My Family in Xocen

I loved my family in Xocen (pronounced Sho-kem by the people who live there). They were so sweet and willing to help me try to learn their language. When I really needed to communicate something I was able to speak to them in Spanish of course, but the whole point of the program was to use the Maaya T'aan that I could and hopefully to build on my vocabulary. But I think that the main part of the program was also to, inevitably, share this experience with other human beings, to connect with other human beings through the study of their language and culture. I hope that Dona Jermina (my host "maamaj" or "na") realized that I truly enjoyed being in her home, being surrounded by her family (u laaksilo'ob), attempting to speak her mother tongue, and engaging in a learning experience. If I am able to do the second level next summer, I would love to be assigned once again to Dona Jermina and her family! They didn't seem to mind that I was very tall ("jach ka'anal") and commented on it several times a day (I felt very tall there as I usually do in Mexico but even more so in Xocen! Hahaha, it was pretty funny!).

One of my favorite activities of the days that I spent in Xocen was being able to "pak'ach" or "make tortillas." Although potentially humiliating, I think that I did ok; the first day, three of the five tortillas that I made from the "masa" or dough were not circular or really very aesthetically pleasing at all; we still ate them though because the dough itself (after being cooked of course) was really good! But I think that I got better at it the more I did it. However, Dona Jermina and her daughters were pros! Their tortillas, every single time, were perfectly round and flat! They were soooooo goooooooood! My mouth is watering right now as I'm remembering how good the tortillas were. It was really the experience of sitting in a modern-day Maya family's kitchen, making tortillas as we conversed in Maaya, that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I had to include a picture of the road that we walked down everyday in order to arrive at Dona Jermina's house. Even though she is 34 years old, Dona Jermina was my host mama. At first she was a little taciturn, but after a few hours of continually asking questions, I think she started to like me and open up to having me in her house. One day we all got to attend Victoria's end of the school year dance where a lot of people from Xocen gathered to applaud the various dances performed by the different grade levels. Victoria looked so nice in her very best dress. It was a highlight for the people of Xocen and definitely a highlight for all of us.

One of my absolutely favorite people I met in Xocen is Angel (or Angelito). He's two and a half years young. I cannot express how much this little kid stole my heart!! He was always smiling and so happy to just play around the house. He loved to swing in the hammocks with Ricardo (one of my Maaya instructors) or with me. The very first day that we met, Angel and I played with a little ball in his house for like an hour and a half! He just made me smile and laugh constantly. No one really knows what language he speaks (the few words he knows sound like a mixture of Spanish and Maaya T'aan) but he is just about the cutest kid I've ever met in Mexico.

And here are a few more pictures of me with Angel, my host sisters Eugenia, Josefina and Victoria; I've also included a picture of my host mom, Dona Jermina, making the most delicious "waajo'ob" or tortillas (just "waaj" in the singular).
Anna, the other student in Level 1 who was assigned to Dona Jermina, took a lot of these pictures with her camera. I love the picture of almost all of us walking down the road we walked down everyday in order to arrive at Dona Jermina's house. Even though it was so hot, I usually enjoyed our brief and often funny conversations as we walked (funny because of Anna's and my own limited Maya vocabulary!).

Campeche on a Sunday Morning

Here are a few pictures from around the centro of Campeche (Aj Kim Pech in Maya which means "Lord Sun Sheep-Tick"). Campeche was first approached by the Spaniards in 1517 but were met with a lot of resistance by the Maya. Colonial Campeche was founded in 1531 but later abandoned due to Maya hostility. But by 1540, the Spaniards had gained sufficient control to set up permanent residence and named the town "Villa de San Francisco de Campeche." I've included a picture of the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion which has stood on the same spot for over three centuries with statues of St. Paul and St. Peter occupying niches in the facade. I realize now that I have better pictures from walking around the city today but I'll post those later. I only have one more full day left here in Campeche; tomorrow I go to Edzna and the archaeological museum. But Sunday morning I took a nice long stroll around the Plaza Principal and the Malecon of Campeche.

So I have tried and tried to post a video-clip that I have of this "ballet folklorico" that I saw on Sunday morning but blogger just isn't uploading the video. Anyways, these pictures will just have to do for the moment. I heard some music coming from speakers outside of this building so I decided to check it out. Entrance for the performance was free, which is always great (especially for us students!), and I really enjoyed this dance troupe's performances of regional Mexican dances. I saw a similar show in Valladolid but I had forgotten my camera. This was a great Sunday morning activity and one that I was able to share with a bunch of other people.

I then ended up walking down the Malecon (the sidewalk right next to the ocean for cyclists and people who are walking or running) for about as long as I could tolerate! It was so hot and humid that I was sweating within a few minutes of leaving the theater. I really liked this mosaic mural on the front of the government building here in Campeche. And I, of course, had to include a few pictures of the ocean. It was a nice introduction to this picturesque (even without beaches) city of Campeche.

Casa Quetzal

Casa Quetzal is our home for the three weeks that we are staying in Valladolid, Yucatan, Mexico (and yes, I'm aware that two of those weeks have already come and gone!!). It is such a lovely spot!! We jokingly refer to it as the "compound" because it kind of is one. They gave us keys when we first arrived but they lock us all in at night (but one of the keys they gave us does open the front door so we can escape if necessary!). Anyways, I can't really explain how beautiful Casa Quetzal is! What a great place to learn Maaya! The "boutique hotel," as it's called, is beautiful and the staff is so friendly and willing to answer our questions. I feel so grateful and I have absolutely enjoyed staying here!

And here are some more pictures of this little paradise on the outskirts of Valladolid's center. It really is so peaceful and beautiful here. Even though we only have one more week here, I still appreciate this gorgeous environment for studying Maaya T'aan (literally "Maya Speech"). I love the two cats that live here and all of the lush, green flora. It has truly been a great place to stay.