Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY)

It is cheaper tos tay with a family and pay for everything inclusivelly rather than go it alone in a house share. However it is more fun to be with other students.My only real over expenditure was buying trinkets and hammocks, which you cannot use at home. If you keep that under control you will find it hard to overspend in Mexico.

I improved my language skills drastically but I coudl have worked more on my grammar.

I would receommend settling in for a month and then take the bus to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas to visit the town and also Palenque an ancient ruin which is breathtaking in the very early morning light this was personal highlight of my year abroad.

Merida was a diverse and interesting ancient colonial city. There were plenty of things to do and see. The local market int he town centre was always fun and full of fruits, hammocks (made in the area) and local people. You could take an express bus to Cancun and travel down to Olaya del Carmen a wonderful beach resort close to Tulum where there were archeological ruins by the ocean. Tequila Rock was the local nightclub in merida that most students would meet up and socialise at. We also became members of the Hyatt Hotel gym and used their tennis courts and pool, this was very reasonably priced and lots of fun. merida boasts a beautiful theatre where we saw an amazing contemporary dance production. It is also interesting to go and visit the local haciendas, our tutor owned a papaya hacienda where on one occasion all the students in my class journeyed out to explore his land and view the property which was a fun day out and interesting to see how the local area used be organised through local leaders who owned vast tracts of land. The local food aswell is not to be missed. It was very cheap to eat out almost every night in a different restaurant.

It was a very safe way to be initiated into Mexican culture. It was convenient to go straight to live with a family and not have to find a place of my own. Meals were cooked for me , which was a treat and I got the chance to do yoga as my host was a yoga teacher.