This post is for anyone who is planning on studying abroad and it will be particularly helpful for those who choose Mexico. I thought if I documented how to do things to prepare for the trip I could make someone’s life a little easier! Expect to do a lot of paper work and research before you head over. Some of it is fun, some of it will be a long process, and some of it is expensive but being prepared will help with any situations that may come up while you’re abroad.
I have listed a few important things to do and tips below. I couldn't include everything so if you have any other questions, just comment or send me an email. I am writing this post a few days after I have arrived in Guadalajara because I was busy getting established in my new house (and it is the first rainy day here).
At Carleton, an exchange is available with Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM). The four of us in International Business are going to Campus Guadalajara. Things that affected my decision:
Tec offers courses in English and Spanish. In order to take classes in Spanish, all international students had to take a test that involved a short essay, a multiple choice test online, and an interview via Skype. The four of us from Carleton didn’t get high enough levels to take classes in Spanish for the first semester. I have met about 10 other international students going to Tec so far and only a couple, who studied Spanish for many years, passed the test. Tec offered me beginner’s Spanish, but as I have been studying Spanish for the past two years I think I am beyond that level. This is disappointing, but hopefully we can take the test again next semester.
On a brighter note, the school offers some really interesting classes that I think will be of great value for my education. For example, I’m taking “Doing Business in Mexico” and “Introduction to Mexican Culture”. I’m excited to see what they’ll be like.
To find out what vaccinations I needed, I had to go to my health unit. You have to call to book an appointment during the travel clinic day and they won't give out any information over the phone. They only accepted cash or cheque..
Get all of the prescriptions you will need and don’t wait to do this until the last minute. If you are getting a large amount of medicine they might not have it all in stock and you may have to pay up front. Buy things like Tylenol and Gravol and bring them in your carry-on as the name of medications can vary in different countries.
If you’re from Ontario, you have to notify OHIP at a Service Ontario centre that you will be leaving. Bring your letter of acceptance with you and you will have to fill out a form. I did this a couple of days before I left. Our school in Mexico has mandatory health insurance and it is expensive, but probably worth it!
So hopefully you found this post to be useful. Again, there is so much to do before you leave that I haven't included everything. So if there's something you need to know, just contact me and hopefully I can help you out!