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September 18, 2008
The American Society of Jalisco
On Wednesday, I joined the American Society of Jalisco.
It is an organization that was formed 63 years ago to provide local information to expatriates and visitors from the United States, and to offer them a social outlet with fellow English-speakers. Nowadays one does not need to be a United States citizen to join, and they are actively trying to recruit a more diverse membership. Anyone can join and take advantage of the services the group offers.
Among the primary benefits of membership are:
- one of the largest English-language lending libraries in the city
- weekly get-togethers and holiday events
- weekly classes in things like languages and aerobics
- mail service to the United States every few weeks by members taking trips up there
- referrals for members seeking local services
The membership does tend to consist mostly of retirees, although they welcome anyone. The person that signed me up was completely cool about the fact that I have a husband living here with me, but I tend to find that homophobia is far less common among Americans living abroad than it is within the country itself. The organization also does a fair bit of charity work for local causes, and it serves as the meeting place for other groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Toastmasters.
Annual membership dues are MXN $300 for individuals and MXN $600 for families. The American Society of Jalisco is located at Avenida San Francisco 3332 (a few blocks off the glorieta where the Escultura La Estampida is located), and their phone number is (33) 3121-2395. They can be contacted by email as well: amsoc@megared.net.mx.
Posted by crispy at September 18, 2008 04:20 AM
Comments
As opposed to husbands not living with you?
Posted by: Mark Allen at September 20, 2008 11:40 AM
UPDATE: I just learned that in addition to taking mail to the United States, they also have stamps available. Handy, no?
Posted by: Chris Coen at September 22, 2008 12:56 PM