Primary Care and Rural Medicine
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Excursions & Activities
- Get to Know Your Destination
- Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
- Student Experience
Accommodations
You will be housed in a homestay with a local family. Homestay families live in middle class neighborhoods in close proximity to one another in the center of town. There are many shops, restaurants and cafes in the area. There will be two to three students per homestay (own room), depending on number of students at program site. Homestays provide a unique opportunity to learn about local culture and practice Spanish skills on a daily basis in an informal setting.
UC Davis reserves the right to change the accommodation location. Should this be necessary, we will arrange alternative lodging. Please note that elevators, air conditioners and other modern conveniences may not be available in all locations.
Meals
Two meals a day are included in the program: breakfast and a late lunch (2 PM).
Excursions & Activities
Short excursions and day trips are included during orientation week.
Orientation Week Sample Schedule
- 15 hours of Spanish classes
- Walking tour of La Paz
- Welcome dinner and cultural show in La Paz and Tarija
- City tour of Tarija and site visit of main clinical sites Lecture about Bolivian culture and history, including overview of Tarija’s unique cultural identity
- Full day tour of wine region, including lunch at regional winery
Get to Know Your Destination
This program is based in Tarija, a modern city in southern Bolivia known for its wineries, pleasant climate, and relaxed atmosphere. Residents identify more with the State of Tarija itself than the rest of Bolivia. Tarijeños have their own unique customs and way of life, influenced by Spanish and various indigenous cultures.
Tarija offers universal health insurance, which can create high demand for services and strains on the system due to lack of personnel and equipment. You will seek to understand cultural and socioeconomic barriers patients face in accessing healthcare services and witness treatments for pathologies not commonly seen in North America, including parasitosis, tuberculosis, and Chagas.
Tarija has some interesting colonial architecture and grows on those who stay a while to enjoy the pleasantly mild climate and take in the chilled atmosphere; the little city is as laid-back as they get, with palm-lined squares, sizzling Argentine barbecues, sprawling bar and cafe terraces, and tight streets with narrow pavements.
Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
Participation in this UC Davis Study Abroad program requires travel to and extended living in a foreign location(s) abroad. UC Davis Study Abroad endeavors to reduce and mitigate risk wherever possible. However, the environments and risks associated with living in these locations are substantially different than those found during a regular course of study at UC Davis. All participants must download and review the following information prior to departure. Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator.
Student Experience
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