University of Regina students bound for Mexico

Posted: August 28, 2012 8:15 a.m.

(R to L) University of Regina students Harmony Landgraf, Aaron Muir, Megan Jane and Moses Gordon at the Regina airport. Photo: External Relations

Kimberly Redlac is going to have a very memorable honeymoon. The only problem is her new husband won’t be there to share it with her. Redlac was getting married on Saturday, while four other University of Regina students were boarding a plane at the Regina airport headed to Mexico, where they will spend the next three weeks learning about the indigenous culture of that country. Redlac joined them on Monday.

“Identity construction is where my degree lies, so I want to see if they are more defined by work than material goods,” said 25-year-old Arts and Culture student Aaron Muir. “I’m also curious about experiencing this reverse culture shock because I think it changes you.”

The opportunity came about as a result of a trip University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Vianne Timmons made to Mexico last spring. Timmons signed an agreement of co-operation with a network of Indigenous universities in Mexico. The agreement promotes the mobility of students at the University of Regina and Indigenous students from Mexico to exchange their culture and traditions.

The Regina students will begin their adventure at Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Mexico, where they will learn about indigenous culture, before visiting Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, as well as various smaller villages and archaeological sites.

Three Mexican students will be traveling to Saskatchewan to gain hands-on experience and enhance their knowledge of indigenous Canadian culture.

Nineteen-year-old Megan Jane has a message for other University of Regina students interested in this type of program.

“You hear about these great trips, and everyone says how awesome they would be, but no one actually applies for them because they think they’ll never get in. I didn’t think I’d get in, but I did and I’m at the airport and I’m really excited, so my message to other students is make sure you apply.”