As a city, Mexico’s capital goes above and beyond any expectations or preconceptions I had; it’s as sprawling as a small country and yet still gives off a warmth and kindness reflected by its residents. Boasting a well-connected transport system, between the Metro, the Metrobús and the Trolebús lines, visiting the tremendous amount of museums in the city is a simple task. Not only is Mexico City economically important for Mexico but also culturally significant. As illustrated by the Bosque de Chapultepec, one of the city’s largest parks, the endless monuments and Antimonumentos which commemorate historical events and social issues such as gender violence against women. Conveniently for visitors and especially lovers of Mexican gastronomy, Mexico’s capital draws influences and flavours from across the entire country. I discovered that one must dedicate an entire lifetime to the swathes of different possible tacos, from humble tacos de canasta to the popular tacos al pastor, to my much-loved tacos de cecina enchilada.

The Centro Académico de la Memoria de Nuestra América (The Academic Centre of Memory for Our America) is a veritable treasure trove of information encompassing the entire continent of America across various periods in history. Studying Modern Languages at DeLC, I had already spent a few months studying in Rennes, France before moving on to working in Mexico City at the CAMeNA. In that way I already had some experience of living abroad and still Mexico seemed to surpass any expectations I may have had before starting my International Placement Year. The work done at the CAMeNA starts with donations from academics, activists and organizers, movements and journalists which culminates in the formation of thematic collections. My work there consisted of organising articles and documents donated by Uruguayan journalist Carlos Fazio. As a way of learning and improving not only my Spanish but also my Latin American history, I would highly recommend reading such a great volume of articles. Doing so contextualises the events under discussion, highlights public opinion at the time, but more so covers a wide range of topics such as the economy, political life and social issues. Working at the CAMeNA has enormously impacted my Spanish language learning journey but also my personal life; it has become a special place for me, as have those who work there.

I would highly recommend that everyone visit Mexico at least once in their life, if not for the food or the natural beauty, then for its deep and rich cultural heritage. For anyone interested in the work done at the CAMeNa or any of their archived donations, the centre is in the process of digitising their collections which are available here.

Many thanks to the members of CAMeNA who so warmly welcomed me and have now become such firm friends, as well as to Dr. Cornelia Gräbner, whose dedication to the work done at CAMeNA and to her students’ education has allowed me this fantastic opportunity.

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