Jul 12, 2023 | Study abroad
Carmen Jazmin of the Bachelor of International Business at Hallym University, South Korea
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, that's precisely why I entered the University of Celaya, because I found out that they had exchange programs abroad and that's what I wanted.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
Since I entered the university, but I was told that I had to wait until I met certain requirements, so I prepared myself from the beginning to be selected.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Their culture really catches my attention, and the language is extremely interesting from my point of view, plus my musical taste also includes K-pop and my entertainment includes K-dramas.
How was the scholarship application process?
I think it was quite simple, however, you should prepare yourself beforehand, especially with activities that will help you to be selected; extracurricular activities.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
A month before I left I learned to read the language (not quite to understand and translate it) and that helped me a lot to enter the country, I also prepared the papers that the university asked me and researched places I wanted to visit.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Nostalgia, because when I arrived my parents were not waiting for me. Impotence, because some people were very impatient and I had no way to communicate with them, but as soon as I arrived at the university I was filled with excitement to meet people and how my life was going to be in those 5 months.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Quite nice, the people were quite nice and pleasant; they like foreigners and are very impressed that Mexicans come to their country.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed the food and the different flavors it contains and I also missed my family.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?
The friendships I made and the different trips within the country that I was able to make, which were a lot of fun.
The most difficult thing for me was the complicated subjects I chose, I lived in constant stress thanks to the intense study that I took, besides the atmosphere during exam season was very heavy, because there they work so hard that stress is felt everywhere.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
Personally, I feel that my sense of responsibility has increased a lot compared to how it was before I left, living on my own in a strange place creates a different kind of self-awareness.
On a professional level, the classes helped a lot and what you learn about the country you are in helps you develop thinking that will help me to be a better professional in the future.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
Have a lot of patience with learning the place where you are, do a lot of research beforehand about the new country to visit, its language, culture and make new friends.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
This is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity where you get to experience amazing things and gain lifelong friendships.
Jul 12, 2023 | Study abroad
Rafael Álvarez Romero of Law at the University of Oviedo, Asturias. Spain.
When you entered UNI did you know there were international programs?
Yes.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
When I was interested in learning about other cultures and knowledge about my career.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because it was a dream for me to get to know Madrid and I like Spanish soccer very much.
How was the scholarship application process?
Well, I had to list my most significant activities throughout my UNI career and it was a privilege to be given such an opportunity.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
A lot of nervousness, but I knew it would be a wonderful experience.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Surprise and nerves, doing a lot of things the first time, but an incredible experience.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Very well, treating me like just another student at the university.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
From Mexico the food and my family, from UNI colleagues and professors.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?
The most exciting thing was meeting people from all over Europe and the hardest part was getting used to the Spanish regulations.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
So much so, it gives me the opportunity to know the European Union's legal systems and that broadens my outlook.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
- Make friends from your career.
- Travel a lot (Save from before)
- Meet many people.
- Enjoy this magnificent experience
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Totally, this is a unique experience and I am very grateful to the university for choosing me to represent them.
Jul 12, 2023 | Study abroad
Samantha Arreguín of Global Business at the University of Lleida, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs? Yes, I was already aware of the academic experiences thanks to acquaintances from the University.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
I have always liked to learn the history and way of life of other countries, so from the beginning of my career I started to meet goals to be able to apply.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because they offered subjects that interested me and also because it is one of the countries with more foreign students, so I thought it was excellent to know that I would get to know more cultures.
How was the scholarship application process?
It was really an easy process for me, even UNI always supports you in any obstacles or doubts that arise.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
It was hard knowing that I would be leaving my family and friends for the first time and for a long time, but everyone motivated me. I was also researching what daily life is like in the country and saved a lot.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt good and excited to know how the classes would be, anxious to know the city, also for the people I would meet from other parts of the world.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Better than I thought, the teachers, local classmates and even students from other countries were very friendly and we connected quickly.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed my family and friends a lot, also the food, especially the spicy food. From UNI I missed the social and academic environment.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?
The fact that I made friends from Korea, Italy, Spain, Chile, France, Germany, and so on. It is very exciting the experience that we were able to live together and learn from our cultures. The hardest part was the farewell with our friends.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
I believe that even though we all have different customs and traditions, I was able to learn from each one and respect them. I also became more independent and that helps me a lot in my personal growth. Professionally, I think it helps me because now I know how to get around more easily and work better in a team.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
Save money before leaving, be aware that it is a completely different but very good experience that will improve you as a person and always be mentally open to new adventures.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Totally, it is an unforgettable experience.
Jun 23, 2023 | Study abroad
Regina, an International Business major, won the scholarship to study in Oviedo, Spain.
When you entered Uni, did you know that there were international programs?
Yes, I was told about it in the talks to enter the Uni.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
Since I entered college, since one of my goals was to do at least one exchange during my career.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because Europe seems very interesting to me and Spain is an available option for my career in that continent.
How was the scholarship application process?
Quite simple, the complicated part was to obtain merits to be eligible.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
I prepared myself a lot mentally as I had never been so far away from my family and friends for so long.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was very excited to get to know my new city, the university and make many new friends from all over the world.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Good, although I would have liked them to accompany us a little more in the adaptation process. UniOvi does not have, like Uni, a dedicated department for foreign students, you receive very little guidance from managers and professors and we had to discover the dynamics within the university on our own.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
From Mexico I mainly miss my family, my friends and the food. From Uni I miss the way classes are taught, the educational system and the evaluation system.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?
The most exciting thing was being able to take advantage of the free time and having the opportunity to travel and get to know new countries.
The hardest part was undoubtedly becoming a much more independent person, as now I had to take care of myself, take care of the apartment, the food, the cleaning, etc., which is not something I was used to in Mexico.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
This experience definitely altered my point of view about the world, and I am going home with thousands of new perspectives about life, the value of things, people, etc. An educated person, full of experiences and eager to continue knowing and learning, is something very valuable for both personal and professional life.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
They should take advantage of any opportunity they have to travel or socialize or even learn something new, and they should seek a lot of support from people who have already gone on exchange to make it easier for them to adapt to the new city.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Yes, they are very worthwhile.
Jun 20, 2023 | Study abroad
Paula Sofía is a Digital Design student and did an exchange semester in Ravensburg, Germany.
When you entered Uni, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I knew about the existence of the programs, but I was not fully informed, then they told us and I was quite interested.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
After they told us where we could go, the idea of doing a semester abroad really caught my attention and I decided that I would try to apply for the scholarship. It meant learning a lot of things and having new experiences.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
From the beginning, Germany was always my first choice; it attracted my attention, because the culture is totally different from ours and I was eager to learn from it, besides having the possibility of knowing more countries that would be nearby.
How was the scholarship application process?
It was easy to do, the follow-up was always good and we received help every time it was necessary to finish it.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
In school matters, maintaining a good average and keeping my cultural card up to date. In more personal matters, I decided to study a little of the language, prepare myself for the weather, and prepare myself mentally as well, since it would be the first time I would be so far away from home and for such a long time.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
It was a mixture of many emotions, as I was very excited and happy to think of all that awaited me, ready to learn a lot and generate new connections, but, on the other hand, being so far away from home made me very homesick and I thought about how difficult it was going to be.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
At the beginning, the reception was good. After some time we were left a little bit aside, which was confusing and difficult.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
The warmth and attention of teachers and classmates.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? And the most difficult?
The most exciting thing was having the opportunity to visit several countries close to where I was, both alone and with friends, and the hardest thing was being away from home and often feeling alone.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
It influenced me in many ways, personally it made me grow in ways I could never have imagined, helping me to know how to resolve conflicts on my own, and professionally by making connections with people from many parts of the world.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
Be well prepared, but, always keep in mind that, no matter how well prepared you are, many things may not go according to plan, and anyway, everything will be fine in the end.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Yes, I would recommend this type of experience.
Jun 20, 2023 | Study abroad
Andrea is a student of Architecture and completed a semester at the Universidad Piloto de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia.
When you entered Uni, did you know that there were international programs?
Yes.
At what point and why did you start thinking about applying for a scholarship and studying in another country?
I was excited to learn how architecture is studied in other parts of the world.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because it was a great opportunity to learn more about Latin American culture.
How was the scholarship application process?
Exciting, from the announcements to the date the approval mail arrives.
How did you prepare for this new experience?
Carrying out university projects, always participating in volunteer work.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
A lot of excitement about what the next few months would be like and how the routine would change and the new experiences I would have.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Very good, the treatment was excellent, they were very cordial and were on top of things.
What do you miss the most about Mexico and UNI?
My family and friends, plus the spicy food.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Seeing the perspective of how daily life is lived and appreciated.
How do you think this experience will influence you as a person and professionally?
This experience definitely broadened my view of how architecture is perceived and how it can be applied in a variety of ways.
What advice would you give to those who are about to go on exchange to another country?
May they always go out and not waste time.
Would you recommend these opportunities offered by UNI to your colleagues?
Yes, of course.