Past Review
By Stephanie Newton N (Neurobiology and Neurosciences., Wellesley College) for
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla / BUAP: Puebla - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
The experience was worthwhile, without a doubt. Some things happened that I expected, like gaining a new perspective on the world, some things happened that didn't surprise me but I hadn't thought about, like being singled out for my looks, and some things happened that I completely did not expect, like coming back with two completely separate lives and not knowing how to tie them together. It wasn't entirely a magical experience like I thought "abroad" was supposed to be, and I didn't love every minute of it, I was just living my life and getting to know real people, but it was one of the most important experiences that I've had, and I'll remember it and cherish it for my whole life.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla |
| 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 education system is very different from the one in the United States, and I found it very discouraging and hard to get used to. I would say that all the learning that took place for me in Mexico was not academic, except for what I learned in the lab. Both professors and students arrive late to class, students cheat and are not interested in learning, professors do not discipline. Everything is laid back and not a good academic environment. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration was very good and worked very hard to do everything they could to make us comfortable and make sure we had positive experiences. I always felt comfortable answering any questions that I had. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
For the summer I lived in an apartment in Bugambilias close to the CU section of the university, where I was interning, with another student from the lab. During the school year I lived with 2 different host families, first in Rincon del Bosque and then in Prados Agua Azul. <br /><br /> In the neighborhood during the summer, I didn't feel in danger, but I didn't feel quite safe either, at night. The first host family did everything they could for me but I felt like a client. The second host family was great, I felt like a member of the family. |
| * Food: |
The food is usually spicy and heavily loaded with condiments, so while I didn't actually get sick, my stomach felt a little funny for almost the entire year. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The best thing you can do is make local friends and spend as much time as possible with them. That's what was missing from my first semester, having friends with a variety of perspectives. Because I started to make new friends my second semester, it was a much better semester. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
We were given so many warnings and horror stories about "walking around alone at night" before the program started that I was scared every single time I did it. I walked alone at night often, but only if I didn't have another option, and I was scared and jumpy every single time, even though I only had one minor problem during the entire year. I didn't have any health issues so I didn't need to worry about didn't, and don't know what the doctors are like. |
| 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 10 dollars or less on food each week, 5 dollars on transportation, and maybe 10 dollars or less average on personal expenses. I spent more when I was travelling, because of transportation and food. I didn't buy many items or souveneirs or clothes. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I don't spend money if I don't have to, and even though I saw other people spending more than I did, I still spent more than I thought I would. As people said to me before I left, bring fewer clothes than you think you need (I learned that it's possible to get by on pretty little) and more money than you think, especially to travel, and to get gifts or treat your friends to coffee. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate-The making of Modern Latin america |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I already knew a lot of Spanish but I just needed to practice with native speakers, so the area in which my Spanish improved the most was just feeling comfortable with the language. Now even though I still have to ask people to repeat themselves once in a while, I don't get nervous about speaking or feel that my Spanish is inadequate. |
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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* 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? | Besides the trips and meetings with the program, it offers you almost complete immersion, if that's what you want. The most important thing: MAKE FRIENDS WITH MEXICAN STUDENTS! They know everything and can make the experience amazing. They will tell you the best places to go, and then take you there, teach you things the classes and program can never teach you, ask you probing (and sometimes obnoxious) questions and force you to look at yourself in a way you never had before, and take you into their lives the first time they meet you. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Phonetics and Phonology |
| Course Department: | Literature Department |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This was the one course that I really did like. The professor usually arrived on time, and was stricter on the students than other professors, which kept us more focused in the class. I was more interested in the material, and she kept all the students participating all the time. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no, no problem |
