Overview

Eligibility

Living and Learning

Dates, Deadlines and Fees

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High School Abroad in Mexico:  Living and Learning

Host Families:
All Pan Atlantic Foundation host families are carefully selected, and students are placed in Merida and surrounding towns.

Your host family will be an important part of your exchange.  You’ll take meals together, participate in lively conversations and social activities.  They’ll want to interact and engage in your experience and will open their home to you because they are interested in learning more about your culture.  On the weekends, students may go to sports activities, spend time with friends or enjoy live music in the town square.  The best way to learn about a new culture and language is to be fully immersed in it and what better way than to jump right in with your family!
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Pan Atlantic Foundation will connect you with your host family prior to departing the U.S. so you’ll have a chance to “meet” before arriving in your new host country.

​Daily Life:
During the week you’ll attend either a public or private high school but on the weekends markets, cultural activities and festivals are a part of life in the Yucatan area.  In some towns, they close the main road off to traffic on Sundays for ‘Family Bike Day’, a day when families are encouraged to get out and ride their bikes together.   When you’re not spending time with your friends or host family, you can get together to play soccer, one of the most popular sports in Mexico.  There is also time for shopping, visiting art galleries or enjoying restaurants in the neighborhood.

School life in Mexico:
Schools in Mexico could be a little different from the High School you attend at home.  For example, most Mexico High Schools have grades 10 through 12.  Students usually take 5 or 6 classes a day and with two short breaks mid-morning and afternoon.  You could have the opportunity to study Mexican history, Spanish literature or Mexican law if you’re interested.  Schools usually don’t offer many clubs, but sports as well as theatre and music may be available.
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You will have plenty of opportunity to practice your Spanish on a daily basis!