Insurgentes, Mexico City, Day 12 - Story 39
Neighborhood: Centro Cultural Universitario A big group of maybe ten students, was walking my way. I handed a few of them my cards and started talking. As I explained, a few looked at me earnestly, others with skepticism, and some giggled in discomfort. Finally, they agreed to walk with me.
"Anyone have a story to share?"
Silence. I looked back at them, making eye contact here and there. There were more giggles and nudges. "How about a joke?" This was immediately followed by a comment I didn't catch, some laughter and then one of them called back to a friend who'd stopped to chat on the phone.
"He could tell you a joke," said the young man to my right. More laughter.
"It could be about school."
They all laughed at this, and one of the girls said, "We have boring lives."
"What are you studying?"
"Engineering, civil engineering" several murmured, without a lot of enthusiasm. So far today, I had an architecture student, an engineering student, and now a whole gaggle of aspiring engineers. I wondered if Mexico is in need of builders or if it just a good paying job that appeals to a lot of students.
"So why did you pick engineering?" I looked over my shoulder again, then turned to so I could make eye contact. No one spoke. "None of you know why you picked engineering?" This produced more laughter and another comment I didn't catch. Group dynamics are so interesting. I knew that any one of them on their own would be chatting along with me by now, but with a stranger in their midst, no one wanted to say something embarrassing and look like a fool.
We continued on in this way, me asking questions, and them answering or not, and laughing a lot. We finally reached what seemed like a stopping point and I said, "Let's take a picture and then I can keep heading south."
One of the guys called over another student and asked them to take our picture. As we posed, I suddenly felt like I was part of their lives, or part of this school. Taking a photo says, I was here, I was part of this moment. Magically, something seemed to shift, or maybe it was only me. But instead of finding another participant, I found myself accompanying them to the library for another photo and then to the bus stop.
The young man next to me, who I had come to think of as the spokesperson, said, "I'm not from Mexico City. I'm from Puebla, but it's still a big city. It is kind of like Mexico City."
I replied, "I'm from a very small town. Nine hundred people." I smiled at him, we had reached the bus stop. I thanked them and directed them to the website so they could read or add to their story. They told me I could take the bus back to Insurgentes. But I wanted to walk, so they pointed me down the road and then scrambled on the bus.
It was definitely an experience walking across campus with them, me in front dressed in white. Not too out of the ordinary but still it felt like a performance for a mini audience rather than an intimate walk. Since I'd started my day without much enthusiasm, it was nice to end my day on a fun note.
Contributed by Laura Milkins
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Contributed by: Laura
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