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.