Studying Abroad in Puebla, Mexico Past Review
By Anna K (Geography, Macalester College) for
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla / BUAP: Puebla - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
The experience was definitely worthwhile. Mexico is an incredible place and PMCSP provides an excellent opportunity for students to take classes at the University which leads to great language acquisition and creates a better understanding of daily life in Puebla.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The university system is very different from what we may be used to at colleges in the United States. While many of the classes were very good, for others, the professors did not express a lot of dedication to teaching their classes. It is not unusual for professors to show up late to class, and they do not expect quite as much from their students as the professors I have at my college in the United States. That being said, other professors are very good and really require their students to work hard. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everybody in the office was always very welcoming when we came in with questions or problems. I know that some of the other students had some trouble with the efficiency of the administrators, but personally I never encountered any problems. They were all extremely nice and helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I felt very safe at all times, including walking around at night. I always felt comfortable getting on the bus and exploring different parts of town. My host family definitely treated me as a member of the family and really wanted to include me in family activities. |
| * Food: |
Overall I love Mexican food. What students eat depends a lot on their host family and the type of food their family cooks, which can really vary. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The inter-city bus system in Mexico is incredible. Anyone who goes on this program should take advantage of all the long weekends and holidays and travel around as much as possible. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
No one on my program had any problems with crime during the semester I was there. Nor were there any big health issues that semester. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The program encouraged us to speak Spanish 100% of the time, which was extremely helpful to all of us. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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