A Multidisciplinary Journey Through Mexico City (CDMX)
Twenty undergraduate students from programs including Political Science, Journalism, Global and International Studies (BGInS), and Public Affairs and Policy Management (BPAPM) embarked on the experience of a lifetime recently as part of the CDMX Field Course, organized by Political Science professor Laura Macdonald and Geography and Environmental Studies professor Jill Wigle.
The students and faculty visited five of Mexico City’s sixteen boroughs using the city’s vast public transit system, including the cable-car line, light rail, rapid transit bus, and subway. These journeys became part of the students’ lived experience of the city’s challenging mobilities.
“The Mexico City field course provided an all-star ensemble of professors and peers who role modeled how to comprehend, analyze, and connect the forces that we were not only studying theoretically, but experiencing spatially.” – Allan Buri, BPAPM
The trip was enlightened by numerous local researchers, journalists, and community members in both formal and improvised classrooms. In the site visits, students were able to explore a diverse range of themes such as:
- Federal Politics
- City Governance
- The Colonial Transformation of Mexico-Tenochtitlan
- Gender/Labour and Human Rights
- Downtown Redevelopment and Displacement
- Housing and Social Movements
- Urban Agriculture
- Spatial Politics
“This trip was without a doubt the highlight of my time at Carleton. Mexico City is such an amazing place to witness the sedimentation of time into one place. Mexico City, in all of its vastness both literally and figuratively provided a learning experience unlike anything else. To witness ancient ruins and lively markets in a single excursion is truly astonishing. This class and trip provided me with an experience I will cherish forever. Not to mention the wonderful people that Dr. Macdonald and Dr. Wigle were able to introduce us to. Wonderful organizers, activists, and educators who welcomed us and taught us not just about the political climate, urban infrastructure, and colonial history, but showed us what it means to be Mexican, and specifically, what it means to live in Mexico City and for that I’m grateful.” – Andrew Braithwaite, Political Science
“The CDMX field course was my first experience of any country in the Global South. This course gave me the opportunity to realize what I had learned in the classroom in the most immersive situation possible. It added a whole new dimension to my degree. During the two weeks we were there, I was not just a passive observer of the interface of political and geographic phenomena, but an active participant, both acting and being acted upon by the processes we were studying. I experienced physical and mental challenges which gave me a small sample of what a researcher in this field might go through on a daily basis. I made great connections with my fellow students and professors that I will always cherish.
Two things of many that I observed are: the unique nature of working class neighborhoods (barrios) which are not just different than anything in Canada through their political structure and location within the greater urban context, but feel different walking through them, seeing local kids come down and share their achievements with pride with the community elders, and remarking on signs and people that I would never have seen in a textbook. The back and forth dialogue between us and our guides through these various worlds was more enriching than any book or video.
Secondly, I learned that my Spanish needs a little work. This course motivated me more than ever to continue to practice and get better, so when I return to CDMX one day, I’ll be able to speak to our old guides with familiarity and confidence.” – Kendall Petersen, BPAPM
“I had a truly meaningful experience in Mexico City. It opened my eyes to the brilliance and influence of the Global South, which I feel is often overlooked. One of the most powerful moments was learning about active resistance to cultural erasure and gentrification with our friend Carlos Acuña, a local journalist and anti-gentrification activist. This trip helped me understand how infrastructure, modernization, and progress can be used as tools of colonialism, perpetuating systems of power and inequality in the Mexican context. I came away with a deeper understanding of the many layers of colonialism and how they continue to manifest today.
On this trip I learned that if we want meaningful change, it’s essential to study overlooked issues and carefully examine how these forces impact people’s daily lives. We need to uncover the hidden factors that keep societal inequalities in place. But studying alone isn’t enough, we must also have the courage to challenge the status quo and rethink how we live, remembering that the future is not solely set by those before us. We are the pioneers of the future we want to create. That’s why educational travel opportunities like this are so important, and why education itself plays a vital role in shaping a better world.” – Aaniyah Cameron, BPAPM
The trip was made possible by the dedication of instructors Laura Macdonald (Political Science) and Jill Wigle (Geography and Environmental Studies), whose leadership and passion turned an academic course into an unforgettable journey: one the students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
“It was truly a phenomenal experience and to been given the opportunity to learn about Mexico City’s culture, politics, and geography is something I’ll never regret. I can’t imagine any other two professors to have experienced this with. They guided us through every nook and cranny of the city, worked endlessly to make sure we immersed ourselves in the community and translated everything for us, from Spanish to English.” – Kaylen Young, BGINS