WHAT TO
EXPECT

Airport pick-up is included in your Gap Year program. Maximo Nivel’s professional drivers meet you outside of baggage claim as you exit the airport—just look for the yellow smiley face flag. You receive a Welcome Pack detailing your accommodations, orientation time, and all emergency contact details. Depending on your time of arrival, you come directly to the Maximo institute or you go directly to your accommodations.

Your Welcome Pack tells you the exact time of your orientation. Your host family shows you the best way to get to/from your family-stay and the Maximo Nivel institute. If you are in another type of accommodations, the Maximo Nivel team shows you the route. Orientation is very important because we cover specific details about your program, including a health and safety review, dos and don’ts, available cultural activities and tours, and a short walking tour to be sure you are familiar with the area. During your orientation, you also take a free Spanish placement exam.

You have breakfast at your accommodations. We have a lot to do on Day 1, so we expect you at the institute first thing in the morning! A Field Manager from Maximo Nivel shows you how to get to/from your community service project and Maximo Nivel (e.g. buses, taxis, walking, etc.). Our Field Manager accompanies your placement, introduces you to the project director, explains the activities that take place, and answers any questions you have, so you are fully prepared.

You also begin your Spanish language classes based on the Spanish placement examen you took during orientation. Your community service work is programmed for the morning shift from 8:00AM to 12:00PM, or the afternoon shift from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. Your Spanish classes are available on the opposite schedule of your volunteer work, so if you are volunteering in the morning, you take Spanish classes in the afternoon and vice-versa.

During the week, you start the day with breakfast at your host family, generally around 7:00AM to 8:00AM. Most often, you eat with some of the family members or with other program participants who are staying at the house.

From there, you make your way to Maximo Nivel or directly to your community service project. You either have mornings free or afternoons free, and every day you have time to meet other students, socialize, and do some exploring. You can spend some time with your host family, explore the city, take excursions, and hang out at the Maximo institute. Be sure to take advantage of the many free activities we have including salsa classes, cooking lessons, Tandem Conversation Program, and more. There are plenty of great restaurant options around Maximo Nivel. Be sure to get out and try some of the local dishes and do some looking around.

Depending on your gap year program, your itinerary may include a change in community service project type, scuba certification, surf school, or TEFL certification. You may also be programmed to take some tours. Your specific itinerary is given to you at the start of your program, so you know what dates each of these changes and additions take place. Remember to stay flexible and please let us know if you have any questions of worries.

In the evenings, you have dinner with your host family. After dinner, families like to sit and talk about their day and hear about yours—remember, this helps you become more involved in the daily routine of your host family. If you plan to miss dinner, or you are going out with friends, just let your host family know you will not be there for dinner.

At night, your evenings are free to relax at your accommodations or to enjoy the nightlife with friends and other students. You have your own key to the family-stay house and you are free to come and go as you please. However, we ask you respect the routine and house rules of the family. If you choose to drink, please do so responsibly! It is important to follow the Maximo Nivel safety rules—we want you to have a fun and safe gap year.

Weekends are free to go sightseeing, traveling, or trekking. You can arrange extra tours with Maximo Nivel’s onsite travel partner or pool together with other participants and head out on your own. If you are traveling, please be sure your host family knows where you are going and when you plan to return so they do not worry. If you decide to stay with your host family on the weekends, you are welcome to get involved in their routine, go to church with them on Sundays, and in general spend quality “family time” together.