English Teaching
 Guatemala tourism industry has seen annual increases in the number of English-speaking tourists visiting its numerous ruins. In order for the youth of Guatemala to be able to compete for jobs within the global economy, they must speak the language spoken more and more by those in the present day global market. Rustic Volunteer Travel places volunteers in various schools throughout Guatemala to assist teachers attempting to effectively teach English. No where will the need for your skills, patience, and caring be more evident than with these projects. With your service to these children, you will be giving hope to Guatemala’s youth and altering their perspectives on life.
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FAQs Guatemala
| Application Process: |
Please read Rustic Volunteer Travel's 5 steps of application
- There are two options for applying to volunteer in Guatemala through our program. You can apply online or you can down loan an application, fill it out, and mail it in to us. You will need to submit your application with a $349 deposit (this deposit will be deducted from your final program fee.) This program deposit is required to make an application valid.
- Once we get your application, we will immediately send it to Guatemala for processing. They go over your application carefully and find the best project possible for you. The decisions for room and food are made at this time, Arrangement for room and food depends on the location of the project. The vast majority of our volunteers stay in full immersion home stays though some orphanage projects are residential.
- Once we get the details of your placements, we pass it on to you with a final invoice. Your final payment is due six weeks before your start date, and in expedited cases, as soon as possible. The placement details have local contact information use them for contacts on your Visa application or to get in touch with the local staff and host family.
- Preparation for trips should include reading about Guatemala , immunization, travel Visa (entry permit), and booking airfare. If you face any problems our Program Manager is always available for assistance.
- Now, once you purchase your ticket, send your flight information to our US office by fax or by email. Your flight information will be forwarded to the Guatemala staff who will arrange an airport pickup.
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| Visa : |
Rustic Volunteer Trave l suggests all volunteers apply for a tourist visa before leaving for Guatemala . Though U.S. , UK , Canadian citizen are able acquire a visa at the airport, this can be time-consuming. Volunteers can acquire a Guatemalan visa from the Guatemalan Embassy or consulate in their home countries.
For more information, please visit: http://www.learn4good.com/travel/Guatemala_embassies.html
For stays exceeding 90 days, apply for an extension within the first week of arrival with the Guatemalan Immigration Department or exit the country for a minimum of 72 hours before re-entering on a new visa. |
| Health and safety : |
Being informed is your first defense against disease and safety risks. We recommend visiting some of the following websites for health and safety information:
WHO website for international travelers ( http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/ )
General Health Tips for Volunteers in Guatemala
- Publicly available water is not considered safe to drink in most of Guatemala . When traveling to the beaches or very rural areas, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Tap water should not be considered safe at the beaches nor fountain drinks and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1 micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
- Buy bottled water from respectable outlets/vendors to guard against an upset stomach. Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact as it is not uncommon for local street merchants to sell tap water in resealed bottles.
- The most common health complaint in any developing nation is upset stomach/diarrhea/vomiting. In many cases, the illness may be attributed merely to a change in diet, but occasional cases of food poisoning can occur, whereby the symptoms occur very quickly, severely and explosively. These are seldom serious or extended illnesses, but medical treatment should be sought if it occurs.
- Avoid eating food from road side stalls/vendors. Don't eat unpeeled fruits or fruits that have already been cut by unknown handlers on the street. If you are forced to eat food at a place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
- If you require any prescription drugs, bring enough for the duration of your stay in Guatemala . They will need to be carried in their original prescription bottle and the prescription must be in your name.
It is advisable that you carry a small health kit which should include remedy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, hydration powder, deer mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc. |
| Vaccination : |
We recommend all volunteer/participants visit the Center for Disease Control's website ( www.cdc.gov ) for traveler's health recommendations. Your travel doctor will be knowledgeable about current epidemics and should be consulted.
Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to South America including Guatemala . Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.
- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
- Hepatitis B , especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
- Malaria: if you are traveling to a malaria-risk area in this region, see your health care provider for a prescription anti-malarial drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria Information for Travelers to South America and Mexico .
- Rabies , if you experience extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.
- Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors
- Yellow fever , for travelers to endemic areas in Panama
- As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles .
- Precaution again Malaria
- Required Vaccinations
- None
The best prevention of mosquito born diseases is long-sleeves and pants (especially in the early evening) in addition to using insect repellants. This area of Guatemala has no malaria, but there are other mosquito-carried/transmitted diseases, such as dengue, that are just as bad and there is no vaccine, just prevention through clothing and repellent. |
| Money Matter : |
What is the exchange rate? Where should I change my dollars? Can I use a debit card or credit card? Should I bring travelers checks?
Guatemala 's local currency is the “Guatemalan Quetzal” (GTQ). Dollars can be changed at the exchange houses in the airport. Many businesses accept dollars at the current exchange rate. ATM machines are available in various regions throughout Guatemala , especially Guatemala City and the airport where the option of US dollars or the quetzal is often available.
Do not arrive in Guatemala without any cash as ATM machines can be down or fail to accept your card. It is wise to check with your bank ahead of time to confirm that your card will work overseas. Debit cards and credit cards are becoming more acceptable at major stores; however, they are still not accepted as widely as in your home country. Credit card fraud is a big issue in Guatemala . Do not use your cards at any smaller or non-reputable locations. Travelers' checks will have to be exchanged in the banks as most locations will not accept them directly. Debit card is the best way of getting money and ATM vendors are available in Guatemala City . Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in some of the large stores and hotels in larger cities but may not be widely accepted in smaller cities and not at all in the villages.
Find the Exchange Rate for Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
How much money you bring depends on your personal spending habits. Thrifty people can get by on less than $10/day. Your budget should also include money to explore Guatemala in your free time as well as for your personal use. |
| Field Support and supervision: |
How does Rustic Volunteer Travel help me when I am in the field? How can I maintain communication? Does Rustic Volunteer Travel visit volunteers?
Once the volunteer program starts, our local staff members stay in touch with volunteers. We visit our volunteers every 2 weeks (if possible) and you are always welcome at the office. We recommend that the volunteers stop by the office once a week if they are in the local area just to let us know how they are doing with their home stay and project. Many minor issues can be overcome through a little communication long before they become major issues – ensuring that your trip is exactly what you had hoped for. Your project will have local staff members as well, though not our own. If your project is very far, then our local staff maintains communication by either email and/or phone. We are available to you at the office, by email, and by phone for your entire trip. It is our job to make sure that you are safe and healthy. Being that volunteers usually stay within a guesthouse which also doubles as the headquarters for our Costa Rican coordinators, volunteers have direct contact with their coordinators. |
| Communication : |
How do I communicate with my family? Rustic Volunteer Travel staffs? Is there internet?
There are a number of internet cafes located in some of the major cities such as Guatemala City and Antigua and usually run around $1/hour. There are also international phone cards available to make international calls. Also, please use local phone cards for local calls as every minute of local or international use is billed to the families. If you need to contact the Rustic Volunteer Travel staff locally, the families will generally allow you to use the phone for short periods. |
| Climate of Guatemala |
Yahoo Weather forecast ( http://weather.yahoo.com )
Weather channel ( http://www.weather.com )
Weather Underground ( http://www.wunderground.com )
Guatemala has a lovely climate year-round. The rainy season generally occurs from May to November. Variations in climate are usually due to escalating altitudes but warm temperatures can usually be found throughout the country. Northern Guatemala features a hot, tropical climate with the majority of the rainfall occurring between May and September.
Both the coastal and northeast regions are hot with the drier period occurring from November to April, with average temperatures of 68°F (20°C). Guatemala City and Antigua (designated as the highlands) both have a pleasant climate with less rainfall (as compared to the coastal regions); experiencing coder temperatures in the evenings. |
| Gift for Host Family and Project: |
What gifts should I bring for my project and/or host family?
It is a common courtesy to bring a small gift for the staff that will be hosting you. You are not required to do so, but if you choose to bring something it can be pretty simple. We suggest a box of chocolates, a t-shirt with a hometown/country logo, or pictures of your family and local post cards.
If you want to bring gifts for your project and if you are working for an orphanage or a school, please bring pencils, pens and paper, art supplies like markers and construction paper pads, as well as games for the children to enjoy. Remember that every child will need these items so you may wish to bring enough for a number of children. |
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