Immersion in the Mexican Culture, Food, Language, and Country Past Review
By Callie Carpenter (Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/06/2016 with
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education(ITESM): Guadalajara - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I improved my Spanish skills, gained an international perspective, and grew in character and relational skills
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was not that rigorous but the resources available were abundant |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Informed us through email of important events and services |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with a host family and really enjoyed it. It is the best way to learn Spanish while there and the food was awesome too! |
| * Food: |
My hostess wrote cookbooks, so the food was awesome and ready for me each day when I got home. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
How socially integrated you become is entirely based on how much effort you make to integrate yourself. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got sick traveling and the hotel owner called a doctor for me. He came and tapped my stomach, took my temperature, and asked me some questions then prescribed some medication and liquids. A second time I became ill while traveling and was still feeling bad when classes began again. So I visited the campus doctor (for free) and he asked me some questions and prescribed some medication. There are pharmacies all over Mexico, especially Guadalajara and medicine is very easy to obtain. |
| * Safety: |
Guadalajara is huge city, but the area in which Tec is situated is quite safe. Caution should be used when traveling after dark or in other areas of the city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an amazing experience and I grew personally so much! |
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) |
Everything is quite cheap in Mexico. My room and board was $2000 for the entire semester. |
| 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? | Take the city bus, it is $0.25 per trip with transvales tickets (available in Tec). |
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 |
My classes were in English (you can choose) so I spoke mostly English at Tec and then only Spanish with my host family |
| 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? | Spanish 3 |
| 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? | Live with a host family. Otherwise you are likely not to improve your language skills as much because, for most of the international students, the majority of our friends were other international students |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | The Spring months are very hot, bring comfortable, cool clothing. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
