SIT Study Abroad: Mexico: Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities

Oaxaca clarified my future ambitions, made me reflect on my interpersonal relationships because of the depth of kindness I found in complete strangers, introduced lifelong friends and some of the funniest and most dedicated people I've ever met, taught me about what community efforts can humbly accomplish, and brought back a piece of myself that was lost in a lot of rush and struggle that this new pace of life and focus on more pressing issues washed out. The city is vibrant, walkable, full of things to taste and learn and hear and question. The wonderful coordinators and excursions were highlights of the semester.

I truly feel as though words do not even do justice to how amazing my semester abroad was. I went during my sophomore spring of undergrad, and I am forever grateful for the amazing connections I made and the beautiful experiences where I learned so much. Even after my program ended, I still kept a relationship with my host mom and other peers from the program. And if it were possible, I would do the semester all over again! During my time, I felt as though everything I had learned would prove to be immensely useful for my future and have continued to refelct on my time abroad as I continue with my career.

My experience with “Mexico: Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities” was invaluable to my personal, academic, and professional development. My coursework and immersion in Oaxaca, Mexico gave me the opportunity to expand and sharpen my understanding of Spanish by pushing me to engage with others in a variety of contexts using my second language. The experience furnished me with an intimate understanding of migration in and through Mexico. The program also featured opportunities to explore various aspects of Mexican culture, including the history, art, and architecture of Puebla, the lush natural resources and grand mountains in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, the indigenous influences and artful handicrafts in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, and the cultural and linguistic diversity of Chiapas. These experiences brought the culture to life and allowed me to become personally acquainted with the traditions and customs of each community. Through my time in Mexico, I will be a more linguistically proficient and culturally competent student and professional capable of offering unique and vital perspectives and insights to discussions on immigration, U.S.-Mexico relations, and cultural awareness in an increasingly globalized world.

If you enjoy hands-on learning, SIT Mexico is an excellent program for you. Each class/unit has an on-site experience that will enforce all that you learned and more in the classroom. Each individual that accompanies you on the trips has a vast amount of knowledge that they are passionate about sharing with students. You will be introduced to individuals residing in each place that are working to assist their community. Finally, in your final month, you will have the incredible opportunity to complete an independent study on any topic that you find interesting. During the process, you have loads of support from academic directors and program coordinators. You can also reach out to those that you've met during your excursions and collaborate. It allows you to completely dive into your interests and learn in a project-based manner. Generally, administrators are always present to help. You develop a sense of community with everyone working in the Ollin educational center, and they're always willing to help. Sometimes, there is so much going on that things slip to the bottom and more minor questions don't get answered right away. But, schedule a face-to-face meeting and you'll get all of your questions answered and more. I loved my homestay, and it was probably the best part of my abroad experience. The homestay's were expertly matched, and care was taken to ensure that each student's needs could be met by the family they were matched with. I still stay in touch with my family, and they had been hosting students for almost 20 years. If one does have problems, though, there are plenty of opportunities to speak to administrators about the problem and find a solution. Again, dietary restrictions were taken into consideration for each student and they were matched with their family appropriately. The food in Oaxaca is world renowned and excellent, but there are all kinds of restaurant's that serve everything from hamburgers to hummus. My family was great about making food that I liked, though I'm not exactly a picky eater. There are all kinds of opportunities to participate in local events and groups. You really feel as though you're living in the city of Oaxaca by the end. However, the group is only American students, meaning that you have to branch out on your own in order to make connections with local Oaxacans outside of your host family.
Oaxaca is incredibly safe, and if one simply follows protocol that they would fall in any larger city, they'll be more than safe!