Elena Cano of Industrial Administrative Engineering obtained an international scholarship to study at the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I was already aware because I knew people who had gone on exchange with UNI and we received a lot of support to make this possible.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I did believe that I was going to study and live abroad for the most part, which is why I decided to study at the University of Celaya.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, I had never lived or studied outside of Mexico.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The great opportunities you can get by having a semester studied abroad on your resume, as well as speaking an extra language.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I decided to study in Brazil because it is one of the strongest countries in engineering and because PUCRS University is one of the best.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was excited about all the new things I was going to experience studying here.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was received in the best possible way, they were always very attentive and were at my disposal in case I had a question or something they could help me with.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I miss most about Mexico is the food, I miss our seasoning. Here in Brazil the food is not spicy at all and it's always the same, so it becomes very repetitive and you get tired of it.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing I have experienced is the university experience because it is very different from what I know in Mexico, the teachers are perfectly prepared and the educational system is very good.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing is to adapt to a new place with a new culture and a different language.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I hope to continue using everything I learned this semester to keep growing and reach my goals.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
I highly recommend these experiences, but I also recommend preparing yourself beforehand, being very well informed about what is involved in going to live abroad for a semester.
Luz Sofía Mares from Architecture obtained an international scholarship to study at the Universidad Mayor in Chile.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I knew that the Uni had several programs to study abroad.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was something I wanted to do at least once, I had already set my mind to it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, I once received a scholarship to study English in Canada.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was always interested in learning about other cultures, ways of thinking and living, I wanted to know what is beyond what I usually know. How are the classes, the schools, the teachers and the student community.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I had been told that I had a very good academic level and also with respect to the career of Architecture and I have verified it.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first I was afraid to be alone and start everything new because I didn't know anyone or anything, but then I became curious to experiment and live together more.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was given an induction day where I met the student community, the school and also other exchange students. That's how I started to get to know those who are now my friends.
What do you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed the food, the warmth of the Mexican people, the cordiality and friendliness of the people and the patriotic events. From Uni I missed the attention they pay to their students, that any process is solved quickly and that I can express doubts without having to go several times. And of course, my teachers. Also the discipline and punctuality.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Living alone, proving to me that I am able to adapt very well to new experiences, to start from scratch in terms of my routine, my lifestyle, social relationships and school. It helped me grow in all aspects.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing would be the same as I said before, school has its degree of difficulty, but it was the least of my problems, really adapting and starting from scratch was the most difficult and exciting at the same time because I was exposed to continuous changes and nothing was established, that is to say; every situation that was presented to me I had never lived before, so I had to know how to face it at the moment.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
This stay helped me to think beyond, I changed my way of thinking in every aspect of my life, I started the change in what I would like to become and know that after this I can be prepared to take important steps such as working and finishing school, losing the fear to try whatever I propose.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, it is a very enriching experience and it changes you as a person; therefore, as a student and a professional.
Eréndira Velázquez of Mechatronics Engineering obtained the Uni scholarship to study for a semester in Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, when I went to ask for information I was told about the opportunities to do a semester abroad and that was one of the reasons why I decided to study at the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Since I was a little girl it was one of my dreams and since I started it was a motivation to strive and be one of the lucky ones to have the scholarship, so when I got the news I was thrilled!
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, it was my first time and being in a country I was really looking forward to visiting made it very special.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Mainly to get to know different cultures, the people, their gastronomy, to be able to broaden my personal horizons, to take advantage of the opportunity to be a better person and to increase my self-confidence.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
It was a country that called my attention since I was 15 years old and when I saw the call I did not hesitate for a minute to choose Colombia.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first I did not believe it, I had mixed feelings, I felt nervous and at the same time very happy but mainly proud to be in that country, with an open mind and with very high expectations.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was received very well, with open arms, the teachers and classmates were very attentive to me and made me feel at home.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I miss most about Mexico is my family, the food and the spicy food. What I miss most about UNI is being able to be an on-site mentor in the STEM program and having the opportunity to share my knowledge with the girls.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Every day is exciting, because you have different experiences every day, but the most exciting thing is the group of friends I made from different countries, because with them I have had very good experiences and two great Colombian friends because every time we see each other we learn new things about our countries.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing is to adapt to the change of currency because they use larger figures than I am used to and the terms that are usually used on a daily basis.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To be able to apply the knowledge acquired in my internship, to use their teamwork methods, the tools they use for deliverables and to be able to add in my resume that I did a semester abroad. Also, to have my skills better developed.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, it is an incredible experience because you meet people from different countries and it helps you grow as a person and professionally, so if you have the opportunity, take advantage of it to the fullest. Thanks for your support!
Marco Alberto Zapata Solís, Industrial Engineering, made his stay at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, thanks to the international scholarship program Uni. Porto Alegre, Brazil, thanks to the international scholarship program Uni.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Learning new languages, cultures and meeting people from different countries.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Brazil is a country that I have always liked, so having a new opportunity to visit a country that I love and being able to live for a few months and learn more about the culture was what motivated me to come to Brazil.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
A little uncertain about the language, but at the same time I was excited.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
It was amazing, very attentive and always friendly and willing to help us with anything.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
To my friends and teachers.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The joy that people have, the impetus they get from meeting new people and especially foreigners.
And the hardest part?
Learning the language took me a short time, I started speaking well in less than a month, but learning a new language from scratch when I was already living in this country was a bit difficult at first.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
As a person, to enjoy the experiences I lived here, to remember the friendships I made in this international experience and as a professional, to continue learning everything within my reach and also to continue practicing the language because it is something I would like to continue improving, to learn different languages to help me in my professional training.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course I did! I thank all the people who supported me to be able to live this great international experience PUCRS - UNI!
Lisette Dianee studies Global Business and was awarded the international scholarship to study at the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in fact, it was one of the many reasons why I entered the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Being positive, I thought that someday I would make it; however, in the blink of an eye it happened.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, but for a very short time, being a whole semester in another country and alone is a completely different experience that I really enjoyed.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was motivated to become more aware of my abilities to both adapt in a completely different environment, as well as communicate and work with different people.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Something very important about Portugal is that it has one of the main ports in Europe and because of my career I was interested in learning about trade and logistics, as well as cultural and economic exchange.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt a little scared and desperate because at first I couldn't communicate very well with people, but little by little I got used to it.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I was very well received, they were always accompanying us along the way.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
My family, friends, the ease of communicating with professors and of course the food.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Every day that I live here for me is exciting, however, I consider that traveling and getting to know this country better has been a great experience.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing was adapting to the language, although it is similar to Spanish there are things that are not understood because of the fluency with which they speak it, and also adapting to a new work method.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To learn a new language, to trust in myself, the abilities I have, to expand my vision of the world, to experience and enjoy new ways of life, as well as to travel and get to know different places.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, these opportunities are worth gold, they help you grow both professionally and personally, they open up your panorama and change the perspective you have on different topics. Thanks to everyone who supported me in achieving this dream!
