Study Abroad

¡Hola México!: 2010 Communication Field School to Guadalajara, Mexico
By: May Yao

I had always lamented the fact that I did not have an international experience during my undergraduate studies. So when I heard about the field school to Mexico over the Olympic break, I was really excited! A capstone to a post-baccalaureate diploma in Education, this was a ‘muy excellente’ fit with my interests in international and global education.

The field school closely examined culture, communication and industry in various cities in Jalisco. In the morning, we attended lectures at Universidad de Guadalajara (U of G) and in the afternoon, visited various sites, including a software company, traditional ceramics store, clothing factory and an archaeological dig. It was a fantastic blend of classroom theory and hands-on experience! The U of G students were also incredibly gracious, bringing our group out to activities such as karaoke, luchadores (Mexican wrestling), and more. Having never been to Mexico, this was a unique way to experience the country and culture.

The main tip I would give others thinking of going abroad is to be both curious and open-minded. Customs, traditions, food, language and other things are often unfamiliar. International travel offers insights into culture, languages, and ways of seeing and being in the world. It is a memorable adventure and fantastic opportunity to experience new things