Merida UBELONG

Ever since I had made the decision to come to Mexico there was always a big question that I couldn’t answer “ What are you going to be doing in Mexico? I knew that being prepared to teach and to help others was the best way I could prepare but other than that we had no actual idea what we would be doing. I was surprised to find out how much of that was true and that I truly had no idea what we were doing. To answer that question a day in the life of an intern in Mexico goes just like this- We begin the day to a famous Taylor swift song about narcissist at exactly 7:30 each day, we eat breakfast each day with our host that come from Venezuela and Yucatan culture. Soon after we head out early in the morning to walk all the way across downtown, crossing the markets, and smelling the air of Cochinta. After a long walk, we usually wait about ten minutes to take a Comvi which will take us to our final destination. Throughout the morning we remain mostly quiet seeing as the next ...

Here we go again... if you're wondering why I named this one love its probably not the same type your thinking. I don't have a crazy summer love story or any crazy idea of what love really is, even though it's my favorite thing to gossip about (aka. listen too).  No, the reason I named this one love, is because I want to remember that exact feeling you feel when you are loved unconditionally. The type of Love nobody can really describe or give hugs and kisses to, the type everyone longs for but takes a long time to find. This type of love can only come through one thing when you lose yourself in helping someone else. This week ended the summer courses we had been teaching the kids for the past two weeks. During the past two weeks, all we have been doing is waking up early going to the class, teaching five hours of English and enjoying the kids grow a bit stronger in their communication with us.  When the courses were over and all of them had finally performed all they had...

There aren't a lot of people who know this but when I was little and swimming in the depths of a Venezuelan beach a wave caught me and my two cousins into the biggest current I would ever experience. That moment would change my perspective on the ocean for the rest of my life. I experienced the strength and capacity of the ocean and I felt so helpless while I struggled to swim and catch a breath while keeping my cousin afloat because of her lack of swim experience. Needless to say, I turned out more than ok after a quick short prayer but I would never underestimate the power of the ocean and what lies within it. This weekend we had the opportunity to head to Playa del Carmen after a long week with the kids. The kids explained to us that the area wasn't safe and exclaimed: "what are you guys doing!!!". While we were there we went to a local snorkeling shop down the street from our house. I hesitated at first because 1. I still had a fear of fish 2. we would have no...

If you have never been to the Merida, there is one fact I think everyone should know. Although this is Mexico, there is a whole different culture waiting for everyone to catch a glimpse of. In the state of Yucatan most tourist come to see the big pyramid of Chichen Itza. But one hidden secret is that there is a small town called Xhumal. This small town has one the most beautiful pyramids and mayan town anyone could ever step on. They are well kept and untouched by the world and seem to still carry the sounds that Mayans once lived in. While walking through the ruins you begin to imagine what life was like without any of the stuff we now have. You ask yourself how in the world was it that around 25,000 people lived there. Then at night, there is a light show where you get to experience a story filled with lights set up to illuminate the buildings from sunset to dark. Now here is where it gets interesting. The storyline begins with the Mayan calling out for the rain God whose name is...

One day when I was a little girl, my parents asked me what I was doing to fulfill the full potential that I had within myself.  I often wondered what it was my parents meant by living my full potential with ambition. It wasn't until later on in life I found that limiting our potential to what others see of us is so limiting. We must be willing to sacrifice and go out of our comfort zone in order to truly find our potential. Since being here in Merida I have had to step out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought I would be doing. Teaching about 70 kids a day was not something I was expecting to do neither was it something I was ready for. But now that classes were starting I found myself thinking differently and processing things differently than I had before. I began to question and realize what I have liked and haven't liked doing. This week we had to prepare each day one lesson for all the kids and teach for five hours each day. At the end of two weeks, t...

I never thought that I would actually have the opportunity to go to TULUM. It was a moment in time where one of my dreams actually came true. It was an opportunity I can never forget. We were able to see the ruins which looked as if though they have never been touched and had been there since God created the world, and then we got to snorkeling, eat Mexican food and end the day at the Lake. It was the most wonderful day I could have ever experienced. After this day You truly begin to see the beauty in even the little things. They are all over around us. You can even begin to see the beauty within the people that are right beside you. Everyone needs someone to point out the beauty into their lives. I’m so grateful to see a part of the world with some of the greatest friends I will ever get to make.              On sunday we headed to church once again to attend a meeting with one of the seventy from the church, gi...