In keeping with its focus on cultural immersion, the Oaxaca
school coordinates many activities and excursions to complement
your language studies. The activities and excursions allow you
to interact directly with Mexican culture while improving your
Spanish. But most of all, they are fun! Afternoon workshops
and activities include cooking, arts and crafts, dance classes,
Mexican music, fiestas and picnics.
The Oaxaca school also offers excursions that expose you to
the cultural and natural wonders of the region. One and two-day
excursions are available for an additional fee. Some of these
activities and excursions are described below.
Mexican
Cooking
Learn how to prepare traditional Mexican cuisine,
then sample it when you're finished! This is a delicious
way to learn new vocabulary as well as culinary
skills you can enjoy long after your visit to Mexico.
Spanish
Singing
In this activity, you will learn traditional Mexican
folk songs while practicing your Spanish. Lyrics
are supplied and you will be accompanied by a musician.
Movies
Sit back, relax, and watch a Spanish language movie
or documentary. Films are shown during afternoon
conversation classes but all students who are interested
are welcome to attend. This is a really fun way
to improve your listening skills!
Salsa
Dancing
This afternoon workshop will teach you the steps
to the famous "Salsa." Latin dancing has
enjoyed a resurgence in recent years and now you
can take advantage of this opportunity to learn
from a native teacher.
Café
Social
Every week, students, faculty and staff get together
to relax and chat. This is a perfect way to get
to know your fellow students and practice your Spanish
in a casual, fun atmosphere!
Lectures
During the afternoon conversation hours, lectures
are given on Mexican history, Zapotecan culture,
national holidays, and other topics.
Santo
Domingo
This excursion invites you to explore one of Mexico's
largest, historic, and most beautiful churches.
Built between the 16th and 17th centuries, Santo
Domingo has had many lives. It has provided shelter
for friars fleeing an earthquake, housed troops
during the war of independence, and even served
as a cavalry depot.
Toward
the end of the 19th century, the church and convent
recovered their religious sanctity and were re-devoted
to worship. In 1993, the structure was dedicated
to cultural purposes. Students on this excursion
are also welcome to walk through the church’s
botanical garden and tour the Mexican History Museum
found on-site.
Monte
Alban
Once the capital of the Zapotec nation, Monte Alban
is the most important Mesoamerican archaeological
site in Oaxaca state. The pre-Hispanic settlement
is set 6,000 feet above sea level high atop a mountain
west of Oaxaca City. It was one of the first and
most populated Mesoamerican cities during its golden
age. In the plains surrounding the Main Square,
you can see the remains of living quarters, tombs,
and common burial grounds.
The
Arbol del Tule—The Oldest Tree in Mexico!
Located in the nearby town of Santa María,
this legendary tree is over 2000 years old and is
considered the widest tree in the world. Over 500
people can stand in its shade, and 30 people joining
hands can barely reach around it!
The tree’s
trunk and branches take whimsical forms resembling
animals, fruits, and famous figures known as "The
Lion," "The Three Wise Men," "The
Coconut," and "The Fish," among others.
The Tule tree festival is celebrated on the second
Monday in October.
Hierve
el Agua
On this excursion, you’ll travel two hours
to Hierve el Agua—the place where “the
water boils”—a beautiful warm-water
waterfall that cascades over a mountain. You can
swim, enjoy the view, even stay overnight in nearby
cabañas. The most impressive sight at Hierve
el Agua is two petrified white stone waterfalls,
formed thousands of years ago from mineral-rich
carbonated water. It is thought that this was a
sacred place of the ancient Zapotecs, perhaps because
of its impressive natural contrasts.
Mezcal
Distilleries
This fun excursion takes you to Mezcal distilleries
where you'll learn about the unique fermentation
process that produces the famous Mexican liquor.
Mezcal is made from an Agave cactus known as maguey
espadin, which grows in the semi-arid soil of the
Tlacolula Valley. Of course a tour wouldn’t
be complete without a taste test!
BridgeAbroad | 915 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246 USA
Toll-Free: 1-866-574-8606 (US & CANADA) | 0-808-120-7613 (UK) Worldwide: (1) 303-242-8704
BridgeAbroad is a division of Bridge-Linguatec, Inc.
Search by language
