment.
Guille, T2T’s Tijuana co-ordinator, reminded me one morning before I
went to CRREAD that the most important thing with the classes wasn't
that the students learnt English – it was that they felt respected,
accepted and a part of society. I would add that the most important
thing in the classes is never the English, but the cultural, and
personal exchange that happens between you and your ‘students’. All in
all I had 25 ‘students’, but I also had 25 teachers. I was shown so
much gratitude for my work, but the truth is that the amount of English
I taught was tiny in comparison to the amount I learnt about Mexico,
its culture and people, and the lives of those I ‘taught’.
Actually, make that about 35 teachers. Everyone involved in T2T in
Tijuana became a special friend and a member of my ever-growing familia
Mexicana. Guille and Jesúz lived next door and were always there to
help, have a chat, share a laugh (and the odd bottle of tequila!).
Guille may not speak English, but she sure knows how to communicate,
and you'll never be short of a conversation if you mention Cuba or
Silvio Rodriguez!! Jesúz was always ready to help and listen, armed
with his infectious smile and laugh, and he’s an amazingly patient
Spanish teacher! Gato was the coolest TJ tour guide I could have
imagined, and his truck is the reddest truck I have ever ridden in!!
Ana was my other half for the first week, showing me around, making
sure I knew where to go and how to get there, and generally being a
wonderful companion and generous friend. Cooking classes with Nachito
were delicious, obviously (even his name sounds culinary!). I even
learnt how to shake my groove thing salsa-style with Pablo next door at
the great night-spot El Lugar del Nopal.
My month in Tijuana with T2T was a super-special one. I had hoped to
have a challenging, interesting and rewarding experience volunteering,
and I did. What I hadn't anticipated was the number of great friends I
would make, and just how truly great they would be – William James.
Mexico is an incredible country, full of amazing histories, diverse
peoples, spectacular landscapes, delicious food, wonderful music, and
beautiful hearts. It’s got its share of chaos, poverty, and conflict.
But I have to agree with William James that “Wherever you are, it is
your friends who make the world,” and life sure is beautiful in Mexico.
About the Author
Laura Ogden, Australia
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