Sergio López is studying architecture at the Universidad de Celaya and is currently on an academic stay at the Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña in Barcelona, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, it was one of the main reasons why I decided to study at UDEC.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Last year I was able to take a study trip to New York to see works of renowned architects, during it, I took a class at Columbia University, then in July 2017 I was at UAB taking a leadership diploma course for a month.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?s?
I am enthusiastic about learning the techniques and architectural styles of other countries, in order to form my own style, combining what I have seen and learned in the trips I have made.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
The UPC/ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE ARQUITECTURA IN BARCELONA is one of the best architecture schools in Europe and number 25 in the world. It has some subjects that UDEC does not have or that are taught in a different way and I was very interested in studying them here.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?s?
I felt like I was coming back home, being the third time I was in Spain, I loved to keep discovering new places, buildings and people, because after studying architecture, now everything made sense, now I understood the buildings and why they were built, simply magical.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Very good, UPC is a very large school, but it has welcome programs for Erasmus students, so it was easy to meet people from other countries and even from Mexico, my faculty ETSAB is very large, with 3000 architecture students.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
My family and friends, but most of all the food! I became a taster of Mexican food in Spain and concluded that in food, there are no two like Mexico.
What about the Uni?
My teachers and director, I return valuing more the teaching staff we have, they are really very well trained and above all they are always available to make inquiries and resolve any doubts that arise, something that in Spain is very rare to be able to do.<b></b>
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
To share knowledge with some of my colleagues, to see the way each school has to do something and to reach the same result,
And the mosts diffíeasy?
The most difficult thing has been the culture shock with some professors, there are many who are willing to help you, but others who have a more closed way of working, and the way of evaluating is very different from Mexico.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
I am sure that everything I learned here will be very useful to me, it helped me to value everything I have in Mexico and above all, I know that now I have many contacts of future colleagues who can contribute something interesting in my professional life.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Totally, whenever there is an academic trip I am the first one to invite my classmates and above all I always encourage them to do their best to go out and see the world, without a doubt traveling is one of my favorite activities and I want all my classmates to discover the world that is out there waiting for us.