Hi, I’m Jim Scheffel. First, let me give you a glimpse into my background. Although I received my Bachelor’s in Business Management in December 2002, as you can tell from my gray hair I have a “few” extra years on all the other students with whom I shared this trip to Mexico. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland.

I am excited to be a student in the new eMBA program at TWU. I am especially intrigued about being part of the inaugural eMBA field trip.

There were so many things we learned as a result of going on this tour. The one thing that stands out for me is that with all the progress Mexico has made in recent years to become a significant player in international trade, it has maintained a deep reverence and appreciation of its past history and tradition. In Mexico City, the museums have splendid collections of treasures which chronicle the history of Mexico’s many cultures, including Teotihuacan, Toltec, Mexica (Aztec), Oaxaca, and Mayan. Within the downtown square display many additional samples of Mexican heritage: the Federal Building with its collection of Diego Rivera murals; the Metropolitan Cathedral with its reminders of Mexico’s Spanish influence; and in the same city block, a partially excavated Aztec ruin.

My impression is that Mexico has maintained a keen balance between past, present, and future. This will be so important for future generations, both in Mexico and throughout the World.