This past week, we wrapped up our time in Mexico City. We spent 2 more days volunteering at Casa Tochan, where we hung out with and played many fun games with the migrants, as well as hearing many stories from the migrants about their immigration journey and gaining insight on their experiences and the shocking reality of some migration journeys. We visited an anthropology museum where we learned about Mexican/Latin American history and culture. We attended a Pumas soccer game at the Olympic stadium one evening, which was fun and exciting. There was free time throughout the week to explore, get food, or visit different places in the city if we wanted to.  One afternoon we had a 2-hour Salsa lesson, where we learned some of the steps for this dance style. On the weekend, we completed a hike that had a pretty view. Later that evening, we had a nice rooftop dinner and went to a building that had an observation deck over the city. We wrapped up our last day in Mexico City with an early Easter church service, and then hanging out/chilling in the evening.

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A Tale of Two Cities

After moseying about Guatemala City for nine weeks, then transitioning to Mexico City for a two-week stay, the differences between the two capital cities have been quite apparent.

Before even setting foot in Mexico City, looking out of the plane window in the several minutes before touching down at the airport was fascinating; the urban landscape sprawled out as far as the eye could see. The difference in size between the two cities was apparent. In fact, Mexico City’s population is about seven times that of Guatemala City’s.

After exploring the city a little bit, we quickly noticed a contrast. At first sight, Mexico City’s sleek, modern buildings and shiny new cars stood out. Transportation was organized well, with traffic lights and four-lane roads with bicycle lanes and sidewalks in contrast to the congested chaos of the roads of Guate. And while I am a dedicated rider, I will admit that Mexico’s streets feel a little safer without the constant stream of motorcyclists weaving in and out of the lanes that is characteristic of Guate. And while Mexico City isn’t immune to air pollution, it was pleasant to walk outside without inhaling diesel exhaust.

A major difference that we students have enjoyed during our time here in Mexico is the city’s efficient, comprehensive public transportation system. On the metro line we have used primarily, buses arrive every minute or two and there is usually ample personal space. In Guatemala City, the wait time for a TransMetro bus can be fifteen minutes, and during rush hour they become incredibly packed. We have also taken advantage of Mexico City’s extensive subway system.

Aside from physical differences, the cultural change is quite noticeable. The population of Mexico City appears more liberal, evident in clothing/style choices and gay couples out in public, which is unseen in Guate. (One host family from Guate City claimed that this is because homosexuality simply doesn’t exist in their country!) Leisure is more of a possibility for the average resident of Mexico City; its per capita GDP is double that of Guatemala’s, and residents have the luxury to enjoy themselves more. There are nice, expansive wooded parks throughout the city, aesthetically pleasing coffee shops, and squares that come alive with music and salsa dancers at night. It’s a city of romance; take a ride on the metro or sit at a restaurant and you’ll likely see a handful of couples of all ages participating in PDA at any given time.

While this entry appears critical of Guatemala, a lot of these differences can be explained by the fact that Guatemala is a country in the process of recovering from corruption and injustices done to it in the recent past. Guatemalans are hard workers, frequently holding down multiple jobs and working long hours to make a living. Three members of my Guatemalan host family start their day between 3 and 4 a.m. and don’t return from work until the evening.

There is more that could be said on this subject, but for the purposes of this week’s blog I will stop here…see you next time in Arizona!

-Noah Buckwalter