Jo's Chapter: Studying with Na'atik, From Australia to the Maya Zone

I came to Carrillo to spend a week learning Maya, but am taking away so much more than I expected!I was received at Mama Lupita’s home, my homestay for the week, with open arms and mutual curiosity from small, wide-eyed faces peering from around doorways.I was immediately invited to sit at the dinner table and plate loads of food were placed before me: green, yellow and red peppers, sizzling chicken, rice, beans, a stack of freshly cooked tortillas and a generous bowl of hot habanero salsa, of course. First the kids inched closer, the braver ones pulling up a chair. Then the pets: dogs, chickens and a turkey. And finally the neighbors, all broad welcoming smiles.My Maya teacher Linda was above and beyond just a language teacher. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the Maya culture was contagious and I frequently digressed wanting to know more. She also had the patience of an angel, gently correcting my accent when I used the word ‘Ya’ax’ instead of ‘Y’aax'.Linda invited me to spend a day at her community, Uh-May, visiting the village and seeing how the cook their traditional tamales, having lunch with her family, and checking out their community museum. The friendliness and generosity of the community was truly humbling. They made me feel so welcome and were very encouraging of my language studies, and I left that afternoon arms full with beautiful hand woven tapestries and oranges.A great vote of confidence arrived one afternoon after leaving class: on my way home I passed some policemen who very cordially said ‘hola’, to which I replied with my own ‘hola’, and they in turn followed up with ‘Bix a be’el?’ Was so excited to have understood their question in Maya, ‘how are you?’ that I didn’t get a chance to reply before they drove on!Although I was mostly able to pick up just some basics during my week of classes, the satisfaction of being able to exchange greetings and understand some of what the locals and my host family were saying has fuelled my interest in continuing to learn this incredible language, and the fascinating culture it comes from.My host family took me under their wing and treated me as one of their own from the get go. They proudly showed me around the local sights and spoke to me of their family history and traditions. I feel I have acquired a whole new set of brothers, sisters, cousins and one very special mami Lupita. Even from my first day they kept asking when I would return, and without skipping a beat I replied ‘pronto, muy pronto!’, my time in Carrillo and at Na’atik has been amazing and I am looking at flights as we speak.

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The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.