Course: LAS 199
Undergraduate Open Seminar
3 hours
Synopsis:This study abroad program gives a student to immerse themselves in another cultural while gaining insight to how one part of the world affects another. Class meets daily to plan activites to discover that while Mexico has a different cultural, history, and way of life; many aspects are similar to the U.S. and has American influence throughout the country.
Personal Excursions:
Zoo - your standard zoo.
Real Tacos
Programs Excursions:
Atacheo
Atacheo was a small village outside of Morelia. Here we met a priest whose goal is to secure work for the village. He has proposed projects which would stimulate the local economy and allow fathers to stay at home with family and not leave for the U.S. due to lack of work in Mexico. They current have two projects. Once is growing
tomatoes to export abroad. Second, they rasie chicken for both local and foreign sale.
Janitcio
Janiticio is a small island in the middle of Mexico. It contains locals whom speak spanish and an indigenous language. There local economy functions off of tourism.
La Monarca Mariposas
La Monarca is a place where Monarca butterfiles migrate during the winter. They leave Canada and flyer to this small hill in Mexico. The trip is a hike up 1000 feet to the top of the walk. Once there, butterflies number in the ten thousands. There are so many butterflies that the trees actually turn orange. I also met an indigenous woman whom wanted to meet an American.
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Artisans Museum
The artisan museum has many artifacts entailing much history of Mexico.The museum is three stories tall with each room having a different appeal and them. Outside of the museum is a market where you can buy goods.
Classroom: We had class at "La Casa de Cultural." It's an old, traditional monestary for priests. We walked fifteen minutes every morning to our class.
Living Quarters: We stayed at the La Mansion de la Calle Real. It was a more traditional hotel with daily maid service and meals. We the staff was very helpful and assisted our program.
Budget
Program fee 1,975 This includes round-trip travel, 3 meals a day, insurance, and all excursions.
Meals: $10/week if you eat outside of the hotel
Passport: $90
Photos: $1.2 per cd of photos
Personal Expenses: $200
My Advice: If you have the opportunity, TAKE this class. It's an experience which no webpage can fully explain. I plan to go back. Viva el Mexico. Also, learn Spanish first.
Chris Jenkins
Computer Engineering
May '05