Special conditions of the rural program

In Chalchihuites, everyday life moves at a slower pace than students may be accustomed to, but it is one that is typical of the lifestyle in rural Mexico. The main street contains a few shops, cantinas, the town square, and colonial church. Buses run twice a day. Life in the pueblo is shaped by traditions of centuries: the women attend Mass, shop at the market, and care for the children. The children attend school and later play in the streets and courtyards, while many of the older boys work in the mines, shops, and fields for low wages, spending their spare time in the town square. This same slow pace allows plenty of time for the cultivation of friendships and strong family ties. On Sundays people stop to chat on the street, later gathering in the homes of friends or family. There is almost always a fiesta of one type or another, in which traditional Mexican hospitality and generosity are evident.

Services in Chalchihuites

Services in Chalchihuites include: a post office, long distance telephone, internet , fax, satellite TV, two clinics run by an intern, a few refresquerías, two small hotels and several, cantinas. Air mail correspondence usually takes fourteen to twenty one days to arrive to or from the United States. Telephone and e-mail are thus the fastest and most convenient forms of communication.