I don't like doing this kind of thing. Past Review
By Eli K (Film & Spanish, Western Kentucky University) - abroad from 01/25/2013 to 05/04/2013 with
Mexico Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I learned how to speak spanish very well. I had fun on my own a lot. I learned about some great mexican movies. It was totally worthwhile. I would do it again in a second.
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 program allowed me to have a lot of free time to explore, so I was learning a lot even when I wasn't in class. Then also, they would take us on trips for the afternoon to places that I would never have gone otherwise. I got to take al the classes I wanted to, and they were very small sizes, sometimes I was the only student, which I liked a lot. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My advisor or program coordinator was really great. She would help us with any problem we had. Give advise, that sort of thing. I never felt like I didn't have anyone to call if the shit hit the fan so to speak. Also, the director of the school I went to was amazing. He asked me over and over if I was enjoying the classes just to make sure I didn't have any problems. He would warn me if there was going to be some change about class or a cancelation. I felt very taken care of by the administration on the trip. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My house was awesome. You gotta stay with Gudelia. I felt so completely at home there. They would treat me like another one of the kids. We had family parties sometimes and they would always include me. During semana santa, they invited me to church with them. They always filled me in on things that were happening around town like concerts, films, bars, thats sort of thing. |
| * Food: |
THE FOOD. The food was so good. I would just eat lunch and go to sleep and have the best dreams I've ever had. I mean I'm ruined now. I can never go back to a mexican restaurant in the US. Stuffed Squash, thats all I have to say. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program was set up to have a friend after school called an intercambio. This is a very valuable thing because it kind of initiates a relationship between you and an actual mexican person. I had a few because of scheduling conflicts but with both of them, we hung out outside of school a few times. Its definitely not hard to just hang out with americans, but if you try to make other friends, it really helps with the spanish and it also helps your general happiness. The program definitely gives you enough freedom to make friends with whoever you want. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I think I might be the only american student who went to mexico and didn't get sick, not even once. So I don't think I can answer this question very well. |
| * Safety: |
Oaxaca is a very safe place. You just have to take the same precautions you would if you were in any city you don't know well. But i would walk everywhere I needed to go in the city and I vener felt unsafe. |
| 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) |
I could live on not very much money there. Most of what I spent money on was beer and food really. I bought a lot of souvenirs too. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Oh I don't know. like 300 or 400 pesos. About 30 or 40 dollars. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat the cheap food because its good. Bars are expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I had to speak a lot of spanish to get by. It was great. My family spoke spanish with me. My teachers. I never used english unless I was with the other americans in my group. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 201 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you can make friends with a mexican or anyone who speaks the language, do it. If you can have some sort of scheduled meeting with someone where you speak spanish, thats good too. Just try super hard and don't speak english with your american friends. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Nothing. I learned everything I needed to learn. It was exactly what I wanted. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
