OSEA-CITE: Ethnography of the Future/Interdisciplinary
Cultural Anthropology/Study Abroad
Location: Mérida, Yucatán,
México
The Miraflores Research Center is situated in the capital city of
Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Mérida is rich in cultural activities
— in fact, it is rated as among the top cities in México
that heavily invests in the cultural life, activities and entertainment
of its inhabitants. Workshop participants are thus able to enjoy
Mérida’s many museums, libraries, restaurants, coffee
shops, theatres, international cinema, and contemporary dance events.
Traditional cultural events are scheduled throughout the week in
Mérida for both visitors and locals alike, including the
traditional medley of music, poetry, and dance on Thursdays in Santa
Lucia Park, dancing to live Cuban big band music of the 1940s on
Tuesdays in Parque Santiago, a Sunday Afternoon street festival
of food, comedy, dance, performance art, live bands, dancing. On
Saturday and Sunday nights the downtown is closed to accommodate
the street dancing with live salsa bands and romantic music. Here
you can dance with tourists, children and octogenarians.
The Miraflores Research Center is
located in the Jardines de Miraflores neighborhood, close to the
east entrance to Mérida. In immediate walking distance, within
five short blocks, of the Miraflores Center are four small parks,
two bakeries, four family run "loncheria" restaurants
for light evening meals, two family pizzerias, half a dozen small
green-grocery stores, three laundry facilities, two baseball diamonds,
two basketball and small sides soccer courts. The environment is
excellent for those who enjoy power walking and jogging in the parks,
and there is a good running route that ends at the Miraflores swimming
pool. Quick access to three major grocery stores and to the highway
to Chichén Itzá are minutes away by car. A major recreational
sports complex is 10 minutes distance.
Yucatán Climate in June
June is an ideal month to hold the Ethnography Writer’s Workshop.
The Yucatec sun is hottest in the months of April and May. This
is the time when the Maya farmer plants, just before the June rains
that bring fresh air and cooler climate to the peninsula. In July
and August the temperatures rise again until the September rains
again cool the earth. June is the coolest month of the summer and
spring, although the humidity is strong. In the evenings the temperatures
drop significantly.
The Workshop Environment
The Center is housed in a modern style, two story residence with
a small garden and private swimming pool, and located in a friendly
and personal neighborhood of Mérida, approximately five minutes
to downtown by public bus. With ample public and private space —
including a cozy reading room which is perfect for small meetings,
a small library, a computer lab with two PC laptops, PC desktop,
and a main conference room which overlooks the pool and garden —
researchers gather as a group to write, discuss, analyze and critique
their work.
Residential participants have full access to the classic Mexican
style kitchen, a large living room and relaxing balconies as well
as their own private spaces — which consist of three bedrooms
and two full baths. Fitting with the standards of the region, the
Center's architecture is designed to maximize the shifting temperature
and climate of Yucatán. Windows provide ample sunlight and
air during the day and yet maintain the interior cool during the
summer. Each room is simply furnished and equipped with ceiling
or floor fans.
