Living in Mexico: Study in Mexico and Do a Home Stay!

When my wife and I first came to Guanajuato, we did a Study Vacation and stayed with a Mexican family. Our experience was wonderful. It went off without a hitch. We were the same age as our host couple and, therefore, had a lot in common. We are friends with them to this day.

Not all who pick a Home Stay option when they come to study in Mexico have such a good experience. I've heard stories of dirty accommodations, lousy food, no one picked them up at the airport as promised, loud music played by the teenaged children, or being kept all night by the infants in the family. I hear these stories most often from older adults rather than the college-age kids who come to the private schools.

The problem is that most of the participants of these private Spanish schools seem to be within the narrow age group of 20-30 years old. They seem far more adaptable to the "backpacker's accommodations" than do those in the middle years or older. I heard one story in which the lady came expecting plush and posh accommodations and was instead put into a home in which frankly, a kid would have been more comfortable. This, at times, is unavoidable. What is available is what you get or else you are on you own.

Many of the schools will try to find you something else, another home, if you are not enjoying your first home stay assignment. But, sometimes there is just nothing else available at certain times of the year. Though understandable, the person is still fuming because he can't sleep, the food is substandard, and he wants something better.

The Mexican woman who hosted us was a professional cook, so we were privileged. We ate like royalty. The husband was a lawyer and had means. Therefore, the home in which we stayed was very posh compared with other host family accommodations.

The homestay is such a good, all around idea.

Usually, all meals are provided. You have the security of staying with a family that is supposed to take care of you. You can get in-house help with your Spanish homework. The families are supposed to be adaptable enough that you can tell them you are taking a side trip for the day so they won't have to cook for you. You can call them if you find yourself in a jam since they are in the town and can help you get out of trouble. That's how it worked for us. Unfortunately, not everyone's experience will be the same.

Most schools, as I said, will find you alternative accommodations if the one originally assigned doesn't work out. However, be prepared to face the fact this isn't always possible.

Another plus in home stays is that you can see how a Mexican family functions on a daily basis. We thought our experience corrected a lot of false images we had of Mexicans. To this day, we are friends with our host family. I would not have traded the experience for anything.

Compared with spending two weeks or more in a hotel, the home stay is the cheaper option.

We recommend the following schools. We do so since we know the directors and most of the instructors. The teaching styles and curricula vary from school to school. However, these three seem the most flexible in finding decent accommodations for those who desire home stays and in switching you around when and if you are dissatisfied:

Recommendations:

Don Quijote

In-Country Spanish Courses

Guanajuato, Gto

The Instituto Miguel de Cervantes

Guanajuato, Gto

Escuela Mexicana

Guanajuato, Gto