Mercados, Museos y Merengue

It was a full day! We started off heading to the principal market place in the city.

Outside the arches of Lucas de Galvarez market talking about the ancient origin of public markets in Mexico.

Heading in to see what we can find!

Shoe repair

Bright candy

Clothing

Toys, fruits and vegetables, pots and pans, tacos, coloring books, parakeets....

Full of bright colors and narrow passageways, we gave our students some pesos to buy a fruit that was new for them

Next we wandered around the museum of the city and looked at a replica of the downtown area that we've become so familiar with over the past few days

Touching henequen, the plant that put Yucaatan on the map

After stopping for some juice, we headed to la mejorada, a park on the other side of the main square

And we walked through the folk art museum

We saw some beautiful traditional textiles

and other interesting things!

In the afternoon it was time for a change of pace with some dance classes

First we learned some Jarana, the regional dance of the Yucatan

ready for the vaqueria!

Posing with our professor

And then came the Caribbean rhythms

learning some quick steps

adding a flourish

and not forgetting to stretch afterward

The final song marked the end of a long day!

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. ...

Yaxunah: Our Days in the Pueblo

Before our next adventure began in the community of Yaxunah,Yaxcabá,Yucatán, we first visited the traditional pottery studio “Najil Kat” belonging to the family Espadas Xooc, in Uayma. Here, the students had the chance to explore the diverse materials and traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation in this family of artists. With the help of Virgilio, we learned about the many types of local soil and clay that are mixed to make a diverse range of creations like vases, plates, mugs, toys, musical instruments, incense holders and more. As part of the workshop, each student sculpted their own little artistic creation, exploring their creativity and the skills necessary to work with the clay. Similar to the time spent in the city of Mérida, the families in Yaxunah are an invaluable aspect for the students to settle into the rhythm of everyday life. The arrival to Yaxunah marks the beginning of a beautiful new family relationship. Students can make s...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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