Adventures in Yucatan, Mexico

     They're back! And sharing all the amazing experiences that they've had in their three week independent projects all around the Yucatan peninsula. Today we had a marathon day of final presentations, where our students shared 40 minutes of their projects with us, a small amount of time considering what they have lived and learned these past few weeks!      Only two days are left in this winter's total immersion program, it's been a pleasure, stay tuned for updates from our closing festival tomorrow and our public forum on Friday!       Rosa starting us off with her findings about the Caste War Settling in for a full day of presentations Kendall telling us about her amazing experience of receiving a child while working with a midwife in a rural pueblo Drawing a child in the womb Galen telling us about his travels with Arux Emmanuel showing us his notes for his Mayan dictionary Haleigh describing her ...

     Today, the final student takes off for the final step of the total immersion program: the independent project. Here at PICY, we put a lot of emphasis on this final stage. The independent project it is when the student is able to take all that they have learned during the time that they have been with us, and focus that knowledge and those strategies toward a specific topic that interests them. We have students setting off to fishing villages, to cities, to tiny pueblos, and headed to the farthest reaches of the state of Yucatan to study topics from the Mayan language, to midwifery, to wood carving. Each year we see a unique set of independent projects from a unique group of students. For an idea of what students have done in the past, here is an  interactive map  of student projects during the final stage of our total immersion program.      Before heading out on their independent journeys, each student completed and presented an ethnograph...

     Today we had our final meal together as part of the Salem College program. Yesterday morning, the students presented their final projects: 15 minutes presenting a topic that they are interested in, completely in Spanish! We heard about the regional geology, traditional dances of Mexico, the concept of family, city parks, desserts, religion, the changing role of the Yucatecan mother, and the Mayan language. The students put a lot of effort into their projects, and it showed! Chloe describing the formation of cenotes , the sinkholes that are the only sources of fresh water in the Yucatecan peninsula, there are no lakes or rivers. Lola talking about the modern generation of mothers in Yucatan Olivia teaching us about the Mayan language of yesterday and today Isabel comparing family structures in the U.S. with what she has seen during her time here.  The whole group: coordinators, professors and students!

     Our students from COA right now are nearing the end of their stay in a rural community. They have been there together since Monday and will return tomorrow evening. They've had quite a few adventures, here's a taste of what they've been up to! enjoying the village green Lilyana Kendall Waiting to meet families Emanuel Haleigh Rosa Emma Galo Emily Jay fitting right in! Guillermo Nina Heading out early for a bird-watching expedition Preparing vines for basket-weaving  Everyone hard at work! The students with their mentors and final products!