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Section Guide For:Spanish
(2002) Guadalajara IMAC - La Escuela Marta - La Familia Ajijic Details & Notes |
Spanish Immersion - Guadalajara Mexico Sep-Nov 2002Details and Notes & Other TextPost Travel Notes | Pre-Travel Planning | Baggage List Cheryl Gelder Notes & Other Post Travel Details- Where Guadalajara Mexico [top of page] When September-November 2003 [top of page] Why Learn Spanish to enhance our travels in Central and South America [top of page] Resources Along the Way - [top of page] Camera Fuji Finepix 2800 Zoom - set for maximum resolution & quality [top of page] Photos in the Photo log For these web pages the jpeg files were then resampled to about 360 x 270 and compressed about 15% using Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 to reduce the transmission and display time. The reduced photos are not as exciting as the originals but I am expecting to hold your attention longer with the shorter transmission times. [top of page] Lodging Hotel for 3 days Marta Lopez and her family for 8 weeks Cost: $140/week for the 2 of us [top of page] Food Breakfast - at the family home Midday - fruit and baked goods from local street venders Evening meal - again in the family home [top of page] Transportation San Diego to San Ysidro - Trolly Walked across the border to Tijuana Tijuana to/from Guadalajara - Aero California $230 r/t To and From School - TUR bus $1 each way [top of page] Border Crossings U.S. - Mexico border at Tijuana [top of page] Keeping in Touch Internet - across the street from our home stay
Phone - ATT phone card from phone at home stay
[top of page] Cost (per person per week - 4 weeks or more) School - $170 Room & Board - $70 *note: now in 2004-prices have increased about 30% [top of page] Things Learned Spanish Mexican Culture How Mexican Students View the U.S. & People from the U.S. [top of page] Cheryl Gelder Pre-Travel Planning Timetable[top of page] Idea Conception No Specific Dates We have talked about doing this for 15 years [top of page] Focused on Spanish Immersion for 2002
We wanted to understand Spanish before we traveled Latin America Overland [top of page] Educated Ourselves 1999-2001 During our van travels in the Rocky Mountains (summer 2002) libraries in the U.S. and Canada provided a rich abundance of information. [top of page] Mentally Committed to a Start Date and Length of Travel May 2002 We will depart January 2003 and travel for 3 months Planned to enroll in an 8 week Spanish immersion program in Mexico Sep-Nov 2002 [top of page] Plan Alternative Itineraries & Prioritize Specifics
Guadalajara, Guatemala or Cuernavaca [top of page] Agreed Upon a General Plan and Itinerary Aug 2002 Guadalajara because it is a larger city with more cultural things to do and see. I am reviewing this in 2004 after studying Spanish in several countries. My reasons for choosing Guadalajara over Antigua Guatemala were not valid. Both are enriching and have wonderful schools. [top of page] Committed Money Aug 2002 Same time we committed to travel in Latin America for January-March 2003. [top of page] Purchases May 2002 Penton Overseas Inc. - Spanish CDs Started an Itemized Check Off List. Aug 2002 [top of page] Agree on a More Detailed Working Plan Sep 2002 Get to Guadalajara and find a school when we arrived Immunization Aug 2002 none required [top of page] [top of page] Departure Sep 2002 Walked to the Corner Bus Stop [top of page] Cheryl Gelder Baggage & Other Equipment[top of page] Pack Outdoor Pack with hip strap - about 3000cu in. We try to keep our loaded pack weight down to 20lbs each. We also brought Spanish books and juggling balls [top of page] Equipment nothing special [top of page] My Clothes (all very light weight and sold color) Standard Travel 2 sleeveless tops 2 long sleeve tops 2 pair Travelsmith Not Quite Tights 3 sets under clothes 1 pair walking shoes 1 black button shirt for a more dressed up look and for warmth, just in case 1 nylon shorts 1 rain/wind jacket 1 REI black pile vest 1 pair long underwear tops and bottoms 1 balaclava Particular for This Travel Wrap skirt 1 Gortex rain jacket for hiking in the rain/cloud forests [top of page] Toiletries small towel toothbrush/paste antibacterial dish soap for hands, body and hair disposable contact lenses eye drops electric razor (chuck) ibuprophen comb toenail clippers small scissors #45 sun block vitamins panty liners (cheryl) [top of page] Money, Identification and other papers passport drivers license immunization record visa atm card travelers cheques U.S. cash phone numbers Lonely Planet Central America for reference Maps and Guides & Resources AAA map of Central America for study Lonely Planet Guide of Central America National Geographic Adventure - Oct 2002. Has a wonderful article about traveling independently in Latin America. We had already made our plan when it was published, but it was reassuring to see their recommendation was similar to our plans. [top of page] What Did We Not Pack That Needed to Be Purchased Sun visor cap malaria tablets street/shower sandals [top of page] |
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