Nuestra alumna Regina Oviedo de la Lic. en Comunicación, ganadora de una Beca Uni para realizar su estancia internacional en la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid. España, nos cuenta su experiencia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Sí, fue una de las principales razones por las cual decidí quedarme después del Bachilerato en la Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Sí, puesto que era una de mis metas a corto plazo.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, lo más cercano había sido un verano de voluntariado en Alemania.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Al principio, era una meta que me planteé por el siemple hecho de saber que era posible. Después de la experiencia de Manos Por El Mundo, me di cuenta que fue un parteaguas en mi vida personal y estudiantil, entonces quería poder aprovehcar una experiencia de largo periodo, superarme, aprender a ser independiente en un país extraño y llenarme de diferentes culturas y experiencias a través de las personas para poder tener una formación profesional íntegra en un mundo laboral tan globalizado como el mundo actual.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
La Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, me llamaba mucho la atención por su plan de estudios para mi licenciatura, pero especialmente porque en Alemania conocí muchas personas que son queridas para mí hasta la fecha de diferentes partes de Europa, entonces me interesaba más explorar el continente Europeo. Además de que tengo interés de poder trabajar en algun país de la Unión Europea en el área de la curaduría en museos.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
No sé si le hago justicia a ese puñado de sensaciones con mis palabras, pero emoción y altas expectativas.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
La UFV tiene varias actividades de integración para estudiantes de Erasmus e Internacional, como viajes y el Buddy Program, siempre me sentí cuidada por los profesores, algunos alumnos son más sociales con los estudiantes de intercambio, otros no tanto.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
De México, mi familia, el Sol y la comida, de la Uni, probablemente pasar tiempo con mis amigos.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Lo más emocionante ha sido conocer a tanta gente de contextos, nacionalidades y culturas tan distintas y tomar clases de Comunicación enfocado a las Bellas Artes.
And the hardest part?
Pasar la pandemia mundial del COVID-19 durante mi intercambio.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
He logrado abrir mi mente a nuevos campos laborales, he hecho networking con profesores que trabajan ya en estos campos, independizarme y hacerme más responsable de mí, conocer un sistema educativo completamente diferente y manejar mis tiempos.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Paulina Ruiz, our student of the Bachelor's Degree in International Commerce, made an international stay at the University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. Thanks to her effort and dedication as winner of a Uni.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I was already aware of these exchange programs.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No, I didn't really plan to study abroad, I thought it would be a bit complicated.
Have you already lived or studied outside of Mexico?What motivated you to study in another country?
No, I had only had short stays in another place, but what attracted me the most to study in another country was to know and live that experience.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I liked Spain because I had never traveled to that country before and I was very interested in going to a completely different place in terms of timetables, culture, etc.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
At first I was a little afraid of traveling alone, not knowing what it would be like, but then it turned into excitement.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Super nice, the truth is that they were very nice and welcoming to us. I would gladly come back.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
My family, the food, and my friends.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Arriving at that university where we knew completely nothing about how to work was more of a challenge than anything else.
And the hardest part?
With all this contingency that happened, the hardest thing was having to come back early and not being able to fulfill all the plans I had, although classes continued online.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
To acquire as much knowledge as possible, to grow and mature as a person, to be more independent, since this experience is based on that more than anything else, all the decisions I make will be for me and for my wellbeing.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, absolutely, everyone who is presented with the opportunity should not miss it.
Our student Jazmín Medina from the Bachelor's Degree in International Trade, won a Uni Scholarship and had the opportunity to make an international stay at the University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, as soon as I entered I knew about these programs, and the Uni sends you the announcements so that you are aware of them.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Yes, in fact, that was one of the reasons I chose my career. Besides that, studying abroad was one of my college goals and I am glad to know that I achieved it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, this was my first experience living and studying abroad.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The experience and the great knowledge that you get from being in another country, because learning about new cultures would enrich me as a person to be more open-minded, and to know that there is more world out there for me not to conform. But the most important thing is to accomplish my goal that I had already set for myself and show me that whoever wants to can do it.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because I wanted to get to know the customs of Spain, as well as take advantage of the opportunity to travel around Europe.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Nerves and excitement, because it was my first trip all alone and I got lost haha but I learned not to worry because you will always meet good people who helped me.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Very well, they let me know that I could count on their support if it was ever offered to me.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
To my family, boyfriend, friends and food. Without a doubt, there is no other food like the food in Mexico. And from Uni I missed my teachers and facilities, because if I have a problem I know where to go and who to go to.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Getting to know new places and seeing how cultures can be so alike and so different at the same time.
And the hardest part?
That I had to return in the middle of my exchange because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a doubt, I do not recommend anyone to spend the fortieth away from their loved ones.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Personally, to grow, mature and be independent, because I will make decisions on my own and I know that this will help me to be a better person in all areas, and as a professional to know the types of business that exist in different countries of the world and interact with international specialists and professionals will help me to be prepared when I practice in everyday life.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, to all those who have the opportunity to live this experience abroad, do it and do not think twice.
Our student Glaf Jiménez of the Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Audiovisual Media, was the winner of a Uni semester scholarship to carry out her international stay at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs? Yes, that was one of the main factors that influenced my decision to study at Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I thought I would do well, but I never imagined I would be able to study abroad. I saw it as a distant dream.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, this was my first time.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was driven to learn about another culture, to broaden my knowledge and to test myself. My family was my biggest motivation.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I thought it was an interesting country and the school had an excellent academic plan.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was excited and a little scared to get out of my comfort zone.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived? The reception was very nice, they were attentive to us at all times.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed the food from Mexico and from UNI I missed the system they use to evaluate us.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? The most exciting thing was to get to know and explore a city I didn't know. Not being afraid to ask questions.
And the hardest part?
The hardest part was being separated from my family and friends.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I hope to continue expanding my knowledge and I want to continue adding achievements.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, I recommend them 100% and I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Our student Loida Montes of the Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Audiovisual Media, thanks to the Uni Scholarships, had the opportunity to carry out an international stay at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in fact this opportunity was one of the reasons why I chose the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was one of my goals, but I didn't know whether or not I could actually get the scholarship.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, in 2017 I spent five months in the United States.
Whaté what prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The openness and knowledge that I could acquire during my stay such as a new language and new ways of learning.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because all my friends who had been here before had told me wonderful things about their stay in Brazil and how great PUCRS University was and they were definitely not wrong.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was happy but at the same time a little anxious to know what the semester would be like, a new adaptation, new friendships, challenges and classes in another language that although it is very similar to Spanish, it is not the same.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Wonderful, I could not choose a better place to study and although because of the COVID we had to take the classes online, everyone at the University was very nice to us and organized many activities for our integration with all foreign students from many countries around the world, they gave us a tour of the city completely free, organized welcome cocktails and a lot of things that I could not write them all.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Definitely my family and the food. As for UNI, I think what I miss the most is being able to attend all the activities it provides and use the gym for free since at PUCRS they charge for it separately.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Just after we arrived, my university friend from PUCRS got free tickets for all exchange students to attend the classic Inter vs Gremio game and to visit a world cup stadium with more than 50 kids of all nationalities, it was one of the most incredible things I could experience here.
And the hardest part?
Everything derived from COVID. Everything was going great, I was taking my normal classes and we had only been there for a week when they told us that the classes would be suspended in person and that they would be taken online until further notice. The truth is that first they said it would only be until April 12 but to date we have not returned and most likely we will not do it, in a way I feel that I did not take advantage of it as it should be because of this whole situation but I do not believe in coincidences and if I am here is for something ... in fact, I have dedicated myself to document everything we have lived the exchange students during this quarantine and I hope to make it a good project in the future.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I came back with new knowledge, above all I had the opportunity to learn a new language.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, of course, even in spite of COVID, it is an experience I would not have changed and would do again if we could turn back time.
