Mexico: A World of Fascinating Contradictions and Insanely Tasty Coca-Cola Past Review
By Briana C (good question!, Wellesley College) for
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla / BUAP: Puebla - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I can't say that my academic plans have changed. I went to Mexico because it already fit into my academic interests. I have always been fascinated by Mexico-US relations so PMCSP was perfect! I just found it fascinating to see the cultural differences on the other side of the border. I was looking forward to it so long and I can't believe it is over! I did expect to get a little more on the education-side of the issue, but there was just so much to learn anyways outside of the classroom that I can't really complain. At times I also felt that the reason I wasn't getting 100% out of my classes was also because my Spanish really wasn't that good. It works both ways.
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. |
I had two teachers that were really good, one that assigned too much work and was a little crazy, and another that assigned too little work and did not put effort into his lesson plans. The two classes that were not very good really impacted my time abroad since they consisted of 1/2 of the classes that I was taking. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I had a positive experience with the program director but a negative experience with some of the ladies working in the office. They lost one of my documents and blamed it on me (of course, they would say that I lost it and was blaming it on them). One of the ladies I found to be forceful and not very patient or willing to explain things that I didn't quite understand. However, many in the program really liked the ladies in the office. It was probably just a personality thing. But as I mentioned before, the director was fabulous. She knew exactly where we were coming from as American college students and what our home-institutions are like. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I always felt that the neighborhood was safe. I never needed for anything and the only thing I went out to buy was house slippers because the whole house had tile. My house was very very close to my classes- I could walk without any problem. I was definately not treated as a family member. I would say that I was treated as somewhat in between a guest and a client. |
| * Food: |
it depends on each household. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Field trips were great!!!! They were definitely the best part of the program. The program also had movie nights and cooking classes which was also fun. I didn't always attend but its nice to get together with the other students in the program once in a while and just hang out. El dia de muertos was amazing!!!! However, I'm sure that semana santa in the spring is just as remarkable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Puebla is a very safe city. My advice for being in Puebla is the same for being in any great city. However, the only thing that you should be careful of is the taxis- always call one, never get into one on the street. Use common sense. Don't trust strangers- even if they say they are American too. Once you feel uncomfortable in a situation, just remove yourself from it. I did want to do a lot of travelling but people talked me out of it because it was "dangerous". Puebla is pretty safe but don't take it for granted that all of Mexico is like that. |
| 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? | 100-150 pesos on average. It depends on how much I went out. Covers to get into a club or a bar are about 50 pesos. Some are more. Riding the bus to school is 5 pesos. I walked to school and saved my money. Sometimes I would buy lunch at school and sometimes I wouldn't. So it really fluctuated from week to week. 150 would be a week where I took the bus, went out, and bought a couple of meals. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | save your money to travel |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | make lots of Mexican friends!!!!! They will help you out a lot. A student who is willing to make friends and also willing to do her work without much explanation/guidance/ prodding of a professor (In a word: self-motivated) student would benefit most from the program. |
