Bridge. Explore the extensive history and everevolving. to historical sites and modern cities.

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1 Mexico Xalapa

2 on the cover The image on the cover is part of a mural in the Palacio del Gobierno of the State of Tlaxcala, and the author is the painter Desiderio Hernández Xochiteotzin.

3 Bridge Explore the extensive history and everevolving culture of Mexico with excursions to historical sites and modern cities. Xalapa Connect Fine tune your Spanish language skills while living with a host family and studying at one of the top 5 public universities in Mexico. Act Study the realities of major social problems in Mexico and gain experience working with these issues through BCA s specially-designed courses. Xalapa Quick facts Location: east of Mexico city, beneath volcanic peaks in the Sierra Madre Oriental Population: 666,535 Fun Fact: Known as The Athens of Veracruz (the state to which Xalapa belongs), Xalapa is famed for its music, theater, and dance. Table of Contents Bridge the World Why BCA Xalapa? Connect to Learning Host university, sample courses Connect to Culture Living in Xalapa Act: What Mattered to Me Student experiences

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5 Bridge the World Why BCA Xalapa? I am delighted that you are considering joining us here in beautiful Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico! You will find many opportunities for adventure and growth: academically, personally, and in developing your own special relationship with Mexico and its people. Xalapa (also spelled Jalapa) is a charming colonial city in the mountains above Mexico s Gulf Coast, and is capital of the state of Veracruz. Xalapa s climate is temperate and humid, perfect for the verdant vegetation that surrounds the city, earning its nickname, The City of Flowers. The city s narrow winding streets and colonial architecture make it a beautiful and romantic city to explore. Views of the surrounding mountains, including the snow-capped Pico de Orizaba, abound. A small extinct volcano marks the highest point in the large, green park of Macuiltepec. Surrounding colonial towns and natural areas make for great day trips, and have been popular filming spots for Hollywood. You will be living not just in beautiful settings, but in a vibrant cultural and artistic environment as well! Both the university and the state government have put an emphasis on cultural development in the city, resulting in a vast array of cultural and artistic activities, from art galleries to musical venues, theater troupes, folklore ballet, one of the best symphonic orchestras in Latin America, world class museums... the list goes on. Add to this the youthful college atmosphere of the town, the countless cafés and restaurants, parks, and lakes, and you could not find a more enchanting place to spend a semester! Not all learning occurs in the city: we will also explore other areas of Mexico. Weekend excursions might include enjoying the Caribbean atmosphere of the port city of Veracruz, ecological tourism at a rural community in the Tuxtla Mountains, or a long weekend in northern Veracruz, spending time with local university students, visiting archaeological and historical sites, and enjoying a bonfire on the beach! BCA offers more sponsored excursions than any other study abroad program in Mexico: just another way to help you understand this fascinating country! You will live with host families in Xalapa, providing total immersion into the Spanish language and Mexican culture. This will allow you to break down barriers in language and culture that would endure with a less intensive experience. Making Mexican friends, both in the Escuela para Estudiantes Extranjeros (EEE) Cultural Immersion program and in regular classes, is another important part of the BCA Mexico experience. Of course, throughout the time you are here you will have the personal attention of the resident director. I have lived in Mexico and Xalapa for nearly twenty years now, and have a doctorate in anthropology, specializing in Mexican archaeology. In fact, in addition to being your resident director, I am also a professor within the anthropology department of the university! It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mexico, to its culture and society, its reality and its potential to take you off the gringo trail in order to discover the real Mexico. I hope this gives you a clearer idea of what BCA has to offer in Mexico. Espero verte pronto en México! Dr. Robert Kruger BCA Xalapa Resident Director 4

6 Connect to Learning Overview Suggested Areas of Study Spanish Anthropology Archaeology Business Administration Biology History Art Music Language Requirement: 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent are required. The professor really cared about his students and structured the class based on what the students had trouble with and/or wanted to learn. Katie Appleby, Elizabethtown College (on class Español Intensivo VI) Depending on your Spanish language proficiency, you may take either regular university courses at the University of Veracruz (UV) or courses designed for foreign students at the Escuela para Estudiantes Extranjeros (EEE). In addition, all BCA Xalapa students can take BCA s social justice course taught by the resident director, Dr. Robert Kruger, SOC375: Street Children and Popular Education: A Participative Approach. University of Veracruz The University of Veracruz is the most prestigious university in the state of Veracruz and one of the top five public universities in Mexico. It houses 35 departments (offering more than 75 undergraduate degrees), 22 centers of research, a foreign language center, a school for foreign students, a children s music education center, athletic facilities, and a library with an information services system. The School for Foreign Studies (EEE) courses in Spanish language, Latin American culture, arts and history. Students improve their language skills and learn more about Latin American culture. The university is also committed to community engagement. Students and faculty from the departments of global health, education, sustainability, agriculture and the arts work within disadvantaged rural and urban communities to implement projects and research for sustainable development practices. Additionally, the University has four Intercultural University Centers to provide higher education to indigenous students. In 2012, the University was recognized for its outreach programs and awarded first place in the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. 5

7 Courses View more recommended courses at BCA Signature Courses Required Pre-Semester Course spa 315 Advanced Spanish I: Spanish in Its Socio-Historical Context Before classes begin, you will spend two weeks in BCA s cultural orientation and intensive language program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. You will study Spanish at Universal Escuela de Lengua y Comunicación Social, and take a course on Mexican culture and history led by BCA s resident director. Recommended BCA Course soc375 Street Children and Popular Education: A Participative Approach (taught in Spanish) Study the realities of major social problems in Mexico today and gain direct experience working with these issues. Through a complimentary field placement at MATRACA, Asociación Civil (civil association), you will have the unique opportunity to directly apply concepts learned in class. Discussions with instructors and MATRACA personnel will center around themes of poverty, street children, the human rights of children, and popular education. MATRACA strives to protect the rights of street children in the Xalapa and the state of Veracruz. You will participate in one of MATRACA s programs including street work, community work, educational work, or other areas of interest. Visit their website to learn more: Sample Courses Spanish EEE Intensive Spanish Levels 1-6 EEE320 English Spanish Translation eee375 Mexico USA: Frontiers, Literature, and Identity let330 Hispano-American Literature of the 20 th Century let335 Cervantes and El Quijote Anthropology ant233 Contemporary Problems of Mexico and Veracruz ant210 Culture Studies ant315 Power and Social Movements Ant336 The Body and Sexuality Ant320 Myth, Religion, and Society Archaeology ant174 Mesoamerica Ant240 Archaeology of the Americas I ant355 Origins of Civilization ant278 Material Analysis Business Administration bus210 Administrative Accounting I econ330 International Economics econ225 Macroeconomics I econ215 Microeconomics I econ210 World Economy Biology bio130 General Ecology bio335 Evolution and Paleobiology History his320 The Contemporary Americas eee374 The Impact of U.S. Policies on Mexico: eee375 US Interventions in Central America Contemporary Mexico Experiential Learning and Internships The Xalapa program has established partnerships to ensure professional volunteer and practicum experiences that complement academic study: MATRACA: supports children working and/or living on the streets Environmental organizations, private and NGOs Governmental agencies supporting marginalized populations Xochiquetzal: sexual health NGO Teaching English: in the Mexican school system or running conversation clubs for college-age students 6

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9 Connect to Culture Nestled in the foothills of an extinct volcano, at an altitude of over 4,000 feet, Xalapa is located in the Sierra Madre mountains in East-central Mexico. Known as the City of Flowers, Xalapa features green parks and well-manicured plazas set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Pico de Orizaba. City Life Xalapa was established in 1313 as a market town and boasts fine examples of colonial architecture. Now home to 600,000 people, Xalapa is the capital and cultural center for the state of Veracruz. The city hosts an extraordinary number of cultural treasures, including an internationally renowned symphony orchestra, folklore ballet and anthropology museum. Art galleries, theaters and cafés offering live music provide plenty of entertainment. The university and the city of Xalapa offer a multitude of activities ranging from the cultural to the social. The small-city atmosphere provides easy access to museums, musical and cultural events, as well as the friendliness of a close-knit community. In addition, Xalapa is surrounded by lush mountains dotted with charming colonial-style towns and villages and just an hour drive to coastal beaches. Housing, Meals and Transportation Host Families: conversations you have with your familia Mexicana will present you with an excellent opportunity to learn about the culture. Meals: host families provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local Transportation: buses, taxis; everything in Xalapa is in walking distance. Sports Facilities BCA students have discount access to the University s sports facilities, including gyms, athletic tracks, tennis courts, fitness rooms, open-air sport areas, and soccer fields. Students may also choose to join any of the numerous gyms in the city that offer a wide range of facilities for reasonable fees. I think Mexico is a great program because it s so easy to get plugged in with the native population, and you don t end up spending all your time with other foreign students. Jeff Yoder, Goshen College Excursions Included in the program fee, educational excursions offer an exciting way to examine important global issues affecting the local people and environment. Destinations may change and vary by semester, but can include a few of the following locations: Mexico City Pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan La Antigua: a quaint town founded by Hernán Cortés Puebla and Tlaxcala: traditional Mexican cities with distinctive histories and flavors Port City of Veracruz Archaeological site of El Tajín and the Costa Esmeralda beaches Cuetzalan: an indigenous town nestled in the mountains Ecotourism in the Tuxlta Mountains Yucatán Peninsula, Chiapas region, and colonial cities of Central Mexico (spring only) 8

10 Bridging The World Come to Xalapa! If you can handle the freedom and really want to be immersed in Mexican culture, this is an excellent program. Adin Vaewsorn, Wesleyan University Act What Mattered to me student experiences in Xalapa The learning and Spanish didn t end in the classroom, it continued in the streets with native Spanish speakers, hearing Spanish everywhere, and having to use it outside of class to communicate and practice. Emily Michael, Malone University Connecting to culture I had an amazing experience here in Mexico and am glad that I decided to try something different. Katie Appleby, Elizabethtown College 9

11 Housing was amazing because I had a lovely family that was more than willing to help me linguistically and socially. If I needed clarification on culture or just someone to talk to they were more than happy to help. Meagan Floyd, Juniata College Where I am now Working at MATRACA restored my passion for a career with Hispanic/Latino populations in Health Promotion and Prevention. Being there was a reminder that I am right where I need to be, pursuing an education that I know is right for me. I can t wait to call myself a Certified Health Education Specialist. Emily Michael, Malone University [Teaching English] was the best part of my experience in Mexico. I looked forward to teaching the students everyday and they also were willing to teach me things. It made me realize that I might want to teach English someday. Jeff Yoder, Goshen College If there s anything I can say about Mexico it is that words don t do it justice. It s a giant, complicated, art-filled, musical, friendly, traditional, ever-changing, troubled, beautiful country with so much to offer and so much to learn from. Adin Vaewsworn, Wesleyan University 10

12 Our Mission Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA Study Abroad promotes international understanding, awareness of global citizenship and academic scholarship through educational exchange. Quick Facts Dates of Study: Fall Semester: late July early December Spring Semester: early January May/June Application Deadlines Fall Semester: April 15 Spring Semester: November 1 Language of Instruction: Spanish. Four semesters of college-level Spanish (or equivalent) are required. Host University: University of Veracruz Housing: host families BCA Study Abroad Programs Austria: Vienna India: Chennai Belgium: Brussels Ireland: Maynooth China: Dalian Mexico: Xalapa Ecuador: Quito Morocco: Tetouan England: Cheltenham New Zealand: Dunedin Germany: Marburg Palestine: Ramallah Greece: Athens Spain: Barcelona, Valladolid BCA s Comprehensive Fee Covers Tuition University services Housing Academic advising Meals or meal stipend Orientation program Excursions Language Training (where applicable) On-site staff Academic transcript Seminars and guest lectures On-Call International Travel Assistance A. 50 Alpha Drive Elizabethtown, PA P or Toll Free (U.S.): E. inquiry@bcastudyabroad.org