My trip to Teotihuacan That pile of rocks made my palms sweat and the back of my neck tingle.

About seventeen years ago, I went to Mexico during a summer in order to study Spanish with a group of students from Mississippi. It was a trip that changed me a lot. I lived with a Mexican family and attended classes with other Mexican students. We visited lots of important places in Mexico such as the capital, Mexico City, Taxco, Oaxaca, and Cuernavaca. However, the trip that affected me the most was my visit to the ruins of the ancient Indian city of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico. We decided to visit Teotihuacan because it was one of the most important cities of the ancient Indians in Mexico. The city is very well preserved also. There are ruins of the homes and palaces of the people at all levels of society- from the poor people even to the priests and emperors. What are the most famous are the ruins of the pyramids and the temples. The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon are the two biggest and tallest pyramids. They are the largest in the Americas. You can put two of the Egyptian pyramids inside of the Pyramid of the Sun. It was very hot the day that we visited Teotihuacn. It was very sunny and the temperature was in the 100s. There wasnt much shade in the area. There werent many trees or places with air conditioning. We had carried a lot of water with us and dressed in shorts and tee shirts to prepare for the heat. I also carried my camera and my notebook so that I could take pictures and make notes for my classes. My friends Erin and Wynn wanted to climb the pyramids in order to take pictures. I had a horrible fear of heights and I didnt think that I would be able to climb the pyramids. My knees would shake and I would get dizzy any time I moved to a high place. My blood would race and I would feel anxious. No matter- Erin was very positive. She gave me lots of encouragement. At the start we visited the ruins and the museum in the park around the pyramids. I looked at the murals on the walls and the sculptures of Quetzalcatla bird and serpent god. I took a lot of pictures of the temples. After a rest for water and a sandwich, we started towards the first pyramid- the Sun. Erin

wanted me to climb without looking down and to talk to her as we climbed. We climbed slowly. I was not breathing well because the air was very different at that altitude. Little by little we climbed to the top. I was shaky. I was very nervous and I didnt look down I only looked in front of me and up. When we arrived at the top- what emotion! I was very proud of myself for doing what my other friends could do. I was proud to have overcome my fear of heights. The view was incredible! Later we continued to the other pyramid and I climbed it with my friends. I was less difficult because it wasnt as tall. I was not as nervous as well. During my trip to Teotihuacan, I learned a lot about the history of the ancient peoples in Mexico. I studied their gods and rituals. I had a lot of interest in their mysteries and legends. I discovered that the culture of Mexico was very important to me. Most importantly, I will always remember that I climbed those pyramids. I learned that if I go slowly and accept help from others, many big challenges could be made easier and very fun.