A blog post about blogs

I regret not blogging while I studied abroad in Spain. It would have been a great way for family and friends to read along as I embarked on my European adventure. I also would have had a great outlet for documenting my daily experiences, emotions, and best of all, my rants and raves. I also would have been able to provide an example of the life of a UA student studying in Spain for those considering a semester abroad in Barcelona. Upon starting this blog, which I like to consider a resource for those who are planning on studying abroad, and for those currently studying in Mexico (or other countries), I started thinking about the importance of blogging. Not only do I wish I had kept a blog (which I like to compare to a diary sometimes) while I was in Spain, but I wish I had read the blogs of others who were abroad to get people's personal take on the experience. Researching web sites and talking to study abroad advisors is essential to the process, but there is nothing like reading personal anecdotes. Some blogs are also a great resource for less formal advice, if you will. For example, the Study Abroad Bloggers site has posts that discuss the top 5 places to learn Spanish, advice for packing for your semester abroad, and the warmest and sunniest places to study abroad during the winter, among many other things. Blogs may not always be the most reliable source for concrete facts or statistics, but if you want suggestions, personal recollections, or opinions on a subject in which you are interested, blogs are the way to go.

I think it is really important to not only read blogs before studying abroad (or even before deciding where to study), but also to write a blog chronicling your experience. I'm sure family and friends, along with perspective study abroad students would really appreciate your insight and reading about your journey. As far as I know, the University of Arizona study abroad office doesn't have a "blog" section on their site, but some other schools do. I wish my advisors had encouraged blogging while I was in Spain, (well, really I wish I had just thought of it myself) but its still fun and interesting to read about others experiences.

StudyAbroad.com has an awesome blog-abroad program set up on their site, where they give a brief profile of the student, where they are studying abroad, and a link to that student's blog. Lets take Erica for example - she studied in Guadalajara in the spring of 2008, and she posted blogs discussing everything including obtaining a student visa, packing for Mexico, to shoe shopping in Leon, having her family come visit her, exploring her new surroundings, homesickness, nightlife, school work, and everything else you can imagine. While each student has their own unique experiences and take on their time abroad, I think anyone could find reading some (or all) of Erica's posts useful to some degree. If you read a blog like this while you are deciding which country or city to study in, it may help you discover that Guadalajara, for example, is the perfect fit for you, or not.

I know I already studied abroad and had the best experience, I enjoyed doing the research for this post because I was able to get a feel for what it would be like to study in other places. I guess you can say I am living vicariously through these students - but hey, Erica's blog inspired me to want to visit Guadalajara some day (whether I'm still a student when the time comes, or not).

These are just two examples of the types of blogs that may be useful to students considering studying abroad, or those about to embark on their journey - but there are many more abroad blogs so I encourage you to check them out! I also highly recommend you write a blog while you're away. Even if nobody reads it, you will always have that documentation of your experiences and thoughts during your precious time abroad - but I'm sure people will be interested in reading along.

Here are some other blogs you may find useful:

-The blog of an MBA student who visited Mexico City and blogged about it.

-The International Studies Abroad (ISA) program's blog site... (or more specifically, the blog of an ISA student studying in Mexico.)

-International Student.com - International student blogs and forums

-Penn State Altoona study abroad blogs

-AmeriSpan's Study Abroad Blog

-Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA) blog

ENTER WITH CAUTION - What Schools are Telling Students

Some recent news has suggested that study-abroad trips to Mexico may be too dangerous to permit. Colleges and Universities are canceling programs which allow students to pursue Mexico for their study-abroad experience. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire said that the perpetual violence in Mexico, especially along the U.S.-Mexico border has helped them make their decision to cancel two programs for the spring and summer. They also cancelled a school-organized spring break trip and are strongly advising students to refrain from traveling there independently, according to their local news channel Web site.

Western Carolina University also cancelled their spring break trip to Monterrey last week because of a warning issued by the U.S. Dept. of State., according to the Mountain Xpress Web site. Much like UW-Eau Claire, WCU is saying that the violence related to the drug wars and the recent death of three people associated with a U.S. consulate office made their decision to cancel the trip a no-brainer.

It's really unfortunate that these schools had to cancel the trips and programs, but the safety of their students comes first - and I can respect that. While the violence in Mexico persists, it is still a culturally rich country who we are lucky to share a border with. It's too bad that some students won't have the opportunity to study there - but like I said, their safety comes first.

I think it is important for schools to issue warnings to students planning to travel to Mexico for spring break, especially schools so close to the border, like the UofA. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of University of Arizona students visit Mexico for spring break because of the proximity, convenience and popularity. Luckily, most students are traveling to resorts or areas that cater to students, usually a bit south of the border, but American students are always a target because of their vulnerability, lack of awareness and most of all, the state of intoxication that most spring breakers are in for the week. Now that spring break is over, and hopefully most, or all, students who traveled to Mexico had a safe experience, it's still important for them to remember that traveling to any unfamiliar place can be risky, but it's especially important to take travel warnings seriously - not just for spring break.

Knowing the rules before you break them

Two weeks ago a few of the journalism professors here at the UA held a small workshop for students to review and introduce safety tips for traveling across the border. This got me thinking about students who study abroad and how often they are unaware of the local laws of the area they are visiting. When I went to Barcelona I was advised by the program personnel to educate myself and be knowledgeable of the Spanish laws and regulations. Also, I think it is important for students to research and become familiar with local cultural customs, trends or social "rules" prior to going abroad. Knowing local laws is important for obvious reasons, but knowing about the cultural customs can be just as crucial because if you are unaware, you are more likely to unintentionally disrespect the natives, or possibly put yourself in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. For instance, before I studied in Barcelona I read about different traditions of the city, and I discovered that hundreds of thousands of men walk along the beaches with a cooler as they shout out "agua, cerveza, Fanta," (water, beer, Fanta (soda)) but as they approach people, they will whisper "coca? hashish?" These men are actually selling drugs, and, I eventually learned, they never seem to get in trouble for it. However, those who choose to buy drugs from these men in public who get caught do get in trouble. Now, lets say you didn't know that the men that shout "agua..." were selling drugs, and you're laying thirsty on the beach so you wave one over, and they ask "coca?" and you think they mean Coca Cola, since they are holding a cooler with beverages in it... you can be getting yourself into a sticky situation. Now, that is just one example, but I think you get the point of why it is important you know about the local laws, customs and trends of the city or country you will be living in while you study abroad. So, here are some resources for those who are coming to Arizona to study (or visit), and some for those who are visiting or studying in Mexico.

Arizona...

Arizona State Legislature - A list of revised statutes in Arizona. Every law can be found on this Web site. Click on the link, pick the category you are interested in, and you will see a list of all the laws (or a brief description of what the law is about, i.e. "Inmate health care; costs") and if you click, you will see the complete law.

Traffic laws in Arizona - For those of you who may be operating a vehicle while driving, it is really important to know the local traffic laws. Here is a breakdown of some rules and the consequences for breaking them.

Some Arizona liquor laws - For students who may be interested in reading about the drinking laws in Arizona, since US drinking laws tend to be very different from other countries, here is a link for some information regarding liquor laws.

"Laws for Kids" - This site is geared toward a younger Arizona audience, but it may be helpful for those who don't understand all of the legal language and complexity of the laws as they are officially written.

Mexico...

Mexican Laws - this Web site has a complete list of Mexican laws , and most have English translations.

An electronic guide to Mexican Law - This site has a brief overview of the Mexican government and legal system, along with an extensive list of resources for finding laws for each state in Mexico.

Laws tourists should be aware of - This is geared toward visitors and gives an overview of drinking laws, drug laws, weapons laws and customs regulations. This site also gives tips for what to avoid when shopping, eating or simply sightseeing, and also provides emergency numbers, including the Mexican Ministry of Tourism's emergency hotline. Also, a complete list of locations and numbers for US Consulates is organized by city/state.

Crossing the Border - this link to the Trip Advisor Web site is a great resource for information about crossing the border. There are more "official" sites where you can find out about the process of crossing the border, but I think this is a helpful and clearly rendered overview.

Travel.state.gov - Again, this site also covers all of the important information for people wanting to travel to and from Mexico.

I highly encourage people to check these out, and also do some of your own research to find out about local laws and traditions. Talking to others who have traveled to the same place can also be extremely beneficial. You really don't want to think you're buying a soda, and end up in jail for attempting to buy cocaine, do you?

Tec de Monterrey Study Abroad/Exchange Program

The Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange, 939 N. Tyndall Ave., offers services and programs for both undergraduate and graduate students in more than 50 countries. According to data issued by the Institute for International Education in 2009, the UA ranks 15th for the number of students who participate in study abroad programs. Nearly 2,000 students studied abroad in the 2007-2008 academic year, according to the Web site.

Among the many programs offered, there are various opportunities for students to study in Mexico. The exchange program is also extremely popular among students from Mexico, said Laura Thornes, Assistant Director of the Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange.

Laura gave me some brochures for programs in Mexico, and one that I found particularly intriguing was the Tecnologico de Monterrey "Spanish as a Second Language, Mexican Business and Culture 2010" program (AKA Tec de Monterrey). This unique exchange program offers Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE), which allows students who complete the program to have concrete evidence of their knowledge through "official credentials."

Another interesting aspect of the program is that the coursework grades a student receives while studying in Mexico, do not affect their UA grade point average. Of course there is still an emphasis on school, but this puts less pressure on the student to achieve ultimate academic success, and rather allows them to balance schoolwork with spending time exploring the foreign city, traveling around, and emerging in new cultures.

The program has 16-week spring and fall semesters, and also has a summer session, in which the students can take 1 or 2 courses over a six week period. And... one last option... if you really love the program, you have the choice of spending the entire academic year in Mexico.

The exchange program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in all concentrations, and they offer classes in both Spanish and English.

The program has eight campuses throughout Mexico, including Monterrey, Querétaro, Cuernavaca, Estado de México, Ciudad de México, Guadalajara, Mazatlán, and Toluca (click here for a map of locations). Each location offers different housing options, like dorms or living with a host family, and some even provide internship opportunities.

I highly encourage any student interested in the program to visit the study abroad office, which is open Monday through Friday 8:00-5:00 (with a brief closing from 12:00-1:00 every day).

Call 520.626.9211 for more information!

Fulbright Workshop at the UA

On March 9, 2010 there will be a free workshop in the Tucson Room, which is located on the third level of the Student Union Memorial Center at the University of Arizona that will start at 10:30 am and run for approximately 2.5 hours. The workshop is for those interested in applying for the Fulbright Program, a federally funded international exchange program that encourages diverse discourse among American scholars and those in other countries. The Fulbright Scholar Program is geared toward faculty or administrators interested in teaching, hosting or visiting a foreign scholar, and/or conducting research in almost every academic and professional field in over 155 countries. The program can last anywhere from 2 months to an entire academic year, and each year, about 800 people are granted the opportunity to partake in the prestigious exchange program.

Dr. Andy Riess, Senior Program Officer for Recruitment for the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CEIS) will be a featured guest at the UA workshop event next month. The workshop will present the opportunities and benefits granted by the program, as well as an overview of the application process. UA recipients of the Fulbright will discuss the personal impact they have endured, as well as the goals of the university regarding international research. There will also be an opportunity for faculty to learn about hosting visiting Fulbright scholars.

After the workshop, time will be allotted for interested faculty members to propose their project ideas to Dr. Riess.

The event is co-sponsored by the Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute and International Affairs.

I think this workshop is essential for those interested in the program because it is a great way to get one foot in the door. Initiating and maintaining correspondence with someone like Dr. Riess can be extremely beneficial to the application process and having the opportunity to propose a project idea prior to finalizing plans can help avoid problems down the line. Dr. Riess may be able to give invaluable feedback as someone who hears and reviews thousands of project ideas.

It is clear that it's not only important for students to study abroad and embrace other cultures, but it's beneficial for faculty and administrators to explore and research in other countries as well.

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Here is a segment from an article about a former UA student who spent time in Mexico.

From Alumnus: The magazine of the University of Arizona Alumni Association

The following is written by Margaret Regan.

"Susan Meyers, Fulbright Fellow, 2007-2008, Mexico

Susan Meyers earned a Ph.D. in rhetoric, composition, and the teaching of English at the UA in May. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Seattle University in 1999, and a M.F.A. at the University of Minnesota in 2004.

Meyers lived mostly in a rural community in Michoacan, a Mexican state that traditionally sends many migrants to the U.S. The children of those immigrants end up in American classrooms, and Meyers wanted to learn better ways to teach them.

“My project was an ethnographic study to look at the backgrounds of students from Mexico, their culture and education, to learn about reading and writing in Mexico.” She learned that working families are often “resistant to academics, but they’re savvy” about the skills they want their children to learn. “They want nuts-and-bolts reading and writing ‘so you don’t get tricked later in life.’”

Thanks to a U.S. friend with connections in the village, Meyers was able to do her interviews and observations with ease. She completed her doctorate within a year of her return, and in the fall will begin teaching at Oregon State in Corvallis as a tenure-track professor.

“Abroad you learn so much. I really want to influence classroom practice. Having the Fulbright was a huge help. These programs are life-changing.”"

(Click here to read the entire article.)

I plan to get in touch with Susan Meyers to do an in-depth interview about her experiences in Mexico.

Links, and more...

Here are some links for you to check out if you are interested in studying below the border!

http://studyabroad.arizona.edu/databasesearch.aspx?id=367373&pid=19874&cus_335=1435&submit=Search

http://w3.coh.arizona.edu/gss/

http://www.gowithcea.com/programs/mexico.html

When I studied abroad in Spain, I went through a program called CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad). The UA is not officially associated with the program, however they highly recommended it for the type of program I wanted, and I simply filled out a few forms (after applying to CEA) and all of the credits from my classes abroad went on to my UA transcript immediately upon returning to the USA.

Studying abroad is an inexplicable experience because there are no words to describe how important, meaningful, beneficial and life-altering the experience can be (well, at least for most people...), but I will try to articulate the stories that students share with me through photos, recorded interviews and words. But trust me... words can't do the experience justice!

Introduction

Welcome to Studying Below the Border! This blog will chronicle the experiences of students who studied abroad in Mexico. I plan to interview students, study abroad trip chaperones, advisors in the study abroad office, and others who may have experience with studying in Mexico.

I studied in Barcelona, Spain for a semester and I know how life-altering the experience of emerging in another culture can be. I also have a deeper understanding of the significance of traveling and studying in a culturally rich environment, but I want to know more about the experience of studying in Mexico...and what it was like coming back afterward.

I hope to share photos, videos and conversations with those who are fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to study below the border!