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.