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Well you have feet, don’t you? Getting around the city of Orizaba couldn’t be easier. Taxis are readily available and very cheap, fares are only a few pesos from anywhere to anywhere in town. The cheapest way to get around of course, is to walk. The compact size of the mountain climbing-based city allows you to stroll casually between many locations in a matter of minutes, especially in and around downtown.

The city is divided into quadrants by MADERO, a street which runs North and South and COLON, a street which runs East and West. The streets to the West of Madero, paralleling Colon are named Ponientes. The ponientes to the north (the northwest quadrant) have even numbers; two, four, six, eight, etc.; while the ponientes to the south (the southwest quadrant) have odd numbers, three, five, seven, nine, etc. When the ponientes cross Madero they become Orientes. The orientes have odd numbers north of Colon and even numbers to the south of Colon. In the other direction (North and South) are the streets named Norte, that have odd numbers to the West of Madero (the northwest quadrant), and even numbers to the East of Madero (the northeast quadrant). The streets called Norte become Sur when they cross Colon, and have even numbers in the southwest quadrant, but odd numbers in the southeast quadrant.

The Parque de Castillo, marking the city’s hub, contains the Parish Church of San Miguel, while the Rio de Orizaba (Orizaba River) ambles serpent-like through the city’s western half. A ten-block square area encompasses more than 90% of Orizaba’s majesty, excepting volcano-related places and activities. If the city layout sounds complicated, relax, about five seconds with a city map and you’ll be all clear. A decent map will be found in the telephone directory at your hotel. It’s all you’ll need. Some hotels have simple maps that you can take with you.

Be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed; see address below.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Teacher Trainer, English language learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. He has published more than 350 articles and academic papers and presented at numerous EFL teacher training and TEFL conferences throughout North America, South America and Europe. For comments, questions, requests, to receive more information or to be added to his free TESOL articles and teaching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

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Living in Acapulco

“See you on the beach after English class!” Living in Acapulco, this is an all-too-common phrase of sorts. But after the beach, there’s far more to do and see. Here are some snippets from life in Acapulco.

To keep up with the local and latest national / international news you can read one of Acapulco’s three major newspapers. “El Sol de Acapulco” which costs 4 pesos and is published daily by the Organizacion Editorial Mexicana (Website: www.oem.com.mx ). This paper features extensive international and national as well as local news coverage.

Less extensive internationally but with good regional and local coverage is found in “Novedades Acapulco”, a daily, family-oriented paper available city-wide for 4 pesos. (website: www.aca-novenet.com.mx )

For up-to-date regional news for the state of Guerrero, “Diario Guerrero” is the paper to read. It isn’t web based, and features political news and events for the four pesos you plunk down. For sending commentary or just putting in your two cents worth, you can e-mail: diario17@prodigy.net.mx

What’s Around Acapulco to Do and See?

You’re kidding, right? Well. If you’re NOT kidding, here are some suggested sites to give you a modicum of ideas.

An over-abundance of information exists on things to do and see, as well as places to drop a few bucks in the city. With more than 10,000 operating websites to provide ideas, you’ll be up to your eyeballs on the web for weeks. We’re listing a few of the better ones to help start you off. One place for you to start is the Frommer website giving an overview and some useful general information at: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/acapulco/

Mexico travel information on-line with the Traveleye website provides extensive things to do and see listing worth checking out in advance to give a more than a few ideas. Go to: http://www.traveleye.com/northamerica/mexico/thingstodo.shtml

Fodor’s website is also a good one to take a look at with detailed info and maps to give a good overview of the city, its environs and an avalanche of optional activities. Visit them at: http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=acapulco@7 or start at their homepage: www.fodors.com

So, are you ready to come on down? Then, “See you on the beach after English class!”

Be sure to check out my other articles in the two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, have questions or comments, the author can be e-mailed; see address below.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Teacher Trainer, English language learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. He has published more than 350 articles and academic papers and presented at numerous EFL teacher training and TEFL conferences throughout North America, South America and Europe. For comments, questions, requests, to receive more information or to be added to his free TESOL articles and teaching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

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How does moving your kids to a foreign country effect them?

Those are very good questions. Why would you want to sell everything and move to Mexico (or any different country) with your kids? My husband and I thought long and hard about that question because we knew it would effect the rest of their lives.

It was not like we didn’t have a choice; it was not an employer requesting our move. There was no major reason, no urgency only our desire.

Basically, we just wanted to do it! We actually felt the need to show our children a different country, a different way to live and a different culture. Plus, we are adventurers at heart. All that being said, what would life be like for our kids?

In case you are considering moving to another country with your kids, here is what we have found after almost five years of living in Mexico, and we live with the results of our choice every day.

We made the move from Canada to Mexico when our son was eight and our daughter was 11. Our son was very laid back and loved the idea of moving to a place with palm trees. Our daughter was horrified. After all, at age 11, she had friends and a life.

It wasn’t at all easy, as there were language barriers, new schools, and new ways of thinking for all of us in our newly adopted country. We have however, managed to get through it all thus far and learned a lot in the process.
Now our son is 13 and our daughter is almost 16 and, as we suspected, their lives are permanently altered. My husband and I like what we see though. The kids now have a second language and a real understanding of cultural difference and different ways of life. They don’t see one as being better than another, just different. That kind of view has got to be good for the world.

They adapt to different situations without a lot of stress. They are free thinkers; they question a lot and take very little at face value. The downside is that they sometimes question their parents’ statements and challenge many of the beliefs we carry.

Our son now considers himself Mexican and has asked to school in Canada for a year in grade ten. He tells us it will help him understand the world better! We did not anticipate that - but he was only eight when we moved and most of his memories are now of Mexico.

Our daughter threw us a curve ball; she wants to continue her university education here in Mexico. I didn’t expect that. I guess I just figured they would go back to Canada for university or maybe somewhere else in the world to continue an exploration on their own. But she wants to perfect her Spanish and pursue teaching and possibly translation work. She also wants to perfect her English skills by whatever means so that it benefits her teaching and translation skills, and so that she can be a writer as well. At this point she considers her home to be Mexico.

Would I do it again? Things or situations crop up and I actually ask that question - but the answer always come back to yes, I would do it again.

Suzanne Marie Bandick is the author of an exciting new eBook called “Only in Mexico, You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico.” To order or get further information on living in Mexico, visit http://www.SuzanneMarieBandick.com

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