An experience I would like to repeat

At first many people believed that the experience of a national exchange would not be as important, but it wasnt like that. Having lived in Guadalajara was a great experience for me even though it is still Mexico, because customs, the people, and their lifestyle are very different. We speak the same language, but we have different ways of expressing ourselves and use the same words for different things. This was an issue when we were trying to communicate, but also sparked interesting conversations. I had the opportunity to make friends with people from Brazil, Germany, and from different states of Mexico. This is something that everyone should do, because you learn to be independent and solve problems for yourself – there are many challenges you will face. You also have to adapt to new environments and ways of teaching, because the professors and the university use methods that are very different from what I was used to.I worked in teams with people I had never met. This helped me develop my tolerance and respect, because many people think in different ways, so you have to respect their points of view.An academic exchange is a great learning experience. It makes you grow as a person, helps you make great and true friends, and opens your mind to new opinions.*Excerpt from the original testimonial