Oaxaca: The Missing Chapter in my Life! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were perfect for a 1-month immersion experience! The teachers were excellent, and I was given work that is comparable to university-level courses. I definitely learned a lot from the courses I took (Latin American Literature and Advanced Composition) and I would recommend these courses to any students interested in studying in Oaxaca! The only drawback would be that the courses didn't appear to cover all of their intended material, but this is understandable due to the short schedule (4 weeks to cover two, 3-credit courses).

On-site administration of your program

The on-site directors were phenomenal! At first, I didn't expect to see them very often, but that changed fast as I saw them very often during program activities. But they were also great company, and I'm sure that the experience would not have been as enjoyable if they had not been there with us!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My arrangements were so great that at times I felt too comfortable (and forgot that I was in Mexico). My host family (in particular, my host mom) was phenomenal-- I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

The food was great, even though I had a dietary restriction that prevented me from eating a good amount of food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although I have no prior experience in Mexico, let alone Latin America, I felt like I didn't need to have a background in this culture. All that was needed was an open mind and a willingness to appreciate the rich culture of Oaxaca! The local culture welcomed all foreigners with open arms and I truly felt encouraged to be a part of the ongoing festivities of Guelaguetza. It was a magical experience!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I only had a minor health issue during my trip, but it was resolved within a day. But I am sure that the program would have assisted me completely with all of my needs if my condition had worsened!

Oaxaca is generally a safe place. However it is important to note that there are political demonstrations and poverty-stricken areas that might cause safety issues. Although I have not encountered any troubles with safety, I would always recommend traveling with a trusted individual at night or in areas not frequently visited during the program.

I have no regrets about my experience in Oaxaca! I feel like I gained more out of this 1 month experience than any other month in my entire life!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I think Oaxaca is fairly affordable for students, but it really depends on how much you want to spend on food/drinks, gifts, and other activities. A student can easily live comfortably off of $50 if he knows how to budget properly.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Almost always at school, during guided tours, and other instances. But with varying levels (and interests) of Spanish in my group, it was difficult speaking Spanish with others in my program session when it's a lot easier to communicate smoothly in English. But given the 1-month schedule, it is understandable that not everyone became comfortable speaking in Spanish.

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• Host Family

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• International Students

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• Americans

• independence/freedom despite this being a 4 week program
• Opportunities to learn language (school, intercambio) and culture (museum, Guelaguetza)
• Fun-- there were so many activities that were very enjoyable!!

• More activities early on to improve group cohesion-- it took a while for all of us to get along very well

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer