Arriving to Merida!

The Service and Leadership program students have arrived in Merida! We are grateful for only a few short delays as a result of Hurricane Beryl. Students were greeted by their host families at the airport, who welcomed them with lots of warm hugs and excitement to share the Yucatecan culture with students for the next three weeks. Students arrived to a warm meal from their homestays and were delighted to rest after a long day of travel. The humidity in Yucatan has been an adjustment for many over the past 24 hours, but the air-conditioning within the homestay bedrooms is a welcome reprieve for many! 

Rested and ready to go, students arrived at the CiEE Center after a filling breakfast prepared by their host families. Our first day was filled with orientation sessions designed to prepare students for the weeks ahead. Students learned how to orient themselves in Merida, using the numbered streets and neighborhoods, called colonias. Students also learned about how to navigate life within their host families and what to expect during our upcoming service activities. 

After a delicious lunch and more orientation sessions, students enjoyed refreshing artisanal ice cream pops and many used extra time to exchange their U.S. currency for pesos. After the orientation day, students spent time getting settled into their homestays and resting for the start of our service tomorrow. 

We are excited to dive into our service work tomorrow and continue learning about the culture of Merida!!