Contents
Advanced planning and a comprehensive knowledge of what to do and what to expect from
a semester abroad on the Wesleyan Puebla program will facilitate adjustment. To that end,
this handbook contains practical information for your stay in Mexico. Its contents have been
perfected over the last four years to aid in your enjoyment of this unique cultural experience.
1. Gringos in Mexico
2. Distant Neighbors
3. Máscaras mexicanas (de El laberinto de la soledad)
4. My lost Mexico
5. El espejo enterrado
6. Buenos vecinos
7. Travel guides (Let's Go Mexico)
In the spring semester students will have a pre-orientation in the following areas:
• Administrative
• Academic
• Cultural
• Every student will be given the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) twice: first, before the beginning of the
program in August, and then at the end, in December. The main goal is to track the linguistic progress
of every participating student in the program with pre-test and post-test results.
• Textbook: Horizontes: Gramática y Conversación by Heinle and Heinle. 4th. Edition.
This textbook is given to you at Wesleyan at our last meeting in May.
Upon arrival in Mexico, you will be given a packet of administrative paperwork and information regarding
deadlines for registration. The orientation will also consist of oral presentations to advise you of the following:
• Academic life, courses available, workshops, educational field trips, etc.;
• Home-stays, such as family information and pictures; dorm life, such as resident regulations, curfews,
on-campus medical services and participating hospitals in downtown Puebla (in case of extreme emergency)
• Money matters such as bank and ATM locations. You will also be given maps of Puebla and information on
public transportation.
• In addition, Amigos Internacionales, a group of student volunteers, will serve as guides during your first few
weeks on campus.
• Passport and a photocopy of its first two pages
• Tourist card and photocopy. Upon arrival in Mexico, you will be given a tourist card at the airport customs.
• NOTE: you need to request that the Immigration Officer grant you permission to stay for 180 days
on your visa. Otherwise, you may only be given 60 days, and then will have to request an extension of
your visa for an extra 180.00 pesos ($18 US). Prices may have changed. In that situation, UDLAP
has an immigration service office for those students who need to apply for an extension.
• Original Birth Certificate
• International Student ID card
** Recent changes by the Mexican government require U.S. citizens to have a visa granted by a Mexican Consulate
in the U.S. to go to Mexico. However, we have just been told that for this year, it might not be the case.
Please, double-check with the Mexican Consulate nearest to your permanent address to make sure.
Due to the high demand of computers in the computer labs, it is suggested that you take your laptop to be used in your
room. Dorm rooms are equipped with free Internet service.
• First class bus service from the international airport in Mexico to downtown Puebla (110.00 pesos = $11 US).
Estrella Roja, express service
• Official taxis from bus stations, radio taxis (Taxi Fam: ph.244 5902, and Taxi Rápido: ph.235 2200, 235 9966)
• University shuttle service (round trip route between campus and downtown Puebla). Tickets can only be purchased at
university bookstores and you cannot pay the driver when boarding.
• US credit card/ATM card
• Traveler's checks
• Mexican ATM/Debit card through Banamex
• US phone cards
• E-mail
• Mexican phone cards sold by stores and newspaper stands. (TELMEX). These are the best deal.
During your free time, take advantage of cultural activities such as plays, dance performances,
festive holidays, traveling around the region, and sharing and talking with the locals. Also, you should
keep in mind the following places to visit:
• Open market or Tianguis
• Movie Theater
• Church/Cathedral
• Museums
• Malls
• La Noria (very expensive)
• La Fonda de Santa Clara (expensive)
• La Guadalupana (expensive)
• El Puente de Ovando (inexpensive). There are also a variety of arts and crafts stores here with
reasonable prices.
Visits from friends and family are recommended only during fall break and at the end of the semester
• Posada de San Andrés (on campus, run by the hotel management students. Priced at $45.00 US a night),
• Posada Señorial (within walking distance of campus, three stars. Priced at $50.00 US a night ),
•
ClubMed - Villas Arqueológicas (five stars, priced at $75.00 US a night. Located in the neighboring town
of Cholula near the pyramid.)
• Culturally appropriate clothing should be worn
• Clothing appropriate for temperate weather (day: 60-70 F; night: 45-55 F)
• Two or three dressy outfits, including dress shoes are necessary
• Do not bring too much clothing nor too many pairs of shoes
• Bring an empty duffle bag for clothes or souvenirs purchased in Mexico
• Vaccinations: These should be decided by your primary physician
• Personal Medications: It is suggested that you bring a supply of your medications to last the entire
semester so as to avoid any problems with refilling your prescriptions.
• A First Aid kit with Imodium AD and Metamucil, aspirin, ibuprofen, cold and flu medicines, antiseptic
cleanser, etc. is strongly suggested.
• Once in Mexico, it is recommended to drink bottled Evian water due to the minerals in the local
water supply. This can be purchased at Sanborn's stores in Puebla (Plaza Dorada or downtown Puebla).
• Dorms: on or near campus.
• Home-stays: It is suggested that your bring a present to your new Mexican family. It does not have to
be expensive; it's just a good idea to break the ice with the people with whom you will be spending four months.
• The tickets will be purchased by the Office of International Studies and sent to the student's home
over the summer.
• Each student, whether living in the dorms or in a home-stay, will receive a stipend.
During the semester there will be four educational field trips including:
• Viaje de Bienvenida y Reconocimiento:
Taxco y Cuernavaca
Duration: two and a half days
• Enfoque antropológico, arqueológico y artístico:
Ciudad de México: las ruinas de Teotihuacan y el museo de antropología e historia
Ciudad de México: recorrido de los murales de Diego Rivera y de la casa de Frida Kahlo en Coyoacán.
Duration: three days
• Enfoque histórico:
Ciudad de Veracruz: el puerto, el castillo de San Juan de Ulúa y museos.
Duration: three days
• Enfoque arqueológico:
Ciudad de Oaxaca: Monte Albán, Mitla, el museo y la iglesia de Santo Domingo.
Duration: three days
• To send letters: It is suggested that each student bring with them a set of U.S. stamps, in case faculty
members from UDLA are willing to bring your correspondence with them on visits to the U.S. Otherwise,
sending mail through the Mexican system will take much longer and thus is not recommended.
• To receive letters: Students can receive letters at the International Center for Language and Culture CILC at:
UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS AMERICAS-PUEBLA
Centro Internacional de Lengua y Cultura - CILC
Santa Catarina Martir, Cholula, Puebla
C.P. 72820 Mexico
phone: 011-52-22-22 292798
fax: 011-52 22-22 29-31-69
Please direct any academic questions or concerns to:
Mirna Iglesias (011-52-22-22 292798 ext. 4188), Academic Coordinator for UDLAP(CILC), or
Octavio Flores (off. 860-685-3122 or home 860-344-9925), Program Director at Wesleyan.
Administrative concerns need to be discussed with:
Mirna Iglesias at UDLA (011-52-22-22 292798 ext. 4188) or
Gail Winter at Wesleyan (off. 860-685-3006).
¡Buen viaje y buena suerte!
Prof. Octavio Flores
Program Director