Lots of travelling, Amazing food and lots of Memories January 15, 2025
By A student (Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/02/2024 to 12/15/2024 with
SIT Study Abroad: Mexico - Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities
It was also an amazing learning experience for someone like me who is looking into get involved in organizations/non-profits related to migration. It helped me gain a better understanding of migration policy both in the U.S and Mexico. But personally, it also helped me learn how to adapt and navigate a new environment.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses provided valuable insight and context into Mexican history and politics but did so by including first-hand stories of Mexican citizens. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site administration are all so kind and always willing to help you in any way and answer questions you may have especially Paola who is the program coordinator and is willing to go out of her way to ensure you are doing well. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Super happy with my living arrangement. I had my own room and felt my space was always respected. My host mom ensured to constantly check-in to see if I needed anything and that I felt comfortable. |
| * Food: |
Food is something I will definitely miss, whether it be my host moms cooking or the local restaurants/food stands. In Mexico you could find a diverse of local cuisines that never failed to amaze me. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
As someone who comes from a Mexican background and was raised speaking spanish at home and visiting my grandma who lives in Tijuana, Mexico integrating into local culture was not as challenging as I believed it to be. In my time abroad, I for the most part felt at home. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care was easily accessible especially because near the school and my home abroad there were clinics and pharmacies. But also if ever you felt sick on-site administration would check-in with you and provide or recommend you medicine. |
| * Safety: |
While living in the city of Oaxaca I never felt that my safety was at risk. However on-site administration and host parents do warn students to take precaution when out in the city (like taking taxis at night or not walking with headphone on etc.). |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I met such amazing people through one-on-one conversations, and people here were always so kind. The food was so good. Public transportation was easy to access. |
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? | 30 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget especially because in Mexico everything is generally less-expensive than in Mexico and so you might get carried away your first weeks there. |
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 |
Students in my program would only speak spanish and helped each other out when engaging in academic or informal conversations this allowed to improve our spanish and have a better experience learning spanish. However, you can of course speak english as sometimes classes are done in english. |
| 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? | Spanish 241-03 Spanish Around the World |
| 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? | For me it was engaging in spanish conversations regularly with family but also listening/consuming spanish (mexico) media. |
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? | Budgeting is super important, make sure to not overpack, go out and explore the city. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe 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. |
