Teach English in Villahermosa
History
Founded officially on 24 June 1564 by the Spanish Diego de Quijada on the banks of the Grijalva River under the name of Villa Hermosa, in 1826 the village was raised to the rank of city under the name of San Juan Bautista de la Villa Hermosa (Saint John the Baptist). The Republic of Texas Navy captured the city on November 20, 1840, demanding $25,000 in silver. The city was captured and occupied by U.S. forces after the battle of Tabasco during the Mexican-American War. During the French intervention in Mexico, French troops occupied the city in 1863. In 1916, the governor of Tabasco, Francisco J. Múgica, ordered the restoration of the city’s name to Villahermosa.
Today Villahermosa is a modern city in southeast Mexico and, possibly only after Merida, Yucatán, it is the most important business and commercial point in the long stretch between Mexico City and Cancún.
Geography and Natural Resources
Villahermosa is located in the southeast of Mexico between the rivers Grijalva and Carrizal. The average elevation of the city is 10 meters above sea level. The city also has several lagoons, the largest and most important of them being La Laguna de las Ilusiones (Illusions Lagoon).
Cost of living
Based on the standard dollar exchange value the cost of living in Villahermosa varies from US$500 to US$1000 per month. These figures are based on expenditure on housing, food, education, transportation, clothing, recreation, health, furniture, appliances and personal use. Monthly rents are around US$250.
A big feature of living in Mexico is that domestic help is relatively cheap compared to countries in the Western world. In Villahermosa 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.
Climate
Villahermosa has a tropical climate. Temperatures during spring and summer seasons reach upwards of 40°C(104 °F), with humidity levels hovering around 30% during the same period (for total humidity-adjusted temperatures in the high forties). During its short winter, Villahermosa’s climate is very humid but daytime temperatures decrease to around 28°C (82 °F). The most stunning season of the year is spring, as the framboyán, guayacán, macuilis, and other tropical vegetation bloom and dress the city with a beautiful sense of joy along its major thoroughfares.
