Discovering Mayan Heritage: My Eye-Opening Study Abroad Experience in Mexico

In June 2024, RAUL students Viktoria and Alina participated in a summer course on Mayan Culture and History at long-time partner Universidad Anáhuac Mayab. They reflected on their experience of the course and cultural immersion in Yucatán.  

My name is Viktoria and I’m a Psychology student at Richmond American University London. I was a little bit nervous before the summer course because I was not completely sure what to expect, however I quickly realised there was nothing to be nervous about. Camille from the Study Abroad team picked us up at the airport and the first day in Cancun as well as the trip to Mérida was very well organised.

At our hotel, I shared a room with the two other students from Richmond, and we quickly became friends. The room was sufficient for our two-week stay, and the hotel itself was nice, featuring a pool and a gym we could use at any time. The Anáhuac University campus was very impressive and beautiful, with several buildings connected by green spaces, a variety of stores, and a cafeteria offering both Mexican food and other options.  

We had Mayan heritage classes from Monday to Friday, and our Professor Jorge was very engaged and passionate about the subject, which made listening to him very easy and enjoyable. Even better were the excursions that were planned for us. We visited both popular tourist attractions, and had rare experiences with Mayans in their homes. These home visits were in my opinion one of the most special parts of the trip, offering insights into their way of life, their connection to nature, animals and people, and the way they prepare their food and eat together. It was truly a beautiful, intimate experience which not many people are lucky enough to experience. 

Another highlight of the trip was the natural beauty of Yucatán, especially the cenotes. Each cenote, whether open or underground, had a unique and indescribable ethereal aura. I enjoyed them so much that on our free Sunday I went exploring several more.  

Overall, on this trip I learned a lot about not only Mayan culture, but about humans and how we really should be living; open to alternative explanations of our world’s creation, connected to nature, and in tune with our surroundings. I found the two weeks to be very grounding and, within that, very freeing. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this summer course at the Anáhuac Mayab University to any student looking for an eye-opening adventure. I can’t think of a better way I could have spent those weeks.