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mexigrl

Jul 6, 2003, 12:26 PM

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San Miguel and Instituto de Allende?

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Hola,

Does anyone here have experience with the Instituto de Allende? After narrowing down my living choices I am now down to Guad/Lk Chapala and San Miguel. I think San Miguel would be a better location for me as far as proximity to DF. I am interested in taking photography and Spanish lessons and wondered if you have any first hand thoughts?

Also, it seems that real estate rentals are pretty high in SMA, is that the case or is it only because I am searching the internet? I am looking for a rental from Nov/Dec through April.

Thanks!

Mexigrl

pathall

Jul 6, 2003, 2:46 PM

Post #2 of 4 (1140 views)

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Re: [mexigrl] San Miguel and Instituto de Allende?

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The Instituto has a great repution for teaching Spanish and fine arts. There is also the Universidad del Valle de Mexico and the Academia for Spanish,as well as the Hardy School of Spanish.

Rentals are always more expensive over the Internet. The first time we went to SMA we rented a casita over the Internet for $650 US a month and that was the most expensive place we have ever stayed in SMA. We have rented every winter in SMA and have found great places anywhere from $350 to $450 US a month. It's best to look in the local paper, Atención, for rentals. Stay for the first couple of nights in a hotel, get the newspaper and start looking for a good place. Besides the Newspaper there are rental ads around the city, at the Instituto, in stores, etc.

raferguson

Jul 6, 2003, 9:34 PM

Post #3 of 4 (1116 views)

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Re: [mexigrl] San Miguel and Instituto de Allende?

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The website has an article that I wrote about the Instituto. I enjoyed my class. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

http://www.mexconnected.com/...son/rfsanmiguel.html

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

D.G.

Jul 7, 2003, 9:13 AM

Post #4 of 4 (1100 views)

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Re: [mexigrl] San Miguel and Instituto de Allende?

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My daughter was interested in pursuing a degree in photography at Instituto Allende, and investigated the program to learn that a student's permitted working time was very limited in the photo lab itself. She had had some photography work as an undergraduate, and felt that the time limitation would really work against her achieving mastery. She used to spend hours in the lab, nights, weekends, etc. in her undergraduate work.

Also, have you seen the lab itself? If not, you may be surprised to learn that it is very rudimentary, teaching the processing of only black and white photos. She also needed to learn digital and color photography, and that was not offered either.

If you are serious about photography, versus an interested amateur, I suggest you check it out first hand--in all other respects she liked the school, it just wasn't up to the standards that currently exist in professional schools offering degrees in photography.