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| hope college > academic departments > dema > hope blooms |
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Host Families | Community Life | Puerto Escondido During the trip, each student lives in a home with a Mexican host family. They become fully immersed in the language and culture, which is, for many, a life-changing experience. Students are welcomed by the entire local community, and also have a chance to enjoy the amazing activities and attractions of the Oaxacan coastal area.
Host Families
All of the host families are affiliated with the partner organizations in which student serve as interns. For example, many students live in simple Habitat homes (built through the Habitat for Humanity program), allowing them to actually share life with the type of families their efforts are meant to help. "My family’s
usual meals consisted of refried beans and tortillas, which is the
cheapest meal you can make in Mexico. They live in a Habitat house,
which is the cheapest way to live in Mexico. They get around by bicycle
and collectivos that cost close to nothing for transportation. However,
they love each other and love life for what it is and for what they
have. They spend their “free time” sitting on their porches talking
with family and friends. That isn’t because they have nothing else
better to do, or because they talk about the latest gossip – it is
because they value relationships... The village taught me what
it's like to have nothing, and it also taught me what it's like to have
everything."
"The people let us into their lives.
They were vulnerable, even though there was a chance for them to
get hurt. They trusted us without reason. These are the beauties
I have
found in the people here...They love unconditionally, they
serve humbly, they give unslefishly, they tease unmercifully...I
feel living with these people here was probably very close to how
those that lived with Jesus felt: underserving and unconditionally
loved. I have done nothing to deserve the treatment I have
received here and I don't think that I could do enough in
less than a lifetime to deserve it"
Pictures of a typical Habitat for Humanity home:
Community Life
Through home stays, students are able to truly become a part of the community and take part in the local culture. They are invited to participate in pickup soccer and basketball games, birthday parties, rodeo events, dances, family picnics at the beach, evening conversations in the hammock, and more. Host homes are located in the areas surrounding Puerto Escondido, including the village of Bajos de Chila, Cozoaltepec, Puerto Angel, Chacalapa, Cozoaltepec, and Zipolite. Living conditions in these villages are rustic and often challenging, giving students a chance to experience what they proudly refer to as “the real Mexico.” Many of these students claimed their home stays were the best part of the trip."Every experience that I had in
Chila was eye-opening for me. I attended a rodeo, a “horse
race” and an indescribable fireworks display all in the first two
nights living there. I waded through a chest high lagoon to get to a
beautiful beach and play with youngsters. I was in a taco joint when
all of the lights in town went out in a storm. I heard the ocean waves
crashing the shore during the middle of the night. I played basketball
and soccer with the locals every week. I made lifelong friends." "I learned a lot about myself
by simply living in Chila. The town was what I picture when I
hear someone talk about the 'real Mexico'.... The community was small
and therefore people and relationships were tight…for those two
months I was part of the community. I took a sense of pride
with this."
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| Homes and internships are located in the area between Puerto Escondido (in red) and Huatulco to the east. The class also travels north to Oaxaca for a week to experience the beauty and culture of the capital city. |
"Living
in such a tranquil environment, when compared again to
the US, gives a light feel to life, an experience any college student should try to include in their educational journey. It gives good perspective to our lifelong education, one that's not limited to the classroom." - Kye Samuelson ('06) |
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Oaxaca is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and is one of the nation's most culturally-rich and economically underdeveloped states.
Oaxaca is best known for its beautiful beaches and world-class surfing. The town's growing tourism industry has added some practical perks for travelers, such as internet cafes, a variety of restaurants, and pharmacies stocked with basic medicine and toiletries.
In their free time, students have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the fabulous location and culture. Here are just a few examples of popular activities and attractions:
Learn more about Oaxaca online:
