This experience is a difficult story to tell. This evening I was flipping through photos and thinking about the aspects of the day accurately describing the experience. This class and the adventure we embarked on covers many ideas and areas. Before leaving the United States, I think we had very little idea what our experience would entail. I am sure many study abroad experiences have a similar uncertainty.
Our class has focused on the idea of sustainability through the idea of permaculture and other less encompassing “green” practices like the construction of a passive solar hot water heater. The hot water heater construction was completed today but unfortunately we will not reap the benefits. This is apart of the unselfishness of permaculture, you must support everything from your fellow neighbor to your fellow ecosystem. I am sure I can speak for the other students to say the people we have met along the way will be some of our greatest memories. From the plumber to the groundskeeper or owners of restaurants along the way, we each learned something or found a great appreciation for many of the people we have met.
Driving to the Kaxil Kiuic Reserve (pronounced Kashil Keyweek) we passed through the tourist area of Cancun, the Yucatan country side, the bright metropolis of Merida, the quaint town of Oxkutzcab and the spirited but economically isolated towns of Yaxachen, Xobenhaltun, and Xul. Each place we visited had great problems but also a great vibrancy, a reflection of the people who lived there. The cultural learning accompanying the traditional learning of the course shows the need to have environmental practices reflect cultural norms.
While a passive solar hot water heat can work at the Reserve, it would look out of place and unconventional at home in Little Rock. Besides the water freezing, this water heater could not be maintained by a regular plumber and my family’s busy lifestyle could not support the maintenance needed. A more conventional style of hot water heater would suit my family. But, at the same time, a change in equipment would not necessary be needed, maybe just a tweaking of our water usage. Through discussion and many activities these situations exemplify some of our work done at the Reserve.
In the morning we will have a bittersweet departure from Kaxil Kiuic. We most likely are taking a new understanding of ourselves and the full extend of what surrounds us. We are headed for the coastal town south of Cancun called Akumal.
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