Job Discussion Forums

[thelmadatter]

for those of you cool enough to be going to MexTESOL in 2 days time, you can hook up with me and MELEE. We are staying at Hotel Amparo in Veracruz or even easier, you can call me on either of my two cell phones...

55 2092 8452

or

722 339 1927

[MO39]

So, how was the convention? What did you think of Vera Cruz? Was there any time for fun and games after the presentations and speeches?

[thelmadatter]

I mostly enjoyed Veracruz but unfortunately this cold that has been dogging me for 3 weeks got the better of me and I had to leave on Sat. (Got to DF and slept practically non stop for the rest of the weekend)

I liked Veracruz. The weather was warm but not too hot (and I dont like hot and humid) La Parroquia coffee is great (and Im not a fan of coffee) and I liked the feel of the city in general. Boca del Rio was far more developed (gringo like) than I expected so Im glad I stayed in Veracruz proper than near the convention.

En fin... I just wish I had been in better health to really enjoy the place as it was my first time there.

[leslie]

Bye

[MELEE]

I actually talked to 4 teachers from Veracruz. Only one was non-Mexican and only one had a full-time job (a Mexican). So there's work. Also quiet a few people around town tried to speak to me in English, but seemed relieved to find I spoke Spanish so, I'd say there's a market there GP.
It was also my first time in Veracruz. The buildings just around the zocalo are gorgous and well-kept, but just a block or two beyound that and the place seemed to be sloughing towards Havana. I guess sea air is hard on paint, but certainly seems that all the money have gone into the NEW areas like Boca del Rio, rather than in keeping up the history of the place. Thelmadatter, I hope your feeling better. Saturday, I was having a Bohemia Obsucra (man's gift to god) in the Zocalo when some navel officers sat down next to me. They were out of uniform but insisted I study their IDs so I'd know that they were really navel officers . Turns out they are teacher's at the navel academy and decided to milk me for teaching knowledge and tips to help them with their English in exchange for beer. I told them my roommate was sick at the hotel in order to finally escape

GP there seems to be a largish retired gringo community. I least that's what I'm judging from the conversation between two old gringos who were on the bus in front of me my first morning there. One was an old-timer and the other a new arrival. The old timer was telling the new guy all about the local sceen. I guess a place called La Mula Negra is where they all hang out--there and get this--BENNIGAN'S!!! The newcomer was a Willie Nelson look alike, so I think you're pony tail will be fine. I also saw two other blonde pony tails around.

I was kind of surprised by they gulf, I'd been to Progresso in the Yucatan, but this was a lot different. In most places there is little or no beach! Just the sea, right there next to the road.

[GueroPaz]

Thanks for all the reports, especially about the umbilical officers (sorry, couldn't resist!). I was an Air Force instructor at a medical school, countless decades ago.

It sounds as if there is a sort of English-teaching scene there, without too many native speaking teachers or tutors. Now if I could find cheap lodging...

There are other places along the gulf with very limited beach, if you count downtown Corpus Christi, and parts of Galveston. Not uncommon in the USA for Atlantic and Pacific, as well.

I've developed habits of avoiding some of the ugliest American tourist types, although I've managed a truce with the expatriates. I hardly drink at all, so that eliminates lots of cantinas and saloons, other than British sedan saloons with boots and windscreens. Maybe if I avoid Boca del Rio, I'll find the authentic Veracruz.

I was just tutoring some verbals phrases. And my pet peeve, distinguishing between the British who will do it (for sure, definitely) and the British who are going to do it (prospectively, or uncertainly). We Americans will see to it that we're going to be doing it, I reckon, maybe, for sure, whatever.

The tenth anniversary of Acteal is six weeks away, and I've heard the Mexican govt. is sponsoring a whitewash of the paramilitary/military/civilian govt.'s intellectual authorship of the whole massacre, portraying it as just the gravel pit dispute. What's the Mexican term for a gravel pit? I need it for my novel.

Thanks again. Maybe I will come, for sure I will come, I think I'm going to be coming...but I definitely shall not cut the blond ponytail.

[MELEE]

Oh I forgot to mention that I saw loads of for rent signs around. Mostly on kind of run down places not right in the center, but not out by Boca either. It actually reminded me of that women who posted a year or so ago that said she needed a place to teach and her boyfriend need a house to renovate! If you're reading this, did you ever make it to Mexico?

[melirae]

I was bad- I only went to one session per day except Saturday when I went snorkeling instead! I loved the guy that did the phrasal verb talk - Steve Taylore-Knowles. I didn't actually see that session, but I introduced his keynote on Thursday and listened to his presentation about materials development. I bumped into him again on Sunday in Cordova eating comida.

Despite the slow start on Thursday, I thought the conference was very well organized! There were lots of interesting sessions and I wish I would have taken more advantage of them, but the pool and vodka were too hard to resist!! They also had great deals on books- I was able to pick up a text for about half of what it would have cost me in the USA!

[MELEE]

Steve Taylore-Knowles is a regular on the TESL-L listserve, I've alwasy enjoyed his contributions there.

There were great prices. I only bought things for my children, but I got three CD-ROMs for them for under 300! That's about what 3 pirated CD-Roms would cost me.