Author: Sophia Anreder | Major: Biological Science | Semester: Summer 2025

The Teotihuacan Pyramids

This summer I studied abroad in Puebla, Mexico as a part of the “U of A Faculty-Led: Spanish Immersion and Service Learning” program. This program is distinctive from other programs in that it offered a rigorous yet enriching array of opportunities to engage in Mexican culture that are highly applicable to my goal of becoming a more confident Spanish speaker and culturally competent physician in Arkansas. This is especially relevant in Arkansas since a significant portion of the state’s population speaks Spanish as a first language and are of Mexican descent. I chose this program since it was an amazing opportunity for me to improve my proficiency in Spanish and connect with new people within a healthcare setting abroad, especially since I had not traveled to a Spanish-speaking country before.

While in Puebla, I was able to learn about the healthcare system in Mexico both in the classroom at UPAEP and in several hospitals as I shadowed physicians and residents during my rotations. My classes were taught by wonderful doctors and professors that covered topics ranging from health insurance to health care disparities, especially those experienced by women. Additionally, I was able to observe physicians in several different hospitals and even got to see several surgical procedures which were particularly interesting, including a total hysterectomy. Throughout my rotations in the hospitals, I especially enjoyed chatting with the resident doctors as they were only a few years older than me and other members of the study abroad program. They were very encouraging to talk with and gave us further through sharing their experiences in healthcare in Mexico. We also chatted about pop culture from our respective countries, and they gave us great recommendations on restaurants, museums, and other places to get to know the city.

One of the most surprisingly memorable aspects of my time in Mexico was my experience in my homestay placement. I had an amazing house mom named Teresa, a warm and lovely woman who I had the pleasure of staying with. She made the best meals including my favorite, cochinita pibil. This is a traditional Mexican dish from the Yucatan peninsula that consists of marinated pork meat on a tortilla served with pickled onions and mango habanero salsa. Each morning, I also indulged in fresh mangos of unbelievable quality and each night I enjoyed fresh guacamole made from the avocado tree in Teresa’s front yard. While I thoroughly appreciated the food I had during my stay with Teresa, I will miss my conversations with her the most. We discussed everything together from each other’s families to politics to interpersonal relationships.
Ultimately, I chose the “U of A Faculty-Led: Spanish Immersion and Service Learning” program in Puebla, Mexico to develop the skills needed to improve patient outcomes, build trust, and enhance communication, empowering me to work with our diverse communities of Arkansas and to provide the care each patient deserves. I cannot recommend this program enough as I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it from weekend excursions to Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Cuetzalan to getting birria tacos with my classmates after class.