![\"Ilumexico](\"http:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/kmachuca\/files\/2014\/10\/Ilumexico.Machuca.3.jpg\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n The best part off experiencing all this in Mexico City, was that I discovered that work environments like these actually exists out there. It\u2019s exciting because I hope one day I get to work with individuals like employees from Ilumexico. I\u2019m not sure where I will be heading in life after graduation but it\u2019s nice to know that a place this exists out there. This was my experience in the city.\u00a0 As I traveled with my partner to two different states, two stories stood out.<\/p>\n First story \u2013 Based in Oaxaca<\/strong><\/p>\n We traveled for almost two hours in car to reach a community. Let me tell you it was not the smoothest ride. If we were lucky the roads were paved smoothly but most of the times the roads were covered with rocks and I always caught myself praying that the tires of the car wouldn\u2019t pop as we went over sharp rocks! When we finally reached a community and interviewed almost fifteen customers, one story stood out to me.\u00a0 It was a story by a man who was in his late 50s or 60s and we asked him for his feedback about the company and he said the following in Mazateco (One of the indegenious languages in Oaxaca) \u201cCan you please tell the guy who brought these products, I say thank you! I\u2019ve asked the government for many years that I wanted light in the community and no one has paid attention.\u00a0 It\u2019s been over 15 years that I\u2019ve insisted, and I finally have light because of Ilumexico, tell him that I send him many thank yous!\u201d\u00a0 As a representative of Ilumexico, I\u2019ve never been so proud to have represented a company that actually made a difference in someone\u2019s life. \u00a0It was an incredible feeling that till this day words can\u2019t describe how I felt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Second story – Based in Campeche<\/p>\n We were interviewing the last community in Campeche, we were talking to a client and when we asked her, \u201cSo if Ilumexico offered other solar products, what would you want?\u201d She replied, \u201cYou know the only thing we need in life is water and light.\u201d This phrase took me by surprised, because even though this lady lived in the middle of nowhere and had a house that was super tiny and looked run down she had no complaints about life. She was grateful for what life had brought her. She was happy, and that\u2019s an important lesson that western countries need remind themselves, that the simplest things in life are taken for granted, like a roof over our head, light, water, having a meal and having access to food. I feel that many times we take things for granted and it\u2019s unfortunate that one way in which we notice how good our life is, is by traveling to another country or going away from home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the main things I learned from this trip is the value of knowing a second language. As I worked along the side of a translator for almost two weeks, it was mind blowing to see how our work dynamic was.\u00a0 Picture this, I would ask the questions in Spanish, Lety (our translator) would say them in Mazateco in order for the customers to understand. Customers would then respond in Mazateco and then Lety would tell me in Spanish what the customers said.\u00a0 During interviews I sometimes caught myself taking a step and seeing the big picture.\u00a0 What I saw was beautiful, here I was speaking in Spanish and connecting with customers in a different language and feeling welcomed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think knowing the native language helped me comprehend the culture, it helped me really understand peoples perspectives and really get to know people at a personal level. Even knowing the slang words or understanding jokes with double meanings people welcomed us more, we were treated differently. I felt included. It was interesting because I brought an outsider\u2019s perspective but yet I had access to an insider\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This summer as I worked in rural Mexican communities, I found my experience to be one of the most memorable and rewarding summers. It was incredible working along the side of people who are so\u00a0 passionate about their jobs and simultaneously living and breathing the mission of the social enterprise. In a nutshell I was … Continue reading GSBF Experience<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n