Past Review
By Bowman M (Anthropology., The University of Texas at Austin) for
IFSA: Merida - Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan
It is shocking to find that the revelations you initially expect to have are replaced by new epiphanies that come by surprise, as you arrive in a place that defies expectation and your preconceptions morph into a newfound understanding (or curiosity to learn more) of a land you had always wished to live for a time. Being a part of a country that Americans generally act familiar with (but actually contains much greater diversity than typically thought) Mérida is a great opportunity to see beyond a stereotyped image and achieve a more realistic sensibility about this shining jewel of a country that is our neighbor.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Lots of reading that is mostly very interesting, but set aside time for dense reads and translations. The different teaching methods are more refreshing that difficult to accommodate to. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very good feeling of support and security, though it is a tradeoff with a deeper level of immersion. Weekly meetings and classes with members of your group forges a bond that may detract from creating local friendships. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Colonia Vista Alegre, short walk to the R2 bus stop that brings you to the university. Nice houses with very warm and caring families. <br /><br /> The location is ideal for a short commute to school but distant from the downtown area, parks, and museums. |
| * Food: |
Delicious yucatecan cuisine, and while more limited there are vegetarian options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Good live music (both traditional and of diverse styles), visits to archaeological sites, and a nearby coastal town. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The program coordinators provide excellent advice for safety. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eliminate the included spring break trips. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPN 312L SEC-YR SPN II: ORAL EX/RD/COMP |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Try to limit time with fellow study abroad students if you feel it would be uncomfortable to practice speaking in spanish with them. |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Seeing the variety of reactions by companions studying abroad in my group, I realized that each person gets a unique experience that will be rewarding as long as they are enthusiastic and proactive in pursuing the goals set by them prior to the adventure. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Técnicas avanzadas de arqueología subacuática |
| Course Department: | Archaeology |
| Instructor: | Guillermo de Anda |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This course was very interesting and compelling, while lacking definition in its organization that may partially be because not all students are required to dive or hold a certification because the team includes surface members. However as I did not dive I realized that one should, to get the most out of it. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Choosing relevant courses should be easy, but the UADY system is somewhat unorganized. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Español Avanzado II |
| Course Department: | program |
| Instructor: | Jose Luis Espinosa |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish/ English |
| Comments: | Good opportunity to bring up language issues to confront while abroad that may come up, literature is well chosen, more feedback on language skills would be useful, or making the course not obligatory. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Choosing relevant courses should be easy, but the UADY system is somewhat unorganized. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Cultura y Historia de la Civilización Maya |
| Course Department: | program |
| Instructor: | various |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | taught in the program office, making it more accessible from my home stay, was once a week, and it used a seminar-style format in that UADY professors in their respective fields would give lectures with each day focusing on a different facet of mayan history and culture. Downside was no local students in the classroom. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Choosing relevant courses should be easy, but the UADY system is somewhat unorganized. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Antropología rural |
| Course Department: | Anthropology |
| Instructor: | Yassir Rodríguez |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Most theoretically rich course that I took here, young teacher but very good instructor. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Choosing relevant courses should be easy, but the UADY system is somewhat unorganized. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Antropología mexicana |
| Course Department: | Anthropology |
| Instructor: | Eugenia Iturriaga |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Very good chronological overview of the leading figures and events that formed the field of anthropology in Mexico, lots of group work and reading, good level of interaction with local students. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Choosing relevant courses should be easy, but the UADY system is somewhat unorganized. |
