First Week of Classes

After our orientation and a weekend of getting comfortable with their host families our COA students are jumping right into their classes.

A view from the Mayan Anthropology class.

Students will take two classes throughout December and January before heading off on their independent projects. All of our students are participating in the Mayan Anthropology class: Life and Death Among the Mayans. For their second course some students will will continue their Spanish language class, building upon what they learned in the fall, and others will take an elective of their choice, all in Spanish of course!

Building our very own mayan cities!

This year our elective classes include: Biology and Ecology of the Yucatan Peninsula, History of Expression in the Yucatan: Mediums of Communication and Art, and Merida's System of Discarded Materials.

Students take to the streets to learn hands-on about the city of Merida.

Although we started out this week in the classroom, we certainly won't spend all of our time there. Nearly half of the learning this term will take place in the city and its surrounding communities.

One of classes in Santiago Park.

We know that to learn about a language or culture you have to participate in it. So our classes are structured around this belief. Students will spend class time out in the field talking to experts, in the city interviewing locals, and learning first hand from their lives with their host families.

Learning about the sacred mayan ceiba tree in person.

Learning about our new home.

Getting to know Merida.

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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