Guatemala: home away from home Past Review
By Robert D (Anth, New Mexico State University) for
Proyecto Lingüístico Quetzalteco de Español / PLQE: Quetzaltenango - Spanish Language Immersion
I understand not all places are the same but there are good and bad everywhere and to stay in the good requeires knowlege and asking questions.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was good, grading system as well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The proffesors knew alot about the subject and could answer just about any question you will have. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The hostels are not what you expect to be, the home or host familys have certian defferences about the standard of living and they may not be what you are used to. Do not offend them by making comments that have negative remarks in them thay may not know alot of english but can understand some. |
| * Food: |
If you have any request or restrictions feel free to let the family or school know and they will help and accomidate those needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trip to the sacred place Chickabal was spectacular and i will never forget it. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Be carefull where you go and who is arround you at all times if you dont know then ask and if you are lost dont try to find your own way back ask. Stay away from dark places and try to stay sober. |
| 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? | Take more money or have more on you card than you expect to spend there are alot of new things that come up that are not told to you by your advisor, just because things change all the time. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Everyone. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live 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? | Listen to your host family, talk to everyone you can and ask many questions, never travel alone and pay for your safety. you get what you pay for. |
