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VOLUNTEER IN OAXACA PROGRAM FAQ'S
Oaxaca, Mexico

Is airfare included?
No - You are responsible for your own airfare. We recommend www.travelocity.com or www.studentuniverse.com. To get to Oaxaca you must fly into Mexico City. From there you have two choices: either catch another 1 hour flight directly to Oaxaca city or take a 10 minute taxi from the airport to the bus station where top of the line excursion buses depart every half hour. The scenic $25 bus ride lasts 6 hours and will take you directly to Oaxaca.

Is housing included in the price of the program?
Yes You will have your own room and bath in a shared guesthouse either in downtown Oaxaca or a 30 cent, and 12 minute bus ride from down town in a beautiful "barrio" of Oaxaca. Elect to live with Adelante and other international visitors, or with Native Mexicans.

When does my actual volunteer assignment begin?
Program start dates are the first Monday of each month. For the first two weeks, you are enrolled in intensive Spanish language classes for about 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. After this intensive course, and after an Orientation at the company where you will be working, you start your work assignment on the third Monday of the month. Plan on arriving in Mexico the weekend prior to the first Monday of the month, and plan on leaving the weekend after the last Friday of the month.

What are the apartments like & where are they located?
Oaxaca is not that large of a city (pop. 210,000) and our housing can be either in or near the city center or up to 15 minutes bus ride from the city center, which is where most people live. You will always be near to a bus line. (Note: Some apartments require a $100 deposit to be made upon your arrival. This will be returned to you when you turn in your keys on the day of your departure from the program, assuming you have left the apartment in the same condition that it was in when you moved in.) All apartments are fully furnished, with most having washing machine, microwave, radio, etc. Sheets, towels, pots, pans are also included

Do I have to have insurance?
YES - It is strongly recommended that you have insurance. More and more participating companies and institutions abroad are asking for proof of medical and accident insurance and our various Directors in-country also may ask you for proof of insurance (usually a copy of your insurance card showing dates and coverage is valid). You can use coverage you already have or coverage that someone else carries for you, or you can purchase coverage just for our program. You can also buy insurance online once you arrive in Spain. In the past, we have referred people to Arizona-based ASA, Inc. - they can customize a plan for you based on details you provide. (see our 'Links' page for more information). Tell them that Adelante sent you for a small discount 888-272-8288. Another carrier is Insurance Services of America also based in Arizona. They can be reached at 800-647-4589.

Is placement guaranteed?
Yes - We screen you once you submit your Application Packet and check references to make sure there is a good fit between what your goals are for participating in this program and what we offer. To date we have been able to place 100% of our candidates in the field they requested. However, if you want to do a Paramedic internship and have no CPR training, no medical education, no EMT training, then chances are good you will not be placed.

Do I need a work visa?
No - You are not working rather you are participating in an apprenticeship program that relates to your studies and / or fields of interest. In Mexico Americans, British and others are able to enter and stay in the country on a regular passport for up to 90 days. Extending your visa after that, up to 6 months, takes about $45 and some paperwork, done while in Mexico, which our representative will help you with.

When can I start?
We place year round, the first Monday of each month. Deadlines are 60 days prior to your desired start date.

How much should I budget for living expenses per month, above and beyond what is included in the program fee?
$300 - $400 per month gives you some breathing room to travel a bit, go to the movies or theatre and have some fun nights out. You can go shoestring & make it less, or go shopping-spree-happy & make it more (remember this is the Arts capital of Mexico and you are likely to be tempted by all the offerings!)

Is there an Adelante contact in Mexico?
Yes - In Mexico our Director is Jorge Luna Cruz. Jorge is from Oaxaca and has been educated in the United States. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and has over 15 years in the international education industry. He is your go-to person for all aspects of the program, once in-country, including airport pickup, your housing, any internship questions or just general counseling.

Is Adelante an employment agency?
No - We are a company that offers, among other things, a fee-based placement services program that works with people who are 1) seeking to massively upgrade their resumes, 2) wish to become bilingual and, 3) have a desire to live and learn the Mexican culture. Best candidates are flexible and mature individuals looking to experience another culture.

What is the deadline for Application packet submissions?
60 days prior to your desired start date is the ideal. However we are able, on a case by case basis, to place candidates who submit their applications later than that.

When will I know if I am accepted into the program or not?
This happens during our first phone interview, after you have submitted your completed Application packet. This is not a competitive program whereby candidates compete against each other or compete for a limited number of spots. Rather, during the interview process a mutual determination is made to determine that you are the right candidate profile for what you want to do for your volunteer program in Mexico (see the "Is placement guaranteed" question above)

Are only Americans admitted to this program?
No - our only requirement is that you are a native English speaker, so citizens of many countries fall into that category, including Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, etc.

Is there a refund policy?
If you cancel your participation in the program 45 days or more prior to your start date, you will receive a 100% refund. If you cancel 30 - 45 days prior to your start date, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel 0 - 30 days prior to your start date, there will be 0% refund as well as if you cancel once you arrive in Mexico at any time.

When is payment for the program due?
Payment in full is due no later than 45 days prior to your desired start date in the program.

Can I be placed if I speak no Spanish at all?
Ideally our candidates have some Spanish language capabilities, the more the better. For candidates who are truly beginner level, the only options available are some of the Teaching English work assignments. Inquire for more details.

Do candidates receive any kind of certificate, letter of recommendation or 'proof of internship'?
While this is not included in the program fee, both the participating companies and the language schools in all countries are willing to create these for successful candidates. You must secure these PRIOR to your return home, as once you are gone it is quite difficult to get these letters. Please request in advance any letters needed and remind as necessary in order to have these documents in order before you leave your intern position.

Some tips on what to pack:
The apartments are fully equipped, so no need to worry about sheets, towels, etc. For your internship, pack casual business clothes such as slacks / skirts, collared shirts and closed-toed leather shoes (comfortable as you will walk and use public transport every day.) No jeans or tennis shoes during any interaction with your Mexican company. For your own travel and leisure time, wear what you want and you can visit any number of websites to check on weather for any given month.

Special notes on Mexico:
This isn't Europe nor is it "home" - Mexico is still a third world, although quickly developing, country. Some things don't work as quickly as you might like, or sometimes might not function at all for a while. Mail and phones specifically are notoriously unreliable. If you need wall-to-wall carpeting and slight delays tend to stress you out, then you should choose one of our other programs in another country. The quality of life here is better, slower and warmer and infused with history and culture and respect for one another. Oaxaca is one of the safest towns in Mexico and tends to have more European and Canadian tourists than American tourists.

My friend and I would like to do the program together. Can we live in the same housing?
Yes - Usually we can accommodate a request for candidates to live together. It will be dependent on availability, so the sooner your completed application packets are received, the better chance you have of being able to live together.