Faces of Na'atik: John Jay College
This month, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of students from John Jay College in New York. We shared amazing adventures and unforgettable moments with them, and we hope they enjoyed this experience as much as we did.
Let's learn a little more about why they decided to take this school trip and what their experience was like with us on this journey filled with learning and fun.
Kevin Amigon
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in this trip because I had visited Felipe Carrillo Puerto three years ago, and I stayed with a Maya family and they took me to the museum. Their philosophy, their culture, how they understand time and their math also interested me. Also the sculptures were very beautiful and the host family that I stayed with was very nice. Their food was very different from what I had in the United States, so that’s why.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience with Na’atik in Carrillo is, I learned the culture exchange with students like seeing things from their perspective and learning with them, giving me a different perspective on how I perceive different communities. I can see that being an English speaker is very valuable and knowing Spanish and Maya as well can help the community gain more value for their Maya language and also they can be more interested in learning English because they can also use that for tourism and for many jobs they can get around here.
What do you take away from this trip?
What I take away from this trip is learning how to be more human in a way, learning how to be more compassionate to communities, because seeing that many kids want to learn English coming from a Maya background, I can see that they want to prosper more in a way.
Alexis Isidro
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate because I’ve always been a fanatic for different cultures as well as hearing stories from my parents from Incas to the Mayas, so like learning about that there is a trip where I can learn about the Mayan culture it was something I wanted to learn about.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
Honestly, it was amazing because I got to see how much hard work the people here did to preserve the Mayan culture from agriculture to their buildings, how they preserve it and everything, so it’s amazing things to learn here.
What do you take away from this trip?
I think it will be that no matter how many different people come, the people here are always so proud of who they are and proud of their culture, to the point where they preserve it and they are willing to share it with other people, especially people that are not from Mexico, so I think that is amazing.
Christian Tatis
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in the trip because I’m Dominican, so all my life all I’ve ever known was how to be Dominican and I wanted something different. I love Mexican culture and food, so I thought it would be a great idea to learn more about it, so that’s why I’m here.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
I think with Na'atik it was a great experience. You guys opened your doors to us, and you guys helped us a lot with wonderful trips, and I think it showed us way more than just coming here to a resort would do. It’s just getting to know the culture way differently.
What do you take away from this trip?
I’m taking away that there is more to life than your problems, there is always something bigger. You can see it with the culture; how they fought in the Caste Wars and how even to this day, they are still rebellious. They still want their way, whatever they want. I always talk with my host father and he would always say how there is always, not protest, but, like, you know, there are unions that are always willing to fight for what they want and advocate for what they want. I think that’s the best thing right now, advocate for what you want in this lifetime.
Yexayra Cabrera Martinez
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in this trip because I’m Dominican and I know there’s indigenous culture that has been erased from my culture specifically, so I came here because I wanted to see the way that people maintain their indigeneity in these modern times. It was really important to me to see how they reflect their cultural identity, how they remain practicing certain things in terms of tradition, and that they view things with longevity as opposed to my culture, where people adapt a lot faster and remain pretty complacent. I wanted to experience that so then I can also compare it to my culture, but then study that further in my culture, because it’s something I’ve already been interested in.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience here has been incredible. I ended up loving my roommates (that I never met before, and the dynamic that we had). I love the fact that we get to talk to the kids and you know, play with them and have that cultural exchange because not only is it beneficial for them in practicing their English, but also for us to like immerse ourselves in connecting with the community and with the culture and not just like consuming the culture, but really being a part of the community here. And I think it’s just beautiful the way they're eager to learn and they have such a joy and lightness to them, which is really sweet.
What do you take away from this trip?
Something I’m taking away from this trip is that there is so much ease to be had–there are a lot of issues in the world and in this community, like in terms of economical background, in terms of education and maintaining their culture and fighting for the rights of their children to be the leaders of tomorrow and to actually have a chance in having a fulfilling education. But I see the way people lead here with so much ease, knowing that the problem is going to be solved, but they’re just taking it student by student, day by day, and really they’re just so open to growing their programs and receiving funds isn’t the biggest of their priorities, it’s being present with the children and the people that study here. I think that’s something I’m really going to take away because I value that it’s very different from the culture in New York where it’s hustle, things need to be solved today, if it’s not solved today you’re not doing enough and I feel like people here are not like that and it’s really admirable.
Ashley García
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
A main reason why I wanted to come and participate was poder conocer una parte de mí, mis padres son mexicanos, and as much as they were teaching me as much as they could of our culture is hoy va a ser diferente, estamos en Estados Unidos and obvio que no iba a ser igual, so, when I heard about this opportunity I wanted to just like jump on board, I wanted to come, I wanted to learn a little more about the history here, but this time not from a textbook, it would be from the people here.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
Very lively and so much fun. I’m always learning something new every day, especially con las clases de maya, siento que estoy en high school all over again when I was learning how to write in Spanish, because that’s one thing that my parents couldn’t really teach me because I was already having a hard time learning English as English was my second language but here, right now it’s that feeling again and at the same time I’m not too worried, I know I’ll get the hang of it eventually and overall it’s fun. I also enjoy the community here, everyone here is just so nice and they also look at you with that curiosity and I feel like that’s how I also look at them, with that curiosity in my eyes, like “okay, tell me more about how life is here, tell me more about your culture,” because I know it’s completely different if we were to go to another touristic spot like Mexico City or anywhere else so, it’s the fact that history here is so alive, still present and I really enjoy it.
What do you take away from this trip?
Que si nos quedamos callados, las cosas se van a olvidar y si seguimos usando nuestras voces, if we speak up and we try to advocate for ourselves things can be preserved, things can be saved. Obviously, there will be challenges, but I see here that si uno no se rinde, sí se pueden hacer las cosas, uno no tiene que quedarse callado and I think that’s what I really love about this place. I really love the fact that being an advocate and just being a leader in your community can help out in so many ways and I think that’s what I really love and that I’ll take back.
Jhoanna Olmedo
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in this trip to immerse myself in the culture of an indigenous community, and to learn more about my ethnicity and where I come from and to be able to grow personally.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience in Carrillo was amazing. It was a completely different experience than I expected. I visited Mexico before, while growing up, but Carrillo is very different compared to my hometown. It's more tropical, the flavors and foods are very distinct, so it was an amazing experience.
What do you take away from this trip?
I think I would take away, not only my experiences, but I learned a lot; not only from the people around me, but from the town, from the fact that although Carrillo is in Mexico, it's still very different compared to other states and other places. And it helped me realize how a whole country can just be so different without going far.
Nicole Raygada
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in this program because I've always loved learning about other cultures, and I've always loved to really understand why the culture is the way it is, and the history. So this program really was a very immersive experience for me, and learning about the Mayas was always interesting, and learning about the indigenous community is always interesting to me.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
In Carrillo, with Na’atik, we did a lot of fun activities I really loved. For example, today we did a cooking class, and I got to learn new things, like make a tortilla; I've never made a tortilla before. And also, the trips to museums, the cenotes; it was just very beautiful and exciting.
What do you take away from this trip?
From this trip, I'll take away all the culture that I learned, all the history that I've learned, the people that I've met in my program, and the people that I've met in the town. I think it's a very beautiful town, and I'm happy to have come here.
Anastasia Torres
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I wanted to participate in this trip because I've never been to Mexico, and I wanted to learn more about the Mayan culture, as well as live the experiences, instead of just reading about it. And overall, just meet new people of all different backgrounds.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience was really great. I felt like I learned a lot of valuable information and I tried many different things that I never thought I would do. So it was really fun to be pushed out of my comfort zone.
What do you take away from this trip?
I have a lot of new experiences, a lot of knowledge. Being able to participate in the ceremonies and traditions made me feel connected to my roots and I felt very involved in helping maintain the Mayan culture.
Mairelis Sosa
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I wanted to do something meaningful during the break, and I wanted to challenge myself out of my normal routine. I felt like this program would help me personally and academically.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience here has been very memorable. I enjoyed getting to know the local community, trying new foods, and seeing how daily life works here. Being in a smaller town made the experience feel more personal.
What do you take away from this trip?
I feel like I gained a sense of independence, and I enjoyed being here a lot and just getting to know new people.
Vanessa Sanchez
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate because for a while I wanted to study abroad, and I never really found the perfect study opportunity to participate in study abroad. So when I found out that I was able to receive a scholarship to come to Quintana Roo and learn more about the Mayan culture, I took the opportunity because it was something I wanted to explore, and I wanted to know more about the Mayan culture in Mexico since I'm Mexican, but I'm not from this side of Mexico. So I wanted to explore more of their culture, their traditions, and obviously, I wanted to immerse myself in the experience.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
I felt really welcomed in Carrillo. Everybody is so nice and supportive as well because it's the first time I've come to a part of Mexico that they're very welcoming and they open their doors to us as foreigners. I was able to learn their traditions, their customs, and what they still hold value, even though time has passed and they were really nice in sharing that with us.
What do you take away from this trip?
What I take away is patience. For example, learning a new language, the Mayan, takes a lot of patience to teach it. Our home stay mom as well, the patience, she has patience with us as well. In many ways, she has a lot of patience with us and is very caring. Despite us being in her house, she's always been welcoming and never made us feel like we were strangers; as well as cooking.
Today, we did the cooking class, and usually I never learned from my mom how to do it because she doesn't have the patience. But I learned that here with my host mom, it's okay to ask that question, like: "How do you do it? How can I do it better?" And she taught me, and she had the patience. So what I take away from Carrillo is that the people are very patient with the foreigners that come in, and they were also patient with me.
Nasya Montalvo
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I chose to participate in the study abroad trip to Quintana Roo because I had been presented with other study abroad opportunities, but I wanted to wait for one that felt more personal. I thought that going to Mexico would be the perfect first trip to another country, but also as a study abroad, because I wanted to learn more about my Mexican roots.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
It was very nice. The people at Na’atik are very charismatic and sweet. Being with my home stay mom, Doña Hilaria, was very challenging in ways, but very nice nonetheless, only because there's a language barrier, but we still find our ways to communicate with each other, which I really appreciated.
What do you take away from this trip?
My takeaways from this trip are that I need to learn Spanish, and that there's a lot of misinformation about people where I'm from, and specifically Mexican people in the United States, there's a lot of misinformation about them. And I took away that traveling is extremely important when you want to learn about other people's customs, and for example, Maya, the language, I would never have learned that in the United States had I not come here.
Alexis Silver
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
When Professor Montes actually taught my Latinx Struggles class, he presented us the opportunity to study abroad in Felipe Carrillo, Quintana Roo, Mexico. And, I've never been outside the country by myself one-on-one, so I was like: “Hmm, this sounds actually really interesting”, and my Spanish is pre-K level, but, you know, why not give it a shot? Try something outside my comfort zone.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience in Carrillo with Na’atik was very surreal. I got to try new foods I’ve never tried before. I had to take a shower with heated water, which is very interesting. I slept in a hammock for almost three weeks, and it's just something different from what I would experience in the United States, which I really enjoyed.
What do you take away from this trip?
To definitely not be scared. Do stuff that will be outside of your comfort zone because it's something different, and you'll actually won't regret it. You'll actually enjoy it, and it's something different, so go for it.
Magali Ramos
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to participate in the study abroad trip because it's my last chance to study abroad, and I had been thinking about studying abroad for my entire college career. And because I had the opportunity to do it at all, I thought, "Why not take advantage of it and expand my educational experience?"
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
My experience in Carrillo was very eye-opening and beautiful because, I specifically chose this program because of the connection in terms of the Spanish colonization on the Mayan people, so learning about Mayan culture and how it's persevered through Spanish colonization and throughout the time, has been really, really interesting. And, I've sort of connected it in the way of the Philippines. The way the Philippines were colonized by the Spanish, and that sort of experience as indigenous people and how to preserve your culture. I think that has been very inspiring in terms of how people have persevered, and I think the community is very, very nice, and I've felt very welcomed, and I love how tight-knit the community is. Everyone in Na’atik is very supportive and made me feel very welcome, and the community here is great.
What do you take away from this trip?
I think I would take away the different ways that, I think maybe cope isn't the right word, but maybe cope with harsh circumstances in terms of colonization and the sort of roadblocks you have to go over to be able to preserve your culture and your heritage. And I've taken away sort of the different ways that people practice being Mayan and what being Mayan means to them, and how for everybody it's different because, you know, you meet certain people that practice being Mayan in one certain way, and others that practice it differently. And I think the way that's been interpreted differently, but still at the core of it, touches people's hearts in terms of being Mayan and celebrating their culture, I think is something that's really beautiful. Because culture is not something that can be directly defined based on your heritage; like, being Mayan is one thing, being Mayan is the other, and if you do anything else, it's not right. But I think being here, I've really taken away that the way people practice their heritage and their culture can be very different than other people, and I think that's a really beautiful thing.
Janiyah Isaac
Why did you decide to participate in this trip?
I decided to come to Na’atik because as I'm entering my last year of college, I wanted to do something that really resonates with all that I've learned throughout my four years and throughout my entire life. Being an Afro-Latina, being a Garifuna descendant, I thought it was important to learn about Mayan culture and it was something that interested me. I'm really glad that I came.
What was your experience like in Carrillo with Na'atik?
Amazing. I got to experience the people of Carrillo in one of the most wholesome ways, by staying with families, by interacting with the students, by volunteering in English classes, by going on trips. I learned so much about the community and the people, and it's an experience that I will always hold close to my heart.
What do you take away from this trip?
I take away the importance of getting to know cultures outside of my own and carrying that legacy forward as I go on with my life and whatever I do. And my experience and the things that I've learned from the people, from the history of the Mayas, from the history of their resistance to the history of how they became now, it's something that I will always carry with me.
Thank you, guys, for taking the time to talk with us and for allowing us to share this experience with you. Thank you for the enriching moments and for filling our classrooms with joy and fun alongside our English students and the Na'atik staff. Thank you for being part of our story and community. We hope to see you again soon!
To learn more about Na’atik’s English language program for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, visit our Impact Page. We are only able to provide this much needed program thanks to the support of generous donors and the funds raised from our award winning Maya and Spanish Immersion Program. If you would like to support our mission please consider donating today or take a look at our immersion programs and online class packages.