Orientation Spring '22

Once again we begin another immersion program with the same awe and enthusiasm as always! This time, during our orientation, we had the opportunity to visit many incredible places around the Yucatan peninsula and are so grateful for the hospitality, generosity, joy, and delicious food that we received f from all the families that we encountered on our trip.

Walking through these beautiful places, we saw beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the shores of a lake, and a full moon that illuminated the night while our friend Don Polo told us stories of his life and the ejido, the communal system of land stewardship, of his community in Quintana Roo. We walked on wooded pathways to listen to and observe native birds of the jungle-like forest.

Our journey was also full of history. We were able to visit different archeological sites and in them, we climbed up the Mayan pyramids to observe the diversity of arquitectonic styles, saw ornate masks and stuccoed doorways that give a clear indication of the splendor that these buildings once represented. On the paths around the ruins, we were accompanied by wild turkeys, howler monkeys and curious spider monkeys.

We descended into Xibalbá, the Mayan underworld, through the mouth of a cave that led us into the bowels of the earth. We saw magnificent rock formations, fauna and remnants of pottery and bone that the ancient Mayans left behind.

Once again we returned to the surface to visit the cemetery of a community with the unique and peculiar tradition of preserving the bones of their loved ones who have passed on. We ended our journey around the peninsula when the host families welcomed us to the community that our students will form a part of for the first portion of their stay here in Yucatan.

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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