Exploring Merida: day 1

Our group got in around 8:40pm last night and we had a nice dinner of tacos al pastor, guacamole, nachos and local aguas frescas. After that the students had a chance to explore downtown with their chaperones before bedtime.

This morning we had breakfast and then headed out for a tour of the historical district, the plaza grande which takes up a full city block and is surrounded by 4 important historical buildings.

The first building we saw was la catedral, a catholic church built in the 1500's using the stones from the Mayan city of T'ho that conquistador Fransico de Montejo found when he arrived.

During the revolution, the cathedral was looted and all the gold adornments and paintings were taken or destroyed. After that time, they were never replaced and instead the church has sparse, simple, but still beautiful decor.

Our next stop was the home of the conquistador, Casa de Montejo. This wealthy home took up a full block during it's glory days and now is open to the public as a museum where much of the original furniture is on display.

Learning from our guide, Maria, about the different families that lived in the house from 1524-1924, including the wealthy henequeneros, plantation owners who were able to import goods from all over the world.

As we continued our tour around the main square, we came to the City Hall.

We observed the architectural details, noticing that the crest of Mexico and of Yucatan are both present.

Finally, we made it to the Governor's Palace, where the Governor of Yucatan's offices are.

Maria told us about the history of the building and that the most interesting part is not what we can see from outside, but what is inside.

We entered into the Governor's Palace to see the great murals painted by Fernando Castro Pacheco in the 1970's. The artist was commissioned by the socialist governor of the time to recount the turbulent history of Yucatan, sparing no dirty details.

The murals tell the story of Yucatan from the beginning, the golden age of the Mayans through periods of conquest, exploitation and slavery

We spent time observing the artwork and reading the stories

And then our tour was over! We made our way back to the hotel to pack up and await the host families

And they're off for the afternoon with their Yucatecan families!

Adios and we'll see everyone tomorrow!

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...

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...

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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 contex...

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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