We are all familiar with the logic of language (grammar) and the mechanics of tacking one word on after another (syntax), and have probably all sat through endless numbers of boring learning experiences. At this stage in our lives (heck, at ANY stage in our lives…) and with everything we know as a species, shouldn’t learning be fun? Easier? More interesting?

We think so, and apparently, we aren’t alone. It has pleased us immensely to discover that there is a new language school here in Merida that cares about teaching language using methods that are cutting edge, intelligent and entertaining… methods that appeal to each learner’s individual humanity.

HABLA - The Center for Language and Culture is the name of that new school, and María del Mar (Marimar) Patrón Vázquez and Kurt Wootton are the founders and co-directors. Marimar and Kurt also happen to be married, sharing both their personal and professional lives.

Marimar, who was born and raised in Merida, is a PhD candidate in the Hispanic Studies Department at Brown University. Her focus is the integration of literature into the daily life of communities. At Brown, she received the prestigious Presidential Award for her teaching of Spanish to university students. Her unique approach to teaching involves literature and the culture of language.

Kurt is one of the founding directors of the ArtsLiteracy Project at Brown University, where he piloted and researched approaches for urban schools to develop students’ literacy through the arts. Kurt has worked on multi-year education initiatives in several U.S. cities and he frequently travels to give keynote speeches for educational conferences. His work has been widely published.

Our interviewers are Doug Tanoury and Robin Young, part time residents of Merida, Yucatan and Detroit, Michigan. When they are here in Merida, they have been taking classes at HABLA. They recently spent time with Marimar and Kurt outside of the classroom, and they bring to Yucatan Living an interview with the founders of this exciting new addition to our community. There are many interesting links at the end of the interview, and we, as always, welcome your comments.
Why Habla? Why Now?

YL: How would you describe HABLA and its role here in Merida now?

Kurt: The primary goal of HABLA is to help people, across cultures, communities, and international borders, sharpen and refine their voice in both new languages and new art forms. Our primary vehicle for doing this is the fusing of literature, the arts, and language development. We see HABLA as a dynamic space, where people from around the world gather, create, and talk with each other. We facilitate these interactions through free talks and workshops for the public, a range of language and arts courses as well as a dynamic, interactive website.

Marimar: The center offers a space for the exchange of ideas between educators, teachers, artists, youth, and whoever is interested in promoting change and development in the field of education, arts and literature. We bring together extraordinary people who care about the future of education and focus on teaching languages in ways that are meaningful to our students: we see our students as creators who create with language.

HABLA’s role in Merida is key for this change to happen, especially now that the standardization of education is gaining popularity amongst government officials here in Mexico. HABLA is a space where we can teach in a free environment, focusing on the students and the learning experience. It is also a key place to exchange best practices and methodologies between local educators and artist and the international community.

YL: Can you tell me the evolution and history of HABLA, how it came to be?

Kurt: Ten years ago, when I was a professor in the United States, a group of colleagues and I started an organization at Brown University called the ArtsLiteracy Project. It focused on how the arts - theater, visual art, dance, and music - might contribute to literacy development, particularly in urban public schools. Since many of our students in urban schools are from countries around the world, and speak many languages, we began to ask questions about how the arts can contribute to language development as well as literacy in the primary language. We established a lab school on Brown’s campus to explore some of these ideas and then created another in rural Brazil to further research how the arts can develop languages.

Marimar and I then conceived of an international educational space where we could not only continue to explore how the arts contribute to language development but also how we could create a center that would help leverage educational change on an international level.

Marimar: I came into this program 3 years ago, because I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the isolation of the academic environment in my field of Hispanic Studies. There were lengthy discussions in many of my classes that there is not a large reading culture in Latin American countries. So I asked myself, ‘why do societies with a long tradition of storytelling have such poor reading numbers among youth and adults?’ I started to do research in the way we teach reading and literature, and around the questions of multicultural and multilingual reading. This put me in contact with Brown University’s’ ArtsLiteracy Project and from there one question led to another and brought us, Kurt and myself, to open this center in Merida.

YL: It is a big world, so can you tell me why you selected Merida as the site for HABLA?

Marimar: We selected Merida because I know the place and mainly because I love the city and its rich cultural roots. I was also drawn by the new cultural and artistic life that is being brought back to the city, and of course, Merida is my hometown. I have family here, a long history, and many attachments to it! I think Merida is a fertile place where things can happen; there is magic in its roots and its people. Finally, and importantly, because we believe that classrooms should be places of community, and Merida and its people know the real meaning of community life!

Kurt: We also considered the United States and Brazil, but chose Merida because our work focuses on interchanges across the Americas. We want to bring people together from South America and North America to exchange ideas and ways of teaching. Merida is an ideal location because it is located to a certain degree in the middle of the Americas. Perhaps most importantly, Marimar was born here and her family lives here, so we were moving somewhere to establish an organization with local roots. Given the fact that we are dedicated to promoting educational reform, this is very important to us.

YL: How did you find the building that HABLA is in and how extensive were the changes to it?

Marimar: The search for the perfect place took us a long time. We were looking for a place with gardens, big classrooms, and gallery space: a place where people would feel happy creating and exchanging ideas. We also wanted our school to provide easy access for people from different parts of the city. Then, we saw the perfect house, with a big obstacle: the house had already been sold. We kept looking until one day, three months later, we were told the deal fell through and the house was available again. As soon as Kurt saw it (I had been to the house before as a little girl,) he held my hand and said, “This is it!” The following Tuesday we signed the documents. It was like magic, we could not believe it! We had it! The remodeling process was another story; we went through a lot, as many of you know what it takes to do construction work!

Kurt: We looked at buildings for nine months. We were amazed by both the great location and the size. HABLA really is a place with everything. Each classroom is well lit and looks out into big trees and gardens. We have a large open space for exhibitions and performances and a separate building for kids programs. And the outdoor space is large and expansive.

Our school is really a lab school. Educators come from around the world (and locally) for conferences and courses, so we really wanted to show how a school could be different. We wanted to build a school that would welcome visitors and that would have large, well-lit spaces for learning. Attention to architecture and design is a very important part of our work.

YL: How is HABLA different from other schools that teach languages?

Kurt: There are many different ways of teaching language, all around the world, and there are many language schools in Merida. Since all people learn differently, it is important that the language learner find a school that is the right fit for them. Our approach to teaching values three core principles: building community, reading literature, and creating. We do not use a textbook at all.

The research in language learning clearly indicates these three important points:

1. Language learning is a social act. People need to learn a language because they want to communicate with other people. That is why we place community first. Our classrooms need to be places where people feel comfortable talking with each other. Where they can laugh, share stories, and talk about their lives.
2. Reading is critical for language learning. Many schools do not place reading in the center of learning. Rather they emphasize structured worksheets and textbooks. These offer you the feeling of making progress in the language. You can reach the end of the textbook and you feel like you’ve accomplished something. It’s not the most effective way for most people to learn language, because it puts all the emphasis on grammatical structures. When we encounter vocabulary words in a reading, we see them in an authentic context, and over time, we begin to acquire them. We read poems, short stories, and articles and our students write their own poems and stories. We spend a good deal of time in classrooms talking to each other about life. We learn much more than language, we learn about each other, as well as a range of art forms from the culture.
3. Learning language for us is not mechanistic, but rather it is creative. Language for us has aesthetic qualities. It is why both Marimar and I studied literature. We love words and playing with words. Language learning can be just as creative. The excitement for us in teaching and learning is helping our students play with the language and have fun with it.

Marimar: I believe that the biggest difference is that we see our students as creators. We base our teaching in helping our students find the words to describe their world, to tell their stories, and to express their ideas. Although we follow a grammar curriculum, we do not base our classes on a book. We do not go chapter by chapter, following a pre-determined set of grammar and vocabulary. We believe this limits and predetermines what our students are able or not able to tell us about themselves. Our methodology focuses on three key principles: building community, reading literature (short stories, essays, articles, poems, etc) and creating.

We believe that language learning (and this is backed up by current research) should be a social act. We also feel that reading is critical for language development, and that learning a language is a creative and critical act. Therefore, we create in our classroom a learning experience in which our students play with the language. We give them space to tell their stories, to tell us about themselves, to get to know each other, and to give a personal meaning to the vocabulary and grammar structures they use. We believe that the classroom should be a space of joy in which students have fun while they learn, where students talk about things that interest them, and not about things that are predetermined by a textbook.

Living and Changing in Merida

YL: You both have had a remarkable amount of change in your lives over the past year or two. What has been the greatest change?

Marimar: I think that the greatest change has been my relationship with Merida. I came back to Yucatan after doing a major in literature at the Universidad de las Americas-Puebla, working for the Department of Culture in Puebla, and completing a PhD at Brown University in Hispanic Studies. Although I never stopped coming back during the holidays and summer, I feel that now I come back with a lot to offer the community, and, at the same time, I have a lot to learn from this community that never stops surprising me.

Kurt: The greatest change for me has been leaving my job at Brown University to move here to Merida and open HABLA. Brown was a very comfortable place in many ways. I spoke the language fluently, I had regular classes of students, there were quite a few resources, financial and intellectual, to call on. Moving to another country is in many ways like starting over again. It has been a wonderful adventure.

YL: What has not changed?

Kurt: My relationship with Marimar has been a strong foundational base from the United States to here. Also I love teaching, both here and there. Teaching adults, kids, and teenagers here in the Yucatan has been a real joy for me. Teaching has been a consistent theme throughout my life. I have now taught in rural Brazil, at Brown University, in suburban New Hampshire, in urban Providence, in rural Ohio, and here. I feel like a jazz musician going through different stages of musical development. I keep making the music with different people and in different places. l learn every time I step into a classroom.

Marimar: Many things have not changed. I’d say that the most important two are my love of teaching language and literature, and the fun I have had building this project with Kurt (and there is still a lot to do!)

YL: We can imagine that working with your spouse confers special blessings and challenges. What has been your experience?

Kurt: We both bring a different set of skills to the table. It has been quite amazing to work with Marimar and get to know a different side of her. She is a wonderful Spanish teacher, and for the first time, I have been able to take her Spanish class and be one of her students! I was also impressed with the way she managed the search for and then the remodeling of the school. We do bring the work home with us, so it sometimes seems like we are working nearly all the time. In August, we look forward to getting away for a bit and taking a vacation.

Marimar: Kurt is the kind of person that can make things happen! He is great at bringing people together, at facilitating exchanges and he has a great aesthetic sense in terms of teaching and the work the students do. Working with him has been a great experience, I feel that I am learning a lot, he keeps the energy flowing and best of all, he makes all this work fun!

YL:What have you found most challenging about your life and work here?

Marimar: Learning to be patient and let things have their own rhythm while at the same time pushing things to make them happen! Life here has a different rhythm, and it is not a bad or a good thing, it is just different. When creating a melody, a song, a poem, various rhythms communicate. It is like improvisation in jazz. That has been the most challenging thing here, making different rhythms work together to create a melody.

Kurt: Certainly the international recession has been the most difficult aspect about opening a school these days. There simply is not as much money out there, in the non-profit world, or in terms of fundraising, as there used to be. Or as much money for families to pay for school.

YL: What do you enjoy most about your life and work here?

Kurt: I love the people in Mexico, Marimar’s family, the people on the street, the teachers and staff that work at our school. People here have a natural warmth and kindness that I think makes this an incredible place to live.

Marimar: The people we have encountered by developing HABLA. We have been surrounded by very creative people. Working with them has made everything fun and exciting. Our lawyer and realtor Julio Mimenza, our architect Miguel Sosa, our designer Lucy Alcalá, our web designer Carlos Escalante, our teacher Nayeli Jiménez and our intern Amy Lehrburger have made this journey a beautiful and rewarding one. Also, and very important, both of our families have been a great help and offered constant encouragement.

YL: If you could change one thing about your life or work, what would you change and how would you change it?

Marimar: I think I am being honest when I say that I would not change a thing. Maybe I would have started this work earlier in life, but then again, I believe that all my experiences led me to where I am now. I am having a lot of fun in this journey, and if there is something that does not come out the way we wanted it,
Kurt and I talk about it and, since this is an independent project, we can always change it! It is essential to never ignore the fact that this is also a learning experience for both of us, so we also develop ourselves not only as directors of this project, but as teachers and as cultural agents.

Kurt: Absolutely nothing! Everything is possible. We are conceiving of a course this summer that will involve both local and internationally visiting students between the ages of 8-11 called Spaces. It will explore through different artistic mediums the spaces we live, work, and play in.

YL: Is there any particular time that you can look back on and identify as a turning point in your life?

Marimar: There is more than a just one. I can now tell you two. One moment includes many when I was still taking classes for my PhD and reading essays about how writers conceive of reading. None of them talked about reading as literary analysis, or asked the questions about arguments and main characters. Fuentes, Paz, Monsivais, Poniatowska, Gimferrer, Borges, Reyes, and many more saw reading as an act that connects to life, as a creative act that calls for a creative response. The second moment was when I got to know the work of the ArtsLiteracy project, and I got to know its director!

Kurt: There are many moments, and I hope there will be many more! I first visited Brazil to work with educators and students in a rural town in the center of the country. I spent two weeks working with students in schools and leading workshops with teachers, helping them to make their teaching of language and literacy more dynamic. Then I spent two weeks reading literature with students and teachers, participating in a variety of performance activities, writing original poems and stories, and we created several performances for schools and communities. We were working in the poorest communities and with public schools. On the last night I was there, I started to go to bed about midnight, and then I heard the sound of singing and guitars coming up the street. Many of the students and teachers I worked with surrounded the house with guitars, and sang traditional Brazilian songs. We then had a BBQ and partied all night. I have been back to Brazil many times since and we have built a lab school for teaching language through the arts there. That was certainly a turning point for me.

YL: What is it about the arts that you find most compelling?

Kurt: When we were working with the architects to design the building we decided to put the word “create” in the front entrance. Parents, students, and our teachers, see the word every day when they come into the building. They might all have different interpretations about what it means, but overall it sends the same message: This is a place where we make things. We make things with language and the widest range of possible materials. Our teachers design and develop original curriculums. We make events, workshops, and conferences. We have a broad interpretation of the word and it influences all of the work we do from the administrative to the teaching in classrooms.

Marimar: The process of creating something puts into play many different elements of oneself, as well as many different kinds of intelligence and sentiments. It is in this process that we are most interested in as educators and as teaching artists. Believe me, as a teacher one gets to see the development of a student, the journey in which he or she is creating something, and it is the most beautiful and enriching experience of all.

YL: In your own educational experience, were you adequately exposed to the arts?

Marimar: Yes I was, especially to literature. My dad always encouraged us to read; he loved the Emilio Salgari stories, the stories of the Three Musketeers! My grandma Trino always told us stories about the town she grew up in. Literature as a kid was something fun, a new world, and I owe that sentiment to my parents and my grandparents.

Kurt: Yes, very much so. Theater was a big part of my public high school in Indiana and I had a wonderful theater teacher Andy Lindauer, and I am still in contact with him.

YL: What role do you think the arts play in life today?

Kurt: Richard Florida in his book The Rise of the Creative Class (see link at the end of this interview) begins with the sentence, “Powering the great ongoing changes of our time is the rise of human creativity as the defining feature of economic life.” He claims we are moving into a “creative age” where those who wield the political and economic power in the society are those that have the ability to create new and original work. In a recent study about the artistic lives of Nobel Laureate scientists, it was found that they were 25 times as likely to sing, dance, or act as compared to average scientists. We feel the arts are playing an increasingly critical role in society, helping us to see the world in different ways, and fostering a range of ways for us to communicate with each other across cultures, time, and space.

Marimar: I believe the arts have a critical and powerful role nowadays; the arts help us to be creative. We need to explore ways in which we as individuals can solve the issues of today. The people who are thinking outside the box and that are proposing new ways of dealing with the environmental, social, cultural and economic issues are people who are very creative.

The critic Edward Said in his posthumous book writes that the arts let us experience other people and other times, and help us broaden our understanding of ourselves, our communities, and other communities and times in history. Most importantly, the arts let us express ourselves, opening all the potential we have as human beings.

YL: What have you found to be the most valuable tool in teaching language?

Marimar: I think that the most valuable thing about teaching and learning a language is the fact that language is a social and creative act. Everybody has stories and ideas, so the key is to provide the space for students to find the words to tell their stories and to express their ideas, connecting life with language! We are all storytellers. This is the main reason why we do not follow a chapter-by-chapter curriculum based on a textbook at our school. We want to free our students from predetermined and limiting content and grammar structures and help them to struggle with language at the same time they are creating with it.

Kurt: It is impossible to separate a specific “tool” from the rest. Language learning is a complex act, and is different for every person, so it is most important to employ all the tools we can and create the right mix for the learners in the classroom. It seems to me quite a bit like the art of cooking. If you are making a stew, it is impossible to point out one ingredient as the most important. It is crucial that all of the ingredients work in a balanced harmony to produce the desired result.

YL: What does a normal day at HABLA involve? Can you describe your typical day?

Kurt: Our days are different depending on the time of year. Today Marimar went to teach a class at 9:00am on the Arts and Literature for an international college group visiting here from Centre College in Danville, KY. She is teaching the class in Spanish and they are focusing on the book Sol, Piedra y Sombras (Sun, Stone, and Shadows), an anthology of Mexican short stories. Afterwards, we returned to the office and dealt with getting the word out about international programs. I had a conference call with Florida Atlantic University about a visit we will make soon to give talks and workshops about Radical Ways to Rethink Language Education and Fusing Literacy and the Arts: Best Teaching Practices Across the Americas. We stopped for lunch from about 2-4pm.

Then we had our HABLA Kids class in English from 4-5:30pm with our 5-8 year olds. At night, the adults came for English classes (it was both our Basic and Intermediate classes). The kids read a story ‘Sylvester and the Magic Pebble’, participated in a pebble scavenger hunt, then painted the wish they would make in their own lives onto their newly found magic pebbles. One girl painted a beautiful angel floating up into the sky. Another boy painted eight different versions of Spider Man; I think he wants to be a super-hero when he gets older.
In my adult class we read “Pyramus and Thisbe” by Ovid, identified the six main parts of the story and the adults prepared a radio show that we digitally recorded at the end of class.

We left school at 10pm, ending our usual 15 hour or so work day… and this was a day we didn’t have International Spanish classes here in the morning! Typically, we have Spanish classes from 9-1:30 and then English from 4-10. We are adding Tango classes now on weeknights and hope to have a range of arts classes in the near future.

Marimar: I don’t think we have normal days at HABLA. Our days change depending on the programs we are developing, the people who are visiting us, etc. Our days usually involve curriculum and lesson planning with our teachers, reading of text we are teaching or reading, or text we are writing or researching, meeting and chatting with the staff, conference calls with someone from the States about a program we are developing, administrative work, talking with people that come and visit the school, gardening, and of course, a lot of teaching!

We work at HABLA but we also work in other places or have partnerships with other cities and countries. For example, I teach Literature for a university Study Abroad Program in the States and Kurt has a Ford Foundation grant to write a book about the ArtsLiteracy Project he co-founded at Brown University. So you can say that our days are a mix, and that we move from place to place, even the movement is electronically or digitally.

YL: What will HABLA look like five years from now?

Kurt: Currently we host an International Summit on Education where education leaders gather from around the world to exchange ideas. Many of those talks are now on our website and anyone can access them. We hope this Summit will continue to expand to become an international catalyst for change. We also will have programs in the arts, languages, and literacy running throughout the day and into the night for local residents as well as international visitors. Our students range from 5-65 years old. I love that we can be a place that mixes people of every age and from every cultural background.

Marimar: I see the spaces at HABLA filled with students creating with language! I see kids expanding their worlds through the arts, students from different economical and social backgrounds creating their futures, sharing stories. I see HABLA being a catalyst for educational change, a fertile space for creation. I see a place full of alegria (joy), and a place where people exchange ideas and create projects and liaisons. I see the world changing!

YL: Is there a favorite quote or past event that inspires you in your work?

Marimar: What has inspired me the most are the essays I’ve read in which writers talk about reading as a creative act, a vivid action in which the reader is at the same time writing their own story. The act of reading opens up the reader to infinite possibilities.

Kurt: While working in Brazil with a group of high school students, we would read a poem in English each day. Then they would write their own poems in response. At the end of the course we asked them to reflect on the experience. One of the students wrote: “Writing a poem was just putting myself inside out; it was just using the essence of myself as ink, so I could write. When I finished writing my first poems, it was like breaking the chains of not believing myself and taking flight into a sky of infinite possibilities.” This student’s quote has always been an inspiration for me, and I hope that our lives, and HABLA, can be a place of infinite possibilities.

HABLA’s website

The ArtsLiteracy Project at Brown University

The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life by Richard Florida

Culture and Imperialism
by Edward W. Said

Sol, Piedra y Sombras (Spanish Edition)
by Jorge F. Hernandez

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig

Greek Myths Told Anew
by Josephine Preston Peabody (includes the Pyramus and Thisbe myth)

Habla on Facebook (Become a Fan!)

To get in touch with Doug Tanoury or Robin Young, contact them at dtanoury@gmail.com

Carla Dirlikov Sings!
The subject of a recent Yucatan Living article, mezzosoprano Carla Dirlikov, will be singing at the José Péon Contreras Theatre on July 4th at 8 pm. The concert will feature Carla singing with the Juvenile Symphonic Orchestra and will be directed by Maestro Jose Luis Chan. Tickets are free, but should be picked up in advance. Tickets can be picked up at the box office of the theatre, Mondays through Fridays, between 10 am and 8 pm, and on the day of the event until 6 pm. They can also be picked up at the ICY offices at Parque de las Americas from Lilian Herrera.

Only One Municipal Fiesta This Week

Samahil Fiesta 9 Day Event
June 29 through July 7
This fiesta is in honor of San Pedro Abad, patrono del pueblo. It can easily be found by zooming in on this map. Samahil is in a busy area, with plenty of artisans and craftsmen. This fiesta is a must attend event. A Special Note: At this writing, the fiesta is about to begin and the young people of the area are already geared up on the social networking websites. It is amazing to us when "tiny-town, Anywhere" is able to leap into the 21st century full grown and on its feet. Do visit the Samahil Fiesta and let them know that the rest of the world now knows exactly where they are and what a wonderful little area they live in.

In the City This Week

Monday (Lunes) June 29, 2009

Movie: Real Women Have Curves
Directed by Patricia Cardoso, this is the story of Ana, a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman.
Location: Cairo Cinema Cafe, Calle 20 #98-A x Calle 15 y 17, Col. Itzimna
Time: 7:00 PM Monday
Admission: Free

Movie: Fuera del Cielo (Outside Heaven)
In the devastated urban landscape of Mexico City, in the course of a day, the lives of a handful of characters intertwine.
Location: Centro Cultural José Martí, Av. Colón x Calle 20, García Ginerés
Time: 7:00 PM Monday
Admission: Free

Tuesday (Martes) June 30, 2009

My World… The Dance
End of the season performance by the scholars of the Dance Workshop of Wallis. This school has never presented anything other than an amazing performance by amazingly talented young people. Don’t miss any opportunity to see one of their end of the year performances!
Location: Teatro Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Goya Comes to Merida
These 78 works of Francisco de Goya will be in Merida from the 30th of June through the 30th of August. The City of Merida invites you to the opening of "The Monsters of Reason" - depicting the caprices, whims, and disasters of war.
Location: At the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 PM Monday
Admission: Free

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Puebla
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 8:00 PM Tuesday
Admission:  $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Movie: Battleship Potemkin
This is a film by Sergei Eisenstein. It is a dramatization of a great Russian naval mutiny, which resulted in a huge street level demonstration which, in turn, brought about a police massacre.
Location: Cairo Cinema Cafe, Calle 20 #98-A x Calle 15 y 17, Col. Itzimna
Time: 7:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

In Concert: Fernando, Fernando Jr. and Ricardo Vega
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Tuesday
Admission: Tickets available at the Box Office

Trova and Boleros: Roberto Canedo
See Roberto Canedo at Restaurante Amaro on Saturday and Tuesday nights.
Location: Restaurante Amaro, Calle 59 x 60
Time: 8:30 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free, Cash Bar

Tuesday of Trova: Trio Los Nobles
Under the direction of Luis Felipe Gongora
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 62
Time: 8:30 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Wednesday (Miercoles) July 01, 2009

Musical Theater: In Commemoration of the Sad 50th Anniversary of Alfonso Reyes
This is a performance by Alonso Reyes, under the direction of Tomas Ceballos
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: $20 pesos

Contemporary Trova: Fito Haro
This headliner always gives a great performance.
Location: Restaurante Amaro, Wednesday and Saturday nights
Time: 9:00 PM
Admission: Free, Cash Bar

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Puebla
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Thursday  (Jueves)  July 02, 2009

Classic Cinema: Jason and the Argonauts
Yes, this is a classic and one we all love. However, remember that this is the second day of summer vacation and the theater will be full of families and children.
Location: Videosala of the Olimpo
Time: 6:00 PM
Admission: Free

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Puebla
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission:  $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Jazzin’ Merida: The Yucatones
Yucafans, we’ll have a very special guest at the Legendary Yucatone gig on Thursday, July 2… none other than the two-time winner of the Vermillion, South Dakota Arts Council Poetry Slam (and Dantone’s mom) Lois O’Grady.

But that’s not all. We’ll also have in the audience published poet, author of the highly regarded literary blog, Uncannery Row (www.uncanneryrow.blogspot.com) and University of South Dakota English Department faculty big-wig Marcella Remund (Dantone’s sister).

And we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Dantone tried to embarrass Lois and Marci into actually slamming a poem or two during break. An event not to be missed… be there or what.
Location: Jazzin Merida, Calle 56 x 53
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: $30 pesos

Friday  (Viernes) July 03, 2009

Contemporary Trova: Regina Carrillo
This young lady performs at Restaurante Amaro on Friday nights.
Location: Restaurante Amaro, Calle 59 x 60
Time: 8:30 PM Friday
Admission: Free, Cash Bar

M.E.L.L. 2nd Annual 4th of July Barbecue
This event is sponsored by M.E.L.L., IWC, and the Merida Men’s Club. This will be a real, old fashioned hot dog and hamburger 4th of July barbecue! Food is included in the ticket purchase, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase.
Location: U.S. Consular Residence (maps available at M.E.L.L.)
Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday
Admission: Adults: $100 pesos; children under 12: $50 pesos (only 200 tickets will be sold)
Note: Tickets must be purchased in advance! No ticket sales at the gates!

Denis’ TGIF Cocktail Party
The perfect setting to visit with old friends and meet new friends too! Since this is the beginning of the 4th of July weekend, the party should be particularly festive.
Location: La Hach Bar in Fiesta Americana Lobby, Calle 60 x Av. Colon
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Happy Hour: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
Admission: Cash Bar, Snacks provided
More Information: 928-2582 or 928-5913

Rock Concert: Alex Lora and El Tri
There is something to be said for producing over 4 decades of uninterrupted hits! This group has got it all!
Location: Plaza de Toros Merida. Calle 72
Time: 9:00 PM Friday
Admission: $250 pesos (bullring), $150 (general): Can be purchased at Cafe Merida (9:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and at the box office at the Plaza de Toros Merida (10:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
More information: 999 165 3422 (cell)

Milonga: Tango Dance Party!
After the huge success of the last Milonga, there just had to be another one and, who knows? another???    
Location: Sala de Fiestas "Punta del Este" Residencial Los Pinos, Calle 38 # 462 x 23 y 25 Residencial Los Pinos
Time: 8:30 PM to… ??? (last time, it was 4:00 AM!) Friday
Admission: Free
For more information: Call Anny: 044 991 25 04 66 or 923 3736

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Oaxaca
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 8:00 PM Friday
Admission: $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Saturday (Sábado) July 04, 2009

Poetry Reading and Sharing
Come one! Come all! New readers welcome! Every Saturday, for at least the next 3 months, there is going to be an open mike poetry reading at Cafe Chocolate. You can read your own poems or the poetry of someone else. This sounds like great fun so please do go out and support it. It is not only new, but it helps to round out the cultural experiences we are so fortunate to have here in Merida. Be sure and read the website (see link below). It is guaranteed to make you smile and will certainly make you feel as if you must stop by.
Location: Cafe Chocolate, Back Patio, Calle 60 x 49
Time: All Saturdays: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Admission: Free
Website: Here. http://www.jkpublishing.org/dsm_index.php

Trova and Boleros: Roberto Canedo
See Roberto Canedo at Restaurante Amaro on Saturday and Tuesday nights.
Location: Restaurante Amaro, Calle 59 x 60
Time: 8:30 PM Saturday

Admission: Free, Cash Bar

Contemporary Trova: Fito Haro
This headliner always gives a great performance.
Location: Restaurante Amaro, Calle 59 x 60
Time: 9:00 PM Wednesday and Saturday nights
Admission: Free, Cash Bar

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Oaxaca
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 6:00 PM Saturday
Admission:  $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Bed and Breakfast Saturday in Izamal
Macanche has decided to extend their popular B&B Spa weekend to every Saturday throughout the summer. Check in early (at noon) on Saturday and enjoy a 24-hour getaway from the hustle and bustle of Merida centro. Your special weekend includes a one-hour massage, a foot treatment with pedicure, a yoga class under the palapa and a delicious Sunday breakfast. All this within walking distance of downtown Izamal. Such a deal!
Location: Hotel Macanche in Izamal
Admission: $1900 pesos per couple or $1250 pesos for single
Time: Noon Saturday to Noon Sunday
Website: www.macanche.com

Sunday (Domingo) July 05, 2009

Mexico’s Mid-Term Elections: Virtually All Events are Canceled

Baseball
Los Leones de Yucatan vs. Oaxaca
Location: Kukulcan Stadium (southeast side)
Time: 6:00 PM Sunday
Admission:  $150, $90, $50, & $15 pesos

Coming Soon

July 7
The Women of Manzanero
A huge list of top female vocalists sing the songs of  Manzanero, who is a singer, composer and well known entretainer.
Location: Convention Center, Siglo XXI, on the road to Progreso
Time: 9:00 PM
Admission: Tickets now available at Fiesta Americana, Ahorro Farmacia on Aleman, or call 942-1113 or 192-1820.

For Merida Month-at-a-glance Calendar, click here

or

For ongoing events and classes in Merida,
please click here for our Ongoing Events Calendar

First Things First - Then the News: Free Puppy to Good Home
One of these little fellows is the last puppy left in Lola’s litter. Lola, as some may know, belongs to Claudette Flury, the owner and operator of Casa Esperanza B&B in Centro, as well as Yucatan Discovery Tours and Folk Art Mexico. The young fellow who is up for adoption was sold, but the potential owners backed out at the last minute, so he is now FREE. All they ask is that he has a good, decent home. He has his Pedigree, parents are registered & from champions, 1st vaccinations, de-wormed, & weaned. If you know anyone that would give him an excellent home please call Sergio in Merida 999-924-7517.

President Obama To Participate in Travel Mexico Initiative
This week, we were so pleased to learn that President Barack Obama, along with other political leaders, will be participating in the first of three phases of Mexico’s new travel initiative and incentive plan. The first phase is entitled "Believe It!" and it is running now in major markets throughout the U.S. (see the first video here).

The second two phases will take the initiative through the end of the year, after which, it is believed that the tourism industry, in Mexico, will be sufficiently repaired to move forward with greater success than ever before. Mexico is a land of wonders, beauty and historical interest, and the people of Mexico are some of the nicest to be found anywhere on the planet. There is something for every type of traveler. Thank you, President Obama, for your participation and for your support.

Americans for Medicare in Mexico
The time has come for Americans in Mexico to fight even harder to push through legislation that will allow eligible senior citizens, living in Mexico, to use their Medicare benefits where they live. This is especially true of the preventive care that is often much lower cost in Mexico than north of the border which will, in turn, result in a huge Medicare savings. The improved outcomes for seniors living in Mexico, who are more likely to seek care in the initial stages of an illness, will ensure a higher quality and longer life for those who are its beneficiaries. We ask that everyone - please - join in this struggle for eligible senior citizens to have access to the care they have earned by visiting the website of Americans for Medicare in Mexico.

Planning on Traveling? Check out the Health Map
Learn all about where swine flu really is and how serious it really is from Health Map. We particularly like that map system because it gives the reader the option to choose individual diseases, rather than only H1N1 or some other arbitrary disease. We are particularly impressed with the dramatically fewer number of cases of H1N1 in Mexico than in some other nations. We believe the immediate shutting down of cultural events, coupled with the immediate (and ongoing) disinfecting of the entire nation, as well as the strong program that teaches hand-washing as the best form of prevention, all went together to ensure that Mexico got through this crisis as quickly as it did.

What Can Expats Do to Help? Buy Local
Markets on the coast have survived much in recent months: a "drug war" that wasn’t, an influenza scare that turned out to be someone’s idea of what they needed to do to "practice their pandemic response," the global economic crisis, incidents of Red Tide, and bad weather. Taken together, these mean that the red meat sales on the coast are at about 50% of their normal levels. With luck, having survived long enough to get to Summer Vacation, this will all turn around now, as families arrive and begin to stock up with what they will need during their 6 to 7 week break from the city. Please do your part and try to make certain that your favorite vendors are doing better every time you see them.

July 1 Will Be a Glorious Day! Lobster, Anyone?
The ghost of the Red Tide is gone and there is an excitement building in the air. On July 1, more than 2,000 lobster fishermen will set out from the coast of Yucatan and their success will set the tone for the rest of the summer. If you are in the coastal area on July 1, keep an eye out for this one of a kind event. If you are religious, please say a prayer for their success. If you are not religious, then cross your fingers and wish them good luck. They really have had more of a burden to carry, this past year, than anyone should be forced to carry, but they have never abandoned their posts. We, and the lifestyles we have built for ourselves, are their beneficiaries. As an added note, we’ll just throw in Beach Bum in Chelem’s photos of her favorite seafood market. Can you hear me now?

Its That Time Again!
We are beginning to get reports of disorganized areas of tropical storms in and aroud our neighborhood. Here is one of those maps. These things blow up very quickly, so it is best to always be ready for whatever may come our way. If you haven’t made plans for yourself and your pets, now is the time to do so. Yucatan recovers at an amazing rate of speed after some of these stoms, so not to panic, just be ready.

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, it’s that time of year again for scorpions too. The rains and heat have started and that seems to bring them out of hiding. If you get bitten, we have it on good authority that you will not die (unless you are a chihuahua…), but it won’t feel good either. Keep alert when you are picking up clothes that have been lying around and think twice about walking around barefoot in the dark.

New Program: 1 + 1 = "Do Your Part"
Durig the Summer Vacation, both parents and students will be working on all of the schools. While this is a common practice, this year, it is a little bit different in that they will be disinfecting the schools an extra time, as well as building new sidewalks and finishing other construction projects that can be easily handled by families and students. It is the belief of Yucatecos that those who work on the schools will feel a sense of pride and ownership in them. Not only will these children not be likely to develop a habit of property crimes, but they will also serve as mentors for younger students and role models for older students. This is sound reasoning and has stood the test of time in Yucatan.

Summer class for children
This week, we received word that there will be a wonderful course taught at Habla for ages 7 through 13. The course is designed to help children understand the world in which they live through a multidisciplinary exploration of how we define and create spaces from our classrooms, to our homes, to our communities. At first, we passed over the topic because it is for children but, then, we thought better of our decision. There may be many expats who have children or grandchildren coming for the summer. This is a great course and lasts from July 13 through Aug., 4. You may contact the school for more information.

Last chance for new license plates
If you own a car here with Yucatan plates, then you need new license plates for 2009-2010. The deadline to get those placas without a penalty is June 30, 2009… so if you haven’t done it already, now is the time! The closest place to centro to get your new placas is the old penitentiary, that beautiful building on the west side of Parque de la Paz, at the beginning of Calle 59 by the zoo (You can also go to Siglo XXI where there is another place). You need to bring your old placas, your car registration, your passport and FM3, and your money. The new placas cost $350 pesos. At the same time, you will be asked to also pay the tenencia. The tenencia is unique to each car, and is based on the value and age of the car. (As an example, an almost new Volkswagon Crossfox has a tenencia of about $4500 pesos). If your car is more than 10 years old, you will not owe a tenencia.

HouseHunters International
Merida is going to be the subject of a new episode of Househunters International again. They will be filming sometime in the next few months. The previous episode that aired brought a lot of new extranjeros to the area, so we imagine this one will do the same.

Merida Finally Named as the Location for Wild9
The World Wilderness Congress will be sending up to 1,500 scientists and other professionals from 60 different nations to Merida, where they will meet to discuss the future of the planet. For more information on this November 6 through 13th, please visit their Wild9 website. This will be an excellent opportunity for Yucatan to show off the extraordinary lengths to which it has gone in the service of environmental protection.

Quiet Period Before Next Weekend’s Elections
Next Sunday the citizens of Mexico will be voting for federal diputados (deputies) who will be serving for two years in Mexico City. In Merida, on the west side of the city, Carolina (PAN) is running against Angelica (PRI). On the east side, Rolando (PRI) is running against Javier (PAN), who used to be in charge of the police department of Yucatan under former governor Patricio Patron. For the last few weeks, all the candidates have been holding large and small events in public places, hoping to attract voters. This last weekend at least two events were held in the park at San Sebastian, one of which was a batalla (battle) of neighborhood breakdancing teams. Other events at that same park over the last few weeks have included Cuban music and other various events… all in service to the election. The festivities are about to come to an end on Tuesday. Starting Wednesday, there is a quiet period before the election when campaigning is forbidden. And word to the wise: because of the election, NO alcohol will be sold in the country on Saturday and Sunday. If you want alcohol at your July 4 picnic, be sure to stock up BEFORE Saturday!

Fiestas This Week

Suma de Hidalgo - One Day Event -
June 22
This fiesta is in honor of San Bartolomé. Suma is very close to Merida, right between Teya and Motul. This is the beginning of horse country in Yucatan, so the most common product of the artisans in this area is leatherwork.

Xocchel Fiesta - Six Day Event - June 24 through June 29 each year
This is the annual Xocchel Fiesta that honors San Juan Bautista, patron saint of the Municipality of Xocchel. If you are looking for a municipality that is off the beaten path - but the beaten path is still nearby - Xocchel should be your destination of choice. This small municipality lies less than an hour southeast of the City of Merida, on the road to Valladolid, and the 21st century has not quite made it there. To see a great map, plus pictures of the area and towns in Xocchel, click on Bicycle Yucatan, our favorite traveling the back roads of Yucatan website.

Panabá Fiesta - Five Day Event - June 26 through June 30
This is Panabá’s annual fiesta honoring San Pedro and San Pablo. Panabá is just inland to the southeast of San Felipe and Rio Lagartos. Almost everyone there is involved in either fishing or the cattle industry, or both. Languages spoken in Panabá include Mayan and Zapoteco. Look for good food at even the most humble establishment here!

In the City This Week

Monday (Lunes) June 22, 2009

Program of Sacred Music
This is a performance by the Coro Polifonico del ICY, under the direction of Victor Manuel Rubio. If anyone ever had a symphony of voices, this is it, which makes this a "must see" event for the evening!
Location: Universidad TecMilenio, Periferico Poniente, Complejo Habitacional Real Montejo
Time: 8:00 PM Monday
Admission: Free

Tuesday (Martes) June 23, 2009

Tuesday of Trova: Trio Tres de Corazón
This performance is under the direction of Felipe Diaz and is another performance of the music made famous by the Yucatan.
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, calle 62 x 61
Time: 8:30 PM Tuesday
Admission: Free

Wednesday (Miercoles) June 24, 2009

Canadian National Holidays:
            Discovery Day (Newfoundland)
            St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec)

Wednesday in Concert: One Romantic Night with Cacho Medina
This Cacho Medina concert is the "must see" performance of the evening.
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time 9:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Free

Jazz Sensitive
Come out and hear Mauricio Bonfiglio’s 80s electronics, with Gaby Ruz on alto sax, Alberto Palomo on electric base and Edgar Boffill on piano.
Location: Patio Bar at TGI Fridays on Altabrisa Shopping Mall
Time: Wednesday & Thursday 9:30 PM
Admission: Free

Wednesday at the Peon: An Appointment with Dance
This performance, entitled El Sinaloense, is by Gala de Danza Folklorica del Centro Estatal de Bellas Artes, under the direction of Regina Haas.
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: $50 pesos

Dance: End of the Year Performance of Centro Municipal de Danza
This performance will be by Danza Mexicana and Danza Jazz
Location: Teatro Universitario Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM Wednesday
Admission: Free

Thursday  (Jueves)  June 25, 2009

A Gala Night with the Banda de Musica del Estado
This performance is in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Carlos Uicab. The Band of the State is under the direction of Carlos Uicab himself.
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free - but, considering the occasion, a packed house is expected, so it might be best to get your passes early

Visual Art: Murales de La Raza Group
La Raza Group is a Canadian group that explores using murals as a contemporary form of expression. This exposition opens tonight and will remain until the 24th of July.
Location: Galeria Principal in Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free

Jazz Sensitive
Come out and hear Mauricio Bonfiglio’s 80s electronics, with Gaby Ruz on alto sax, Alberto Palomo on electric base and Edgar Boffill on piano.
Location: Patio Bar at TGI Fridays at Altabrisa Shopping Mall
Time: Wednesday & Thursday 9:30 PM
Admission: Free

Classical Thursday:The Coro de la Ciudad (the Choir of the City)
This performance is under the direction of Mtra. Nidia Gongora Cervera. These performances are always perfection and never to be missed!
Location: Auditorium of the Olimpo, Calle 62 x 61
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: Free

Jazzin’ Merida: The Yucatones
We’re not sure how much longer they play before their summer break, but catch them now while you can!
Location: Jazzin Merida, Calle 56 x 53
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: $30 pesos

Friday  (Viernes) June 26, 2009

In Concert: Las Maya International
Get your tickets early! This will be a packed house! These ladies are the best of the best and simply must not be missed! You read all about them in Katalina’s Music Review, right here on Yucatan Living, just last week!
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Friday
Admission: Free - but get your tickets NOW !!!

Jazzin’ Merida: Maricarmen Perez
Location: Jazzin Merida, Calle 56 x 53
Time: 9:00 PM Thursday
Admission: $30 pesos

Saturday (Sábado) June 27, 2009

Poetry Reading and Sharing
Come one! Come all! New readers welcome! Every Saturday, for at least the next 3 months, there is going to be an open mike poetry reading at Cafe Chocolate. You can read your own poems or the poetry of someone else. This sounds like great fun so please do go out and support it. It is not only new, but it helps to round out the cultural experiences we are so fortunate to have here in Merida. Be sure and read the website (see link below). It is guaranteed to make you smile and will certainly make you feel as if you must stop by.
Location: Cafe Chocolate, Back Patio, Calle 60 x 49
Time: All Saturdays: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Admission: Free
Website: Here. http://www.jkpublishing.org/dsm_index.php

The Symphony Orchestra of Yucatan
This performance is in Hunucma, under the direction of Juan Carlos Lomonaco and guest director Roberto Tello. The Symphony often tours the smaller towns and cities throughout the state, mostly playing free performances. This time, they are close enough to see.
Location: Hunucma, at the Iglesia Principal
Time: 8:00 PM Saturday
Admission: Free

Tribute to the Dance: One Night in Concert
This performance is by the Ballet of the City of Merida, under the direction of Erika Arguelles
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 9:00 PM Saturday
Admission: $100, $80, & $60 pesos

1st Anniversary of "Music Under the Stars with Friends"
This weekly event at Hotel Zamna has turned out to be a rousing success and is now celebrating their first anniversary with a special night called "The Best of British." Music for the evening will cover three decades of Britain’s best. Upon arrival, guests will receive a typical British pub drink and, instead of a buffet, they will be served a real "fish and chips" dinner. 
Location: Hotel Zamna, Calle 53 # 547 x 70 y 72
Time: 8:00 PM, Dinner at 8:30 PM
Admission: $90 pesos, tickets limited to 50 so please pick up your tickets early. No tickets can be sold on the evening of the event, nor can extra guests be admitted due to catering. Tickets are on sale now from reception at the hotel.

Sunday (Domingo) June 28, 2009

Documentary: The Amazing Earth
This documentary is about some of the most amazing places on our planet - from Mount Everest to the deepest parts of the ocean.
Location: Museum of Natural History, Calle 59 next to the Zoo
Time: 12:00 PM Sunday
Admission: Free

Conciencia Azul
This performance is by Danza Libre Contemporanea, under the direction of Guadalupe Isla.
Location: Teatro Peon Contreras, Calle 60 x 57
Time: 8:00 PM Sunday
Admission: $50 pesos

Artistic Weekend: Coro de la Ciudad de Merida Barroco
Once again, a choir that can easily rival any symphony in the world. This is really a "must see" performance. The choir is under the direction of Mtra. Nidia Gongora Cervera.
Location: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Fatima, Parque de las Americas, Calle 20 García Gineres
Time: 9:15 PM Sunday
Admission: Free

Presentation of the Singer: Carlos Gil
Location: Garden of the Composers (Patio of the Municipal Palace)
Time: 12:00 PM Sunday
Admission: Free

Coming Soon

Friday July 3: Tango Dance Party!
Location: Sala de Fiestas "Punta del Este" Residencial Los Pinos, Calle 38 # 462 x 23 y 25 Residencial Los Pinos
Time: 8:30 PM to… ???  (last time, it was 4:00 AM!)
Admission: Free
For more information: Call Anny: 044 991 25 04 66 or 923 3736

July 7:
The Women of Manzanero
A huge list of top female vocalists sing the songs of  Manzanero, who is a singer, composer and well known entertainer. We’re pretty certain this will be a very well-attended show. If you haven’t heard of Manzanero, you are in the minority in Mexico. He is one of Merida’s most famous sons.
Location: Convention Center, Siglo XXI, on the road to Progreso
Time: 9:00 PM
Admission: Tickets now available at Fiesta Americana, Ahorro Farmacia on Aleman, or call 942-1113 or 192-1820.

For Merida Month-at-a-glance Calendar, click here

or

For ongoing events and classes in Merida,
please click here for our Ongoing Events Calendar