Pilgrimages in Merida

Last weekend, the celebration of the Virgen of Guadalupe took place throughout Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated as the patron saint of Mexico. Her story is one of the "mestizaje" the mixing of Spanish and native cultures. The Virgin of Guadalupe was first seen in a miraculous apparition by a native, Juan Diego, just outside Mexico City in the year 1531. She appeared in front of him, spoke to him in his native language, and asked for a shrine to be built in her honor at the site of her apparition.

Some of our students with a group of "Guadalupanos" who had just arrived at the shrine of Guadalupe.

The miracle of her apparition took place amidst the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The Virgin, although a Catholic figure, did not speak Spanish, but instead the language of the natives. She represents the combining of both cultures. Today she is celebrated as one of the most important figures in Mexican Catholicism, there are shrines dedicated to her all over the country, including in Merida.

Petra learning from the locals.

The Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe takes place around the anniversary of her appearance, December 12th. For nine days leading up to this date there are "novenas", parties in her honor, each night in which families gather together to sing hymns, pray, and of course eat! There are also many pilgrimages that take place in which groups of "guadalupanos", pilgrims, will travel by foot or bike from their homes to the nearest shrine of the virgin. The pilgrimages can take hours or weeks, but the practice of doing so is an expression of faith and gratitude to the virgin.

Maxim interviewing pilgrims.

During the week our students participated in "novenas" with their families, witnessed, and participated in pilgrimages. We got to chat among some of the pilgrims to learn about their experiences.

Ella and Thomas chat with the locals.

Catholicism in Mexico defines a large part of the religious culture: interacting with it and learning about it is an important part of immersing ourselves in the culture. Next week we'll be seeing even more celebrations of catholicism for Navidad!

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...

Merida: Our Days in the City

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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