I was driven to put myself to the test of living away from my family.

Diana is studying Global Business Administration and obtained the Uni scholarship for a stay at the Universidad Mayor de Chile.

When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?

Yes, I did.

When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?

The truth is that since I entered the Uni I had it as one of my main goals, since it was an opportunity that I had to take advantage of at all costs.

Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?

No, I had only gone on vacation to San Francisco, California and on another occasion I went on behalf of the University of Celaya to present a project at the University of Fullerton, California.

What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?

I was driven by the challenge of living far away from my family and loved ones, by taking time to know my strengths and weaknesses, by having to organize myself to have a "normal" life in a country completely different from my own, by getting to know another culture and other people, by missing my country and seeing it from another perspective, by gaining new knowledge and skills for my personal and professional development.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

I had always been interested in getting to know the south of the American continent, so I did some research on the South American countries with which Uni has an agreement and I was convinced that Chile was an economically stable and safe country, besides having different touristic places that attracted my attention.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

A lot of excitement and a lot of fear. The first night in Santiago was horrible, I felt so out of place, despite being a Spanish-speaking country I did not understand almost nothing, I had no idea how I was going to spend the following months like that, but as the days went by I met many foreign people who also came on exchange, you make friends and you feel calmer knowing that you are not going through this big change alone and that there are people who support you.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Super good. They were always very attentive to the exchange students, they give you the right advice for your best incorporation to the university and they are available for whatever you need.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

Even though everyone says it, it's absolutely the truth: FOOD! It's missed too much. The lack of a tortilla in your meals makes a big difference. I also missed my parents a lot, my sister, my boyfriend. I missed how cheap Mexico is.

What about the Uni?

The organization that the university has for each event or school activities and also the university facilities.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

Meeting such beautiful people of different nationalities and Chileans that I am sure I will see again in the future, as well as having had the opportunity to travel to various places in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia that have been completely beautiful and have changed my life.

And the hardest part?

Having to adapt or get used to living with new people, the truth is that at the beginning it is very difficult, but you find the way to make it lighter.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

I hope to value my country and the people around me much more, to identify my areas of opportunity to improve and to gain professional knowledge and skills to apply in future social projects that I would like to develop.

Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?

Totally. I invite my classmates to participate and take advantage of this type of programs that the university has, it will be an unparalleled experience in their lives.

I dare say it is the best experience of my life.

When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?

If I knew, however, I didn't imagine I would apply for any of them.

When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?

No, I never thought I would go to live abroad, but it was always an idea that caught my attention.

Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?

No, I had never had the opportunity.

What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?

Mainly to learn about their study methods and, regarding my career, to learn about other types of processes that are applied in a different country, besides wanting to meet and have an exchange of cultural ideas with the people.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

Colombia always caught my attention, I always heard good things about the country, from its history, its customs, its people, its infrastructure and the truth is that I had always wanted to know Medellin, besides knowing that the university where I would arrive has the best prestige in Colombia and is located among the best in the country.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

It was an incredible feeling, to be completely alone and in a place where I knew nothing, obviously I felt scared, but very excited to start exploring a new country.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Very good, they were always very attentive and kind to me, they always clarified any doubts and were always attentive to me, they even took us to see the city and to tours that I really liked.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

What I missed the most without a doubt was the food and my family.

What about the Uni?

Not that I missed it, but the method in which they grade there was very different from Uni, but other than that I think only my professors and my friends.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

I couldn't say anything exactly since I went through incredible things all semester, but I think the trips with my exchange friends in Colombia were some of the best experiences.

And the hardest part?

Without a doubt, having to say goodbye to the friends I made there is something very difficult, after arriving in a country where you don't know anyone, you get so attached to your friends that they create a family and having to say goodbye to them is very difficult.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

The truth is that I grew a lot as a person, it helped me to become a much more independent and responsible person, it left me with many lessons that I believe will be very useful once I start my life as a professional.

Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?

Of course it is! I highly recommend it, you will never regret it, I dare say it is the best experience of my life.

 

Aprendí que hay distintas formas de trabajar y te tienes que adaptar.

Diana obtuvo la beca Uni para estudiar un semestre de su Licenciatura en Comercio Internacional en la Universidad Mayor de Chile.

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?

Entrando a la Uni supe que había intercambios y era una experiencia que me gustaría vivir.

Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?

No.

What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?

Conocer una cultura diferente y aprender de ella, también conocer nuevas formas de pensar.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

Porque además de que la Universidad Mayor tiene buen nivel académico también sabía que Chile tenía paisajes impresionantes que no me los podía perder.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

No me la creía, estaba emocionada por lo que estaba a punto de vivir en un país diferente y sentía nostalgia ya que nunca me había separado tanto tiempo de mi familia.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Súper bien, todos los maestros muy atentos y nos apoyan demasiado ya que saben que no somos de Chile.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

My family and food.

What about the Uni?

A mis maestros y a mis compañeros.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

Tener que adaptarme a lo rápido que se vive en una capital y el hecho de valerme por mi misma para viajar y organizarme.

And the hardest part?

Estar lejos de mi familia y tener que organizar mis tiempos y dinero.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

Esta experiencia me ha hecho madurar ya que tengo esa independencia y me tengo que administrar económicamente hablando. Me ha hecho darme cuenta de que hay competencia con demasiados alumnos, aprendí que hay distintas formas de trabajar y te tienes que adaptar.

¿Estas oportunidades que da la Uni ¿las recomiendas a tus compañeros?

Completamente, ya que es una experiencia única y siempre la voy a recordar!

This undoubtedly strengthens our character.

María José was awarded the Uni scholarship to study one semester of her degree in International Commerce at the Universidad Mayor de Chile.

When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?

Yes, that was the first information I was told, that upon entering Uni I had the opportunity to study abroad through their different international programs.

When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?

I had the idea of doing it at some stage in my life.

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?

Expanding my knowledge and applying it to my work and personal life when I return to Mexico.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

Because nowadays Chile has positioned itself as one of the first key countries to learn aspects of business, it is also ranked as one of the best in terms of education, plus it has incredible landscapes.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

A lot of excitement because I was about to live new experiences in many aspects of my life, nerves to know what was to come and nostalgia because you are leaving many people and things behind in Mexico.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Incredibly well, the international relations team at UMayor is extremely friendly, they help you in everything they can, they are attentive to you in many aspects.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

Without a doubt what I miss the most is my family, all the people close to me, the food is also something I miss a lot from Mexico.

What about the Uni?

I think what I miss the most about UNI is the good organization they have, at UNI all or most of the activities planned for the semester they let you know from the beginning, and also that the career directors are very close to you.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

I think the most exciting thing is to get to know the culture, the way of living, everything that is in another country because you see the different way, they have other customs and one as a person has to adapt and it is very exciting to live it and to be learning different things, even the way of speaking, the idioms... everything really.

And the hardest part?

Definitely getting out of your comfort zone, since you have to leave many comforts you are used to and start living in a different way; this undoubtedly...strengthens our character.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

As a person, they help you grow in many aspects, make you more independent, value more what you have within reach, and as a professional, they broaden your knowledge from the point of view of different countries, not only the one where you go on exchange, but also the ones where the people you interact with belong and are in the same area as you.

Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?

Of course I do! I recommend that all my Uni classmates apply to any international scholarship offered by the school, the point is to see the world in a more global way and live any international experience possible.

Los increíbles y sorprendentes lugares que tuve oportunidad de conocer.

Esther estudia Comercio Internacional, y gracias a la beca Uni pudo realizar un semestre de intercambio en la Universidad Mayor de Chile.

When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?

Sí, de hecho, fue una de las razones por las cuales elegí estudiar en esta universidad, por las oportunidades que nos da para realizar una movilidad internacional.

When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?

Desde un principio sabía que la universidad me daba la oportunidad, pero jamás me imaginé que haría realidad el tener esta experiencia de estudiar en el extranjero.

Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?

No, ésta fue la primera vez que salí del país.

What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?

El deseo de ampliar mis conocimientos académicos con una visión más global, además de querer conocer una cultura distinta a la de mi país y poder integrarme a ella.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

Porque sabía que Chile poseía una buena estabilidad en todos los aspectos, tanto económico, político y social, y en cuanto a la escuela supe que tenía prestigio a nivel internacional.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

En un inicio me costó un poco de trabajo adaptarme a su estilo de vida por varias razones, una de ellas fue al momento de comunicarnos, aunque también hablan español pero no hablan el mismo español jajaja y a veces resultaba un poco complicado entendernos con los chilenos.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Estoy muy satisfecha con el trato que nos brindaron por parte de la universidad, tanto los profesores como el departamento de relaciones internacionales, todos siempre estuvieron apoyándonos y orientándonos en cualquier cosa que necesitáramos.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

Definitivamente la comida mexicana jajaja y obvio a toda mi familia, nunca había estado separada de ella tanto tiempo.

What about the Uni?

Todo, a mis compañeros, a mis profesores, obvio también a mi directora de la carrera y las instalaciones de la universidad.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

Los increíbles y sorprendentes lugares que tuve oportunidad de conocer de Chile, paisajes naturales que jamás había visto en mi vida. Una de las mejores sensaciones que tuve fue viajar entre de la cordillera de Los Andes.

And the hardest part?

La comida, no hay mucha variedad gastronómica en Chile, además la parte de aprender a vivir de manera independiente y lejos de tu familia.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

Crecer más como una persona independiente, adquirir nuevos conocimientos con una visión global, crear lazos con personas no solo de Chile sino de muchos otros países del mundo, conociendo y aprendiendo sobre su cultura y estilos de vida, lo cual me resulta muy beneficioso en mi carrera, estar relacionada con personas de distintos países.

Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?

¡Claro! Son oportunidades que sin duda debemos aprovechar porque nos traen grandes beneficios tanto personales como académicos.

Vivir la experiencia de una cultura distinta a la nuestra.

Marco obtuvo la beca Uni para estudiar un semestre en Hallym University y continuar allá sus estudios de Diseño Digital.

When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?

No.

Cuando entraste a tu carrera ¿Creíste que estudiarías en otro país?

No.

Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?

No.

What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?

Vivir la experiencia de una cultura distinta a la nuestra.

Why did you decide to study in that country?

Porque es uno de los países más desarrollados a nivel mundial.

How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?

Algo temeroso la verdad, pero muy emocionado.

How have you been received at the university where you arrived?

Muy bien, la gente allá es muy buena y amigable, el programa de Buddy’s que tienen es bastante conveniente, siempre te ayudan si necesitas algo.

What will you miss most about Mexico?

Mi familia, amigos y la comida (si se antojan bastante las salsas y los tacos hahaha).

What about the Uni?

Friends and teachers.

What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?

Ha habido bastantes aventuras pero probablemente el premio se lo lleva el concierto de PSY, fue una locura y fue en la misma Universidad.

And the hardest part?

Administrar mi dinero, Corea es muy caro en comparación a México.

What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?

Poder conocer la cultura coreana, hacer bastantes amigos de todo el mundo y poder aprender de ellos.

Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?

Sí, es una oportunidad que sin duda alguna se tiene que aprovechar, mi semestre en Hallym fue increíble, me encantó.