Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

This morning we visited another museum located in the bustling market area in downtown Merida. The Museum of the City.  Our guide, Don Jose giving us a brief introduction  Explaining that Merida was once a Mayan city know as T'ho which contained at least 5 pyramids Grace observing the replica of T'ho which reached the height of civilization around 600 A.D. Our professor Raul talking about the different uses of ceramics depending on the amount of  detail and adornment Don Juan showing us a replica of a traditional burial, where the body would be surrounded by four offerings of food and jewelry placed at the cardinal points. Seeing the wear and tear that the years have had on certain pieces  Observing a print of the first map of the city A closer look at the map  A scale replica of the city's cathedral A photo with our stupendous tour guide, Don Juan who has worked in the Museum building for 50 years, first as a postman when it

Last Tuesday we had our annual Christmas festival. All of our host families and professors and PICY staff was invited and we had a great time! We started off with a brief look at our student's projects from their "conversation and identity" class. Lea explaining her mind map where the city's buses appear as dragons! Megan talking about different perspectives Grace sharing her food journey Lauren talking about family as the center of her experience And then it was time for the show to start! Noche de Paz (silent night) Kendall is participating in a Mayan immersion program focused on midwifery in Yucatan. She (with some help) sang a short song in Maya! Burrito Sabanero We put together a short skit based on the new "light and sound extravaganza" that you can see at Chichen Itza. In our play, Chichen(ita) we shared some of the incredible adventures that the students have had in just their first month.   Our staff m

Our Class in a Real Context today was a field trip to the Museum of Folk Art. Here's a look at what we saw while we were there... arriving at the museum contemplating a piece made entirely of cut and glued feathers wood work seeing the differences between traditional dresses skeletons are a popular theme pondering the different nativity scenes our anthropology professor, Raul, explaining aspects of the culture an intricate scene a minuscule nativity  representations of cultural heritage another version of a nativity 

This morning we took a trip to the general cemetery of Merida.  Heading in for a morning walk around the cemetery Years ago, people who died in the city would be buried in the church floor or on the grounds. Because of the spread of diseases, this practice was banned and burial grounds were required to be outside of city limits. Today, the general cemetery is located in the southwest part of the downtown area; the city has grown around it.  It was common for neighborhoods to have their own mausoleums Before it was a cemetery, the land belonged to a wealthy family that had a henequen plantation. There is a mausoleum dedicated to the workers who spent their whole lives there. The section reserved for members of the Masonic Lodge Wandering around  Exploring the monument dedicated to the Carillo Puerto family  One of the largest monuments in the cemetery is dedicated to a former governor of Yucatan who was assassinated in this very cemetery. Felipe Carrillo P