One of the many reasons I love working at Xperitas is that I know that the immersion experiences we create for students will have a positive and lasting impact on their lives into the future. I know this because it was my experience and that of almost every one of my colleagues on the Xperitas team.
As a sophomore at Carleton College, in Northfield, MN I had the opportunity to travel to Morelia, Mexico. Morelia is “off the beaten path” for most Americans since it isn’t a beach destination. But it is an absolute jewel of a city, located in Central Mexico, the capital city of the Mexican state of Michoacán. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking architectural diversity.
After college, I returned to Morelia and lived there for eight wonderful years before deciding to return to the United States. Among my fondest memories was my time teaching elementary school at the Instituto Pedagógico Piaget, a private, bilingual school for students ages 3-15. I am still in contact with many of these amazing kids via Facebook almost 30 years later and just marvel at seeing them as adults with children of their own. I also made some forever adult friends (see below.)
I just loved the month of May when I was teaching in Morelia, although sometimes not a lot of teaching went on! Mexican people are so good at celebrating, and May was a month of celebration.
- April 30th (leading into May) is Children’s Day
- May 1 is Labor Day
- May 5th is Cinco de Mayo (1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla)
- May 10th is Mother’s Day
- May 15th is Teacher Appreciation Day
Of course, no celebration is complete without delicious food, and Morelia is known as the great gastronomic destination of Central Mexico and the birthplace of Mexican traditional cuisine. The recipes I’m sharing with you today are two favorites that continue to be staples in my bilingual, bicultural household to this day. Download Recipes I shared these with the Xperitas team during a staff event last Thursday, so if you have any questions on how to pick the perfect avocado or how to char serrano peppers, we are here to help!
Let us assist in planning your next immersion experience and help make it accessible to all of your students! We have many destination options for Language Immersion programs worldwide. Necessary traveler protections for teachers and students are already integrated into our programs too! Contact us today!