Four Years Connecting with Amazing Humans

Working at Human Connections has been without a doubt the best professional experience I have had in my life, not only because of the work itself, but also because of the incredible human beings that I have surrounded myself with.

From the first day I was interviewed, they asked me about my hobbies and my personal life. I found it fascinating to know that the organization was interested in my personal life to find things in common, beyond my professional skills. When I arrived they offered me everything, a space in the office, all the support and training, as well as some great friends. The first weekend Elly took me to see Carrilleros, one of my favorite beaches in the area. Anyway, they had never made me feel like family in a job. I have also met such incredible women in this organization and from so many countries, who have left an indelible mark on my journey.

I have learned a lot about multiculturalism thanks to these prepared women from all over the world, teaching me so much. In addition to having learned from talented families of entrepreneurs, with so much knowledge about art, languages ​​and indigenous worldvisions, about gastronomy and above all, about entrepreneurship in an adverse region, with such a heterogeneous culture, with people from here and people from there. I am amazed by their entrepreneurial talent and their resilient skills facing adversity. Thank you, partners of Human Connections, for opening the doors of your homes and your souls, on countless occasions to always receive me with a smile and with groups of strangers, thanks for the trust. Thank you Moy, Zenaida, Tere, Leo, Rosendo, Nallely, Omar, Andrés, Cristina, Shamar, Gilari, Francisco, Silvia, Cristino, Mary, Francisco, Marina, Rolando, Naty, Claudio, Beatriz, Adela, Alberto, Marichuy, Teo , Susy, Yadira, Segis, Dominga and Miguel, and of course, their respective families.

Running a responsible tourism program and being a guide has not been easy, being a “cultural breaker” has its challenges, since understanding one culture from the inside and explaining it to another with all the necessary context, not only requires translation or interpretation skills, requires patience and a lot of introspection, but above all to study in detail the concept of culture, constantly deconstructing concepts and adding four years of experiences to this learning.

I am grateful to all the visitors whom I took on a tour at some time and they asked questions and contributions that made me question the very existence of my culture, analyze the social, political and even economic deficiencies and successes of my country and others, as well as highlight the positive aspects that stand out from the “Mexicans”. I came to this organization being the first Mexican working in it and now I understand myself as one more person in this world with a sociocultural explanation of my existence, my rituals, my language and my communication, so complex that now everything makes sense. 

I understand interculturality in a new way, full of commitments, making me see that we are beings of connection and communication, our mission is to understand each other as the same collective being.

Thank you Human Connections for testing my theory that tourism can be different, it can be a tool to achieve transcendental social impacts and offer a learning platform for so many people, at a time where a lot of understanding and empathy between cultures, between individuals and between nations, are missing.

Thank you HC for being one more motivator to continue my path as an ambassador of responsible tourism and as a faithful believer that social changes begin with oneself.

My last cup of coffee at the office :(