Job Discussion Forums

[browniea]

Hello,

I am considering accepting a position at La Universidad de Oriente in Valladolid, Yucatan.

I am wondering if you can give me any advice about the city or university itself, or even the Yucatan. I have never been to that part of Mexico.

I know it will be a drastic change from Guadalajara, but I am kind of looking for that. But I am wondering...will it be too drastic? In my interview they warned me there is not much to do there..

Thanks!

[Thomcat]

Unfortunately, I can't give you any advice about the Yucatan, or any part of Mexico, due to the fact that I have never been there. I am a newbie looking to go to Mexico and am wondering if you might be able to tell me anything about Guadalajara?

[MELEE]

It's such a shame that BenRoundeBloc is gone. He was our resident Yucatan expert. I studied abroad there long long ago when I was in high school and passed through Valladolid twice. But never spent more than half a day there. It's a very pretty little town.

I can't give you advice about what you can do there, because I honestly don't know. But I do know about living in a small town in Southern Mexico. I've lived in one for the past 9 years. During that time I've worked alongside about 30 other foriegners so I've developed an idea about what works and what doesn't.
Good people for such an enviroment are people who are kind of home bodies and kind of outdoorsy work well. People who either speak Spanish or have a strong desire to learn it and are willing to put in the work it takes to learn a language. People who are generally interested in learning about the local culture and history. People who enjoy all types of Mexican music and apprieciate loud music. People who are out going. People who are at least slightly thick skinned and don't mind sticking out like a sore thumb. People who welcome the opportunity to be a local celebrity. People who are used to finding ways to entertain themselves, rather then opening up the "What's on" section of the paper and seeing how the city will entertain them. It's up to you to decide if that's you or not.
Ultimately the ones who stay more than two years generally do so because they find a local romance and that's an automatic in to a ready built social circle.
For the Yucatan in particular, I would say tolerance or better yet, a like of hot humid weather is a must!

[New Haven]

I've lived in Merida for a year now -- about 2 hours west of Valladolid. It's hot and humid during April and May, though it improves somewhat from mid-May on, when the rainy season begins. So if you like tropical climate, this is definitely the place to be.

Regards,
Sharon

[periodista-masajista]

I only went through Valladolid once, after I had taught in Campeche for a few months and was doing a Merida-Chichen Itza-Tulum swing. It made me wish I'd been teaching in Valladolid instead. Very lively and friendly...at least compared to Campeche.

What happened to Ben Round de Bloc?