Gilman Scholar's Essay on TEC

Study abroad is one of the best experiences one can have during his/her college career. I spent my last year in Cuernavaca, Mexico and studied at the Tecnológico de Monterrey and had a great time. I tried to prepare myself as much as possible before I went, but it seems that no matter what you do, you are never really prepared. I was going to my country of origin but there were still so many things I did not know. I hope that this information I am about to present will help others that are interested in studying in Mexico better prepare yourselves and give you an idea of what is out there.
Funding your study abroad experience
There are many ways that you can pay for your experience in Mexico. Of course there is the usual financial aid packet if you fill out the FAFSA every year. This packet includes loans and maybe some grants if you or your parents meet the requirements. And there are also a lot of scholarships out there that are specifically for people who are going to study abroad. There are also a number of minority scholarships that are offered through the office at NMSU. Here is a quick list of websites I recommend that you visit.
NMSU Study Abroad
NMSU Chicano Programs
Institute of International Education
I really recommend that you stop buy and visit the Study Abroad Office and the Chicano Programs office and that you ask them for any information they have on scholarships and that you sign up for their list serves. The program directors send out a lot of information about scholarships, internships, and jobs. Also stop by the financial aid office at NMSU. The scholarship division keeps a list of different scholarship search engines on the internet.
Pre-arrival in Mexico (Back to Top)
You will need several different documents before you go to Mexico. First of all, it is a good idea to get a passport regardless of how long you will be in Mexico. You can get your passport at the Passport Office at the main post office in downtown Las Cruces. Cost of the passport itself is around $50. If you need to take photos at the post office, that will cost you another $40. If you do not want to pay for the photos, you can take in two 2X2 profile photos (right side of your face). The Passport Office is pretty picky about the photos so if you have any questions, please contact them.
Then comes your visa. Your visa allows you to be in Mexico for a certain amount of time and can be obtained at the Mexican Consulate in El Paso. There are tourist visas with are usually for about 6 months and cost $20 and require very little, if any, paperwork. Then there is the student visa or an FM3. This visa allows you to stay in Mexico for one year, is free, but requires a lot of paperwork. The required paperwork includes: an original letter of admission from host institution, a letter from your financial aid counselor stating amount of aid you will receive or other ways you will receive money during your entire stay in Mexico, US Passport.
Word of advise-start the process early!! It took me about two and a half months to get my FM3, so start as early as possible, expect delays, and expect to make more than one trip to the Mexican Consulate in El Paso.
On-Site Arrangements (Back to Top)
The arrival orientation was put together alright. A member of the Tec staff is usually waiting for the international students at the airport in Mexico City on the two official arrival dates and is waiting by the international arrivals terminal. The reason I say this is because I flew national. I left from Ciudad Juarez because it was $500 cheaper than leaving from El Paso, and when I got to the airport I could not find the Tec employee and started panicking until I realized I had to walk over to the international arrivals terminal where they were waiting.
Staff Support Upon Arrival (Back to Top)
The staff at the Cuernavaca campus is friendly and is always willing to help, you just need to ask. For those of you whose Spanish skills are not up to par, don’t worry, the entire staff speaks English and other languages such as German, French, and Hindu.
Social/Cultural Activities (Back to Top)
The Tec offers many different opportunities to interact with the Mexican students as well as with the other foreigners. At the beginning of the semester you can sign up for a variety of different activities such as: soccer, volleyball, choir, cooking, salsa dance, hip hop dance, and various others. The cooking class is for the international students and costs $30. The other activities are usually free.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved in the city. There are various language schools that teach Japanese, French, Italian, German, and Nahuatl. There are also acting schools in the downtown area that offer various workshops.
There is also the Spring Carnival in April. There are also many opportunities in Mexico City. El Palacio de Bellas Artes hosts all kinds of cultural events and concerts from the Symphonic Orchestra to Cirque de Soleil to Ballet Folklorico. Tickets to performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes usually cost anywhere from $30 to $60.
Medical Services (Back to Top)
There is a doctor at the Tec campus and there is no need to make an appointment and the visit is absolutely free. If you are not on campus, there are various doctors’ offices to be found in the downtown area and all over the city. Medical consultations will usually cost about $2.
The other thing that I like is that you do not need a prescription to buy most medicines in Mexico. You can usually ask one of the attendants to recommend a medicine for things like headaches or allergies. But for anything else, it is a good idea to see a doctor first so that they can recommend medicine to treat your specific problem.
Banking Services (Back to Top)
There are ATMs all over the place. Be sure to check with your bank to find out how much the fee is for using another bank’s ATM service. Advise: Try to use the same ATM or ATM of the same bank as much as possible. The exchange rate for the dollar to the peso changes throughout the year. I have seen it at 11.45 pesos to the dollar in November and in May and at $10.50 pesos to the dollar at other times. Try to withdraw your money when the exchange rate is high.
Housing (Back to Top)
At the Cuernavaca campus, the Tec offers you a variety of housing options. These include living with a host family, living in a student inn, or finding a place to stay on your own.
The host family program offers different options. Type A housing means living with a host family that lives within walking distance of the Tec. Type B housing means that you will have to take a bus or some other form of transportation to get to the Tec. With this option though, the host family can live within 5 minutes to 45 minutes from the Tec. They also offer single and double occupancy rooms. The prices are as follows:
Summer
House Type A, Single Occupancy = $949
House Type A, Double Occupancy = $850
House Type B, Single Occupancy = $850
House Type B, Double Occupancy = $749
Fall/Spring
House Type A, Single Occupancy = $2745
House Type A, Double Occupancy = $2458
House Type B, Single Occupancy = $2458
House Type B, Double Occupancy = $2169
The family is required to give three meals a day 6 days a week, excluding Sunday. They provide bedding, toilet paper and towels. I feel that living with a host family is a good idea for at least one semester. I think that you get a better value for your buck because you get to learn how a Mexican family works, how they eat, how they prepare their food, how they interact. I lived with the same host family for 2 semesters and loved it. The things I loved were that I did not have to cook and buy groceries and I did not have to clean. The downside was that I did have a set eating schedule and I did have to notify the family anytime I was going out and when I would be back and with whom I was going. They do this because it is part of the culture but at times I really did not like it, especially after living on my own for 4 years.
The Tec also offers the option of living in a student inn. These “inns” are usually the homes of people who live behind the Tec and these families have rooms that they rent to the students through the Tec housing program. Prices are:
Summer Fall/Spring
Single = $525 Single = $1421
Double = 385 Double = $812
The student inns are a good option if you are really accustomed to preparing your own meals and provide more freedom and versatility than living with a hot family. Personally I did not like the student inns because they are located in the ghetto. They are within 5 minutes walking to the Tec but they are in a pretty beat-up neighborhood with no lights and a lot of stray dogs running loose. There have also been rumors of strange men in the area.
Apartments are a good option and there are plenty of them. Announcements are usually posted on light posts or at the entrances to people’s homes. The great thing is that they do not use leases. You may have options to pay daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. Monthly rents can range from $100 to about $600 for a really nice place. You do not have to worry about paying gas, electricity, water or waste disposal because those charges are usually included in your rent and your landlord will take care of that. Apartments can be furnished or unfurnished and may or may not come with pots and pans for cooking. I have seen some really nice places but like with everything else, be careful. Because the landlords do not have leases and because of other factors such as culture, they may take longer than usual or may not even repair things in the apartments. Also remember that you get what you pay for.
Warning about Tec housing program – In the event that you do not get along with your host family or you are not pleased with your student inn or whatever the case may be, you are allowed to change residency or housing option without penalty, but that must be done within your first week in Cuernavaca. Otherwise you will have to pay $300 to cancel you plan, which to me is outrageous. This detail needs to be reformed because you never really get to know your family or roommates in one week but just FYI.
Food (Back to Top)
There is a great variety of things to eat in a country where you would think everyone just ate tacos and enchiladas everyday of the week. The food is spicy but I love it all.
You start off your typical breakfast with fresh fruit that is in season, such as papaya, mango, bananas, oranges, apples, pineapple, whatever. Then you have your main dish which could be anything from cereal to huevos a la mexicana, huevos estrellados, hot cakes or oatmeal. You meal is accompanied by milk, coffee, or juice and toast.
Lunch, or la comida, is the most special meal of them all and is served between 2 pm and 4 pm. This is when the whole family gets together to eat and chat about anything and everything. Be ready to eat too. The Mexicans will make sure you leave the table full and satisfied. The meal usually starts out with some kind of soup that can be anything from chicken broth to vegetable stew. Then comes your main dish that may or may not have a salad. Dishes here can include: mole rojo or verde, milanesa, steak, tacos, a variety of things. You can drink sodas, purified water to taste the many flavored waters they prepare like: agua de Jamaica, horchata, agua de tamarindo, agua de limon, and plenty of others. And to finish your feast you get dessert which can be a piece of chocolate, cake, arroz con leche, or fruit.
Dinner is usually served between 7 pm and 9 pm. It is usually something small. It can be a sandwich, a torta, cereal, fruit, or leftovers from lunch.
Buen provecho!
Excursions (Back to Top)
During the fall and spring semesters, the Tec offers 3 to 4 excursions. These can include trips to Mexico City and the Zócalo, Teotihuacan pyramids, Xochicalco ruins, and to see. Charreada. You can pay for each trip or purchase the whole package for about $100. During the summer, excursions are offered to Mexico City and Teotihuacan ($120), Acapulco ($150), Puebla and Oaxaca ($200), Taxco ($25), and Xochicalco ($25).
It is nice to go on the excursions to meet new people and to see the sites especially if you do no know how to travel just yet. But of those who are willing to learn, it is a lot cheaper to make your own travel arrangements. Recommendation: buy a travel guide book, such as the Lonely Planet series. I love this book because it provides info on how to get to different places, youth hostels and hotels, prices, off-the-beaten-path places; I just think it is a great book that will help you out.
Communication Services (Back to Top)
There are internet cafes all over this city and in every other city in Mexico. In Cuernavaca, they charge by the hour and costs can range from $.50 to $1.
Cell phones are very popular, almost everyone has one. And they are cheap and do not require signing a contract. There are stands everywhere and you can get a package that includes the phone, charging equipment, and a phone card from $80 to $300. The phone card eliminates the use of contracts in that you buy a card for any number of minutes, punch in the pin on your phone, and then dial as usual.
Phone cards are sold everywhere. You can buy these are grocery stores or any anyone one of the many newsstands throughout the city. Costs range from $3 to $20 depending on the number of minutes.
Local Transportation (Back to Top)
It is very easy to get around Cuernavaca and Mexico in general. There are city buses called rutas and they run throughout the city. Fare runs from about $.35 to $.50, just be sure you tell the driver where you are going so he can charge you the correct fare. Taxis are another story. Always set a price with the taxi driver before getting into the vehicle and be ready to bargain with him. And fare should never cost you more than $4 or $40 pesos, even at 4 o’clock in the morning. Normal fare is usually $20 to $40 pesos depending on where you are going.
Academic Program (Back to Top)
The Tec in Cuernavaca has many classes for foreign students but the classes are only offered if more than 5 people sign up for any given class. Classes for international students include business classes, mostly in English, and a range of Spanish classes such as grammar, art and architecture, Mexican culture, syntax, communications, and phonetics.
International students can also take classes with the Mexicans. Most of the business classes are in English. But other classes can be taken that are taught in Spanish such as psychology, society and development, and science and engineering.
Note about classes with Mexican students – the Mexican students have a different idea about work ethic and how they conduct themselves in class. It is generally accepted that the students will talk while the professor lectures. Also, cheating on exams and plagiarism are common occurrences.
Note about the Tec campus in Cuernavaca – this campus is odd in that the university students and the high school students are on the same campus. So just be informed that the maturity level of a lot of the students will not be what you may be used to. Also, couples are not embarrassed to show affection anywhere on campus so be ready to see a lot of public displays of affection.
Also almost everyone has a laptop. You don’t need one, but if you have one, it’s a good idea to take it. Sometimes it can be frustrating waiting for a computer to free up during times when the very small computer labs are busy.
Personally I found the Tec students to be very snobbish. Only the richest kids in Mexico are able to attend schools that are part of the Tec system. So naturally a lot of the students have chauffeurs, maids, bodyguards and are used to being waited on hand and foot. And they usually do not like to hear no.
Costs (Back to Top)
Things were definitely cheaper than I thought they would be. Traveling to Mexico City by airplane will cost anywhere from $250 to $350 if you leave from Ciudad Juarez. I highly recommend leaving from Ciudad Juarez because you can save yourself about $500.
Tuition and fees are the same as you would pay NMSU because of the tuition agreement between NMSU and the Tec de Monterrey.
Housing ended up being a little more than I expected but I feel that it is money well spent if it is your first time in Cuernavaca and you don’t know how to rent or if your Spanish is not that good.
You can find good and cheap places to eat all over Mexico. You can get full meals anywhere for about $3, you just need to look. You can generally tell if a restaurant is a good place to eat by seeing if there are a lot of people eating in that restaurant.
Health and Safety (Back to Top)
There are a few basic precautions that I think everyone should follow their first time in another country. First of all, NEVER DRINK TAP WATER. Most places have a water purifier or some other type of purified water dispenser available. Generally ladies should always go places accompanied with other ladies and/or guys.
Cultural Adjustment (Back to Top)
Being Hispanic I thought I would have an easy time adjusting to the Mexican culture, but there were a lot of things I had to learn that I wish someone had told me about before I left the US. The Mexicans are very talkative and like to talk to foreigners. Men and women usually greet women with a kiss on the check, and men greet other men with handshakes. Don’t be surprised – the Mexicans are physical people and the size of their personal space is usually much smaller than that of an American.
Also the Mexicans generally tend to be very positive people and will most of the time speak positively about someone. But they are also known to be big gossipers.
Another big thing is learn to wait. Things go at a different pace in Mexico and delays are normal and nothing to get upset or excited about. Learn to relax and go with the flow, it will make your stay a lot more pleasant.
Another thing is that the Mexicans are not direct, blunt people. They beat around the bush or lie as to not hurt people’s feelings and to avoid conflict. And sometimes they say things they don’t usually mean to say. So if someone says they will call you, don’t get your hopes up.
Another aspect of Mexican culture is the concept of “ahorita”. This has many meanings and the translation for the word to “now” in English is very misleading. “Ahorita” can mean immediately, in 5 minutes, in and hour, in a couple of days, in a couple of weeks. It’s all part of the Mexican concept of time that there is no hurry. So my advice is to take your time.
Also be careful who you ask for directions. The Mexicans are pretty helpful and try to help you out. Even if they don’t know where a place is or how to get there, they will make up some elaborate story and you end up being more lost that you were. Just be sure to ask a lot of people or others that to seem to know these kinds of things like police men, news stand attendants, or taxi drivers.
Here is a little pointer for the ladies. Chivalry exists in Mexico, and this can be a good thing. But ladies should get accustomed to hearing cat calls and Mexican men making rude gestures everywhere. It is accepted that men will do this kind of thing and most women do not react to the men’s behavior.
Travel In Mexico (Back to Top)
Tepoztlan
Tepoztlan is about 30 minutes from Cuernavaca and is one of the first places you will visit in your first week at the Tec. The staff organizes a Welcome Feast at one of the many restaurants in this quaint village. The village is built at the foot of the mountains and all of the students can hike the mountain to see the Tepozteco, which is a pyramid that sits at the top. The view of the valley is breathtaking.
There are other ways to get to Tepoztlan if you would like to go at any other time during your stay in Cuernavaca. Buses leave from the Mercado starting at about 6 am and stoping around 9 pm. The cost per trip is about $1.20.
Mexico City (Back to Top)
Welcome to the biggest city in the world! Mexico City is about one hour and thirty minutes from Cuernavaca depending on traffic. You can get to Mexico City through a variety of chartered bus services, but the most common is the Pullman de Morelos. A trip from Downtwon Cuernavaca to Tasqueña Station in southern Mexico City is about $5.50. A trip from Pullman Casino de la Selva to the airport is about $10.
Anything you could possibly want can be found in Mexico City. Mexico City has pretty good public transportation system that includes city buses, and underground metro, and a train to name a few. City buses cost about $.35 while the metro costs just $.20.
Important sites to see include the Shrine of la Virgen de Guadalupe which is located in the northern part of the city. Two churches are built on this site where it is proclaimed that the Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego. One of the churches is home to the “original” tilma of Juan Diego on which appears the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe.
Other must see sites include El Zocalo, or downtown area. This area is where El Grito takes place on the 16th of September, or Mexican Independence Day. Here you can find the Governor’s Palace and the Cathedral. Along side the Zocalo you can find ruins from the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Zona Chapultepec is home to a zoo and the National Museum of Anthropology. The Zona Rosa is home to many American institutions such as the Embassy, the US Trade Center, and the Institute of International Education.
Teotihuacan (Back to Top)
This ancient Aztec city is located about 30 minutes north of Mexico City. They say that the Aztecs layout of this city resembles the cycle of life. The Pyramid of the Sun is located here and is the third largest pyramid in the world. The Tec usually organizes an excursion to this site. Throughout the year, buses leave from the Northern bus station in Mexico City to this site.
Xochicalco (Back to Top)
This is another ancient city on the outskirts of Cuernavaca. It is famous for its observatory and pyramids that show the God Quetzalcoatl. A lot of this site has be rebuilt, so in my opinion, it kinds loses the authenticity. Nonetheless, it is very beautiful.
The Tec will organize an excursion to this site. You may also get to the site on bus through the Flecha Roja station located on Avenida Morelos. It costs about $3 one way. But they take you on the oldest, dirtiest bus and the bus only takes you to the outskirts of Xochicalco. You will then need to take a taxi to the ruins and that will cost about $5. Take sunscreen and a hat and plenty of water because there isn’t a lot of shade and no venders.
Puebla (Back to Top)
This is the city where the Mexicans defeated Napoleon on the 5th of May and is famous for it textiles. This city is very colonial and the buildings are very well kept. There seems to be a church on every street corner. Puebla is about 2 hours from Cuernavaca.
Tlaxcala (Back to Top)
Tlaxcala is the capital of the State of Tlaxcala and is supposedly the poorest state in Mexico and is also famous for its textiles. This city is small and has a very relaxed environment. Tlaxcala is about 30 minutes from Puebla.
Taxco (Back to Top)
This is the place to go if you want to buy silver. This town is built on the cliff of a mountain and was once an important place in the time of the Conquista for the Spainards because of all the silver. Now everyday of the week, vendors sell items made from silver. The best days to go are on Saturday and Sunday because all the vendors are out. But keep in mind that there will be a lot of people. Taxco is about 2 _ hours from Cuernavaca and is located in the state of Guerrero. To get to Taxco, use the Estrella de Oro buses. The station is located on Avenida Morelos. Fare one-way is $4.50.
Acapulco (Back to Top)
Acapulco is a very touristy place with a lot of fancy hotels and restaurants. It has a night club strip that is on Costera Miguel Aleman. This is where the majority of the hotels, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants are. Almost everyone knows English.
Personal opinion - I hate Acapulco. The city is very expensive. At first glance the beached seem beautiful but most of them are dirty. The beaches always seem to be crowded. Acapulco is definitely a party place, so if that is your style go for it. But there are nicer beaches in Mexico.
Puerto Escondido (Back to Top)
The most beautiful beach I have seen yet in Mexico. This port town is located in the state of Oaxaca and is approximately 5 hours from the city of Oaxaca. It has plenty of hostels and hotels. The food is delicious and cheap. This town does not get a lot of tourists and is a very relaxed, almost virgin beach. I highly recommend this beach to everyone.
Cuernavaca (Back to Top)
This city is located about 1 _ hours south of Mexico City. The population is about 1 million people and this city has a lot to offer. This is where the Tec de Monterrey is located. Also located here are the Palacio de Cortez, Jardin Borda, the waterfalls known as Salto San Anton, the botanical gardens, and a number of ancient ruins on the outskirts of the city.
Ocotepec (Back to Top)
This is a beautiful town on the outskirts of Cuernavaca. The Tec will organize a trip here for the Day of the Dead which is on November 1st. Be ready to be amazed. This is definitely better than Halloween
Querétaro (Back to Top)
One of the cleanest cities in Mexico. This is a colonial city built in the desert and is about 2 hours north of Mexico City. There is a hostel here call La Girafa Roja. Rates per night are about $10 per person.
Chiapas (Back to Top)
This has got to be my favorite place out of all the places I have been to in Mexico. This state has had a pretty hairy reputation with the rebellion in the 1980’s and with a recently experienced earthquake. Nevertheless, I think it is a safe place to visit that has a lot to offer in terms of history, culture, artisans, food, nature, everything. Things here are amazingly cheap in comparison to other places in Mexico. Taxi fares range from $1 to $1.50. Ropa típica ranges from $5 to $8. Hostel rates range from $3 to $5 per person per night. I love this state!
Tuxtla Gutierrez (Back to Top)
This is the capital of the state of Chiapas and the weather is hot! It is located in a very arid part of the state, and frankly the only interesting thing in this whole city is the zoo that is home to a variety of cats and reptiles.
Buses to Tuxtla Gutierrez leave from Mexico City and various other places. I recommend going to the northern bus station in Mexico City and taking the lujo, direct-service bus. It costs about $70 one-way. But if you travel overnight, you can be in Tuxtla in 10 hours. Any other service will take more time and can be quite exhausting taking between 14 to 16 hours to get to Tuxtla.
Palenque
Absolutely beautiful. The town of Palenque has many hotels and lodging for backpackers and rooms start at about $8 a night. The ruins are about 30 minutes from the town in a VW comvey and costs about $3 per person. Take lots of film and bottles of water, sunscreen and bug repellent. Film and water can be bought at the entrance to the ruins but can be more expensive. Vendors can be found at the entrance and exit gates as well as inside the park selling many different crafts and works of art. Be ready to bargain to get yourself a good price.
Agua Azul (Back to Top)
This is another breathtaking site in Chiapas. VW comveys from Palenque to Agua Azul usually leave in the morning and cost about $4 one-way and takes about 3 hours to get there. The drive there is beautiful. Agua Azul is a waterfall park in the jungle with the bluest water I have ever seen in my life. Take swim wear, sun block and a towel and be ready to swim in the various lagoons. There are a lot of places to eat here that serve anything from hamburgers to grilled fish. There are also many places to buy souvenirs, film, and artwork.
San Cristóbal de las Casas (Back to Top)
Another impeccably clean town in Mexico and very colonial in style and architecture. The weather here was surprisingly cool. Souvenirs here are very cheap but as always, be ready to bargain. There are about 5 hostels here with very cheap rates from about $3 per person if you wish to sleep in a hammock to $5 per person to have a private room. Dormitory-style rooms are also available.
San Juan Chamula (Back to Top)
This charming village is about 30 minutes from San Cristóbal de las Casas in a VW comvey and the trip will cost about $3 per person. But be sure you take money before you go because there are no banks and no ATMs here.
Cañon del Sumidero (Back to Top)
Located near the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez. You can get here in a taxi and fare should be about $4. It is a beautiful canyon that is also home to a zoological reserve. Boat rides through the bottom of the canyon range from $10 to $30 per person.
Overall Evaluation (Back to Top)
This has to be the best experience of my life. I was not too pleased academically, but I got to see so many things I never thought I would get the chance to see. My Spanish also improved greatly. Actually getting out there and speaking to people does a world of good sitting in the classroom never accomplished. I also made friends from all over the world that will be my friends for a lifetime.
So go, enjoy, do not be afraid, use common sense, and have fun.