Teach English in Oaxaca
History
Oaxaca is located at the convergence of the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges, resulting in a rugged and mountainous terrain with a large temperate central valley. The average altitude is 1,500 meters (5,085 feet) above sea level. The area is a distinct physiographic section of the larger Sierra Madre del Sur province, which in turn is part of the larger Sierra Madre System physiographic division. Oaxaca City is the capital of the state of the same name and its only major city. The state of Oaxaca borders the states of Guerrero to the west, Puebla to the northwest, Veracruz to the north, Chiapas to the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the south.
Oaxaca is the fifth largest state in the country, and according to the 2005 census it had a population of 3,506,821 people. It owes its fame to the beauty and harmony of its architecture, the richness of its cultural traditions, the wide variety of its typical foods, and its soft temperate climate throughout the year. Although remote, the city is both stimulating and cosmopolitan, with strong international influences that flatter its unmistakable Mexican personality.
Cost of living
Based on a standard USD exchange value the cost of living in Oaxaca varies from US$620 per month to US$920. These figures are based on expenditure on housing, food, education, transportation, clothing, recreation, health, furniture, appliances and personal use.
A big feature of living in Mexico is that domestic help is relatively cheap compared to countries in the Western world. In Oaxaca it’s common to pay around $20 USD to a person (usually a woman) who will come and clean your apartment, iron clothes and if you’re willing to pay a bit extra, cook as well.
For expatriates often the most important starting references upon arriving in a foreign country are expatriate clubs and associations. Some of the most important are the American Society along with the DAR, the International Friendship Club, and Rotary International. American Society acts as a large umbrella organization harboring smaller clubs and associations that are based on particular fields of interest.
