The safety of the Xalapa was very good. Past Review
By Willoughby S (International Relations and International Economics and Finance, Austin College) for
Universidad Veracruzana: Xalapa - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was very worthwhile. I gained confidence in my adopted culture and language and through interaction with students, locals and the friends I made I learned a lot about how Mexicans, but specifically Xalapanoes see the world and some of the big issues in their country and the world. Academically/future plan-wise I want to return to Xalapa, or at least Mexico. I knew I wanted to work abroad in Latin America, possibly for the U.S. government or a U.S. based company, but now I would like to try to specifically work in relations between the U.S. and Mexico, although learning about the Mexican culture has also increased my desire to learn more about all of Latin America.
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. |
The course work and classroom atmosphere were much more relaxed than at my U.S. college, but I feel like I was still able to learn a lot from my courses and professors, but this was more true at the classes I took at the university campuses with local students and less true of the classes at the school for foreign students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program advisor was very attentive and always checked in with us to make sure we were doing okay and that there were no problems. He was very helpful in getting registered for classes, getting visas and other such activities. He was also very dedicated to the planning of excursions and even offered optional excursions for further exposure to the culture and environment. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My home stay was excellent. The location was about 10 minutes walking from the school for foreign students and about 15 minutes walking from the city center and nightlife. It was also close to several bus stops so it was easy to get to my classes at the local university campuses. My family was amazing. They treated me like a family member, inviting me to eat out with them and attend family celebrations and activities. My host mother was very attentive, the food was excellent and the house was always very clean. The only things I really need to purchase to settle in were tolettries. The neighborhood was very safe; I never felt uncomfortable walking home after an evening out. |
| * Food: |
In my house, the food was delicious and the quantity was always more than enough. Resturants in the area were also delicous and portions were almost always enough or more than enough for one person. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Through the program we had 2 weekend excursions during the Fall semester. In the Spring semester we had 2 weeks off for "Spring break;" one week was free and the second week was an excursion with the program to the state of Chiapas. We also had a weekend trip to Tajin. All of these excursions were a great chance to experiance the different cultural aspects of Mexico. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The safety of the Xalapa was very good. I felt comfortable walking around the city and taking taxis and buses. I did not have much interaction with the healthcare system, because I did not experience any medical issues out of the ordinary. There was some concern, though not by me personally, regarding H1N1, but it was not an issue at all. |
| 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 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced the language with the local people. It was used less at the school for foreign students because outside of classes English was generally used. Outside of the school I was required to use Spanish every day in my home stay and classes as well as in the streets, resturants, bars, stores etc of Xalapa. My language skills and my confidence in using Spanish improved greatly. However, I do not think that I learned as much in classes, specifically those at the school for foreign students, as I did interacting with locals rather in classes, social settings or daily activities. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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? | BCA Study Abroad in Xalapa was excellent. The only way you won't enjoy and come out of the experience with a positive experience is if you chose to reject the multiple opportunities to get involved and make friends, both local and among study abroad students. |
