Study abroad in Queretaro Past Review
By Kayla H (Psychology and Spanish - Secondary Ed., Nebraska Wesleyan University) for
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM): Queretaro - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I loved my study aboard experience. Ever since I've been home I've been trying to return. The things that I have learned while abroad have helped me to understand my global community more than every. STUDY ABROAD! It's the best experience that you could ask for!
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I loved the school and the professors. They were very willing to work with me and to help me in anyway that they could. I learned so much during my time in Mexico! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not work with the aboard program administration much. I did not have problems with them however. They were available to me if I would have needed them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Colonial Colinas del Parque with a host family, my host mother did not speak any English, but my host father spoke a little English. I had my own room but shared a bathroom with another student from my university that was also studying abroad. She knew more Spanish than I did and was able to help me when I needed to communicate with my host mom and couldn't. <br /><br /> Becuase of the construction that was taking place it was very hard to take a bus, but it was close to everywhere we needed to be which kept the taxi far down. The neighborhood seemed safe, and we were close to another student from the US and were able to split taxi far with him to school and when we went out some nights. |
| * Food: |
The food from home was usually really good, and my mom always gave me as much as I wanted and often more than I wanted. The food in other places that I ate was also good. The food was one of my favorite things about Mexico! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
All of the people I met in/through the program were very nice. I enjoyed being able to travel and explore different places and was most touched by delivering the piñatas. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall I felt very safe. Both at home in my host family's neighborhood, at school and on the trips. I did not have to use the student health services, but the people I know that did had good remarks. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $20 US a day on average becuase I went out almost every night. I also spent additional money on sovineirs for myself and others. Total I spent less than $500 US on the entire trip. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I poorly limited the amount of money that I allowed myself to spend. I wish I had been better about that. Also I wish I would have know that I would not be able to take the bus to school and would be spending more for that than expected. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I am now able to communicate my needs in most situations. I currently can understand a lot more than I can speak, but I can speak a lot more than I could before I left. I was forced to use what I was learning everyday, this helped me to actually learn it and not just memorize it for a test and then forget it. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go with and open mind and you will learn so much, go with a closed mind and you will only start to learn what there is to know. |
