Amazing and would recommend to anyone interested in medicine exploration. Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/15/2019 to 07/20/2019 with

IFSA: Merida - Medical Spanish and Public Health in the Yucatan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
there are other methods of medicine other than traditional! My whole perspective of medicine changed! 100% worthwhile!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Not too much to handle. Just the right amount of workload given.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Amazing host parents and ideal living conditions!

* Food:

My host mom was a great cook and I loved everything she made

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Didn't have any problems, but my friends had great healthcare & insurance!

* Safety:

Very safe place, never felt unsafe! Although, I would definitelywalk with friends, especially at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Although it isn't a popular study abroad destination, it was definitely the perfect program for me! Learned so much about rural, public, and private healthcare and experienced incredible things.

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)

Didn't spend much money on food, my host mom always would cook for me when needed. However, it is nice to go out with classmates to eat sometimes. Also, there's cute markets and places that you will probably wanna buy souvenirs at. I also ubered a lot to get around.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100$

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Only used it while speaking to host families and locals. Had deep convos with my host mom while eating together.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? spanish 2 ( intermediate)
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? know common sayings and phrases before hand. Also common slang in mexico.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • the cultural experiences
  • the excursions
  • freedom to explore
* What could be improved?
  • more spanish used by administration
  • platform to talk to classmates beforehand
  • more bonding with administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? its SOO hot so pack super light and maybe bring a fan you can carry around

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.