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Group Size:
22 students, 3 teachers
Group Leader:
Mary Beth Ventura
Spanish Class
Horseback Riding
Hot Springs
Community Service Day Care
Tuesday Market
Spanish Class
Nighttime Basketball
Silver Mines of Gunajuato
Eating
Going to Dinner
Tutoring a local child
On the way to class
An Art Opening
Internet Cafe
Horseback Riding
Links:
About
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
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Welcome to MexArt in San
Miguel, specializing in group programs for youth and teen groups. MexArt is
dedicated to designing programs to meet specific goals set by each group.
Depending on group goals, we are happy to change the focus or design of the program to
suit your needs.
The
spectacular beauty and charm of San Miguel de Allende and the year-round
perfect climate have created the perfect atmosphere for Spanish language
learning. The town is serviced by
Leon (BJX) airport, a mere hour and a half away. The cobble stone streets and
rich colonial architecture transports visitors to another century. We hope
that you will choose a visit to this cultural gem for your Spanish learning.
Based
on the information provided to us about your trip goals and dates, MexArt has
designed a program based on the participation of 22 students and 3 teachers with the goal
of experiencing international living while developing skills in the Spanish
language. This will be achieved by living for 10 days in San Miguel de
Allende and taking some
classes in the arts, Spanish, and history/culture. Please
review this proposal and let MexArt know how to tailor the program better to
your particular goals.
Trip Dates: TBA, 10 days in
March/April 2005
9 nights, 10 days
Cost:
$750 U.S.: each student (based on the participation of 22 students)
Free: 3
teacher/chaperones
$400 U.S.: any parent - chaperone (parent chaperones are
not recommended, and if parents do attend, it's recommended that they stay in
nearby accommodations to give students the independence to reach out of their
comfort zone).
Includes:
- Airport pick-up/drop-off between Leon (airport
code BJX) and San Miguel
- Breakfast daily
- Lunch daily
- Dinner daily
- Trip to the Hot Springs (10 minutes outside of
town)
Trip to Dolores Hidalgo
- Horseback riding trip in the country
- Full day trip and guided tour of the city of
Guanajuato
- 3 days of 1.5-hour Spanish classes (classes divided
into groups of 6-7)
- 9 hours of art/cultural elective in 3-hour blocks (i.e. silver
jewelry, painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, cooking, community
service, etc....)
- Evening activities: sometimes language-learning
games in community, intercambio with Mexican students, attendance at a
performance in town, movies (with subtitles in Spanish or all in Spanish),
etc....
- A counselor to help supervise students and
organize activities. Counselor and director will work directly with
teacher/chaperone to organize and supervise the group... creating fun,
educational
activities and options, etc...
- Accommodations, 2-3 students per room, 9 nights,
10
days.
- Pre-trip information packet and packing list
- Digital photos posted to our web site every other
day of participants and activities for parents/friends/family to view from
home (see web site for samples from this past summer)
- **** Transportation / Flights to/from Leon are NOT
included ****
Spanish: Taught by professional local Spanish teachers (same teachers
as used with our summer teen program). Classes are 1.5 hours in duration
and are given 4 times throughout the trip. The first half of the class emphasizes grammar with the second
half emphasizing conversation.
Classes are fun!
Students practice their skills in the streets, in the artisans' market, in the
main square, at the corner grocery store and through playing games. Teaching
is in a non-competitive atmosphere and is geared to the individual. Teachers
are bi-lingual and extremely experienced in teaching Spanish to Americans.
Class: MexArt offers the group a mixture of classes from which students can
choose. Photography, ceramics,
silver jewelry, cooking, volunteering in a daycare, community service in various forms
(mostly educational atmospheres).
Hot Springs: Located about 10 minutes outside of town.... hot water
from the earth is tapped and filled into pools.... lovely setting with pools
and covered swimming areas.
Trip to Guanajuato: This is a full day trip with local guide
(bilingual). Sights include the mummy museum, scenic overlook, walk through
town with historical information, viewing of the theater and its design,
lunch, more touring, free time at the market, and a visit to the silver mines.
Horseback Riding: 2 hour horseback riding trip into the campo outside
of San Miguel among the foothills of mountains. Desert terrain. Groups of
5-6 at a time are scheduled throughout the day as small groups make this trip
so much more worthwhile and safe. Led by a talkative Mexican man who loves to
share his knowledge of Mexico and San Miguel.... regardless of how accurate or
inaccurate it may be.
Free Time: This schedule allows students to experience Mexico, learn
Spanish, and have some freedom to explore a bit in small groups and pairs for short bursts
of time. San Miguel is extremely safe, and our orientation is quite thorough.
We require that students always carry our map with emergency contact
information in case students become 'unfamiliar' with where they are. During
free times in the schedule, we can organize various activities for students
who are interested in structuring their free time: Volunteering in a daycare
center for children (3-7) of single, working mothers, basketball in the park
with local kids, shopping tours of the artisan's market and local stores,
etc....
Participant Spending Money: There are many activities and things
to do (and eat) in San Miguel. Students will want $50-75 US in spending money for
souvenirs, activities, internet access, snacks. Students who want to
work out at area gyms, attend aerobics/yoga/pilates classes, take community
dance classes, etc. will have time to do this during free time, and students
should bring extra money for this. $50-75 U.S. per week is an
ample allowance for all extra activities. Ideas for free time activities
will be posted and announced daily with a counselor helping facilitate the
actual activity.
Accommodations: Participants live in
set of 7 casitas situated around meandering gardens. There are central
meeting areas and an on-site dining room. There are 2 to 3 participants
in a room depending on the size of the room.
Drinking water is
provided.
Flights to Leon are NOT included. However, Leon airport (airport
code BJX) is an hour and fifteen minutes away from San Miguel de Allende.
The van service will greet groups outside of customs/immigration. The
airport is serviced by Continental, American, United, Mexicana, Aeromexico and
a few smaller, less-known Mexican companies. MexArt recommends booking
flights that arrive into Leon as their FIRST port of entry into Mexico. This
small airport is easy to navigate and has clearly-laid-out and easy-to-follow
arrival and departure routines.
Evenings: A counselor and director will plan evening events for
students in conjunction with the group chaperone/leader. The counselor will
organize and/or supervise students during the activity. Some nights may be
free or as simple as having ice cream in the jardin Other activities
could include a scavenger hunt (in Spanish), attendance at performances
(music, dance, theater, etc...), intercambio with Mexican students, movies (in Spanish or with Spanish
subtitles), games, time at internet cafe, etc....
TidBits: MexArt specifically caters toward teen and youth
programs and have designed programs specifically to address the interests and
activity level of these age groups along with the supervision, structure, and
safety expected by parents sending their child away. MexArt requires a
medical health history and treatment-release form
for all participants (signed by parent/guardian and student) and a
behavior contract signed by
both parent and student. Travel documents: each student will need a
passport OR
a birth certificate accompanied by a photo i.d.
(i.e. a driver's license). All students under the age of 18 MUST also have a
notarized letter
signed by both parents allowing their child to travel to Mexico unaccompanied
by the parent(s). MexArt can send a sample letter that can be used, and more
information is available for children of single parents, children with different last names
than one or both parents, and for adopted children.
Payment: To book a group trip with
MexArt, once your trip itinerary and goals are fine-tuned, send MexArt a 35%
deposit to guarantee a program and to guarantee dates. The balance is due upon
arrival (or may be sent ahead). All quotes and payments in U.S. dollars. Check
payments should be made to MexArt and sent to the mailing address in Laredo,
TX. Payments may be made by the organizing school group or by individual
participants. Cancellation policy: Entire group cancellation prior
to 30 days before travel date will receive a refund of all but 10% of the trip
cost.
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