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. ...

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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