The End and the Beginning

Each one of our students developed a final project in their area of interest in different communities around the peninsula. The topics were as diverse as they were extraordinary, from endemic honeybees to dance, education, arte, environment, plants, life and animals on the coast, and more. Some of their written work included how to tag crocodiles in the mangroves without losing a limb in the process, how to create an artistic message to help keep the beaches pristine, how to interact with fisherman as a foreigner without them seeing you as a tourist who is only on the coast to work on their tan, or how to learn to dance with a body that doesn’t feel very flexible. Presented all together, it made for an incredible show.

Without a doubt, seeing and hearing our students talk about their experiences is always a pleasant and gratifying experience, since much of what they have learned, even through the most difficult moments, is showcased.

We have to thank our students for their determination, positive attitudes, adaptability and, above all, for clearing a space in their minds and their hearts to fill with a new language, new ways of thinking, new landscapes, plants, animals, families, food, stories and interest in continuing to learn more about the world and different cultures.

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 context for wha

Small Town Days: Our time in Yaxunah

Before we began our time in the rural community of Yaxunah, we passed through the small city of Acanceh, where we were able to tour through the market and visit the prehispanic structures that make up the ancient Mayan settlement that today is fused with the architecture and modernity of the town. These ancient structures tell their story through the exposed stones and glimpses of preserved stucco. The pyramid of the masks holds eight stuccoed masks, two on each side of the structure, each one with characteristics associated with the sun god Kinich Ahau. A few blocks away, past the large catholic church and down a side street, surrounded by family homes, the Palace of Stuccos has a frisee that adorns the north face of the building with zoomorphic beings. Just like in the city, the best part of the program is when the students get to meet their new host families. The family is the main pillar of support for the student’s immersion into any context, but it is especially important in smal

Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

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