Mexico: More Than I Could've Expected Past Review
By Brittany B (Spanish (Hispanic Studies), The University of Texas at Austin) for
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM): Queretaro - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience was definitely worthwhile! I have a new view about the world and how other people live and interact with each other. Once I graduate I'm moving abroad. I can't wait to meet more people from around the world and learn about their culture.
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. |
Both my courses required a lot more reading than my classes at UT. I had homework everyday unlike my university back home. There are more discussions rather than one single lecture and everyone was involved everyday. I had huge papers due the same day of the midterm/final which I found very different than back home. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The faculty was always helpful and organized. I felt very comfortable walking into the office if I had any type of question. I needed a couple papers faxed and they did it right away. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in downtown Queretaro and my family was absolutely beautiful. I still keep in contact with them and I will be returning to visit them soon. I felt safe walking around in my neighborhood and it was only a 10/15 minute bus ride to campus. The cooking was amazing and the house was right out of a picture book. The only down side was that I had to share a room and a bathroom with the rest of the family in the house. My roommate went to bed before me and woke up after me so that was the only problem. Other than that, my housing situation was a blessing and I am very grateful to have had my host family. They were perfect tens!!!!! |
| * Food: |
best food I've ever eaten in my life. Portions are big so I requested to be served a little less to not waste any. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wake up every morning and wonder why I'm not in Mexico...I would like to move there one day for a couple years. That's how much I enjoyed it. The Mexico City trip was the best to see the modern part of Mexico and I enjoyed Guanajuato to see the pictuesque colonial town. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I ran out of migraine medicine while in Mexico and I went to the doctor on campus with my empty bottle and he wrote me another prescription. It was very easy. Be careful when eating from taco stands! No vaccines were specifically needed to study in Mexico. |
| 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? | I wish I would have been reminded that in todays times airlines charge for baggage and overweigh baggage. To check my baggage coming home was $180... |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | ANYONE! and mostly an Intermediate level spanish. I was an advanced and knew a lot more spanish than anyone else because I was there for the summer |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Literatura Mexicana/ Mexican Literature |
| Course Department: | Humanidades H3021 |
| Instructor: | Maria de Lourdes Gallego |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | The professor was very passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. It showed that she wanted everyone to understand the material. She used different teaching methods to make sure everyone understood and the repetition helped reinforce and review what we had previously learned. The course was interesting and therefore it was not as challenging. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | research and have back ups in case the courses you in tend to take are not offered that semester. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Teoria de las relaciones internacionales I/ Theory of international relations I |
| Course Department: | Humunidades RI2006 |
| Instructor: | Daniela Franco Gage |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish/English |
| Comments: | It was hard for me because it was a class for IR majors and they had previous knowledge. It was my least favorite class and the teacher ensured me that I did not have to worry about my grade because I had an A, but in the end she gave me a B! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
