x-Jeder signing out from Chapel Hill

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Sharon, the director of the program, gave a lecture today on the Mexico itinerary and events in Merida, Santa Elena, Valladolid, and Xocen approaching ever so quickly. The most unexpected news was the change in hotel during our Merida portion, which will now be at the Hotel San Juan. I will be rooming with Leah during our stay, which promises to be an interesting experience as we both try to tweak, pull, twist and beg our curls into some form of semblance. I think that everyone was shocked to learn that we are going to be individually assigned to a family while in Santa Elena and Xocen, which is a bit intimidating. Apparently, the arrangements in Santa Elena are at two different locales. The three guys will be housed at the Chac Mol in single bungalows with air conditioning, while the four ladies room in doubles without air conditioning at the Flycatcher Bed and Breakfast. Logically, this just doesn’t make sense to me.

It is a little daunting to know that I will spend about five or six hours a day with a Yucatec family, helping them to prepare their meals, partaking in their daily chores, and trying to overcome the language barrier. I feel like there are so many unknown variables in this trip that I will have to adjust in the blink of an eye. I am trying not to freak out about the lack of air conditioning in Santa Elena since we are there for two weeks, but it would be a nice surprise to find out that they have recently added this amenity. On the other hand, it will give me plenty of opportunities to practice saying, “It is hot, it is very hot,” in Yucatec.

Friday, June 13, 2008

The worst part about today is that it is Friday the thirteenth and my mind cannot help but stray constantly to another Friday the thirteenth, the weight of a small bronze urn around my neck a constant reminder. I wish more than anything that I were with my best friends in the whole world to celebrate the life of someone so special to me. Yet I am alone, again, and no one here could know how truly alone I feel today. How can I celebrate Nana’s life in some small way? I had hoped that I would at least make it back to the comfort of my apartment on campus before the tears came to my eyes, but it is hard to listen to others talk about their Friday the thirteenth feelings and feel like you are the only person in the room that actually knows what an awful day it truly is. I hope, or rather, I know that she is watching me, and that whenever I feel alone during the next four weeks that she will be right beside me. I never thought that she would be gone so soon, my Never too busy, Always available, Nurturing, Angel of mercy. So this is how I remember you, that classy lady with a keen and saucy wit.

This morning we talked about our Yucatec names and waited patiently as everyone received a shortened version for their time in Santa Elena and Xocen. There is always someone in the group that everyone gets to laugh at, or with, and x-Jeder, my Yucatec name, was certainly the class favorite, though I was laughing just as hard with them too.

We were given a translation exam to complete over the weekend and I am pleased to announce the title, “Sak Nik Te’ and the Three Jaguars.” Catherine and I have already spent a good bit of time working on our translations and laughing quite a bit. Secretly I am hoping for a little twist, perhaps a tidbit of Little Red Riding Hood to make it interesting.

After class Catherine and I went to Weaver Street Market to pick up a few groceries before returning for an early bedtime. During our ride on the bus, another passenger asked me what language my textbooks were in. He really didn’t seem to know who or what the Maya were, and asked if studying the language was useful. As soon as Catherine and I got off the bus we reenacted the conversation interspersed with bursts of laughter. Is it useful?!? Well, we certainly hope so! Tomorrow we have a hieroglyph workshop that will last four hours and I hope to finish typing up my notes.

Monday, June 16, 2008

It is so hard to believe that two weeks have passed and that Wednesday brings the start of the real adventure. My perceptions and expectations for the next four weeks keep changing with each new tidbit of information regarding our time in Mexico and even each new phrase that I learn in Yucatec. The weather has become quite pleasant the last two days – almost a calm before the storm, which of course at this point my emotions are quite turbulent like a stormy sky frequented by a glistening beam of colors from horizon to horizon.

Class continues to pass as the snail travels, or as we say in class as a turtle’s tear falls. Today seemed to be a day of crunching and munching every last ounce into our brains for the test that we are to endure each day during our stay with a Yucatec family. Of course, everyone is a bit unfocused as excitement builds, which is probably why the class discussion quickly veered into things that should not be said in English, and definitely not in Yucatec. Needless to say, one phrase sounds quite similar to a term we have known since the very first day of class, so everyone has vowed to stay completely away from the number three, even if it means lying.

Tomorrow we have an oral quiz, which I am trying not to stress over, and a presentation. I rather doubt that either activity will pass with much attentiveness on the part of my fellow classmates, and perhaps even myself. All I can think about is packing and the one trillion and one emotions running through my head. I don’t know what my Internet access will be like in Merida, but this will be my last post for a few days. I have some wonderful opportunities and contacts available in Merida, hopefully a morning trip to a nearby ruin and some time to explore the city.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I could definitely tell that today was the last official day of class before our adventure begins in Mexico. I seemed to be moving like a feather dropped from a skyscraper. Everything has been done in a rush, but with the most slug-like progress. This mornings class passed in a complete blur, even the oral quiz is already a distant memory. I felt like one of my questions lasted an eternity; even my classmates said, “I don’t remember a time when Heather wasn’t answering a question.” I cannot wait to have my presentation finished so that I can finally pack for Mexico and relax before our long day in various airports tomorrow. I was able to read some of Betty and Bob’s blog and found myself fighting back tears when I thought about looking out of a window to see the Explorer. I hope that I will have a chance to check their blog a few times during my trip. This is x-Jeder signing out from Chapel Hill, as they say, one heel of a town…till next time. Mexico awaits!