Hi, my name is Melany Castañeda Padilla, and I’m a third-year Sociology combined with Latin American and Latino Studies major here at UCSC. I studied abroad during the summer of 2025 in the Contemporary Mexico program in Mexico City through UCEAP, where I took classes on Mexican political history, a Spanish course, and a culture class.
As a first-generation Latina and low-income student, I did not imagine that studying in another country was even possible. I never had an example or resources to comprehend that as a possibility. But going to a major-specific presentation that was put on by Global Learning staff opened my eyes to how attainable going abroad really is. I learned how I could use financial aid to cover costs in my program, what scholarships are available, and the support services offered through the global learning office. I was also inspired when I learned that studying in my parents’ homeland was possible, as I wanted to get to know more of it. It is also what I am studying as a part of my major, so having the privilege to actually learn from the communities I was studying was an opportunity I wanted to take advantage of.
Going to Mexico was something I also did not want to take for granted. A lot of my family members do not have the privilege of going back to their hometowns, and I wanted to use my privilege by being a bridge of connection. I would call my family and send pictures often. My family was so inspired and excited for me. I greatly appreciated their excitement, and it pushed me forward in my academics because it had been difficult to find hope due to the state of the country. But going abroad brought a silver lining to my family and something to look forward to. Sharing my journey with them felt like they were on the journey with me.
Living in Mexico City, specifically Coyoacan, where there is so much cultural and artistic history, I was immersed in constant interaction with so many different people from different backgrounds. My classes were a 30-minute walk from where I lived, so I was able to become familiar with shops, workers, and families who were locals of the town. I would see those same people in the Centro right behind the house I was living in, where during the weekends, there were stands and booths selling artisan and handmade crafts, DJs in the park playing cumbias for free that encouraged people to dance/dance with each other, and so much food and sweets.
At first, I was uncomfortable with the constant interaction and communication with people. I grew up in an area where people don’t ask too many questions and do not really interact with each other unless it is necessary. So people coming up to me and striking up long conversations, asking me to dance at the park, and just the everyday small talk with people who lived around felt odd to me at first. As a woman, I felt uncomfortable in the beginning when older men would want to dance or strike up a conversation because I am always in a constant state of being alert, anywhere I go. But through interactions and conversations I had with the various people I met, I learned the beauty there is in opening up and getting to know so many different people and learning from their life stories. Especially since Mexico City is a very populated area, naturally, these interactions were to be expected, but since I had never experienced living in a big city, this was a new environment for me.
Through exploratory activities with my UCEAP cohort, like going to Puebla, the Pyramids, the Basilica, etc., my eyes became open to the different opportunities, lifestyles, and career paths that I did not even know were possible. I became more open to my community, my friends, and myself. Studying abroad ignited a spark of curiosity and hope within me and within my family as well. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in global learning as well as the support I received from the global learning team and financial aid. Without this help and community, I would have never gone abroad or gotten to participate in such an impactful experience that altered how I interact with communities, myself, and my family.