Spanish in Mexico

Twice a year Playa del Carmen's classified ads magazine, ANDALE, hosts an enormous bazaar on 5th Avenue between 34th and 40th and on 38th Street between 10th and 1st.

This past Sunday was the sixth ANDALE Bazaar. Once again, the streets were packed with vendors, shoppers and performers of all types converging on 5th Avenue with various goods for sale. There's always lots of clothing, shoes and accessories for sale–both new and used, handicrafts, plants, art, handmade jewelry, organic foods, books in different languages, creative performances, live music, and lots more! It's always great fun to see the ingenuity and creativity of the Playenses (the local Playa people).

International House was a primary sponsor of this year's bazaar and we got a great booth right in the middle of it all. IH staff at the booth handed out flyers and provided information about our school, Spanish and English classes as well as certification and other test preparation classes offered at IH. A very successful and fun-filled day and we hope to see many of the faces from the bazaar in our upcoming language classes!

For more information about ANDALE, pick up a free ANDALE magazine in many local shops in Playa del Carmen or visit ANDALE online.

IH Riviera Maya students now have free access to one of Playa del Carmen's top beach clubs…

No es de extrañar que International House Riviera Maya haga cosas diferentes y novedosas en Playa del Carmen para que sus alumnos tengan la mejor experiencia de sus vidas en este paraíso, y esta vez no es una excepción. La escuela logró un convenio con el conocidísimo club de playa "Canibal Royal" para poderles dar el servicio del uso de todas las instalaciones de este club a todos nuestros alumnos de manera gratuita.

Esto convierte a International House Riviera Maya en la primera escuela en todo Playa del Carmen que brinda un servicio de club de playa para sus alumnos de forma gratuita.

Estamos seguros de que ésto no será lo único que International House Riviera Maya hará por sus alumnos, seguimos trabajando para brindarles el mejor servicio y la mejor calidad a todos nuestros alumnos. Lo único que nos queda por hacer, es ir a disfrutar de este maravilloso club de playa.

Queremos agradecer a Green Adventour por ayudarnos con este gran logro.

Esta semana nos visitó Kimberly Rosadiuk, diseñadora de moda de Canadá, que trajo unos utilísimos y modernísimos pareos para la playa, además de ser lindos vestidos en practicas bolsas de mano.

La idea de simplificar tres cosas en una es muy útil y novedosa. A las alumnas de International House Rivera Maya también les pareció una idea genial y le compraron a Kimberly algunos de sus diseños.

No cabe duda que la creatividad es algo que necesitamos para hacer más fácil nuestra vida y Kimberly sabe muy bien hacer uso de ella.

Nosotros seguiremos buscando algunas otras novedades o cualquier cosa que creamos sea de interés para nuestros alumnos.

Gracias a Kimberly por visitarnos con sus maravillosos diseños.

Este 6 de enero se celebró el día de los Reyes Magos. Es un día muy especial para los niños mexicanos porque la noche del 5 de enero se van a dormir temprano para esperar la llegada de los Reyes que les traerán los juguetes que pidieron en la carta que ponen en un zapato junto al árbol de navidad.

En International House hicimos una kermés para celebrarles a los niños de bajos recursos de Playa del Carmen este día tan especial.

Compartimos con ellos y con nuestros alumnos algunos platillos de comida mexicana, dulces, juegos y rompimos una piñata llena de caramelos. Fue un momento muy feliz que quisimos compartir con ustedes.

Gracias a todos nuestros alumnos por habernos ayudado y participado!

Yoga teacher Paola leads the class in our school garden

New course for 2010
Yoga is the way to balance and harmonize the body, mind and emotions. Study Spanish and relax in front of the turquoise blue sea.

Yoga is an ancient system which integrates breathing practices, physical exercise and meditation. It offers a great number of benefits, both physical and spiritual, as it integrates the mind, body and soul through stretching, bending and balancing exercises. Its physical benefits are numerous; it helps to align the head and spinal column, stimulates the circulatory system, reduces the risk of heart problems, strengthens the muscles and aids the respiratory system. In our courses, each pose consists of breathing patterns co-ordinated with body movements, supported by props if needed.

Our teacher also gives physical demonstrations to aid anyone who may be struggling with specific positions.

Classes take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 19.00–20.00 (Summer) and from 18.00–19.00 (Winter).

Course summary

• Starting dates: Any Monday throughout the year (except holidays).
• Duration: Any number of weeks
• Hours per day: 20 hours Spanish (inc. 20 minute break) + 3 hours Yoga
• Levels: All levels
• Minimum age: 16
• Included: Registration, classes, level test, certificates, social programme, yoga mat and towel, access to all the school facilities.
• Not included: Coursebook 30 US$
• Price: 290 US$ per week

Customize your Spanish course
You can also add a diving course, Latin dancing, Mexican cooking and Mexican culture classes to your general Spanish course.

At International House Riviera Maya we like to think that you will find yourself among friends, and as good friends we'd like to stay in contact with you when you go home. That's why we've decided to create our space in Facebook.

There, you can share your photos, videos, comments, experiences…  with us and the people you studying with here in Playa.

¡VÍVELO!

Playa del Carmen, May 27 | Despìte media hysteria about the subject, a month after the first reports of an outbreak of swine flu, there have still been no recorded cases in Playa del Carmen. At this moment, the situation is well under control in Mexico and the health warnings are over.

Needless to say, at IH Riviera Maya we have been very concerned to ensure that all the precautionary measures recommended by the government were implemented so that the school, the residence, our host families and a stay in Playa del Carmen in general were as safe as in normal circumstances.

Our current students, as well as our staff, have been unconcerned by the outbreak in Mexico City as they have seen that things are not nearly as bad as has been publicized.

Ross Fairbanks, from the UK, who has spent eight weeks with us and departs this Friday, says:

I've been studying at IH Riviera Maya for 2 months. There have been no cases of swine flu here in Playa del Carmen but we've been given lots of information about the situation and I feel very safe here. In the streets people aren't wearing masks and life is as per normal. I have had a great time here and I am sad to be leaving. Don't worry — it's very safe and you'll have a great time here.

Important: Remember that, although there is currently no vaccine against swine flu (a normal flu jab does not protect you), it is a perfectly curable illness, provided that you receive early medical attention.

More information

• FAQs about swine flu (Mexican Foreign Ministry, in English)
• Información sobre la Influenza A en México (Mexican Government, in Spanish)

Further links to more information in our previous reports:

>> May 7: Influenza under control: latest news
>> April 30: Swine flu: current situation in Playa del Carmen

>> See also Update May 27

Playa del Carmen, May 7 | We keep monitoring the situation from Playa del Carmen carefully, and it seems that everything here is under control.

Life continues as normal in Playa, people work, restaurants and bars are still open, and people are continuing like nothing ever happened.

Until now there have been no reported cases in Playa del Carmen. The school is open, and classes are taking place as normal.

As of today high schools, universities are open in México, and the restaurants in Mexico City (nearly 1,800km away!) have opened their doors again.

On Monday all schools, museums, cinemas and cultural centers will be open, and life will resume as normal.

The WHO says that there is no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders.

If you would like an up-to-the-minute update on the situation in Playa del Carmen, contact us by the usual methods.

We look forward to seeing you in Playa del Carmen soon…!

>> See also: Previous report (April 30)

Update: >> Influenza under control (May 7)

Playa del Carmen, April 30 | The recent outbreak of a new form of influenza called "swine flu" which originated in Mexico has now spread to a number of other countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain and New Zealand.

We are currently monitoring the situation carefully but, at this moment, life is continuing as normal in Playa del Carmen, despite what official sourses (see links, below) are saying. The school is still open, and classes are taking place as per normal.

As you would in any case, you should contract health insurance before you travel and consult a doctor immediately if you have signs of flu-like symptoms.

We will be updating this information as soon and as regularly as possible. If you would like an up-to-the-minute update on the situation in Playa del Carmen, contact us by the usual methods.

Official health and travel advice currently being provided:

• DE: Mexiko: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise
• ES: Ministerio de Sanidad, information sobre la nueva gripe
• FR: Ministère de la Santé: infections au Mexique
• NL: Nederland superalert op Mexicaanse griep
• UK: Foreign Office Travel advice Central America and Caribbean
• USA: U.S. Department of State travel alert
• WHO: Information on swine flu

El sábado 18 de marzo se jugó el torneo de voleibol en la famosa playa Mamita's, organizado por una de las revistas más famosas de Playa del Carmen, La Quinta.

En este torneo participó un equipo que representó a International House Riviera Maya integrado por Arturo Duran (profesor) Oscar Saenz (cafeteria y tours) Xavier Arguimbau (tours).

A pesar de que hubo contrincantes muy fuertes de todo el mundo que representaron a restaurantes, hoteles, bares y discotecas, locales de Cancún y Cozumel, ¡logramos obtener el 3° lugar!

Nuestros jugadores demostraron de qué están hechos y sacaron la casta para poner muy en alto el nombre de nuestra escuela.

Así que, esta semana fue una semana de festejos por este merecido tercer lugar. Estamos orgullosos de estos tres chicos que nos dieron esta gran alegría.

International House Riviera Maya ¡muchas felicidades!

Ahora a prepararnos para el mundialito de futbol que lo organizará la misma revista.