Staying with a Host Family

By Jeremy Carter – Guest blogger traveling in Merida, Mexico.
I'll admit that before arriving here in Merida, I had some hesitation about living with a family for a month. I've lived independently for more than eight years, so I was wondering how I'd adapt to eating every meal with a family. As it turns out, it's been one of the greatest highlights of my stay here.
Donia Nena, my house mother, is 85 years old but could easily pass for at least 15 years younger. Another lady of about the same age named Marionella rents a room in her home, and Donia Nena's daughter and youngest grandchild, Ramon (or Ramoncito, "Little Ramon," as they call him) visit nearly everyday.
Although I'm accustomed to eating alone at home, I look forward to our meals together. For one thing, it's provided a much-needed boost for my language skills. When conversations aren't structured like they are in class, your "survival" language skills kick in and even if you don't catch every word of a sentence, you learn to pick out the key ones so you can grasp the idea of what was said. You also develop a knack for figuring out different ways to explain things instead of searching for words that are just out of your grasp.
On the rare occasion that it's just Donia Nena and I eating together, she takes the opportunity to teach me wonderful things about Yucatecan culture. Yesterday, brunch was accompanied by a lesson in local music, with Donia Nena playing several songs for me on the stereo. Much of the music had a very distinct sound, very tropical, but also melodic and romantic. Then she played a few songs from some friends of hers: women who are all in their 80s and 90s but perform together on a regular basis, each of them playing multiple instruments.
Today, lunch was accompanied by Donia Nena telling me a few local legends, such as the legend of Xtabay, a beautiful woman who was looked down upon by many people for certain proclivities. However, due to her very kind heart and her willingness to help those less fortunate than her, when she died and was buried, an abundance of fragrant flowers grew above her grave.
Donia Nena is already planning the legends for tomorrow's lunch, including one about a man who sold his shadow to the devil. Needless to say, I'm glad I put aside any thoughts of finding my own accommodations on this trip, as being adopted by Donia Nena and her family has taken my immersion experience to an entirely new level.