Bidding Farewell to El Año Viejo

Our students were able to experience a different kind of New Years' Eve where midnight doesn't mean the height of the party, but rather signifies the beginning of it! Many Yucatecan families eat dinner between 10pm and 12am, and at the stroke of midnight there are a number of traditions that are performed simultaneously. I spent the night with the families and extended family of two students. Right at 12:00 everyone was given a glass with twelve grapes and champagne or sparkling cider. The twelve grapes represent each month in the new year.

It is also a custom to give out dried lentils in small silk bags. If you keep them with you all year you will always have money.

At midnight in Merida, don't be surprised to see many people wheeling their suitcases around the manzana (block). The farther you walk with your luggage the more traveling you will do this year.

There were also quite a few explosions heard! It is a tradition to burn a figure of a grandfather who represents the old year. Some figures are like piñatas and burn quickly, while others are stuffed with firecrackers and bombitas that make things a little more exciting!

One of the most spectacular sights is that families all over the city release globos (lanterns) that are like small hot air balloons. At any one time you can see 50 or more heading up, up, and up into the night sky and into the new year!

Orientation 2024: A Journey along the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula

We began our orientation trip for the College of the Atlantic Yucatan Program on the beautiful eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo. We avoided the main tourist hubs of the Riviera while visiting historical sites, influential cities, and small communities that welcomed us in to see how they are working to preserve their environment and maintain cultural practices. Along the way, we met some amazing families, ate delicious food, learned about the history of the peninsula and worked our way closer to our final destination, the city of Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. Our journey began on the beaches of the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, where we visited one of the most important archeological sites from the Mayan Postclassic period, the ancient city of Zama, better known today as Tulu...

Our Days in Merida

This stage of the program in the capital city of Merida is the first true immersion for our students, They begin to acclimate to the way of life here with their local host families while having daily classes that push them to continue learning while also providing a comfortable space to ask questions and explore concepts. Our adventure in Merida began with a very important element of this program: meeting our host families who will walk hand-in-hand with our students for this first part of the immersion process in the city. It is thanks to our wonderful Yucatecan host families that our students will better adapt to this urban context. Another important and necessary element during our time in Merida are Spanish classes, because the language is key for interacting with, and diving into, the culture. During this class, students not only learn grammar and structure, but also develop their linguistic abilities using colloquial forms of speech. ...

The Beginning of Immersion: Diving In!

During 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. The host families in Mérida are fundamental for the students to adapt to their new urban context. Another important aspect of the students' time in Mérida are their Spanish classes, since the language will allow them to interact and immerse themselves more profoundly 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 everyday vocabulary and expressions that they hear outside of the classroom. The 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 what w...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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