Job Discussion Forums

[silvertonguedcavalier]

I'm considering taking International House's CELTA course in Playa Del Carmen, and am wondering what places in Mexico would be ideal for me to teach in. My criteria follows:

1) A place that has a good climate year round, not too hot, not too cold. I would like to avoid rain as well, but can live with it if I have to.

2) A place where I will be able to work legally with only a CELTA. I know requirements vary throughout Mexico, I currently have no degree and don't anticipate getting one for a long time, if ever.

3) I would like to, as I'm sure you're all sick of hearing, (er, reading) earn enough to live comfortably. I'm aware this is a difficult question to answer due to how subjective it is, so I'll do my best to define "comfortably" by my standards:

- A clean, secure apartment in a safe area. I'm not really concerned about size or furnishings, all I need is space for a bed and desk, a bathroom and kitchen. (Hell, I could even make do without a kitchen). And I want to live alone.

- An internet connection.

- I want to be able to eat well. I'm a health-conscious person and want to start lifting weights again, so I need a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and all that good stuff our bodies need.

- It would be nice to be able to travel, or at the very least, do things in the city, such as going to musuems, art shows, concerts, events, hiking, etc.

- I would like to be able to afford martial art and Spanish language classes, which brings up another thing I'm looking for, a place with good martial art schools (looking for, in order of importance, Judo, Boxing, (which I understand is huge in Mexico) MMA, Fencing) and good Spanish schools.

- If possible, I would to be able to save at least $50-$100 Canadian per month.

- And preferably, I would like to do this without running myself into the ground by spending excessive time commuting or working split-shifts, though from what I've read, this may be impossible for me to avoid. If so, I'm willing to pay my dues.

I have no need for night life or alcohol. I don't particularly care for either.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you need to know anything else to answer my query, just ask.

[john_n_carolina]

...you might want to specify what is too cold, in C or F. obviously, too hot is 90+ for most people. and, if im not mistaken, there aren't many steady gigs in those areas of Mexico. so, you're probably looking at 1-2 hours inland from the coast and below the Sierra Madre Occidental area. inland from the South - between the coast and Sierra Madre Sur (south) sounds like your temp.

i suppose start with that (temp) and Google some cities.

another thing to consider is if you want to live in the North, South, East or West areas of Mexico. i imagine they vary considerably in terms of culture, lifestyle, art, etc etc

[silvertonguedcavalier]

I'm aiming for a place where the temperature is 15-20C year round.

[Guy Courchesne]

Up in the hills then...the temp ranges are a little wider than that, say, 15-28C daytime highs, and 5C-15C nightime, though the lower end of that is really only during November and December.

Suggestions on cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Queretaro, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Morelia, and Aguascalientes. However, to meet all your cultural and sporting activity needs, as well as save some money, Mexico City is probably your best bet. In fact, since you're doing the CELTA at International House in Playa, you shold check into working for IH here in Mexico City. They do prefer to hire in-house and can offer a decent pay package.

[JakeJakeJake]

DF.
IH is pretty decent, ive had no problems with them. usually have openings, if you do a good job on CELTA with them, I can't see them not giving u a job in DF. Playa is a dif matter.

best place ive ever lived, DF

[silvertonguedcavalier]

[notamiss]

A typical day in the rainy season in Mexico City is like this: Sunny in the morning. Clouds start gathering around mid-day. A few hours later there is a heavy shower, or a really heavy downpour and thunderstorm, either in the afternoon or the evening, lasting anything from an hour to the whole afternoon and evening.

It's often spotty: one section of the city will get the heaviest downpour ever while another section stays dry or almost dry.

Variations are: Occasionally last night's rain is still hanging around by dawn. This tends to happen only later in the rainy season, in September or early October.
In general the daily rainstorm may fall at any time from early afternoon onward, but sometimes not until until late at night.
When there is a hurricane on the Carribbean coast that comes inland, we don't get the winds, but we do get the rain. Those are virtually the only times that it rains continuously, without a break in the morning. Happens maybe once or twice a year if at all.

The rain starts around March*, sporadically�for example some isolated days, then a few days in a row and then nothing more for several weeks. Gradually through April and May, it increases in frequency, until it rains daily. In 11 years here I've seen the daily rain start as early as the beginning of June or as late as the end of June. After that, daily rain, with few exceptions, continues through July and August and into September, then it gradually decreases in frequency, but not in intensity. Although there are fewer rainy days, when it does rain, the storms can be just as heavy well into October.

By Muertos (beginning of November), the rainy season is over.

----------------
*UPDATE: I should add that while it is unusual to have rain before, say the end of February, it's not impossible to have that one rogue rainstorm in the middle of the dry season. I write this on January 15, 2 pm, and it is POURING. #%����& Tlaloc!

[Guy Courchesne]

[MO39]

Notamiss, thanks so much for your account of the Mexican rainy season. I think I'll save it for the next time someone asks me what the weather's like here between June and October.

One additional thing that could be mentioned is that it's not hot here in the summer and that before and after the daily downpours, it's not overly warm and humid like it is in many parts of the US and Canada from May to September. Instead, its usually sunny, dry and quite pleasant!

[lozwich]

[MO39]

[notamiss]

Yes, the hottest time is April�May before the rain gets consistent. Once the rain starts seriously, it cuts the heat.

[silvertonguedcavalier]

Thank you for the impressive description of the weather, Notamiss.