Bio: Studinski, Kathy (Mexico City - 1975)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Studinski, Diaz, Galland

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/25/1975

Studinski, Kathy (Mexico City - 1975)

Kathy Studinski is back in the swing of schoolbooks at Loyal High School after a summer in Mexico City. The Diaz family, with whom she stayed, was no stranger to Kathy, since Maria Diaz Galland had spent the summer months with the Studinski family here. Maria is now an exchange student in the eastern states.

Then, too, Kathy’s sister, Therese, had spent a summer in Ecuador. This gave Kathy the opportunity to be well-organized with her travel notes. The Student Council helped to finance the trip through an international fellowship.

Inasmuch as schools were not in session, Kathy had a greater opportunity to travel and visit museums. The anthropology museum in Mexico City, with a 26-ton Aztec calendar, was her favorite. She was able to return there a number of times to study ancient Aztec pottery.

On a venture to Oaxaca she saw the pyramids, Mytla and Mente Alban. “They travel faster than here, but the cars are smaller and get better mileage,” she said, and added that gas is expensive. It costs 96 cents per gallon in our measure and money.

Another set of pyramids which intrigued her were Teotihuacan with the Sun, Moon, and Avenue of the Dead. These are strictly for worship and are not burial places, as one so often thinks of pyramids.

Mexico City is a-very old city, built on the water, and according to legend, Indians filled in the land with shovels and by hand. Some buildings are sinking, which would tend to confirm the legend that the city was built on water. Among the sights are the buildings from the 1968 Olympic games, including one in an elaborate mosaic wall.

Kathy had a good hike almost to the snow level on the top of 17,887-foot Popocatepetl. Another entirely new experience was attending several operas and seeing the touring Folklore ballet of Russia.

Her family life was far different, too, with the 17-year-old student doing the dishes (without a washer), the family laundry and the general cleaning. She even hosed out the garage and washed the family’s two cars daily. The maid had a sixth grade education and received approximately $40 per month.

Living conditions are comparable to ours, she said. Much is imported, including our TV programs and European movies with Spanish Captions. Much of the additional expense is duty on imports.

Kathy’s exchange father, Alejandre’ Diaz, is an engineer working with complicated microwave telephones in the mountains. He also has a sugar cane plantation.

“They live their religion,” Kathy explained as she told about the great cathedrals with solid gold interior decorations with no visible guards and no locked doors. On the other hand, the house door had three or four locks.

A junior in high school now Kathy has not decided what to take up in college. Like so many exchange students, she hopes she can return to Mexico City after graduation.

Kathy is the daughter of Mrs. Florence Studinski of Loyal.