Friday marked the half-way point of my teacher certification program in Guadalajara. I’ve been missing in action from WordPress since school started. Before classes began, I foolishly thought, “It’s Mexico… how hard can it be?” Suffice to say that I don’t think I worked this hard in college or grad school. Between class time, papers and assignments, lesson plans, observed teaching, and leading conversation classes, I have barely had time to try a fraction of the Mexican craft beers at my favorite neighborhood hangout, Viva Chapata (a Spanish take on “ciabatta”). I haven’t had much opportunity to explore Guadalajara, either — too many late nights and weekends at the tiny desk in my room.

Not having been in school in 30+ (gulp) years, I wasn’t sure how it would go. I’ve spent so many years writing nothing but bullet points and sixth-grade-reading-level marketing copy that I worried about my ability to write coherently on scholarly topics such as “Classroom Management Strategies for Reducing Teacher Talk Time” and “Facilitating the Development of Basic Language Skills in the English as a Foreign Language Classroom.” I’m relieved to discover I can still put a few sentences together. I think I’m even speaking more articulately. Of course, that may be the result of having so little time to devote to Mexican craft beers…

When I complete the course, I will get both an international TEFL certificate and a Mexican teaching certificate, called a SEP. For that reason and several others, I’m thinking I will seek employment here in Mexico upon certification. I like Guadalajara quite a bit, but I also hear good things about San Luis Potosi, Cuernavaca, Aguascalientes, Queretaro, Guanajuato, and a few other cities. My criteria are simple : It has to be a fairly large city, and it has to be “high and dry.” I can’t deal with bad air and high humidity. Unfortunately, the humidity factor rules out most coastal cities. I’m afraid Los Angeles has spoiled me for forever in that regard.

It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking to have my future be so completely up in the air. I’m sure I’d feel completely invigorated  by the whole experience — if I weren’t so exhausted.