Teaching English in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is known for its slow pace of life.

Do you ever feel as if the world is moving too quickly for you and you need to hit the stop button or exit for a while?

It appears like the only thing that matters anymore in our modern western society is to live fast. We want to make money quickly, so we cut our lunch breaks to eat quickly, we need to commute quickly, and we make sure that if we go anywhere, we take the quickest route possible; at work, we are obsessed with getting results quickly, and productivity is all that matters; if we get sick, we rush to the doctor's office or the drug store to get that pill that will make us feel better as quickly as possible.

We've grown frustrated with the learning process in general, and we've bought into programs that claim we'll learn whatever it is we're studying quickly. We need those excess pounds to vanish quickly if we desire to lose them.

We rapidly lose our temper in lines at the store, the bank, or the movie theater, and have learnt to prefer machines to people to service us in order to save time and money.

Everything has to be timed and managed, and it's reached the point that many people can't take it any more and are willing to pay to learn how to do nothing. Isn't it ridiculous?

This style of life has taught us how to make money and be active, but by focusing so much on doing, we've forgotten how to just live (or live simply! ), causing havoc not only on our health and ourselves, but also on our planet. What happened to living in sync with the seasons and the rhythms of nature?

Lao Tse, a Chinese philosopher, reportedly stated, "Nature does not rush, but everything is accomplished."

Movement is slow.

With this in mind, and a desire to return to a more sustainable way of living, the slow movement was born, calling for a change in lifestyle. Carlo Petrini's protest against the establishment of a McDonald's restaurant on Piazza di Spagna in Rome started the movement in 1986.

Through the slow food movement, the movement has won many hearts and become well-known, and it has even spawned the "Citta Slow" – or slow city – movement around the world.

"Municipalities that join the association are motivated by curious people of a bygone era, where man is still protagonist of the slow and healthy succession of seasons, respectful of citizens' health, the authenticity of products and good food, rich of fascinating craft traditions of valuable works of art, squares, theaters, shops, cafés, restaurants, places of the spirit and unspoiled landscapes, characterized by spontaneity of religious rites, respect for tradition, and rich of fascinating craft traditions of valuable works of art,

Doesn't it make you want to pack your bags and move to a slower citty? However, before you sell your property and buy a plane ticket, be sure you aren't already living in the ideal location.

Puerto Vallarta is an ideal location to begin your own slow revolution.

To legally become a Citta Slow, several standards must be met, including a population of less than 50'000 people. Despite having a population of over 200k people in 2010, Puerto Vallarta provides an ideal setting for implementing a personal shift toward a slower pace and stress-free life by already adhering to the following criteria that are essential to being a Citta Slow:

being committed to environmental preservation: Vallarta has a plethora of environmental preservation programs.

Nature is present everywhere in the city, from controlled turtle releases to botanical garden preservation programs, protected beaches, and local NGOs, not to mention that the city is literally nestled between the jungle and the ocean, both of which offer opportunities to preserve mother earth simply by being there (one simple example of how to protect the ocean: don't litter or use plastic).

Delivering local gastronomy prepared with local ingredients: many of Vallarta's restaurants provide traditional Mexican dishes made with fresh, locally grown ingredients sourced from local farms.

You may also find the catch of the day seafood in most areas, and buy your groceries at one of the many local farmers markets (and save a few bucks!)... You are essentially supporting local farmers just by avoiding large corporate chains.

encouraging small companies and local handicraft: There are numerous craft shops throughout the bay that promote the work of local artists, huichol traditional art, handicraft, and even food stores where you can buy organic, locally grown food. A stroll through the traditional handicraft market on Isla del Rio Cuale is definitely worth seeing!

fostering hospitality and positive interactions with residents and visitors: Puerto Vallarta is known as the "friendliest city on the planet"! Is there anything else I can say?

observing local customs: have you ever roamed the streets of Vallarta and witnessed prehispanic dancing on the malecón, or the "charros" procession in September? PV may be touristy, but it has managed to keep traditions alive, and an air of old Mexico charm pervades the city.

having access to places where you can genuinely slow down: the botanical park, A Page in The Sun coffeeshop, El Patio de mi Casa restaurant, or Barracuda restaurant, to mention a few, are all excellent local options for slowing down.

Whether you want to walk barefoot in the grass, read a good second hand book, drink a good old beer while listening to live music, or watch the sunset while listening to the waves, these are all excellent spots to get away from it all for a bit and slowly recharge.

Furthermore, in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta, there are a number of historic and truly "slow" communities to visit: Mascota, San Sebastián, El Tuito...if you feel like having a stroll and refreshing yourself in the cold mountains nearby.

To start making a difference, we don't need to be in an area that is officially designated as slow or have all of the standards checked off. Take a deep breath, concentrate on what matters most, and decide to slow down. Right now, you have all you require!

Guateque's Night (La Noche de Guateque)

Our monthly social event, "Noche de Guateque," has become a symbol of the school's identity over the years. The aim of taking our students out every week to see Puerto Vallarta's clubs, restaurants, and cultural activities is not to get everyone shitfaced and wager on who will make it to class the next day or not, as many of you surely believe. (Though, I'm not going to lie, we all know it's occurred before on multiple instances and will very certainly happen again in the future.)

However, believe it or not, this weekly get-together has a real purpose: our motto is "living it is learning it," and we truly feel that the best, quickest, and most lasting method to learn a language is to get out there, experience real Mexican life, and converse in Spanish with the locals. Students, members of the school's team, and friends (mainly locals and native Mexicans) gather to create an international atmosphere, allowing locals and students to become friends outside of class and students to use their Spanish in real life, without any pressure.