Clase de Cocina/ Traditional Cooking

Yesterday we had a full, but incredibly rewarding day! We got up early to head to a pueblo on the outskirts of the city to prepare a meal from beginning to end. A local family welcomed us into their home and showed us how to cook a traditional dish: pollo pibil. "Pib", is a method of cooking underground in a pit filled with hot stones that acts as an oven.
The first step was to meet the chickens...

two of the birds we bought from a neighbor

the "market" group sharing what they bought: tomatoes, chiles, onions, and achiote

the final words of the rooster as witnessed by a curious kitty

Raul explaining the process of softening dried corn kernels to be able to grind them into masa for tortillas

plucking the birds after a hot bath

finding banana leaves for later on in the process

preparing the meat

taking the seeds out of the achiote, a spiny green fruit that has seeds with a special flavor and...

a characteristic intense red color

Explaining how to use the stone grinder

and a demonstration from an expert

talking about the earth-oven

setting the wood aflame after carefully stacking it in the pit

placing the stones on top of the wood, these are what will gather heat from the burning wood and maintain a constant temperature in the pit to evenly cook the meat

chopping tomatoes, chile xcatic, and onions

headed off to find leaves to cover the pit

and meanwhile...

harvesting oranges

naranja agria (sour orange)

we needed a lot!

next step is peeling,

and juicing them

rinsing the softened corn kernels

dissolving the achiote paste into the sour orange juice

preparing the pan by lining it with the banana leaves

adding the tomato, onion and chile mixture that has been blended into the orange and achiote mixture

time to dunk the chicken in the sauce and arrange it in the pan

the result!

bringing the pan to the hot stones

and covering it with leaves

and a cover...

so that the earth piled on top to keep the steam from escaping doesn't get into the food

meanwhile, it's time to make tortillas!

another demonstration by the expert!

a few hours later, and the pollo pibil is ready!

sitting down to a well-earned meal after a long day!

The group heading off to the swimming hole after many thank-you's to the family that helped us have an amazing experience!

Small Town Days: Our time in Yaxunah

Before we began our time in the rural community of Yaxunah, we passed through the small city of Acanceh, where we were able to tour through the market and visit the prehispanic structures that make up the ancient Mayan settlement that today is fused with the architecture and modernity of the town. These ancient structures tell their story through the exposed stones and glimpses of preserved stucco. The pyramid of the masks holds eight stuccoed masks, two on each side of the structure, each one with characteristics associated with the sun god Kinich Ahau. A few blocks away, past the large catholic church and down a side street, surrounded by family homes, the Palace of Stuccos has a frisee that adorns the north face of the building with zoomorphic beings. Just like in the city, the best part of the program is when the students get to meet their new host families. The family is the main pillar of support for the student’s immersion into any context, but it is especially important in smal

The Grand Adventure: Orientation Trip

Our orientation trip began in the southern part of the state of Yucatan, in the community of San Mateo, where we were able to explore the natural resources of the area and learn about a few of the most important trees in the Mayan culture. We also admired historic buildings in the middle of the jungle that are evidence of military bases that were established along the ancient roads of Yucatan after the Caste War. One of the most fascinating experiences we had was entering into what the ancient Mayans knew as the inframundo , or the underworld. We rappelled down into the cenote of San Mateo, breaking the silence within and sending hundreds of bats circling around the high vaulted ceiling of this massive natural well. It is a unique experience that very few people are lucky enough to see. The next part of our trip took place in the state of Quintana Roo, where we were awed by the beauty and culture of the region. We enjoyed our stay at the lakeside cabañas Síijil Noh Há. The food was g

Merida: Our Days in the City

The first part of the student’s time in Merida, meeting and integrating into their host families, is probably the most important step in beginning an immersion program. In our case, here in Merida, host families are fundamental for the students to adapt to their new urban context. Another important aspect of their time in Merida are their Spanish classes, since the language will allow them to interact and immerse themselves more completely in the culture. During these language classes, the students not only learn grammar and structure, but they are also able to develop their own linguistic abilities by sharing, discussing and practicing the everyday vocabulary and expressions that they hear outside of the classroom. Mayan culture classes are another key part of the program, they help the students understand diverse aspects of the culture, how a Yucatecan family lives, the differences between interacting in an urban or a rural setting, and provide the hidden historical context for wha

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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