The Real Last Blog

Final Final Blog

February 29, 2016

Hi All,

We thought we were finished with our blogs from Mexico, but then we realized there were a few more item we should tell you about.

We realized that we didn’t say much about the serious problem of marginalization of the Mayan people here in the Yucatan Peninsula.  And it has been going on since the Conquistadors from Spain arrived in the early 1,500’s and it continues until today.  This is similar to what happened and still happens in the United States with Native Americans, and in other countries with indigenous populations.

What is this marginalization?  It is economic, educational, health, in fact, all of the important aspects of life.  Mayan people are excluded from all of this.  In the villages, the government doctors do not speak Mayan.  There are few, if any Mayan teachers.  Government programs like vitamins for children and pregnant women which are given all over the country, somehow bypasses the Mayan villages.  When the government gave out more than 2,000,000 TV sets because the TV system has changed, and requires special antennas, the Mayan villages, if a few people did manage to get a TV,  didn’t get an antenna, and they can’t afford to buy one.

Many young people who want to go to a university, can’t afford to go.  The scholarships don’t provide enough.  The courses offered near the Mayan villages only prepare the students to work in the big resort cities like Cancun or Playa del Carmen, rather than offer courses which would permit them to return and work in the villages, in order for these students to help the villages and the residents become more independent, financially and otherwise.

In short, neither government nor the society as a whole seems to care about these Mayan people.

Thus, groups like this one we work with are doing a good job.  Helping develop income generating activities that are highly successful now and operating independently.  Helping small farms – milpas – produce more and better.  And many of the milpas produce enough to sell their excess, and even supply local primary schools with food.

Merida, where we have been staying has an abundance of parks and activities:  concerts, dances, some blocked streets on Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and all day Sunday in the Centro.  We have enjoyed all of these activities.  Plus, it is very safe.

But, it is time to go home, so bye bye.

Love,

Peter and Hinda