Kelly Lochen learned how to barter for clothes, jewelry and souvenirs while in Mexico. She was one of the 12 KAHS students that participated in the Spanish class trip from June 8-15. The travelers visited different parts of Mexico, including Merida, Chichenitza, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Throughout the trip students practiced their Spanish and learned about Mexican history. Lochen and fellow traveler, Jessica Gully talked about how the landscape was different from the U.S. “The streets were very dirty,” said Lochen. Gully added, “Some people lived in straw huts.” The pair described homes that were built close together, about 8-12 house per block. The houses had very little space for yards, and there was very little to no grass. To get a better understanding of the country as a whole, the students took a carriage ride through a wealthier city. Here the students saw old European style mansions from the 1600-1700s. “The buildings were very old,” said Lochen. “But they didn’t look run down or dirty.” The group studied Mexican history by visiting and climbing ruins. “I climbed the ruins and got scared since I am afraid of heights,” said Lochen. KAHS Spanish teacher, Lee Paulzine served as the chaperone for the trip. Since he has been to Mexico many times, he gave students options about what they may want to see and do. “I told the students what options they had and they choose what we will do. I also let the students go and do things[on their own] and we met back together.” Some of the things that students chose to do were going shopping and going to the beach. They snorkeled in the ocean and swam in underground caverns. “Limestone has eaten away underneath caves to form caverns,” said Paulzine. “The water in the caverns was bright blue.” Students could see the roots of trees hanging down from the top of the caverns. They also met some other cave dwellers-bats. The bats really didn’t bother the students since they were far away, near the top of the cavern. Students also climbed up high platforms, about 30-35 feet above the ground and jumped off into the water below. Paulzine said the goal of the trip was to teach students about Mexican culture and get them more interested in the language. “It is ideal for students to take a trip like this before taking [many Spanish classes],” Paulzine said. “The classroom is so artificial.” Paulzine said that students who go on the trip become better Spanish students and speakers. “Students use everything they have learned in class on this trip.” Hot, hot, hot Coming back with Mexican suntans, the group showed that the temperature was hot during its visit. Students brought drinking water to hydrate themselves in the heat. “I went through 50 pounds of water in one suitcase,” said Lochen. “I weighed this before I went.” Because of the heat, Paulzine proposed moving the dates of the trip up. He thought it would be ideal to take the trip in February around President’s Day vacation, as students would miss less school. High school principal Karen Imholte brought the proposal before the school board on May 22. The board had some hesitation because of spring-breakers presence in Mexico. Imholte noted that Paulzine was aware of this and would avoid spring break “hot-spots.” The board approved next year’s trip to be planned for February. Paulzine explained that the early trip would be different. During the earlier trip, students will go to an archeological museum and an art museum. They will also spend some time in Mexico City and see more of the upper and middle classes “This is more similar to us in Kimball,” Paulzine said. “I think it will be a nice change.”
