I am in love with Oaxaca; the people, the culture, the art, the lifestyle... Past Review
By Maud van Baar (Quest University Canada / Outbound) - abroad from 11/03/2018 to 11/24/2018 with
Mexico Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
- Improved Spanish - Better knowledge about Mexico - More knowledge about Oaxaca
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Spanish classes were engaging, but not very challenging. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was arranged and organized super well! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Our host family was wonderful and lived in a central location. We had our own bedroom and bathroom. |
| * Food: |
Good food but very little to no vegetables / greens |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living with a host family and near the centre helped us immerse into the Oaxacan culture. Perhaps more time in Oaxaca would have further helped this. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No health issues. |
| * Safety: |
Oaxaca felt very safe! As a female I was able to walk alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
SOL was super helpful with arranging everything. Our program director Eva was absolutely amazing and super helpful all the time. |
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 spent more money than expected. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use the ATM once and not too often - conversion & transaction costs are more expensive then you think and add up quickly! |
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 |
Only Spanish speaking was allowed in class. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Hang out with your host family, get a membership at a local gym / yoga studio, talk to locals. |
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? | 0 |
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? | - Oaxaca is super safe - Expenses will be higher than expected - I would have stayed in Mexico for another month |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
