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Country Overview:

One of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in Latin America, Oaxaca (pronounced wah-HAH-kah) was recently voted one of the top ten destinations in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine - number 1 in Latin America. Given Oaxaca’s year-round spring-like climate, moderate size, and convenient proximity to outlying villages and archaeological sites, this is hardly surprising.

The city of Oaxaca, with a population of over 500,000, is the capital of the state of Oaxaca. Renowned as one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities, Oaxaca has much to offer, be it the colorful markets, local crafts, cuisine, prehispanic and contemporary art museums, convents and churches, and an active arts community.

The Training Center is in a beautiful, quiet house in the downtown area, only eleven blocks from Oaxaca's main square, or zocalo (a 10-15 min. walk). Classes are held outside in the garden, on the terrace (with a nice view of the west part of the city), or in one of our classrooms.

Oaxaca lies in a broad and fertile valley 5,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains. Over the years, these mountains have served to protect and preserve the cultures of the Zapotec, Mixtec and other Indian groups. Today, Oaxaca is the Mexican state most known for its rich mixture of indigenous peoples, customs, and languages.

While Oaxaca is blessed with tremendous natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage, it is the people of Oaxaca, representing a beautiful tapestry of traditions, who are the region's greatest resource. Mexican families tend to have close relationships and live in the same city with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. In general, children grow up within a broad family structure. Not surprisingly, a high value is placed on the family and on sustaining those relationships.

At an elevation of 1,550 meters, Oaxaca has a pleasant climate year-round, though April and May are relatively warm, and June and July are relatively rainy.