Interview with Ana Karla Oliveros Botello from Industrial Engineering who won a scholarship to study at Guandgong University in South China Business College.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in addition to the level offered by the University of Celaya, the scholarship opportunities to study abroad were something that made me decide to study at this university.
Did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I always took it as a motivation to keep a good GPA every semester because I knew that day could come, and it did.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, I had never had the opportunity to study or live outside of Mexico but without a doubt it has been one of the best experiences of my life.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The fact of growing as a person, knowing new cultures, new people, new places, even knowing a new language. Knowing what the world is like out there and being better prepared for the future, especially in a world power like China.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
For its cultural richness, to learn a totally new language for me and to get to know a world totally different from Mexico.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
After a few months I still can not understand that I am so far away from my country, I feel at home here in China, everything has gone great in my stay here. As for the time difference I think it has been the most difficult thing since it is 14 hours different from Mexico and I was a little afraid that I was going to distance myself a little from my family, so even though I have found a way to stay in touch with them, China has gradually become my home.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
I have been treated wonderfully, everyone is very kind to foreigners, they take care of us very well and support us with anything we need from students to teachers and administrators.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
I miss my family very much, it is very difficult to find times when we can be awake to talk due to the time difference, I also miss my friends that I left there but every time I talk to them, with the people who love me and wait for me, they motivate me to give all of me while I am away.
What about the Uni?
I miss the education system they have there and the way they study, for example there are mid-term exams and here in China it is only one exam per semester, I also miss my classmates and friends of my generation and my area.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing I have experienced here in China is communicating with the local people, it has not been easy but it has been a challenge that I have managed to overcome and something I am very proud of. Also traveling to many places has been very exciting like going to the Great Wall in Beijing, visiting fairs, places and very exotic food.
And the hardest part?
The most difficult part was the time difference and adapting to the different eating hours, which are very different from what we were used to, besides having arrived at the school knowing absolutely no Chinese, but thanks to the hospitality of the people we had no major problems.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
Personally, learning to be independent, learning to take care of myself, to talk to anyone without fear, even to speak better in public and be more extroverted. Professionally, the experience of knowing how to live and work in a first world country, learning a language as important as Mandarin, which is so important and because there are so many Chinese companies, opens doors in more companies and does not close my chances of returning to work in the future to put the name of my country and my university up high.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
100% recommended to my university classmates, without a doubt it is an unforgettable experience and in the future it will help us to be better people, students or workers. And I also recommend taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by the University of Celaya apart from the exchange programs it has, undoubtedly one of the best study options in the city.
Thank you very much to the University of Celaya for giving me this amazing opportunity!