What inspired you to go abroad?
I've visited Mexico and the Maya region a few times, and I love it so much that I just wanted to get to know it in a more in-depth way. No longer just the facades; no longer just the pyramids; I wanted to know the people.
Why did you choose Na’atik Language and Cultural Institute?
This is my third time coming to Na'atik. I found out about it because it's one of the few accessible ways of learning Yucatec Maya. There are some wonderful programs through universities, or former university affiliates, but many of those programs require months of commitment, whereas at Na'atik you can drop in for a week, work on your glottal stops, and fly out again.
What was your favorite part about Felipe Carrillo Puerto?
The lagoon near Felipe Carrillo Puerto
I love Felipe Carrillo Puerto! It's such a wonderful small town (or the big city if you're from one of the even-smaller towns on the outskirts) with super friendly people- and not just the people at the school. The second time I went, I got off the bus and walked around a corner, literally running into someone I knew from my first trip. It wasn't a person associated with the school, just a friend I'd met. Lots of folks in Carrillo are excited that foreigners are learning Maya, and they'll help you in any way they can.
What made your experience abroad unique?
This time around, it was surely the amazing Three Kings Day parade, where I got to help cut a tree, unearth the steaming pibil that had been planted the day before, make tortillas, and even offer soup to images of the saints in the traditional Maya Catholic way.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The staff, both local and extranjeros, are awesome. I mean, I got stuck in Carrillo an extra night and one of the staff members let me stay at his house for the night! I still communicate with many of the staff members regularly, some who have become fairly good friends and randomly give me parenting advice.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Just stayed for longer, but I can't do that because of work commitments. Obviously, learning a language (especially one as different from English as Maya) takes way more than a few weeks here and there, so I study at home constantly, but it's not as good as chatting with Maya speakers.
Still, I can read articles in Maya in the Mexican newspaper, La Jornada. I recognize Yucátec Maya words when they pop up in books or archaeological contexts (so cool when you realize some of the things written in the ancient codices are word-for-word how they would be pronounced in contemporary Maya)!
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
Woke up, ate a huuuuuuge breakfast (literally had to tell my host mom more than once that I can't eat big breakfasts), rode around town on my bicycle, went to class for four hours, then grabbed lunch or hung out with friends, went to the museum, or practiced with some other folks in town who spoke Maya, then went home, had dinner, tried to go out to a bar if I wasn't too exhausted, and went to sleep in my hammock.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
I tried my best to study in my free time, but I did enjoy occasionally taking trips outside the city to the smaller towns around Carrillo.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I stayed with a woman who hosted me all three times. She's the best! She makes tortillas by hand every day, always comes up with new things to cook for me, and is incredibly friendly. She speaks Maya and Spanish, so I was able to practice my Maya with her. Her son lives next door, and he owns a restaurant, so hanging out with him was also awesome. Her house is nice, and you get to sleep in a hammock, which might sound weird at first but once you get used to it, it's the best way to sleep.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
Spanish is a common enough language that there are a variety of reasons to learn it. Maya learners tend to be a slightly more specific group, so it's worth saying that while it is not easy, if you're learning it, you probably have some intense motivations. Study beforehand; do your best to get a grip on aspects of the language like glottal stops and the pronoun system before you're down there. That way you won't waste any time.
You want to use your time in the region to practice listening and speaking, since you probably won't get a lot of speaking practice when you're, for example, back in Austin, Texas where most of the speakers of Mayan languages come from Guatemala and don't speak Yucatec. Take advantage of all the resources in Carrillo, not just Na'atik, because many folks know at least a few words in Maya and they're happy to help you.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
Well, first of all, I have a really cool party trick, because lots of people speak more than one language, but not many people speak Maya. The most important impact is the friends I've made, some of whom may be lifelong friends. I miss the jungle pretty much every day, and I miss my host mother's tortillas pretty much every minute!
I also relish the understanding of Maya culture that I've developed. When some bad blog has an article about the Maya that is totally wrong (like that they're all extinct, for example) I can say, "NO WAY MAN!" from first-hand experience. I also love reading books on the Maya and stumbling across places I've been or hearing about cultural beliefs that I've seen in practice. The strangest impact is that spending time learning about the Maya spin on Catholicism kind of changed my religious beliefs a little. I even have a small altar to burn copal in my apartment these days.
Would you recommend Na’atik’s study abroad program in Yucatán to others? Why?
Absolutely. I mean, I've been three times, and I plan to go again as soon as our new baby is old enough to handle being carted around the plaza in a stroller and shown off to people. Again, if you have the time for a rigorous academic program that includes four months in Yucatán, that is your best bet. But if you want to develop conversational proficiency with great people and learn about Maya culture up close, the experience is absolutely worth it.
