The Yucatan program has been a key international activity at UF for the past 18 years. The experiences with over 500 undergraduate students suggests that the Yucatan program will be a way for Lombardi Scholars to meet other UF students, engage in understanding a different culture, learn Spanish, and become involved in health related research. Each summer the program brings 30 students for language study, cultural exploration, field excursions, and research in the fields of medicine and health, ecology, education, and the social sciences.