Figueroa, the consul general in San Jose's Mexican Consulate, has a quiet, gentle demeanor that contrasts with the vivacious décor of his Sunnyvale home.

The Mexican flavor found throughout the interior of his home is absent at the bland First Street consulate offices where he works in downtown San Jose.

The only touch of ethnicity there is the Mexican flag hanging from a pole in front.

There is a stronger feel of Mexico inside, and it comes from the people--those using and providing the services of the consulate.

Figueroa's territory as consul general covers four southern counties of Northern California--Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey--and more than a half-million Mexicans.

"San Jose has the largest population of Mexican people north of L.A.," Figueroa says.

The consul general and his staff serve some 250 people each day out of two San Jose offices. They assist those who come to live in this country, those just visiting as well as those who are undocumented workers. The consulate helps them with passports, identification cards, legal assistance, and information on workers rights, human rights, health care and more.

Last year they delivered 40,000 consular identification cards, Figueroa says.

They carry the Guia Paisano, a pamphlet filled with answers to questions about immigration, vehicle registration, education opportunities and rights, transporting products or animals between the countries, and passing through customs.

The consulate also helps immigrants determine what immunizations they or their children have been given, at what age, and what the U.S. standards are.

Figueroa's latest focus is health information. His gentle speaking cadence quickens as he talks about putting together events for Santa Clara County's first Binational Health Week the second week of October. As part of a federal, state and local effort, the event is geared to bringing health care to immigrants.

Figueroa says he is surprised that this event hasn't already been brought to an area populated by so many Mexicans. In a survey of those who attended a Binational Health Week last year in Southern California, more than 40 percent of those questioned said it was the first time they had received any kind of health care assistance since arriving in the United States, he says.

Established in 2000, Binational Health Week is a partnership of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and several national and international agencies.

The Mexican Consulate has partnered with a long list of local organizations and health care groups to address issues such as nutrition across the borders, birth control options, breast and colon cancer education, car seat education, and health and safety for day laborers.

Figueroa says the program isn't yet finalized, but the dates will be Oct. 7 through 15. Events will be held in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and at the Day Worker Center in Mountain View.

Just as some of the event details are undetermined, so is the length of Figueroa's assignment to the San Jose Mexican Consulate. Typically he spends between three and five years in a country, but he never knows where he will go next, he says. "That's part of the excitement of this job."

He and his family have been in their rented home for 1 1/2 years. They chose Sunnyvale because of its proximity to the international school their two daughters attend.

This is his first assignment in the United States, and before coming here the Figueroas spent eight years in Europe--three in Austria and five in France. His daughter, Paloma, 3, was born in Paris. And Aura, his 8-year-old, was born in his hometown of Mexico City where the family maintains a home. Figueroa says he rarely goes back for business, but as a family, they go back as often as possible.

"What is important is for us to keep our roots," he says.

For more information about the Binational Health Week, contact the Mexican Consulate at 408.294.3414.