Tuesday’s Blog Focus took us on the Trans-America Journey’s road trip through, you guessed it, the Americas. In keeping with our weekly theme, this week we’re giving you all the details on what a gap year in Mexico would be like. There’s undoubtedly more things to explore in this North American country than the cliched tourists attractions of tequila, Papas & Beer, and Cancun. Here’s the low down on all things Mexico…

Mexico might not seem like the first place to consider as a gap year – it’s presence in North America might prevent it from seeming entirely exotic or foreign – and it’s presence over the years on MTV’s “Spring Break” might preclude it from seeming like the cultural mecca other destinations might be. Despite these pre-conceived notions, Mexico has a lot to offer, and is a picturesque place to learn, work, or volunteer abroad. Here are some quick facts to get your trip planning started:

• Overview: As mentioned above, Mexico is in North America. It borders the United States as well as Guatemala and Belize. According to the WTO, Mexico is ranked 7th in the world for foreign visitors, and there’s a lot to see in Mexico to account for those numbers. During your gap year, you can spend time exploring the unique food, art and archaeology, pyramids, museums, Haciendas, bustling cities, snow from the mountains of the Sierras, jungles, golf courses, and bustling tourist beach cities (if you so choose).
• Climate: The Mexican climate has quite a range, but it can get pretty cold in the winters overall. During hurricane season, hurricanes can be quite common in the areas near the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea.
• Cultural Highlights: One important thing to know is that Mexicans have a very relaxed sense of time – showing up 15 minutes late isn’t rude, it’s customary! Mexican traditions aren’t extremely liberal – only in the beach or tourist destinations will there be a relaxed view of LGBT issues. Also, in small rural towns, evidence of “machismo” (or male chauvinism) is still active.
• Cuisine: Let’s face it – we’ve all had burritos and tacos…but unless you’ve lived in Southern California, you haven’t had REAL Mexican food. When eating out, your best bet will be to order the “plato tipico” or “typical dish” of that region. That way, the chances are that it’s delicious will be high. Other must-try items include chicharrones (fried pork skins), tortas (Mexican sandwich) and mole sauce (a dark sauce served over meat with delectable hints of cocoa and peanut).
• Safety: According to this article, it’s important to research your destination before you head out, but since most of the recent violence has taken place near the US Border, most other areas remain perfectly safe. Also, since most of the violence has been due to drug cartels, as a tourist (or even long-term visitor) you should be fine. As always, do your homework and be cautious when traveling – listen to your gut!
• Currency: The Mexican currency is the peso (MXN), and this is divided into 100 centavos. The symbol for the peso is the same as the American dollar, $, which can be confusing. Normally prices in American dollars are written US$ or sport an S with a double stroke.

Now that you have the details on Mexico, it’s time to narrow down your gap year. There’s more than the options listed here of course, but here is a sample of some options you have:

• Various Volunteer Work: You could spend your gap year in the large city of Guadalajara doing volunteer work in any of the following industries: teaching, childcare, conservation and environment, medicine, journalism, animal care, and arts and crafts.
• Learn Spanish: Learn the language in beautiful Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The benefits for learning a language are endless, and you can’t beat the gorgeous location.
• Teach English in Mexico: There are a ton of opportunities for individuals looking to teach English, but it’s important to make sure you go through a trustworthy organization. Do your research before selecting, but language schools are not hard to find en Mexico.
• Learn a new sport: While in Mexico, why not pick up a new hobby. There’s plenty of opportunities to try things like surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, whale watching, or white water rafting!

Alright, you have the details…grab your passport and head to Mexico…ahora! And don’t forget to leave a comment with YOUR favorite Mexican destination or message us on twitter (@iwishgapyear).