A Summer in Guadalajara Past Review
By Christine M (Plan II/ Biology Honors, The University of Texas at Austin) for
University of Texas - Austin: Guadalajara - Health Care in Mexico
I think it was worthwhile. It was definitely interesting to put myself in a situation where I was the foreigner, I was the one who had difficulty with the language, I was the one who didn't was always misunderstanding things. Seeing myself through a different lens, placing myself in a different context--without question, is an experience that I'll always carry with me. Oh, and my Spanish got better, which is always a plus.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I feel like the academic component of the program (the first month), could have benefited from a more rigorous curriculum. The material was educational, without question, but I feel our familiarity with it could have been more strictly tested. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Maclovia Medina, who was responsible for us once we reached Guadalajara, did an excellent job providing for our needs. Anytime any one of us had a problem, she was more than happy to help. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The neighborhood I was in was very warm and safe. My host family was really welcoming. They were always taking us places, cooking us spectacular meals, and basically making us feel like we were family. |
| * Food: |
My host mother was an amazing cook. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went to Mexico during the World Cup, so it was really cool to see the way the people's love for the sport really transformed the city. Guadalajara in general is a really welcoming city. When people found out we were foreigners, they always suggested places to go and things to do to get to know their culture better. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
The program coordinators equipped us with the information and resources we needed to keep ourselves safe. Also, Jalisco is definitely one of the more secure/stable states in Mexico. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Not really. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPN 327G |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I feel like attending an actual Mexican university, rather than a school designed specifically for study abroad students, would have required more in-depth familiarity with the Spanish language. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You'll get out as much from it as you're willing to put in. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
El Cine Mexicano |
| Course Department: | CEPE |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | It was a really interesting and well-organized course. I really enjoyed the experience! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I can't answer that question yet. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Level 10 |
| Course Department: | CEPE |
| Instructor: | Ruth Escamilla |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | It wasn't a very rigorous course, but it was a nice way to refresh and refine my Spanish before working in the hospital. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I can't answer that question yet. |
