A Challenge and a Joy Past Review
By A student (Management, Brigham Young University) - abroad from 05/11/2012 to 08/09/2012 with
Brigham Young University: LDS Employment Services Spanish International Internship Program
I learned how to see things through the eyes of other cultures. I learned to appreciate points of view that I didn't share. I learned patience with decisions I didn't agree with. I learned about new ways to view business. I learned to care a little more about people and a little less about things to do. I learned to stop and take time to appreciate my surroundings. I learned to dig deep within myself when times are hard and not give up on my goals and my faith. It was SO worthwhile.
Review Photos
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. |
This was an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, see how Mexicans function in business and in everyday life, and to explore a variety of cultural situations. I was blown away. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was slightly difficult to communicate everything over the phone, and our center manager in the city was never quite sure if we reported to BYU or LDS Employment. :) |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Mexican housing is... ok. But we were well-taken care of for that area. |
| * Food: |
I love Mexican food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program didn't have direct integration planned, but it had assignments that required me to get out of my comfort zone and get to know new people. And what they thought about Mexico, and the US, and all sorts of issues. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Just went to Wal-Mart for some medication. Luckily our manager's wife is a nurse and was able to let me know what I needed. A hotline or something like that for health emergencies would be useful. If there is one for HTH (which we had), perhaps training on how to do that. |
| * Safety: |
For Mexico, very safe. For the US, a little dangerous. Just don't carry valuables in the open, and be with someone else as much as possible. |
| 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) |
With the initial program cost for housing/overhead, it turned out being fairly inexpensive if we didn't do anything extravagant. We could eat out if desired (food is cheap), and transportation was a bit scary but quite affordable. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $80 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | SPAN 321 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Get out and make friends -- at church, at work, and in everyday experiences! And read a lot. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How difficult it was going to be to adjust to a new culture, even though I had experience with many Mexicans inside the US. |
