When I first moved to México, I experienced a range of emotions: the bubbling excitement in anticipation of a new adventure, being ready to explore every crevice of my new town; the eagerness to use my newly-learned Mayan expressions (also, the feeling of amazement when I realized how different the Mayan language is from the Spanish language); and the very anxious and sometimes nervous feeling that I got when meeting new people--the one that feels like a hundred little butterflies are fluttering in my stomach. It can be scary relocating to a new place, where you are unsure of what to expect, and have to start over from scratch. When I moved here, I had to relearn even the simplest of things, like the location of the nearest grocery store, the proper way to greet people, and how to catch the bus (as mentioned in my past post on transportation).
With all of these emotions happening at once, living here sometimes felt overwhelming and at times I felt very homesick (and sometimes still do!). One of the best ways I overcame my relocation jitters was through cultural integration. For me, integrating into the diverse culture of Mérida means adapting to the cultural norms and traditions while also being open to share my culture and traditions from the United States--all without either cultures sacrificing the characteristics that make it unique.
