Our student Nelly
Melissa Carmona from the Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Audiovisual Media, shares with us her experience
shares with us the experience of her international stay at the Pontificia
Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
there were international programs?
Yes, I had the knowledge of
that.
When you entered your career did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
you would go to live and study abroad?
I hoped to do so even though I didn't know if I would make it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside
Mexico?
Yes, I had participated in an international
international volunteering in the city of Bröllin, Germany for a month thanks to the
thanks to the Manos por el Mundo scholarship from EDUCAFIN.
What motivated you to study in another country?
to study in another country?
To experience a different culture,
gain new knowledge in the area I develop, see how communication was in other countries and be more independent.
communication in other countries and be more independent.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
country?
I chose Brazil
mainly because of the challenge of learning a new language, besides the fact that in Mexico, they don't talk much about it
I was interested in learning about their culture and way of life.
way of life. I also chose Brazil because of the University, since PUCRS is one of the best in the area I was in, which was the Faculty of
in the area that I was in, which was the Faculty of Communication and Art.
What did you feel when you arrived in the
new country?
Excitement and a bit of nerves because at the beginning I did not know the language, nor did I know the city.
I didn't know the language or the city, but as time went by I started to get used to it and
I started to get used to it and I really enjoyed Porto Alegre and the friends I made.
friends I made.
How have you been received at the
university where you arrived?
The Mobility team received me very well.
They always supported us with all the doubts we had, and in the procedures we had to do, they assigned us a "university friend" who is a "university friend".
and they assigned us a "university friend" who is a student of the university who is advising us
student of the university who is advising us on whatever we need.
the teachers were always willing to solve any doubts I had and my classmates, when we worked as a team, were always attentive.
and my classmates when we worked as a team were always attentive.
What will you miss most about
Mexico?
What I sincerely missed the most was
food, and my family and friends.
And now that I'm back what I will miss most
I will miss most about Brazil is the friends I made there, always challenging myself trying to pronounce words in
to pronounce words in Portuguese and going out to meet people.
What about the Uni?
I will miss very much
the PUCRS facilities as they are very good, my teachers and my faculty "FAMECOS" in general.
What is the most exciting thing you have
experience so far?
Meeting people from all over the world
and live with them day by day, as well as practicing several languages, and that Brazil is totally different
Brazil is totally different in that it is more open-minded than Mexico, which I liked
I liked it, although it had its exceptions like everything else.
And the hardest part?
Living in a country that speaks another
language, and adapting to the schedules there (both meals and going to school at night).
going to school at night)
What do you expect as a person and as a
professional from this program?
Applying the knowledge acquired in this exchange
I have matured as a person, become more responsible, work and study hard to return to Brazil one day
study hard to return someday to Brazil and to visit the friends I made in the world.
in the world.
These opportunities provided by the Uni
do you recommend them to your colleagues?
I recommend them
100%, it is a unique opportunity and an unforgettable experience that you will not regret.
you will not regret.
Nuestro alumno Anibal
Omar Villanueva de Ingenieria Industrial Administrativa, nos comparte la
experiencia que está viviendo en su estancia en la Pontificia Universidad
Catolica Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Brasil.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Si, fue una de las razones que influyeron para
entrar a la UNI.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Estaba en mis planes desde que entré, así que hacia
lo posible para tomar alguna oportunidad de beca y poder conseguirlo.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, never.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Conocer
otra cultura otro idioma y vivir la experiencia que te da grandes conocimientos
académicos y también de crecimiento personal.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Principalmente porque era otro idioma y otra
cultura completamente diferente, es un país conocido por su gran extensión
territorial y por sus increíbles lugares de naturaleza.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Mucha emoción y nervios por saber cómo serían estos 6 meses de nuevas experiencias.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
De una manera muy agradable y muy hospitalaria, todas las personas muy amables para ayudar en cualquier duda que tuviera o dificultad en cuestión del idioma.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
Indudablemente la comida y mi familia. La comida es muy diferente en Brasil que en México así que, si fue un cambio muy radical, mi familia, aunque la comunicación era siempre por mensaje y por video llamada cuando podíamos, siempre tenia muchas ganas de verlos.
What about the Uni?
La comida y mis amigos.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Conocer otra cultura, hacer muchos amigos de otros países e incluso de México, viajar dentro de Brasil y a otros países.
And the hardest part?
El idioma y acostumbrarme a la comida.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
Que esta experiencia me sirva para mi
desarrollo tanto personal como profesional, el idioma me sirva en un futuro.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Totalmente, es algo que recomendaría mucho vivir,
es muy emocionante y que te llena de nuevas experiencias.
Nuestro alumno Andrés Hernández de la Licenciatura en Comunicación y Medios Audiovisuales, nos comparte la experiencia de su estancia en Guangdong University South China Business College of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China.
¿Cuándo entraste a la Uni sabías que
había programas internacionales?
De
hecho, decidí continuar mis estudios de Prepa UNI hasta la licenciatura en
Comunicación y Medios Audiovisuales, precisamente porque la Universidad de
Celaya tiene vínculos con Universidades en el extranjero que permiten al alumno
tener un desarrollo de impacto global añadiendo experiencias con calidad en
cualquier parte del mundo.
Cuando
entraste a tu carrera ¿Creíste que te irías a vivir y estudiar en el
extranjero?
Al inicio fue difícil, mis
planes familiares y personales iban por otro rumbo, pero gracias al ímpetu que
ofrece el Departamento de Internacionalización, mi estancia en China ha sido mi
tercera experiencia internacional y estoy agradecido con las oportunidades que
ofrece nuestra institución.
Have you ever lived or studied outside
Mexico?
Gracias
a los convenios que tiene la Universidad con el Gobierno del Estado, he podido
realizar un voluntariado social en Soliéres, Bélgica al ser ganador de la
Primer Generación de la Beca Manos por el Mundo en 2017, para éste 2019 logré
conseguir la beca denominada “DC Internships” para realizar prácticas
profesionales y un seminario de políticas públicas y desarrollo profesional en
Washington DC, en la capital de los Estados Unidos de marzo a junio del
presente año, para así terminar mis estudios en mi último semestre ahora en
Guangzhou, China.
What motivated you to study in another country?
to study in another country?
Creo
firmemente que las capacidades y habilidades que poseemos como seres
profesionales nos marcan, así que las experiencias internacionales siempre son
de gran apoyo para tu desarrollo personal y profesional, así que yo
recomendaría a todo joven universitario que aunque sienta que no tiene
posibilidades para salir al extranjero, yo digo que sí se puede, que a pesar de
notar ciertas dificultades, nunca se rindan, que los sueños siempre se pueden
alcanzar si luchas por ellos.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
country?
Conocí
a muchos amigos de China a lo largo de mi carrera, cada año llegaban nuevas
personas con una actitud muy amable, cariñosos, sinceros y siempre motivándote
a conocer su país, razones que tuve que tomar en cuenta para así también
aprender un idioma más añadiendo la experiencia de vivir una cultura diferente
y desarrollarme en una de las potencias mundiales con características
peculiares y un desarrollo tecnológico y económico de impacto.
What did you feel when you arrived in the
new country?
A
decir verdad me sentía nervioso, porque en China específicamente en el centro
de la ciudad o alrededores de la Universidad, no hablan inglés, entonces al
inicio era difícil ya que no veníamos con un nivel de mandarín avanzado, pero
poco a poco con los estudios, realmente puedes aprender cosas básicas para
llevar una vida tranquila en China, pero el idioma poco a poco fue quedando de
lado como una barrera para desenvolverte en cualquier ámbito.
¿Cómo te han recibido en la universidad
a la que llegaste?
La
amabilidad que ofrecen los docentes, las personas encargadas de las oficinas de
la Universidad, siempre están al pendiente de tus actividades, si tienes un
viaje te mandan recomendaciones, velan por tu seguridad, están al pendiente de
lo que hagas o no hagas, pero siempre con la atención necesaria, a parte, con
nuestras amistades que hicimos en México con Chinos, nos ayudaron bastante al
inicio para adaptarnos al sistema y también con nuevas amistades en China.
¿Qué es lo que más extrañarás de
México?
De
México por supuesto extraño a mi familia, han sido el pilar fundamental de
motivación para poder desarrollarme personal y profesionalmente con
experiencias en el extranjero y experiencias a nivel nacional.
La
comida se extraña al inicio, obviamente como buenos mexicanos, los tacos no
tienen punto de comparación, pero también hemos tenido experiencias con eventos
en la Embajada en Guangzhou, que nos han removido nuestros sentidos para
revivir antojitos de nuestro país.
What about the Uni?
Dejé
amistades de China en México que me hubiera gustado o que ellos pudieran
ayudarme a conocer un poco más de la cultura China o yo poder apoyarlos en lo
que necesitaran durante su estancia en México, pero creo que es una razón
importante por la cual extraño a la Uni, aparte de cómo fue mi último semestre
de la licenciatura, no poder estar con mis compañeros en la ceremonia de
graduación fue difícil pero ha valido totalmente la pena esta experiencia.
What is the most exciting thing you have
experience so far?
Uno
de los regalos más importantes ha sido la amistad que he formado con mis
compañeros mexicanos, pero así mismo las amistades internacionales son muy
interesantes, convivimos con una francesa que prácticamente la adoptamos como
mexicana, también rusos, coreanos y obviamente las amistades chinas que siempre
nos han tendido la mano en cualquier circunstancia.
Prácticamente
iba a ser difícil mi traslado a Beijing, pero existen los milagros y pudimos
visitar la Gran Muralla China donde recorrimos de lado a lado, una vista
inmemorable y ver por primera vez en mi vida nieve ha sido lo más maravilloso
que he podido ver durante mi estancia en China.
Aparte
pude quedar en segundo lugar en un concurso de oratoria en Chino – Mandarín,
primer lugar en el concurso de popularidad en el mismo y sentí un apoyo moral
por parte de mis amistades chinas como nunca en la vida, agradecido totalmente
con cada uno de ellos por atenciones y apoyo.
And the hardest part?
Al
inicio adaptarte a la tecnología y ritmo de vida fue lo más difícil, tienes qué
usar una aplicación para poder hacer pagos en cualquier parte de China, el
dinero en efectivo por lo regular no se usa y es más fácil y cómodo usar Alipay
o WeChat Pay para realizar cualquier tipo de compra, también fue difícil
adaptarte a los horarios de alimentación, desayunos por las 8 de la mañana,
comida fuerte a las 12pm y 5pm, con horarios de descanso casi después de la
hora de la comida donde la universidad de vaciaba ya que los chinos tienen que
ir a descansar para recuperar energía durante el día.
What do you expect as a person and as a
professional from this program?
Enfocados
en un tema de negocios o desarrollo humano al aprender un idioma diferente,
viviendo el idioma día a día, es una habilidad que te permite madurar en todos
los sentidos, desde valerte por ti mismo, pero también una cosa importante es
el querer aprender en todos los sentidos, puedes estudiar, pero también tienes
las posibilidades de desenvolverte en otros ámbitos, sociales y profesionales.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Como
lo mencionaba, recomiendo totalmente vivir una experiencia de éste calibre, ya
que la madurez que tienes como resultado es importante para tu desarrollo de
impacto a nivel global, recomiendo que nunca digan no puedo, porque sí se
puede, que tengan en mente una meta, identifiquen qué tienen qué hacer para
conseguirla, pero que también sepan qué están haciendo hoy en día para llevarlo
a cabo, que los sueños se cumplen si están dispuestos a sacrificar ciertas
cosas con tal motivo de beneficiarse con otras, comparto una de las frases que
me han ayudado a desenvolverme como persona y profesional a lo largo de mi
vida:
“La diferencia entre lo posible y lo imposible es la determinación de la persona, no nos quedemos con los brazos cruzados y seamos el cambio que requiere nuestra sociedad”.
Our student Melissa Anette Martinez from the Architecture program, shares the wonderful experience of her stay in Florence, Italy. Unifi. Università degli Studi di Firenze.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes I knew it, it was one of the reasons why I decided to study at the Uni.
Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I always saw it as a dream, it was an experience I wanted to have, but I knew it wasn't that easy.
I knew it wasn't that easy.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, I had only made short stays in other countries such as China and Canada.
China and Canada.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
One of the main
One of the main reasons was to grow professionally, to get to know other approaches in my career, teaching methods and to expand my
teaching methods and to broaden my curriculum.
But I also
but I also wanted to grow personally, to live this experience while studying, to interact with different
with people of different nationalities, get to know new cultures in depth and face new challenges, as well as
and face new challenges, in addition to practicing a new language.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Studying in Italy was one of my long term goals, when I entered Uni this country was not yet available for exchanges.
when I entered university this country was not yet available for exchanges, but when we were given the opportunity to study in Florence, I had to try.
but when we were given the opportunity to study in Florence, I had to give it a try.
There is no better
place to study architecture than in the cradle of the Renaissance, it is a city that overflows with art and culture.
that overflows with art and culture. It's like living in a museum!
In addition, practicing a new language, living and getting to know Italian culture was something I wanted to do.
practice a new language, live and get to know the Italian culture was something I wanted to experience.
to experience.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt nervous, stressed and excited all at the same time. I wanted to
I wanted to learn as much as I could as soon as possible but I also wanted to make the most of the
the program that the university was offering me.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Well, they have welcomed me in the best way and helped me in what I need, and my colleagues are very kind.
my colleagues are very kind.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
The food, it's a cliché answer, but the spiciness and intense flavor of Mexican food is one of the things I miss most.
the spiciness and intense flavor of Mexican food is one of the things I miss most and also the
hospitality and good vibes that characterize us Mexicans.
What about the Uni?
The method of teaching and evaluation, as well as the facilities.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing has been getting to know so many different places and people.
Everyone has something new to contribute, they have a world of knowledge and ways of working that are very different from what I am used to.
and also ways of working that are very different from what I'm used to,
I never tire of discovering places literally around the corner.
And the hardest part?
Learning to live on my own, I had already traveled on my own, but starting from scratch in a new place with no one close
but starting from scratch in a new place with no one nearby is a completely different story.
different.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
Being on
I have realized that we acquire learning not only on an academic level, but also on a personal level, it is an opportunity to develop skills that we did not know we had,
but also personally, it is an opportunity to develop skills that we didn't know we needed because we were in our comfort zone.
we didn't know we needed because we were in our comfort zone.
On a professional
professional level, in addition to general work links with people that I have met on this side of the world, you
from this side of the world, you acquire new social and cultural visions that contribute to your decision making.
you learn to relate in a multicultural environment and you are more receptive when working in a team
multicultural environment and you are more receptive when working in a team or dealing with people to
with people to solve problems in a language that is not yours.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course! This
opportunities like this are not found every day or in every place,
having the support of the university to achieve these links is something we can't leave aside.
we can't leave aside.
It is up to us
how we use these tools, but it's an experience that I think everyone should have at least once
that everyone should live at least once, not only do you grow in the academic and professional
not only do you grow academically and professionally, you also grow as a person and I think it helps you to have a different
have a different perspective of your goals.
Our student Armando Stefanon Nieto, student of Industrial Engineering and Administration at the University of Celaya and winner of the Uni Scholarship for a stay at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PURCS), Brazil, shares with us more about this incredible opportunity.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, that was one of the reasons I sought out Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
The truth is that I wasn't sure I didn't believe that by applying
I would win it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, this
was the first time I left the country.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Meeting people from all over the world, making friends and knowing what it is like to be an exchange student.
to be an exchange student.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
This was my
my second choice, however I chose Brazil because of the fame it has for all the nature found there.
nature that is found there.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt a lot of excitement and intrigue, always with the open thought that everything would be different but I would like it, I knew I would have to make new friends, integrate into the classrooms etc., I didn't know how easy it would be to do it. Oh and I also felt nervous about the language.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I think they gave us the best
I think they gave us the best treatment that could be given, there were many workshops that not only served us to learn the
not only helped us to learn the basics needed to be there but also to make new friends.
to make new friends.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
The
food!!!! And obviously the family.
What about the Uni?
The
colleagues, the system to which one is already accustomed.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Traveling with
new friends from different countries with different thoughts, sharing all the experiences
experiences, and also the effort to understand all the classes and communicate when I had to do anything alone.
communicating when I had to do anything alone.
And the hardest part?
Getting used to
to living without the food in Mexico, the schedules and the weather.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
I believe that I have
I have made many relationships with people from other countries who would welcome me into their homes as well as
their homes as well as me in mine, that has changed the way I see things, I have learned about the different ways of thinking of others
different ways of thinking of others, I learned about some topics of my career that have a lot of work to do in this
I learned about some subjects of my career that have a lot of work in this country and in others.
It made me strive to learn another language and reminded me how important English is.
English is. I think all this gives me new professional skills as well as higher expectations for my life.
greater expectations for my life.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
I highly recommend it, I think it is a necessary experience to grow, all students can take advantage of it. All the agreements, support, scholarships and programs that Uni has, I think, is what gives us the greatest advantage over other universities, so you have to take advantage of them to the end.
