Final days of Orientation and meeting the Host Families

After our days of traveling to visit different places around the peninsula, it’s time for classes to begin!

Our academic classes go beyond the classroom, we give our students the tools they need to interact with local people and understand the cultural context. We provide the resources for them to discover and develop their own personal interests within this new culture.

At the same time that our classes started, we were able to marvel at one of the many archaeological ruins that still stands in Yucatan, this particular site has stelae (upright monuments containing information in the form of texts, images or a combination of the two) and the tomb of the zones most important leader, known as Ukit Kan Le´t Tok. We were also able to swim in the cenote, or natural well, in the community of Dzalbay. To reach the crystal blue water, we had to venture underground!

The food throughout our trip was amazing, and various families from the community known as “Black Jaguar” in the Mayan language shared food from their homes with us.

We also worked on the final details of the construction of our new classroom in the community of Yaxunah, where the majority of our program will take place. Without a doubt, the smell of fresh clay and guano will hold a special place in our memories!

And finally, the doors of PICY’s rural location in Yaxunah opened to welcome smiling local families who came to pick up their host kids. Among laughter, some nerves and a lot of excitement, they listened attentively to the plan for the coming days and weeks.

Our students had a hard time containing their excitement to meet their host families, too, and they even put together gift baskets for their families.

Before the students went off with their host families, we celebrated the birthdays of two people in our group to a chorus of “en un día feliz…”

The moment when host families meet their host kids is one of the most beautiful moments in the program. The mutual smiles say more than any words could ever convey. The arms reaching out and pulling in to a hug is all that is needed to say “bienvenidos a la familia”!

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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