As far as laughing off getting done in four months. I didn't do it quite that quick, but it took me only five months to go from 0 TT to CPL IR ME at Ari Ben back in 1997 when they were still in Dallas. Granted I had a very devoted instructor who pushed me to my limit, and I was willing to learn.
I have no clue how things are 12 years later, but at that time there were worse places to go to. Not perfect, but not horrible.
I'm sure you guys are chucking along in the same old BE76's as we did back then
.