Yucatan Living

Yucatan News: Virtual Library & Migrant Money

Important Dates that Affect Expats

This is the time of year when there are all kinds of changes in Yucatan and in the expat community itself. First, by April 1, Snowbirds are beginning to leave Yucatan and return to their homes north of the border. Never fear, howeve.. by the first of October, they will be starting to trickle back in. April 1 is also an important date to those who will remain in Yucatan for the summer because that is the date that CFE summer electric rates go into effect. Summer subsidy rates will last until October 30. If you are not an expat in Yucatan, you can get a better understanding of the CFE subsidy system from our article Saving Energy in the Yucatan. There is one more date in April that everyone should remember. Daylight savings time will begin in Yucatan on April 8. How do you remember which way to turn the hands on your clocks? Just remember to Spring forward or Fall back. It’s hard to believe that another winter has come and gone. We hope that everyone has a wonderful summer!

Nursing Students for Exchange Program Talks

Nursing students and their respective departmental leaders from Appalachian State University, North Carolina, and the National College of Professional Technical Education (Conalep), Yucatan, met in Merida this past week to get to know each other and work on plans for a soon-to-be exchange program between the two schools. As the world continues to grow smaller, it is more important than ever that disciplines such as nursing take it upon themselves to ensure that they are able to meet the health, language and cultural needs of patients no matter where they work. We know this is true because of the many requests we get for referrals to physicians who speak English and/or who have English speaking staff members. These young professionals are the treasures of North Carolina and Yucatan, and we congratulate them for creating their own opportunities.

New Virtual Library at the Olimpo

This new library provides free access to computers and the Internet for academic, cultural or business use. Time is limited to 50 minutes if others are waiting, and services include assistance with learning how to send and receive e-mails, technical assistance, basic computer courses and school visits. Patrons must be registered users. This is wonderful news for those who do not have, or cannot afford, computer services at home. Senior citizens clubs are particularly interested in this library and we remember what happened the first time seniors organized to learn to use computers. The more mature ladies of one entire village met their counterparts in another Latin American country in an online forum, took off to go and visit them (got the state to pay for their trip!), and the headlines were all about how the men and children were left behind to fend for themselves for days on end. Everyone loved the entire adventure and we look forward to hearing some of the success stories coming from this new library. The Virtual Library of Merida is on the second floor of the Olimpoand is open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday; from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday; and from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sunday. For more information, you are invited to visit their website.

Tourism Heads South

When expats and tourists think of Yucatan, they most often think of Merida and the beach towns, followed closely by Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Valladolid and Izamal. That is changing rapidly as the Southern Cone of Yucatan invites everyone to come there on vacation. That area of the Yucatan Peninsula has the most archaeological sites, the most former haciendas, the most cenotes and caves, the Fall and Spring shoe fairs, and even the Orange Festival. This year, 36 students from Germany, Brazil, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya and Mexico came to Tzucacab to combine their Spring vacation with learning about ancient Maya farming techniques. No matter your interest, there is something for everyone in the southern part of Yucatan.

Invitation: The Way of the Cross

It has always seemed a bit odd to us that religious tourism doesn’t seem to have as much emphasis on it as it probably should in Yucatan. After all, Izamal has the second largest church courtyard in the world, second only to St. Peter’s in Rome. This year, as the magical pueblos of Yucatan continue to shine, everyone was invited to attend “The Way of the Cross,” in Tizimin on Good Friday. If you are a Catholic, or if you are just interested in coming for the experience alone, do mark your calendars for almost anywhere in Yucatan on Good Friday next year. To learn more about this holiday and the extent to which it is practiced in Yucatan, read our article “Semana Santa in Acanceh, Yucatan.” There is a video with the article that is a must see if you would like to experience Holy Week in Yucatan.

Migrant Money Comes Home

The Municipality of Chocholá now has its own multipurpose stadium, complete with concrete floor, bleachers for 100 spectators, bathrooms and a roof. The children's soccer field now has changing rooms, lighting, bathrooms and roofed terraces. Both of these projects were funded by the 3 x 1 For Migrants program, in which pooled migrant remittances from Yucatecan workers in the United States are matched by local, state and federal money here in Mexico. All of Mexico’s migrants are to be congratulated for the wonderful projects they have funded since the beginning of these types of programs. Sending money home for one person or one family feeds them for a day. Sending money home for building infrastructure and creating jobs means that entire areas benefit for years to come.

Spring and Summer Shoe Fair vs. Beach

As fairs and holidays continue to grow in size and length, they are beginning to overlap in some places. This past weekend, the longer running Ticul Shoe Fair met the earlier opening Semana Santa migration to the beach... and the beach won. Over 60,000 people hit the road in search of sun and waves, while the Ticul Shoe Fair reported sales numbers that were little more than sales for an ordinary business day. There is truly something for everyone in Yucatan in the Spring.

Relief for Honey Farmers

As part of a special program aimed at reducing the effects of drought, 4,000 beekeepers from 39 municipalities in Yucatan received 600 tons of sugar, in the space of just two weeks, to protect their hives. The total investment in this program was in excess of $5 million pesos. This will keep all 50,000 hives alive and secure Yucatan's place in the international honey market.

Watermelon Season in Yucatan

The news from Peto is all about this year's abundant crop of watermelons! Prices are currently running at about $3 pesos per kilo, with some individual watermelons going for $10 to $15 pesos each. Yucatan's farmers didn't start growing watermelons as a major export until just a few years ago, but they have certainly made up for lost time with one of the best products on the market today. This is one of those times when expats can go to local markets, look at a harvest like this, and really realize how lucky they are to live in Yucatan. Congratulations to all of Yucatan's watermelon growers for this successful crop.