Faculty-led Study Abroad Program to Quintana Roo
Welcome back, Quintana Roo Study Abroad Program!
Congratulations to the first Study Abroad Maymester in Mexico from the Chicano Studies Program.
This faculty-led program offered students the opportunity to learn about Mesoamerican spiritual traditions, social history, and culture. The program consisted of two intensive weeks in and around the city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo.
To make the experience more immersive, the students resided in a homestay and traveled around to important landmarks such as the Mayan temple ruins of Chacchobe, the archeological site in Tulum, the sinkhole Cenote Sayab, and the Raxalaj Mayab Maya spiritual center, as well as a visit to the Maya community Uh May.
At each location, the students received a different lesson, such as textile painting and a basic Mayan language class. As part of the Community Engagement and Leadership component of the program, the students taught English to members of the community and participated in the preparation of traditional meals. This unique experience allowed students to learn and live the history, spiritual traditions, and rich culture that Quintana Roo has to offer.
“The process and the unique locations where we did these activities made the whole experience even more memorable… Being able to [live in] and experience a local home firsthand really helped me understand concepts faster” said Ricardo Villela, an undergraduate student.
Noelle Alarcon also agreed that “To be surrounded by such history was also a gift, learning about all of the historical context that stands behind the modern people who live in this area was an amazing experience and one that I am so grateful I got to live through.”
For more information regarding this faculty-led program to Quintana Roo, contact: Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Selfa Chew-Melendez at sachewsmithart@utep.edu
A special thank you to the Na’atik Language and Culture Institute for collaborating with UTEP on this travel abroad experience.