Gerardo Francisco García is studying Digital Design and was awarded a scholarship to study for a semester at Hallym University in South Korea.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
I had heard about the programs before, but never in depth, I didn't know how they worked or their international reach.
Did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Before I started my studies I never thought about it, later during the semesters I thought about it, but I never applied for the different calls for applications.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Never.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
On the one hand, I have always been interested in the different cultures of the world, wanting to know and live on the other side of the world. On the other hand, the comments of my classmates who had already participated in these programs helped me to decide to apply for this program.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I had already heard many things about South Korea, and I already knew about the culture of the country. I took it as the best option because of the cultural differences and the fact that it is completely on the other side of the world.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Complete amazement and fear, everything I had heard about the country came true. Amazement because everything was new to me, every little detail of Korea made me learn new things. Fear because of the fact that everything was different and it was a little complicated to understand things since most of them were written in Korean.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Hallym University behaved in a spectacular way, the teachers as well as the students in charge of the "Buddy" program facilitate all the procedures that you may need inside and outside the university, always fraternal and kind, offering their help for whatever you may need.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
My family, friends and very important the food. It is well known that Mexican cuisine is one of the richest in the world and it shows when you are on the other side of the world.
What about the Uni?
More than anything my friends, you get used to the people you have been living with for more than 4 years and the absence is noticeable.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Every day is a new adventure, you never know what might happen, from the various activities that the "Buddy" program has prepared for us to meeting new people that help you grow as a person and as a professional. But if I had to choose I guess it would be the first snowfall of winter, it just happened on the weekend so we were all able to enjoy various outdoor activities.
And the hardest part?
At the beginning I would say that the language, if you went out of the university and you didn't find a person who spoke Korean, everything became a little complicated, the basics of the language you learn with time thanks to the basic Korean class.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
I hope to learn and grow in all aspects of life. I am having one of the best experiences of my life and I owe it all to this program and to the University of Celaya.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Highly recommended to all my fellow students at the University of Celaya, truly.... if you have the possibilities to study in another country I am one hundred percent sure that you will never regret it. You can learn a lot about the country you travel to, the people who live there, the other exchange students and you can even learn something new about yourself.
Thank you very much!