My experience abroad in Mérida brought me many new perspectives and insights. But surprisingly, I did not feel a cultural shock in the way most would think. I actually felt that many practices, foods, and sights were very similar to what I experienced during my upbringing. I was also surprised with the progression of the Mayan towns. I feel like many of the anthropological and historical lectures we sat in before attending Yaxunah definitely gave me the impression that I would be walking into the 1900s where everything was produced in farms or hard labor factories, outdoor bucket showers, and wagons. I was not prepared to live in a household where we had two tvs, WiFi, standing shower (indoors), and a bedroom with a ceiling fan. It definitely made me reflect about life in America, and how from the beginning of our education, we learn from the European perspective. Which always makes the US out to be THE place. The one with all of the resources, materials, jobs, and the lifestyle for people to be successful if they wanted. After visiting Yaxunah, I definitely had to cut back that bias and realize that other places are doing just fine. And yes they are finding their own solutions to gaining tourism while still keeping their community and traditions alive. One thing that I learned throughout this trip is that the conquerors had tried to remove Mayan history from the Yucatán. From destroying pyramids to create their own cultural buildings to the erasure of names/ no mention of Mayans in historical texts or monuments. By no means they did not want Mayans or Mayan communities to have a voice or space to grow. I did not want to forget this because for someone who comes from a non US island, I have so much respect to the Yucatán and gratefulness to my family for keeping our heritage strong. For teaching me the meaning behind my names, including me to trips back home, showing me the culture so that I always know where I am from. I never had to search hard to find the answers to my questions and I think back to Maria Uicab play and how she said she researched for a whole year to find hers. It has truly humbled me and made me see the whole Yucatán in a new light.
