CETLALIC
Men
of Chicago United 
Los hombres de Chicago unieron
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CETLALIC
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CETLALIC is an alternative school located in Cuernavaca, Mexico that conducts a special annual three week program for gay men from other countries. The program takes a holistic approach to learning which combines Spanish language classes, cultural excursions, and programs about the gay community of Mexico. I attended the program last June and it proved to be an experience of a lifetime. Students are encouraged to live in gay Mexican homes during the program which provides a true understanding and feeling of what Mexico and gay Mexico are actually like. This unique program gave me a perfect opportunity to feel the great culture of Mexico that I never realized during prior visits to costal tourist areas. The program isn't just about studying language, history, or cruising gay men (although I did a bit of that in my free time), it is about interaction, communication, and understanding. The school is a wonderful "classic Mexican" type building with beautiful landscape and private outdoor pool. Small classes of 3-5 people are casual and personal. My gay home stay situation was better than a hotel and the food was great. My host was a perfect gentleman (just my damn luck) who went out of his way to be helpful. The cultural excursions were first class and included ballet, ancient pyramids, tour of Congress in Mexico City, boat ride, historical Cathedral tour, museums, waterfall, movies, etc. The gay programs were also fantastic: I marched in the gay pride parade in Mexico City (the men were knock down, drag out, gorgeous), attended a local gay activist meeting, met with local University students who discussed Mexico's AIDS situation, toured the Robert Brady museum, gay art exhibit, met with a lesbian Congresswoman who discussed human rights in Mexico, went to local gay bars, etc. The beautiful City of Cuernavaca is known as the "City of eternal Spring" and is located about one and a half hours outside of Mexico City. Little stores, big stores, flowers, trees, stately old buildings, friendly people, great restaurants, etc. The main curculio is where the local people go to socialize and relax (including local gay people...so I heard). I even made friends with a couple of local gay guys and we spent some "quality time" together. There was always plenty to do and I didn't have enough time to see all that I would have liked, but that's why I'm going back again next year. If you want to know more about "CETLALIC's programa gay" visit their www site at: CETLALIC Escuela Alternative de Espanol |