SI MONTHLY NEWS October 2006 Youth Travel
From SI Exco News
SYLE, France to Mexico
Hello friends. The SYLE (Servas Youth Languages Experience) is growing fast. I asked to one of the travellers of the last edition SYLE’06 “Anaelle Josse” from Servas France to share her experience. The SYLE’06 was held in Rosario, Argentina; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico DF, Mexico. This program is open to all that members interested. Further info is available on www.servasyouth.org
Pablo Chufeni
Servas Youth International Coordinator.
My trip in Mexico with SERVAS YOUTH
This summer was exciting and moving for me because of
the two big events that took place.
First, I studied very hard, and passed my BAC, a very important exam at the end of high school, with honours!! Then it was my holiday destination: an adventure in Mexico thanks to SERVAS, which was thankfully, much more fun than studying for the BAC.
I did that trip, the one everybody wishes he could do, the one you dream of when you are 18, the one you’ll remember all your life, your trip far away from your family, discovering a new universe , a new continent of colours, of smells, of voices, of songs … But more than anything, discovering new friends, other ways of living, of history and of different cultures. I can’t thank SERVAS enough for these three weeks of education and enjoyment.
This trip came out of nowhere, and I decided upon it very quickly, only one month. A youth cancelled, and my parents got an e-mail. This is how I got involved in this amazing trip to Mexico!!
I arrived in Mexico DF the 8th of July. A welcoming group was waiting for me with a sign and some SERVAS t-shirts. I found that touching. Then I discovered a city which shines without limits, until the infinite… I didn’t know anything could be so big!!
I spent a few days with Josefina and Samantha who live in a nice flat in Mexico City. It was very nice, and this was also the occasion for me to meet the MAN of the house a little, white, hairy dog who answers to the name of Ares. I visited the huge town of Mexico City and its neighbourhoods. I discover along the road, chicken sold in the street, and a little bus which jumps on the bumps…
Having left Mexico City, and after a 17h bus ride, I arrived at Oaxaca, a coloured city, shining, full of smells .... There I meet Lucia and her son (a punk, anti-Nazi,skateboarder) Her garden is luxuriant and her house was charming.
With them I visited museums, churches and an archaeological site “Monte Alban”. I am impressed by these old monuments because of the expertise which was required to build them. I also saw “el Tolle”, the tree which has the largest trunk of the world.
My time at Lucia’s house with two Brazilian “SERVAS” was pleasant and allowed me to discover a new way of living, a new culture.
With the agreement of my host family, I changed the program a little bit and left to go to Puerto Escondido, the city of the surfers. The temperature and the weather changed radically from the rain I had known in Mexico City. Time is radiant, the beaches are paradise, I stay in a little hotel and share my room with a Belgian and a Swiss that I met in the bus.
After 15h on the bus I arrived at Puebla, or more precisely, a motorway station near Puebla. After a long tour in a taxi, I arrived at the bus station where Claudia was waiting for me. The city is beautiful, the gilded baroque churches are splendid. The religious figures are "coffee with milk", their hair is made of corn. I passed a very, very good moment with Claudia and her family. Javier, her husband, prepares the best “copas” I have ever had!!
Shortly after we went on a small trip to Cuernavaca where I meet the other members of Claudia’s family. It is an adorable family with whom I get along very well.
A torrential rain dampened my return to Josefina’s home in Mexico City, where I stayed the rest of my trip. Unfortunately, I was sick, so I rested at her home, in an attempt to feel better by the end of the trip. The doctor organized me a very nice “goodbye party” which permitted me to say goodbye to the people I met, but also to meet lots of young SERVAS.
It is with lots of sadness that I left this country which completely enthralled me, and it was with much regret that I left its colours, its odours, its food, except las tortillas of which I am saturated with and can neither see nor smell anymore. Of course, the strongest regrets go towards the marvellous people whom I met. I owe them so much. I keep in touch with several of them, in particular, the young people, some of whom wish to come to France.
Doing this trip with and thanks to SERVAS, enabled me to travel "as a big girl “on the other side of the ocean, reassured, without the fear of arriving in this huge country.
My trip to Mexico with SERVAS permitted me to meet some wonderful people and motivated me to become more engaged in this association. From being a "child" of SERVAS, I passed from the passive state to the active state as a member of SERVAS. I hope to be able to help with the development of the SERVAS Youth Program and to motivate other young people to explore the world in the SERVAS spirit.
Anaelle Josse, France
uploaded by Amelia
