Tips

Okay, so for anyone going on this trip, here are some tips I wish I thought about more carefully before I went.

. Keep your notes organized!
You're not going to want to take notes about everything and you aren't going to have super detailed notes or anything. You're not going to use SQ3R or Roman Numerals. But what you DO need to do it DATE all your pages of notes. Put the date and place. If you're interviewing someone, put their Name and Profession. And take at least some notes if you're at any sort of sit-down lecture. Do this and doing your journal assignments will be a breeze!

. Get a good recording mechanism.
Maybe you don't need to, but I really needed something to record stuff with. Both of my options failed. My digital camera has a video recording option, but since I didn't understand how to use it properly until the end of the trip, I missed a lot. I also bought a cheap digital voice recorder. DON'T DO THAT. If you buy a digital voice recorder, make sure you know its a good quality or just buy a regular old tape voice recorder, stating the date, place, and person with each use.

. Bring enough money and keep a budget
Because I didn't do either one. My family didn't give me as much money as some of the other people on the trip, but sometimes I found myself spending like they did. I often felt obligated to spend money on dinner because everyone else was doing it. That was really immature of me. Be careful and smart with your money! Yah, a US $ can go a long way in Mexico, but all those dollars add up.

. Pack light and Pack Smart
The lighter you pack, the better! And bring a duffel bag because you are going to buy or make stuff in Mexico and you might want to take them home with you. And when you go into the mountains, a duffle bag is easier to take from cabin to cabin than a suitcase. Bring a slouch bag or something to put your stuff in while you walk around town from day to day. I wish I brought less clothing from home, especially since I ended up buying some clothes in Mexico. Hotels give you soap and shampoo and etc. so make sure of that fact. And if you see something you like in Mexico and think "I'll get it when I go back home", I promise you, it will be 5x more expensive when you get to the US, so just buy it!

. Bring good quality stuff!
You're going to need GOOD shoes for hiking. And a hat. Sunglasses are helpful. Good sunblock. Good jacket. Good blanket. Just follow the guidelines Miss Kathy gives you. Make sure whatever you bring is good quality. You will thank yourself later.

That's all I can think of for now. :P