Job Discussion Forums

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

QUOTE: "It does seem like the folks in the best position are the ones who have a pension, or some source of income from their home countries" UNQUOTE

With my approximate pension is $1,800 CDN. I'm hoping I can afford to be somewhat choosy.

However, I also hope to earn enough to at least pay for food and shelter. I'm planning to live frugally, which is a skill I'm teaching myself at the moment.

With a CTESL (Canadian certification to teach adults ESL) a B.A. and volunteer teaching and tutoring of around 300 hours, I'm wondering if $500 - for a heaven forbid - 40 hour work week - is realistic??? Is a 40 hour work week necessary to make $500/month?

Does anyone live in cuidad de Zacatecas? Or know anything about job opportunities in that area. I thought I might look for work there - either tutoring or working at a private language school.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

In the yellow pages of the phone book (online) there are 257 listings under
Escuelas, Institutos, and Universidades in the City of Zacatecas. You should have no problem finding a job or two there. And it's supposed to be a good place to live too.

MO39 · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

I have read that Zacatecas is known in Mexico as estaci�n inverno, loosely translated I think that means it's always like winter.

I live in Winnipeg, the center of North America. Today we are at -25C with a windchill warning of -45C. Winnipeg is frequently the coldest large city in the world. Zacatecas with a mean average of 52F in January is pretty warm when compared to my current almost inuit existence.

So I'll bring a few jackets - but I can leave behinde my thermal socks, underwear, mittens, toques, sorrel boots and parka.

But - yes - things are relative - and Zacatecas is on the cool side compared to other parts of Mexico. Just as Winnipeg is very cold compared to other parts of Canada. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject.

Good to know if I don't find work I can still live comfortably, but I plan to live frugally so I have money to travel. You've supported my suspicions.

Also good to know I can find work. I love teaching English.

Thanks a bunch for the information.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

You will be really sorry if you leave your winter clothes in Canada. I am in Mazatlan on the ocean, where we have just had the coldest winter in what feels like forever and I have used the warmest of winter jackets, socks, scarves (ocean breeze!) for the past 2 months, brought from Canada and saved for just such occasions. We even had to buy a little heater this year. One night a couple of weeks ago it went from 30C during the day down to 4C overnight...that's a drastic temperature spread. Weird winter. But it does get cold here in Mexico and you will feel it. Bringing winter clothes will save you buying them here.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

SLP? San Luis Polsi? At this point I'm having to work on learning the shortening of cuidads on this forum. I'll learn.

Perhaps I'll bring gloves but not mittens. Una chaqueta with a zip out lining. I never needed toques, mitts or scarves in Vancouver BC, my oringial home. Learning to dress for Winnipeg winter is an art form and I can't see lugging sorrel boots to Mexico.

Come to think of it, when I was in Key West Florida in February a few years ago it was very cold. But not parka and sorrel boot cold. We could go short sleeved in mid-afternoon. It was the mornings with no heat in the B&B that got to me. I'd bundle up in the livingroom reading a book and the proprietor would come in to make breakfast say, "Welcome to paradise." She'd open all the doors and windows and I'd be freezing.

She said living up north in my heated house made me soft.

By the way. Thanks for the info. on SLP - I'll take it as an invite and take a visit to SLP into consideration.

Finishing my course work in April. Retiring July. Entering Mexico Sept. so still some time to plan and mull things over.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

Good places to work? Well, I work at a language school in Cuernavaca, but it's not like other language schools I know of. I've been really happy here. The pay isn't as high as universities but it's a great place to work. PM me if you're interested.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

A swiss school? No, I'm not familiar with it. But, I've only worked for one school in the city, so I don't know a lot about the others.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Oreen wrote:

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

thecrit840 · Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 33

I was considering Zacatecas before choosing Queretaro. Some of the Lonely Planet posters said they've been there for bad snowstorms, yet there is rarely central heat.

After living in the Republic and asking around, many Mexicans told me winters in Zacatecas can be brutal, with few of the coping mechanisms that we, who are from the north are used to relying on.

I think, if you're determined to go there, you should bring loads of winter clothing, and a space heater. Even in Queretaro, I (and Canadian friends of mine) regretted how ill-prepared we had arrived to spend winter at a city of altitude in the Republic.