In my opinion, the most significant and thrilling aspect of our study abroad experience was visiting various historical sites in Merida on various excursions. Throughout the month we spent in Merida, our classroom experience helped us get ready for all we would need to know for our stay. It was a very important experience for our understanding of Yucatan culture. Since it enabled us to discuss our experiences as a group and draw comparisons between our experiences and the Mayan culture, I believe that our classroom experience was one of my favorite parts of our trip. We were able to get closer as a group and learn together, which was undoubtedly a memorable experience. Chichen Itza, Cenotes, and the Haciendas were also major and memorable experiences for me. After seeing one of the 7 wonders of the world and learning the history behind it, it changed my perspective about tourist attractions, especially because there is so much history behind these historical sites. In my opinion, many people do not completely comprehend the monuments’ historical value or their relevance to the Mayan people of Yucatán. Given that Chichen Itza receives thousands of visitors annually, it is unquestionably regarded as a tourist destination. The majority of visitors don’t seem to fully care about educating themselves, which makes me a little upset. It’s almost like crossing something off a bucket list rather than making an effort to learn about Mayan history.
This takes me back to my visit to the hacienda. It was wonderful to be able to visit a hacienda firsthand because, up until I learned about their true history, I simply believed they were stunning residences with exquisite Mexican architecture. Having studied the background of haciendas, it made me feel extremely guilty. The haciendas in Yucatán were owned and operated by affluent Spanish individuals, who relied on the labor of Mayan locals to power them. The hacienda was definitely one of the most difficult trips we did because of the painful history behind it, but I am glad I was able to use this as a learning experience and was able to educate myself on the history of the hacienda. I took many images of the hacienda because I thought it was a beautiful place, but after knowing it, it almost felt wrong to have them in my phone because of the dark history, and not just because it was beautifully decorated, which is what caught my attention in the beginning, Which is why I think the biggest takeaway from the experience is how important it is to educate yourself before attending any historical sites. The Presence in the Past, an article by Michel-Rolph Trouillot, a Haitian anthropologist, challenges us to think about how historical narratives are adapted to the requirements of the day. In the film “The Presence in the Past,” a trip to Chichén Itzá prompts discussions on the memorialization of tumultuous histories (via Disney’s nearly completed plantation theme park), the significance of guilt in historical recollection, and the reason why our understanding of the past matters now. It is extremely important to understand and educate yourself before visiting an unknown area, especially as a tourist. It is important to keep in mind that individuals were hurt and mistreated, and the pain and suffering of others should not be looked at as a tourist attraction but as a learning experience to enlighten oneself.
My favorite excursion experience of the trip was definitely the cenotes. It was so wonderful to be able to visit something so beautiful that is not seen commonly. It felt like a spiritual experience to be able to visit a place that was considered sacred for the Mayan people. Cenotes were considered entrances to the underworld, which I think is so fascinating, and I would love to learn more about the “underworld” and what Mayans believe it was. Cenotes were also used as human sacrifice rituals, which was super sureal seeing it in real life at Chichen Itza and learning the history behind human sacrifice in Mayan culture.
Overall, this trip brought me closer to my culture as a Mexican-American, and helped me understand more about the history of the country where my family is from. It allowed me to understand how different my life is in America and how, although I identify as Mexican, I still do not fully understand what it is like to live in Mexico and the life that is lived in Mexico. It allowed me to understand the painful history of my country and its beautiful history as well. I wouldn’t say it was a culture shock because I have been surrounded by Mexican culture my whole life, and visit at least 3 times a year, but it allowed me to open my eyes and realize that, as much as I can identify as being Mexican, I do not live in Mexico, and I still feel like a tourist, so I should try my best to educate instead of treating it as a vacation because the reality is that there is history all around us, and its a beautiful thing to nourish your brain with information to help you grow as a person.
