Our student Melissa Anette Martinez from the Architecture program, shares the wonderful experience of her stay in Florence, Italy. Unifi. Università degli Studi di Firenze.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes I knew it, it was one of the reasons why I decided to study at the Uni. Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I always saw it as a dream, it was an experience I wanted to have, but I knew it wasn't that easy. I knew it wasn't that easy.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, I had only made short stays in other countries such as China and Canada. China and Canada.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
One of the main One of the main reasons was to grow professionally, to get to know other approaches in my career, teaching methods and to expand my teaching methods and to broaden my curriculum.
But I also but I also wanted to grow personally, to live this experience while studying, to interact with different with people of different nationalities, get to know new cultures in depth and face new challenges, as well as and face new challenges, in addition to practicing a new language.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Studying in Italy was one of my long term goals, when I entered Uni this country was not yet available for exchanges. when I entered university this country was not yet available for exchanges, but when we were given the opportunity to study in Florence, I had to try. but when we were given the opportunity to study in Florence, I had to give it a try.
There is no better place to study architecture than in the cradle of the Renaissance, it is a city that overflows with art and culture. that overflows with art and culture. It's like living in a museum!
In addition, practicing a new language, living and getting to know Italian culture was something I wanted to do. practice a new language, live and get to know the Italian culture was something I wanted to experience. to experience.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I felt nervous, stressed and excited all at the same time. I wanted to I wanted to learn as much as I could as soon as possible but I also wanted to make the most of the the program that the university was offering me.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Well, they have welcomed me in the best way and helped me in what I need, and my colleagues are very kind. my colleagues are very kind.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
The food, it's a cliché answer, but the spiciness and intense flavor of Mexican food is one of the things I miss most. the spiciness and intense flavor of Mexican food is one of the things I miss most and also the hospitality and good vibes that characterize us Mexicans.
What about the Uni?
The method of teaching and evaluation, as well as the facilities.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
The most exciting thing has been getting to know so many different places and people.
Everyone has something new to contribute, they have a world of knowledge and ways of working that are very different from what I am used to. and also ways of working that are very different from what I'm used to, I never tire of discovering places literally around the corner.
And the hardest part?
Learning to live on my own, I had already traveled on my own, but starting from scratch in a new place with no one close but starting from scratch in a new place with no one nearby is a completely different story. different.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
Being on I have realized that we acquire learning not only on an academic level, but also on a personal level, it is an opportunity to develop skills that we did not know we had, but also personally, it is an opportunity to develop skills that we didn't know we needed because we were in our comfort zone. we didn't know we needed because we were in our comfort zone.
On a professional professional level, in addition to general work links with people that I have met on this side of the world, you from this side of the world, you acquire new social and cultural visions that contribute to your decision making. you learn to relate in a multicultural environment and you are more receptive when working in a team multicultural environment and you are more receptive when working in a team or dealing with people to with people to solve problems in a language that is not yours.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course! This opportunities like this are not found every day or in every place, having the support of the university to achieve these links is something we can't leave aside. we can't leave aside.
It is up to us how we use these tools, but it's an experience that I think everyone should have at least once that everyone should live at least once, not only do you grow in the academic and professional not only do you grow academically and professionally, you also grow as a person and I think it helps you to have a different have a different perspective of your goals.
Thanks to UNI International Programs!
