Photos de Quintana Roo

Hola everyone,

Quintana Roo has been going good so far, the weather hasn´t been too hot. The beauty here is off the charts. The people are humble, the food is awesome, and environment is lush and green. Mayan communities have an interesting belief system. Legends and spirituality that are not believed in by most secular societies, are ingrained aspects of the Maya world view. My first night in Jose Maria Morelos, as we enjoyed Xia beverages and food stuffs, The conversation lead to the topic of Aluxes. Aluxes are spirits that protect gardens (or milpas) from intruder. They are mischevous spirits, said to whistle and throw rocks at people. Alux are created by a Mem or Uxmal (shaman). Individual Farmers will go to a Uxmal and ask for them to be ritually created. They are spiritual beings that are belived in by most members of the community, even those who consider themselves modern. The first night that I heard of the Aluxes I had trouble sleeping and could of swore that I heard the chirping of an Alux. AHHHH! Enjoy the photos and video...

Canista en Jose Maria Morelos

Hello all, Tom here in the computer lab at the

Universidad Intercultural Maya Quintana Roo

It has been quite a journey by bus, plane and tricicle-taxi to get here.

It is hot and rainy and very tranquilo.

I sleep in a hammock in a casa-de-baja in the backyard of my host family's house. I have a shower with nice cold water and a desk with all my books on it. I sleep next door to turkeys and they crawk (?) at all hours, starting a chain reaction all around town. My neighbors are constantly blasting TV or radio.

I have been meeting many people. Family, neighbors, friends, teachers, town elders and kids.

My host family is very kind, very pacient and generous. And very big.

I eat meals with them and its a rotating table of brothers and sisters coming and going.

Hilberto, my host brother, is a agroecology major.

When i first got in, he and Sharon took me around town.

He pointed out all the tree names and we ate lots of fruit.

Papaya, Mango, Coconut, Aguacate, and a million little fruits which are all delicious.

Its hard to remember all the new names, words in spanish and maya, fruits, trees, animals.

Everyone is ready to teach and learn, everyone is excited for the intercambio.

The other day we rode bikes around town, trading words in spanish english and maya.

We had a welcome dinner with Claudia and her husband Henry,

Moi, Francisco, Sussana, both teams of students and some other friends.

We ate tamales with jalapenos and salsa,

and drank chaya which is the local indiginous protein drink.

We sang songs in Spanish and Maya and English with the students.

The students love coldplay.

Edwin my teammate listens Blink 182 and european metal.

I met some other students that have a reggae band called Chan Santa Roots in Carrillo Puerto.

The students and professors presented us with a welcome to mayaland letter.

We hope that this will be the seed of many a intercambio to come.

I have just recently started trying to describe CAN and the goals of my study, little by little.

Beyond that, my time now is about creating the new relationships of trust and setting up for future interns to come in and collaborate on the projects the students are doing.

Earlier today Moi and I did a television interview for the local station about the intercambio.

There is a lot going on and its hard to put everything into writing

I love you all

perhaps you should come down here and party?