UDLA

So I thought I would include some pictures of the university (UDLA- Universidad de Las Americas) since this is where I spend most of my week. The University has about 6,000 students with a large international program. Above is a picture of the library.

This is one of the academic buildings. I have quickly discovered that UDLA is one of the most respected universities in Latin America. Students who study here are required to pass an English proficiency exam, and often go on to study a third language, such as French, German, Russian, or Portuguese. Many of the students come from very wealthy families. On the campus, there is even a helicopter pad where a few students arrive from Veracruz!

The campus is definately an oasis of sorts. The university is gated with 24 hour security, lanscaped, and even has automatic flush toilets! It provides a very interesting contrast to the Mexico outside the university gates, and best demonstrates the extremes of Mexico's economy. This is a picture of the humanities building, where a couple of my classes meet.

The campus really is just as beautiful as the pictures on the website! There are several gardens throughout the campus, and a few random peacocks. This is the lake outside of the student center. It is really nice, but the ducks are quite obnoxious!

This is one of the residence halls, Ray-Lindley. The dorms are all apartment style, but the visitation rules are stricter than Belmont's!

UDLA has provided these bikes for students to use to ride across campus. They are painted bright yellow, and a few have these really silly flags sticking up in the back! They make me laugh.

The gymnasium with a view of the volcano in the background.