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!

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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