UTA 2008 Summer Study Abroad Program in Cuernavaca, México

FAQ’s: Questions about the Program?

Whether you are a student who went on the Cuernavaca Summer Study Abroad Program or are thinking about going and have some questions, feel free to post them here.  I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the program.  The UT-Arlington study abroad program is also open to students from other universities who would like to earn intermediate or upper division credit in Spanish language, literature or culture.  Thinking about expanding your horizons?  Well, it all starts here!

15 Comments

15 responses so far ↓

  • michelle CUERNAVACA2007 // February 5, 2008 at 6:34 am | Reply

    Please know that if you need/use a blow dryer/curling iron (you can bring them) & to pick up an adapter. I got a bag of 4 of for a $1.50. A cheap investment! It was also useful for my cell phone + to charge my digital camera.

    I found having the International Student I.D. card very helpful when purchasing tickets to museums. I got in free to most all and if you do have to pay there was a discount making the cost to being only up to a couple of dollars! (You can also use it in USA, EUROPE other countries as well for transportation/food/retail/entertainment + cultural discounts. ) It’s good for a whole year!

    Taxis are cheap. If you get a bunch of students in 1 radio taxi you can split the cost. Make sure you bargain for the going rate. I used a lot of “Porfavor Senor / Porfavor mi amigo” when bargaining and I was quite successful in getting the price I needed. If you have a driver that won’t budge on a cheap price then just go for another taxi. There are heaps of them. Depending on where you live from the Zocalo the going rate was 20 to 30 pesos. (which is about $2- 3 dollars) This was the average rate.

    When I learned the bus route I used the bus. I took the bus off the end of my street to el centro for 45 cents.

    Free-time during the week: You get off from school at 3pm. You’ll go home + eat comida with your family. After that you’re free to siesta, do any assignments you may have, go to an Internet cafe, go to the zocalo to a movie or to cafe and/or a stroll around the palacio.

    There is a lil’ mercado next to the palacio. Why not look around there?! You’ll see some of the goods you will become accustomed to seeing in your month in Cuernavaca. If you have a lil’ notepad take note of the prices their charging for things you might want to pickup for yourself and your friends/family/coworkers back home. That way if you go on an excursion you may find something cheaper and you will be saving money! The market next to the palacio will always be there so make your purchases at the end of your stay.
    For example:
    I bought a beautifully carved necklace in a mercado during the Cholula excursion for less than a dollar and I’m glad I did! I found a similar necklace in a market in Teotihuacan for $12 dollars. However in Teotihuacan I bought 2 beautiful sculptures for about a buck a piece but when I was in Bazaar Sabado they had those sculptures for $5 dollars to $20 dollars. I would have paid the higher price, if I didn’t know better, because I just loved the artisan’s work on these pieces & I had to have it but why pay more!

    Some families have Wi-Fi in their house. SLI has Wi-Fi. If your Mexican family doesn’t (or you didn’t bring your laptop) DON’T worry! Internet cafes are cheap and located all over town. The rates were anything from .35 cents to $1 per hour. You don’t get charged until you’re done & ready to leave. You can use that time to upload all those pics you took to your photobucket account &/or other websites. You can even get staff to burn photos to a disk in many cafes. Most have the means to burn disks just read the signs posted inside if you are interested. The staff are also very helpful.

    Anything you think you forgot…DON’T worry. You can get it in Cuernavaca. They have Walmart, shopping malls …etc.

  • A. Raymond Elliott // February 5, 2008 at 2:15 pm | Reply

    Michelle (Chime 2) certainly was the “Queen of the Compras!” She got pretty good at bartering in the markets. She also got a cool Frida ring!

  • Eve // May 26, 2008 at 4:40 am | Reply

    I am going to Cuernavaca June 20th for 6 weeks..
    Michelle–I loved your input–what else can you tell me. What did you wish you would have packed? Must do excursions on the weekends…rate your top three…any you would have skipped? etc etc

  • michelle CUERNAVACA2007 // June 3, 2008 at 9:51 pm | Reply

    Hi Eve,
    I packed 1 suitcase. Sounds crazy huh?! But it’s true. I packed clothes for 1 week + did laundry there + knew I would buy things when I was there. SO I knew I was covered!

    What did I wish I packed? We’ll when I left mexico I forgot to buy 1 thing there. Even though I didn’t NEED it. I feel I forgot 1 thing. I will have to buy it next time.

    I didn’t forget to bring anything from the USA, luckily. But I’m a great packer. certain things are priority. Like passport, electric adapter, some money, sunglasses, tiny umbrella to fit in your bag, perscriptions, camera, sunblock if you go to the outside excursions.
    If you forget anything though you can buy it there in Cuernavaca.

    I’m glad I brought a curling iron + another girl in my mexi house had a hairdryer. Maybe if you know who your roommate is you can plan who brings what. Do bring a mini-flashlight- mine was as small as a coin + mighty. (Good to use just b/c some of the streets are cobblestone.)
    I’m not a diva, believe me. I just prefer to have a lil’ effort made to my hair! and I love to pick up interesting cultural/artsy things when I travel =-)

    ~*~
    I’ll answer whatever you ask me!
    I loved all my excursions.

    1. Teotihuacan- (you see magnificent photo opps with pyramids & there were opportunities to buy nice mexi gifts cheap & a great tour guide.

    2.)Acapulco- (this is Friday to Sunday)even though I am fair skinned- I love the beach. Not to “lay out” but it’s relaxing to see + hear the ocean. It is a lovely place. Did Dr. E show you the pics?! The town is exciting at night. Also, you can see the cliff divers. I loved the trip even though it’s the most expensive. But I figured that I’ve traveled this far might as well do it! Room with your friends you’ll make there + it’s cheaper! That’s what we did. 4 girls in 1 room + we had a lovely room + went out on the town at night + to the beach + walked around the main street there. (btw-Don’t get your hairbraided in those tiny braids on the beach b/c the discotecas won’t let anyone inside with those!)

    3.) Xochicalco + Vista Hermosa- (it is on a WEEKDAY-)again SLI arrages a tour guide to show you around, has the beautiful relief sculpture of Quetzalcoatl/ Feathered Serpent. Pose by it + take a pic + you get out of class early one day to go see it!

    4.)Bazaar Sabado- because it included Frida Kahlo’s house & the shopping- there is shopping inside but it’s better outside to the left )
    your trip here could also include Xoxhimilco boat ride.

    Palacio de Bellas Artes -are you into art? Well, you could get by with JUST seeing the CASA AZUL however 2008 had a grand exhibit on Frida last summer for her 100th birthday- we squeezed this trip in! Huge collection! And great to be in District Federal!

    DO investigate the mags & internet + see what’s going on in D.F. if there is something you wanna see + it isn’t on the “list of trips” at SLI then talk to Dr. Elliott about it.

    ~*~ Glad that I didn’t go to Tasco.
    because the trip to Bazaar Sabado in MExico City incuded more bang for the buck. I’m not that into silver to spend the whole day in the silver town. I don’t need all the bling-bling temptations.

    ~Glad I didn’t go to Las Estacas.
    I’m just not that into rivers. I can see a lakes & rivers around the DFW area anytime…but never a beach! =-)
    ~*~
    I carefully picked my excursions! lol It’s like you are a kid in a candy store. Lots to see + do there in Cuernavaca!

    OK, Any other questions? =)

  • michelle CUERNAVACA2007 // June 3, 2008 at 10:02 pm | Reply

    Puebla/ Cholula trip was pretty interesting as well. You got that MEXICO experience with seeing old churches, lil’ old towns, meeting real puebla people + beg Sr. Rafael to stop so you can have a quick pic with POPOCATEPETL. (It’s one of my fav pics!)
    Your fee includes, as usual, a tour guide. I forgot to mention this trip. was really good if you really are interested in diving in the culture pre & post Cortez.

  • Informational Pages « UTA 2008 Summer Study Abroad Program in Cuernavaca, México // June 18, 2008 at 10:49 pm | Reply

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  • Ramiro // June 19, 2008 at 1:15 am | Reply

    When are we going to pay the housing payment, the tuition for the SLI and everything else?

  • A. Raymond Elliott // June 19, 2008 at 12:34 pm | Reply

    Hi Ramiro. You will have to pay the institute upon arrival. There is a posting on the front page of this site called, “Accepted forms of payment at the Institute.” In short, they accept cash (dollars and pesos) and travelers checks. They do not accept credit or debit cards at the institute.

    I would suggest taking enough travelers checks so you pay “de una vez.” Some students prefer to pay as they go, that’s to say, they pay about $300.00 at a time until they pay off what they owe. I would suggest, however, that it’s best to pay up front when you get there so you don’t have to worry about going to the bank, standing in line, getting money, going back to the institute and then paying. It’s just easier to do it when you get there so you don’t have to worry about it. Let me know if you have any more questions.

  • Ramiro Valenzuela // June 19, 2008 at 6:59 pm | Reply

    Is the amount on the budget the amount we will have to pay when we get there?

  • A. Raymond Elliott // June 19, 2008 at 7:17 pm | Reply

    Ramiro, the amount listed on the budget is the right amount for students who are sharing a room. If you are requesting a single room, then it will be a little more. If anything, we might get an additional discount if given the number of students UTA is taking.

  • Ja'Dorian Tate // June 20, 2008 at 2:37 am | Reply

    Thanks Ramiro for asking that question. :)

  • Gloria Baze // June 27, 2008 at 10:13 pm | Reply

    Ok, I need to know if people REALLY only pack one week of clothing?? I’m trying, but it’s not working out! Maybe my suitcase is too big? (expandable 29 incher) I can easily fit 2 weeks worth. Thanks, Gloria

  • A. Raymond Elliott // June 28, 2008 at 1:03 pm | Reply

    Hi, Gloria. You really should leave some room in your bag to bring back things you’ll most likely buy while you are there. The laundry service is very efficient so you can always be sure to have clean clothes on hand. I’d also recommend packing a duffle bag so you can have extra room when you come back. Pick and choose carefully! See you this coming Saturday. 1 week from today! Buena suerte con tu equipaje.

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