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March 24, 2007
Some Overdue Announcements
Last week was an “okay week” all-in-all and despite the arrival of my Wolverine Access date and an uncomfortable (and rather aggravating) moment I was put through… I did really get to do some cool things.
Wednesday of last week was the spring solstice which marked the pilgrimage of thousands of people to the Mayan ruins. Many Mayans believe that the sun-god emits its highest amount of energy during the solstice, which is transmitted to anyone that makes their way to the sites. People from all over flocked to Chichen Itza (to see the serpent-like shadows descending El Castillo) and to Dzibichaltun, to see the sun entering through the Casa de Las Muñecas.
I had asked Melissa, an extranjera from Northwestern, if she wanted to join me and see the sight at Dzibichaltun. Melissa is a really nice and smart girl and we’ve had some really interesting conversations together. I also ended up inviting Ben (I guess I just felt he shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity). Melissa swore to me that the sun rises in Merida before 5:00 a.m. and that we should leave for Dzibichaltun no later than three in the morning.
So, we all met on the Prolongacion Monetejo at three in the morning and John, another student from another program, came with us as well. We got to Dzibichaltun in the complete darkness and saw many, many other people there.
When the sun came up, however, we were quite disappointed to find out that the “illusion” happened one day early this year. (Someone explained to us that what happens at Chichen and Dzibi happen on the solstice, one day before, or one day after). So the sun actually rose (which didn’t happen until 6:16, mind you) on the side of the Casa de Las Muñecas and didn’t shine through the doorway nor the windows.
Everybody frantically rushed into the woods to get a picture of the sun through the doorway at a different angle…. It was a bit of a disappointment, but still an experience.
On Friday, I was at Colegio Americano again after a week’s absence. Erich and I planned a lesson on American music for the students and I think they enjoyed it; although the songs that Erich chose were more on the difficult side.
In the other class, we had a debate about the relationship between Mexico and the United States. I thought that it was really interesting to hear the different perspectives—student perspectives—about issues of immigration and the economy. The class did a really great job and I was really impressed with some of their responses. I also asked what they thought about they Mexicans that left their country for the United States---if they are considered to be “traitors” or something of the sort. I got some pretty wild but complex responses….
Between all of this time, there was much discussion about changing my plans to go to Chiapas this week (rearranging the reservations, should I say rather politely) to better accommodate a potential third party. I’m happy to say that things worked out and we’re going just the two of us, as planned. I’m really looking forward to the trip & to some great discussions.
For the moment I’m swamped with work… it’s been harder and harder to work in my room (not only because Ben’s room is being fumigated to remove the insects and I’m constantly seeing beetles crawl his walls) because the weather has been getting hotter and hotter and I get tired more easily in the sun…
DZIBICHALTUN SOLSTICE PICS.
Posted by jlsumich at March 24, 2007 09:44 AM