My Baggage to and From Oxford – Adriana Oseguera
We asked our scholars to go back to the moment they packed their luggage in preparation for their journey to Oxford. But instead of clothes and books, we asked them to think about the stories, people, memories, hopes, and all immaterial things that they would put inside. We also wanted to know what they would probably like to add to their baggage when leaving Oxford. Find other stories in this series here.
Adrian with other scholars during the orientation week
Before coming to Oxford, I had the opportunity to work at the federal government in my country. The most important thing that I learned there was that putting into practice well-intentioned ideas requires not only good intentions but also certain abilities and knowledge that I still don't have. That's why I decided to apply for a master's degree in social policy. My desire to embark on this journey intensified while I was packing my bags. That same month, the official multidimensional poverty measurement for 2020 was published. In two years, both poverty and extreme poverty increased by 2 percentage points and 1.5 percentage points, respectively. This means that almost 56 million people –44% of the population– live in poverty or extreme poverty in Mexico.
That data is the most important thing that I carried in the suitcases I brought from back home, and it is what will guide my Oxford journey. In my short time here, I've experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. On one side, I've felt extremely privileged to be able to study here. On the other hand, I've already felt homesick and out of place in a certain way. Living in Oxford feels so far away from the reality of those millions of people whose live has gotten ever more complicated after the pandemic. However, this feeling and the emptiness of not being able to eat my beloved tortillas have been quickly filled by the warmth of my fellow scholars. Listening to their passion and ideas during the moral philosophy seminars and the enterprise challenge has recharged my desire to make the most out of this amazing opportunity that Oxford and WHT have granted me.
When I go back home, I hope that these strong bonds that I’ve already built with this amazing cohort will accompany me, along with new ideas and tools to reduce the complex challenges faced by the whole Latin American region in terms of poverty and inequality.
