Traditional Dance, Ancient Ruins and Garden Structures: Week 4

Another week filled with learning!

From practicing the steps of the traditional dance of Yucatan, la jarana, which includes balancing a glass bottle on your head while your feet move to the driving rhythm of the music as your heart beats with excitement and nerves... our students progressed to the point of showing off their skills at a community festival!

They also enjoyed movie nights in the town square, surrounded by family, friends and neighbors.

Our students also learned how to make a ka’anche’, a raised garden bed that sits about 4 feet above the ground. It was constructed from wood, earth and leaves that most families in rural communities have in their backyards. This raised bed is used to plant a variety of herbs and small vegetables like chives, epazote (an important flavoring for black beans), radishes, cilantro and more. It’s height keeps the small garden from being dug up by the backyard chickens, turkeys, pigs and dogs. Don Francisco and Don Natividad, our same experts from our trip to the milpa, were our guides once again.

And we visited the Mayan ruins that are run and taken care of by the communal land owners’ organization, or ejido. There you can find the sacbe (white road) which forms part of a prehispanic trading network. This section of the sacbe is around 100 km long (62 miles) and measures 10 meters wide (10 yards) and reaches all the way to the ancient city and popular Mayan ruins of Coba.

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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