Mexican & Maya Culture in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Mexican & Maya Culture in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Ashley Ruesgen University of Northern Colorado

Summer 2009

Ashley Ruesgen University of Northern Colorado

Summer 2009

Ashley Ruesgen’s Summer 2009: Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Through the University of Northern Colorado’s Honors Program I was able to participate in a three week immersion program in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.

The program was directed by Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina. This unique fast-paced program allowed me to study the Maya civilization, culture, art, and regional conservation efforts. It also placed me in an ideal setting where I could cultivate my elementary Spanish language skills.

Program Content

The aggressive travel agenda included urban and rural elements as we explored Maya ruins at Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Dzibilchaltun, Palenque, Bonampak, Kiuic, and Edzna. In Merida we studied the Casa de Montejo, Palacio de Gobierno, Serenades at Saint Lucia Park, Plaza Central, and open air markets. We viewed hundreds of murals, mosaics, paintings, pottery and sculptures at the Merida City Museum, the Merida Folklore Museum, the MACAY Art Museum, and local museums outside of Merida. Conservation was the topic at the spider monkey preserve in Punta Laguna and went snorkeling the second largest coral reef system in the world located in Puerto Morelos.

Traditions & Language

• I was able to study the everyday life of the Maya.

• There are around 30 different indigenous Mayan dialect.

• Modern Maya practice their own brand of Christianity as a blend of Catholic tradition and ancient ritual.

Traditions & Language

• Many people in Mexico wanted to learn English as badly as I wanted to learn Spanish.

• Gaining an understanding of cultural and social challenges Maya face is a gift.

• In Mexico personal space is viewed very differently than it is in the United States.

• A common greeting is a kiss on the cheek or a firm hand shake (the distance determines the degree of personal affection).

• It is common to see generations of a particular family living, walking and eating together.

• Maya generally lead simple lives and view their existence as very important and generally love life.

Conservation• We observed and studied the

behavior of spider monkeys.

• Tourism & expanding towns threaten spider monkey habitat.

• The spider monkey impacts the ecosystem and the naturally occurring biological cycles within it.

• It is important to preserve the biodiversity of the forests where the monkeys live.

Conservation

• Snorkeling offered a meaningful way to learn about conserving the Yucatan’s coral reefs.

• The delicate coral growth is sensitive to pollutants. • Tourism and careless boatmen affect the live

expectancy of the reefs• Corals need specific temperatures and a great deal

of sunlight to remain strong and healthy. • Certain marine life can only survive within or in

close proximity to the coral reef. • Depleted coral habitats directly impact the

creatures dependent on the reef.

Industry & Commerce

• We discussed how henequen is treated and processed into twine with villagers who scavenged equipment at a defunct henequen factory.

• We worked with local women whose primary form of sustenance is producing small handicrafts to sell.

Industry & Commerce

Many people in Mexico make a living off of family handcrafts and small family owned shops, but it is difficult to make quality handmade merchandise and still keep the prices affordable. The time and energy it takes to make these items is substantial.

As a result, the people making the items are drawn into a vicious cycle because to make any sort of profit they have to sell their items at a price that will actually sell, not for a price that would truly compensate them for the labor and hours it took to make the item.

Archaeological Sites

Archaeological Sites

• Ek Balam: Carvings of snakes copulating designed to instill hope in fertile crops.

• Ek Balam: Several stone glyph figures that the Spanish for Christian angels, but actually depict elaborate feather wings, headdresses, and clothing.

• Uxmal: Home to the “Valley of the Turtle” for worshiping the rain god and storing water in the community’s cenotes.

• Uxmal: Home to the “Valley of the Birds”, so named because of the elaborate bird sculptures that adorn the face of the buildings on the site.

• Chichén Itzá: Is home to one of the great wonders of the world and has several pyramids.

• Chichen Itza: Had a huge foundation on the ball court with thousands of uniquely carved skulls.

• Dzibilchaltun: The name Dzibilchaltun had over 8,400 buildings, including the “Temple of the Dolls” named for seven Maya dolls excavated at the site.

• Palenque: Had many temples sitting on a ridge overlooking the jungle.

• Palenque: Buildings were designed so that sunlight and air could easily flow into the temple buildings.

• Bonampak: Had rulers named “Jaguar Bird”, “Skull Mahk'ina”, “Knotted-Eye Jaguar”, and “Fish Face”.

• Bonampak: Ruins are located in the Lacandon Forest and cover about 1,000 acres.

Archaeological Sites

Archaeological Sites

• Kiuic: In Maya means “A Place of Gathering”. • Kiuic: Used mortar construction faced with finely

cut veneer stones that allowed construction of wider rooms.

• Edzna: Had 14 miles of network of canals and water storage tanks dug to transport people, goods, and water to and from the surrounding agricultural zones.

• Edzna: Has an elevated temple named the “Platform of the Knives” because archeologists excavated several flint ritual knives from beneath the platform.

Cultural Diversity

• Through song and dance the Serenades at Saint Lucia Park told the stories of how the Maya were mistreated, how henequen brought corruption, and stories of love and death. From this I witnessed the various cultural aspects that play out in Mexico.

Cultural Diversity

• As I sat a table by myself with eight other people who spoke very little English and whose primary language was, it taught me understanding and also mutual respect.

• Many families are losing their native Maya tongue because of the need to speak Spanish and English in the workplace.

• Poverty is the main factor in eroding the Maya culture.

• Family networking and togetherness is a strong traditional Mexican value.

Cultural Diversity

• I saw the complex dynamics and paradigms that exist between rich and poor and the effect that wealth, or the lack thereof, has in many areas.

• The one thing that never changed is the heartfelt love that each person expressed for Mexico. I have never before witnessed such unwavering passion and patriotism.

• Many Mexicans were even more proud of the Mexican state they were from versus Mexico the country.

Relationships & Experiences

• I learned what it is like to be in someone else’s country, not being able to communicate well, and simply being different.

• I noticed that in smaller neighborhoods the Virgin (i.e. Mary, Jesus Christ’s mother) was depicted as being dark skinned with dark indigenous features.

Relationships & Experiences

• We brought cups of apples along in hopes of feeding the local spider monkey population, but when the village children caught on that we had apples they were on us in an instant asking for them. They were hungry. I was not use to seeing such poverty.

• I was able to spend quality time visiting with the locals who told me in detail about their families, what they do for a living, and about the political woes of Mexico.

Memories That Last A Lifetime…

• This experience was a gift, and that with it, I now have a greater understanding of culture and social conditions.

• I am very lucky to have had this opportunity to see these amazing things and experience all of these wonders first hand.

• I discovered a lot about my passions and what I want to do in the future from this trip.

• After seeing how people live in Mexico and learning about the dynamics between Mexico and the United States I definitely want to be in a position to make a difference in the lives of others.

Special Thanks & Appreciation

• Dr. Laura Vick for her gentle guidance, spontaneity, and passionate commitment to education.

• Miguel Mendez for his generous heart and his willingness to show me the Yucatan at a level I could never have imagined.

Thank You for the Experience of a Lifetime!