Amazing Education and Cultural Experience! Past Review
By Emma Kolany (University of South Alabama) - abroad from 05/12/2018 to 06/09/2018 with
Mexico Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
I improved my language skills immensely, saw places and tried new things I would never have the opportunity to do in the United States, and met amazing people! A very worthwhile experience.
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. |
The academics at UABJO were amazing!! We never had to read a textbook and the teachers were so good at putting an emphasis on our speaking abilities in a casual and fun way. The professors here made grammatical concepts easier to understand than the professors at my home university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators for this program were so helpful and fun! Not only did they care for our safety and academics, but they truly took the time to get to know who we were and spend time with us outside of program activities. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was able to have my own room with a full bed, hot water, a fan, and 3 meals a day every day! I couldn't ask for a better living experience. |
| * Food: |
Many people enjoy Oaxacan cuisine, however it is important that you are not a picky eater because you'll never know what your family might give you! You will eat lots of tortillas, black beans, and fresh/market bought products. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Mexico is very very cheap which made this experience great! I was able to try new things I might not be able to eat/do at home for much less! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Apply for as many scholarships as you can! |
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 |
This was a full immersion program so our host family spoke only Spanish, our university, and the program directors as well! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Talk in Spanish as much as possible! You have such a limited time in Mexico in comparison to the rest of your life and there is no better way to improve your Spanish! |
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? | That it is not very acceptable to wear shorts in Oaxaca. Being American causes you to draw a lot of attention and it is even worse for females if you are wearing shorts! |
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. |
