Ms. Marimar Patrón, Dr. Laura Ellis-Lai, and Ms. Claudia Chapa Cortés (seated) on the back patio of HABLA, The Center for Language in Culture in Merida, December 2018.
The city of Mérida in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is one of the safest and most cosmopolitan cities in all of Mexico. Texas State University students will be warmly welcomed to the city by a large support system:
- Dr. Laura Ellis-Lai, your Texas State University instructor from the Department of English in San Marcos, who will meet you in Merida,
- Ms. Amanda Scott, Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Texas State University and our Trip Assistant,
- Ms. Claudia Cortés, M.A., our local service provider in Merida and owner of Tsikbal International Education Agency,
- Ms. Marimar Patrón, M.A., and Mr. Kurt Wooten, the co-directors of HABLA, The Center for Language and Culture, which is the internationally recognized language and arts education school providing our classroom space in Merida,
- Mr. Salvador Chapa and the friendly staff at his travel agency, who will arrange our tour guides and local transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned vans,
- Mr. Edward Ellis-Lai, Dr. Ellis-Lai’s spouse and an instructional technology staff member at Texas State University,
- and your home stay families, who will provide your housing and meals while you are in Merida.
Ms. Amanda Scott, our Trip Assistant, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Texas State University. Ms. Scott will be helping to provide logistical information about the trip for students at Texas State University before our departure for Mérida.
Ms. Marimar Patrón, Co-Director of HABLA and provider of our classroom space, and Ms. Claudia Chapa Cortés of Tsikbal Educational Agency, our local provider in Mérida.
Doña Susana, one of the kind host moms awaiting us in Mérida.
Mr. Salvador Chapa, Ms. Gaby Chacón, and the rest of his travel agency staff will arrange our day trip tour guides and local transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned vans.
Dr. Ellis-Lai’s husband, Mr. Edward Ellis-Lai, a Texas State University instructional technology staff member, will be traveling with us. His hobbies include carrying first aid supplies in his backpack, helping people set up internet connections, and supplying emergency backup cell phone power banks to those in need.
*Program pending approval and subject to change