Rachael Simmons

For Santa Monica teen-ager Rachael Simmons, 19, joining Ballet Folklorico de Mexico was a dream come true--a bittersweet dream marked by the exciting but unexpectedly hard-edged realities of life in another country. Plunged headlong into the intricacies of the Spanish language, Mexican culture and an unfamiliar dance form, her 14-month Mexican sojourn has been a roller coaster of highs and lows.

For Santa Monica teen-ager Rachael Simmons, 19, joining Ballet Folklorico de Mexico was a dream come true--a bittersweet dream marked by the exciting but unexpectedly hard-edged realities of life in another country. Plunged headlong into the intricacies of the Spanish language, Mexican culture and an unfamiliar dance form, her 14-month Mexican sojourn has been a roller coaster of highs and lows.