July 2 - Merida

What connections did I make?

Today we met with teachers who work in the area of Merida.  Groups of teachers usually have a lot to say and today was no exception.  Our topics ranged from day-to-day teacher duties to the educational system in Mexico.  The commonalities among school challenges and experiences was an easy bridge for our conversations.  

The teachers shared with us the frustrations of having 40 - 50 students in one class and the difficulties of managing so many students’ individual needs at once.  They talked about schedules, homework completion, attendance problems, test scores and drop-out rates.  All of these concerns are important, but I was struck by the genuine interest the individual teachers had with making education better for their students.  The room quickly become loud with outbursts of shared teaching strategies, questions following questions, and laughter at stories.  We all talked about connecting with individual students and encouraging them to imagine what they can do.  I was in a room of optimists and hard workers.  It was comforting to be with so many teachers who believe so strongly in the possibilities of education, and a little disheartening to discover the recurring challenges.  

Talking with Teachers

Running Around 

Today I spent a little time in my room with Pepto Bismol.  All seems fine now, but I did have a little time to think about other things I've noticed in our trip thus far.  

I’m lucky to have a fellow-runner in our group who is willing to get up early and explore the streets surrounding our hotel each morning.  This morning Kate and I realized how different each run has felt.  

What have I observed?

In Cancun, I mentioned the soft sand.  We also noticed entire groups of (presumably) American runners passing us in both directions.  A group of  local workers who were busy cleaning the seaweed from the beach stopped to look at us and shake their heads a few times.  For the most part, they carried on with their work while we ran at the edge of the water past one hotel resort after another, each section flaunting a slightly different theme.  Whether it was the stately colonial style building or the sleek glass patio covered building, the beaches in front were covered with the same shade umbrellas over padded lounging chairs, the volleyball net next to a bar, and the towel distributing stand.  

Cancun

In Valladolid we stepped out of the gate to our hotel and began our run around the town courtyard.  The square park was lined with chairs made for two people (a feature of the Yucatan) and benches.  A few men who were sweeping the sidewalks of the park looked up at us with a head tilt, clearly wondering what we crazy Americanos were doing.  We made our way single-file down narrow streets lined with mult-colored buildings.  At each corner an officer was waiting to tell us when to pass, sharing the same quizzical look as the men sweeping the sidewalks.    

Rainbow over a street in Valledolid

Running in Merida has felt very natural.  Wide sidewalks line a street divided by medians filled with trees.  We passed a few other runners and shared “buenos dias” to the people who seemed to be walking to work.  I haven’t quite mastered crossing the streets at the many round-abouts, but patient drivers have waved me through.  It has a cosmopolitan feel to it while colonial style buildings sit on many block ends.  

The Streets of Merida