Aaron Kleinschmidt
Aaron Kleinschmidt
Mexico, 2024
Hello! My name is Aaron Kleinschmidt and I recently graduated Belmont with a degree in Spanish and International Politics. Join me as I head to Guadalajara, Mexico for four months to support immigrants and engage in an international development program. Read More About Aaron →

A Rocky Start

Dearest friends, family, and strangers,

I’m back after a brief hiatus, and we have a lot to unpack. Since my last post, I’ve started my volunteer role at FM4 Paso Libre, a shelter for migrants and transmigrants in Guadalajara. Taking photos in the albergue is restricted, so you will have to settle for the best description I can piece together from my (nearly) two weeks on the job.

A few things stuck out to me on my first day:

  • The team of volunteers is more international than I expected! Though mostly locals, there are a few other foreigners like me.
  • The shelter clearly lacks certain resources, but the staff are always willing and able to make ends meet.
  • In general, the vibe is chaotic. Being able to focus on a task for 20 minutes without being interrupted is a miracle.
  • There are rats... but luckily this is only hearsay (to me).
  • Some folks take advantage of new volunteers, so it’s important to be firm and willing to defer to those with more experience.

On that first day, amidst a complete power outage, I realized that getting used to the new job was enough of a challenge, and that other adjustments and/or additions to my routine might have to wait.

Unfortunately, day two was simply... unlucky. The work day was fantastic, but at the end of my shift I was stuck in the pitch-black night, waiting for my bus, which (plot twist) never came. Turns out the route ends before 9pm, and I was left high and dry. After a little panic, I took an Uber home, and all was well until... food poisoning.

Let’s just say I got very little sleep and it was a brutal night. Truly, brutal. Naturally, I stayed home from work and slept until 4:30pm, only to trudge out of bed, put on a suit, and head to a quinceañera.¹ In spite of everything, I must say it was totally worth it! We danced cumbia for hours, and I even got to relive my high school days with “Payaso de Rodeo.”²

Flash forward a week and a few days, and here I am, on the cusp of starting my third work week. I finally found a laundromat, a gym, and lots of cockroaches. Overcoming my debilitating phobia was not on my Mexico bingo card, but es lo que hay. Physically, I’m feeling (mostly) better, and I’m starting to get into a consistent routine, which is vital to maintaining my mental health. It seems like I add something to my Jalisco bucket list every day. It’s time to turn some of those trips, experiences, and personal goals into reality; I know that time will fly like a bird until I hop on that plane in November.

Hasta la próxima,

Aaron

 

  1. For context, it’s always been a random but very real dream of mine to attend a quinceañera. When my friend invited me to his niece’s, I knew it might be incredibly awkward, but there was no way I was going to turn the opportunity down! Hence my willingness to get out the door despite my physical state.
  2. A Mexican line dance my friends taught me back in the day that I really only got to practice at school dances. It’s a killer calf workout.

 

Serving our best XV looks.

El Salto del Nogal, the tallest waterfall in Jalisco measuring 105 meters. The hike was tough, but the views? Worth it.

Tapalpa, a “Pueblo Mágico” near where I spent this past weekend in the forest.

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