The Perspectives That Divide Us - Rockhurst University

Allison RankOn a Rockhurst University missiontrip to Juarez, Mexico, two years ago,Allison Rank helped build a cinderblockhouse with no running water for a familythat struggled to get the basic necessitiesof life. When she returned to the countryas a senior during the summer of 2007for an internship with the NationalChamber of Commerce of Guadalajara,she lived with a host family that had acook and a maid.“Some people have a preconceivednotion that Mexico is poor and peopleare uneducated,” said Rank, “and they’resurprised to learn how many rich peoplelive there.”As a summer intern, Rank helpedtranslate documents and Web pagesinto English, and made conferencearrangements.The monthlong experience allowedher to learn about cultural differencesbetween Mexico and the United Statesin business practices and society at large.Those differences became apparent herfirst day on the job when she reported towork and had to wait for the rest of thestaff to arrive. Later she learned about thecoffee breaks and two-hour lunches toaccommodate the biggest meal of the day.“There didn’t seem to be as much of asense of urgency,” Rank said.Another surprise came when her bossdemonstrated a genuine curiosity toSenior Allison Rank in Taxco, Mexico.know her as a person, beginning thefirst day with a 30-minute get-acquaintedconversation.With a double major in businessadministration and Spanish, Rank hopesto work in an international business settingsome day. In addition to studyingSpanish, she supplemented her languageskills with a course in Chinese at the Universityof Missouri-Kansas City.But first she needs to make it throughall the requirements of a busy senior yearat Rockhurst. In addition to serving asStudent Senate president, she’s working tocomplete her senior capstone project — astudy of the differences between the richand poor in Mexico.16 Ro c k h u r s t4w i n t e r 2007