Guanajuato, Mexico; A summer of Spanish Past Review
By Tiffany P (Anthropology, Appalachian State University) for
Universidad de Guanajuato: Guanajuato - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was very worthwhile. I still talk with the friends I made. After I finished I was so sad I was leaving that I wanted to extend my time there. My experience has changed my future in that I would like to live abroad and I realize how important it is to experience something else and to go explore.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Guanajuato |
| 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. |
I was in a beginning Spanish class and the professors were amazing! I learned so much and the host family even helped us at the dinner table. I like that the class was taught only in Spanish even though we were beginners. In the U.S. my Spanish classes are filled with English and are focused on memorization. Going abroad has shown me how to use language and communicate and that it's not all about rules to get your point across. It's shown me not to be nervous to try. The workload was very manageable and we had lots of free time. We had presentations and a final exam. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Administration in ISA Guanajuato was great! Everyone was very knowledgeable and organized. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was provided in the program. I did not have to buy any items and meals were provided daily. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian and made note of this in my application to ISA and was put in a host family that would accommodate my deity needs. At home I had amazing meals. Out on the street or at restaurants the situation was slightly different, but all I had to say was I am vegetarian and they'd bring me rice, beans, and veggies. No big deal. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Mexico. A few people got sick and had to go to the doctors and the on-site ISA staff went with this individuals. I personally did not interact with the healthcare system. In Guanajuato, my host city, I felt safe. Of course you need to use your common sense. If you're out at night don't go walking alone and show off that you're from the U.S. If your female, stick with a male or a large group at night. In the daytime I walked by myself all the time and never had a bad moment, but I wouldn't go walking around at night alone even in North Carolina, USA. |
| 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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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? |
My purpose of going abroad was to speak and learn Spanish. A lot of people spoke English, but we were in Mexico and so I used Spanish everywhere and with everyone I met. I never talked to a stranger in a store or on the street in English. Spanish to the taxi driver, the store clerk, etc. I spoke Spanish with my professors and my host family. I spoke English with other students. |
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? | If you want to learn Spanish and would also like to explore the country with a guided group, Guanajuato ISA is the way to go. |
