Mexico

AFS aims to provide 30% of our students with scholarships or grants

Find out about our range of scholarships, grants and fundraising

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be between 15 years and 17 years and 9 months of age
Language requirements: Basic Spanish recommended
You can’t have graduated from school in New Zealand

Visa has a migration payment of $120 USD

Airfare
Airport Pick-up
Host Family Placement
Housing
Meals
School Placement
Individual Contact Person
Medical Insurance
24/7 Emergency Support
School Transport
Assistance with Application Process
Visa Application Assistance
Pre-Departure Orientation
Orientations during your time abroad
Re-entry Orientation
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence
70 Years Experience

Vaccinations
Cultural Tours
Visa and Passport Fees
Stipend
School Uniform

People & Community

You can live anywhere in Mexico—from rural to urban areas.Families are usually the center of social life for many people. Some are quite large, including the extended family and unmarried children living at home. Parents can be protective, especially with girls, so please keep them informed about your activities. Actively helping people in need is important to local communities. Spanish is the main language spoken in Mexico. Having a basic knowledge of Spanish or English will be helpful.

Mexico is one of the countries with one of the most diverse climate systems in the world. One of the contributing factors is the geographic location of the country, situated in an area crossed by the Tropic of Cancer.

Language

As you probably know the official language is Spanish. There are lots of indigenous dialects that are spoken throughout the country in
different indigenous communities.

Sometimes these populations don’t speak Spanish or at least that not all the people in the community do. Keep in mind that many
Spanish words have different meanings, depending on the situation or the inflection they have.

Food

Mexican food is varied, flavorful and sometimes spicy. Tortillas, rice, beans, tacos, and quesadillas are staples. Don’t forget to taste the mole, a thick, rich sauce from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, and some of the delicious homemade fruit drinks.

Fun facts: Chewing gum originated in Mexico. The Mayans (native Mexicans) made chewing gum by extracting the sap from trees. The gum responds quickly to temperature, so it softened when it entered the mouth.

The Mexicans discovered hot chocolate. Ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans, Toltecs, Olmecs and Aztecs, cultivated cocoa plants many years ago. Cocoa was crucial in the Mesoamerican period, as it had many uses, as a drink and as a form of currency in its trade. Cocoa had more value than gold.

Did you know most of today's Mexican food is based on pre-Columbian traditions, including Aztec and Maya, combined with culinary trends introduced by Spanish colonists?