We’d heard about the intensive Spanish language schools of Quetzaltenango (Xela – Shayla – for short) from many people while in Mexico City.  So while our academic time in D.F. was excellent, we felt we needed to jump to the next level.

We flew into Guatemala City (Guatemala is just south of Mexico) and the next day took a 4 1/2 hour bus ride “up the mountain” to Xela. We’ve since learned and experienced that the bus drivers know within 1 MPH how fast they can go around each mountain curve before crashing off the road, so for about 4 hours we were flung from one side to the other as we took curve after curve.  But the buses are very nice and comfortable once you get yourself wedged in place.

Xela (this is a Google map link) is at about 8,000′ in a valley surrounded by the volcano Santa Maria and other mountain peaks.  The temperature is temperate (now) but gets cold in the winter.

We chose the Sol Latino language school because we’d met a Canadian nurse in D.F. who’d just spent 7 weeks there and recommended it.

Why is this different?  Immersion learning means one on one, 4 or 5 hours a day, conversation with a teacher.  Starting from scratch, students start to learn much like a 2 year old, with basic phrases (“I want a cookie”!) and working up from there.

Our teachers are excellent and we’ve found this is just what we need.

Leslie and Alicia

Don and Rony

We spent the first 3 weeks living on the 3rd floor of the school and during our morning class sessions wandered around Xela with Alicia and Rony looking for an apartment.

The front patio and entrance to the school. The building opens up to the side and back. Leslie and Alicia meet on the 3rd floor balcony (back balcony) for class and Don’s in an inside room.

The front gate/door to the school. This “look” is very common in Guatemala.