Mauricio Espinoza is a student of Industrial Engineering and thanks to Uni's international scholarships he studied for a semester at the University of Oviedo, Gijón campus, in Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I already knew about all the international programs that Uni has and the opportunities for us students and it was one of the reasons why I decided to study at Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
When I entered the career I already knew about the opportunities and from the beginning I was interested and acted in favor of winning a scholarship, then with time and because of the pandemic I thought it was no longer possible and that I would not study abroad, at the end of all the opportunities opened up and it was possible.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Prior to this I had not studied outside of Mexico.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
What motivated me to study in another country was to learn about the country I was in, its customs and to learn to be independent and grow as a person.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Spain was always my first choice to study abroad, I decided to study in Spain because of the language we have, I wanted to know more about Spain and its customs and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone being in Europe.
In addition, the University of Oviedo has a great level and that motivated me to make it my choice to study there.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
When I arrived in Spain it was very exciting because I was fulfilling a dream I had for many years and I was going to live an unforgettable experience.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
In the first days in Gijón we went to the University to choose the subjects and they treated us well, they helped us with all the doubts we had and with all the process that had to be done. The teachers supported us in everything and so it was a little easier.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
What I missed most about Mexico was the family, food and the weather since it is very cold, and from Uni I missed my friends and classmates.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing I have experienced in this experience are the trips I have made, the new places, food and customs that are made.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult thing is being away from your family, learning to be independent and the level or educational system in Spain, which is totally different from Mexico.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
What I expect from this experience is to grow as a person, to learn, to be more responsible and to value everything we have and have achieved.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
These opportunities are 100% recommendable for my colleagues because you learn a lot, you value, grow and see life in other countries in different ways, as well as getting to know new places.
Any other comments:
As a comment I would like to thank the University of Celaya and the Internationalization Department for all the opportunities they give us students to grow and have different experiences in our lives.