Global Education: Insights from a Dual Student's Semester Abroad

NEREA STUDIED FOR A SEMESTER IN MONTERREY, MEXICO WITH THE SUPPORT OF MARC O'POLO, EMPHASIZING THE UNIQUE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE. SHE HIGHLIGHTED THE PERSONAL GROWTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL GREATLY WHILE RECOMMENDING THE EXPERIENCE TO FELLOW STUDENTS.

WHERE DID YOU SPEND YOUR SEMESTER ABROAD? HOW LONG WHERE YOU THERE AND CAN YOU RECOMMEND YOUR DESTINATION?

I spent my semester abroad from January to June in Monterrey, a city in the north of Mexico. It’s hard to say whether I would recommend it to other people, because as an industrial city, Monterrey is very different from the rest of Mexico. The standard of living varies greatly and the cultural aspects otherwise typical for Mexico are less prominent. On the other hand, the people there and the quality of the university really left a lasting, positive impression.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF DOING A SEMESTER ABROAD, WERE YOU SUPPORTED BY MARC O'POLO AND WERE YOU ABLE TO CHOOSE THE COUNTRY OR CITY YOURSELF?

My International Business degree program offers a semester abroad. However, it's up to you to decide whether you spend the semester at a company location or at a partner university of the DHBW. Since Marc O'Polo does not currently have any administration offices in other countries, I opted for a semester abroad at a partner university. In addition to their financial support, I am also particularly grateful to Marc O'Polo for giving me the full freedom to visit a country of my choice. The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University has various partner universities worldwide that I could choose from. Since I had already lived in two English-speaking countries for several months, visiting a Spanish-speaking country with clear cultural differences to Germany was important to me.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE ONCE YOU WERE THERE - DID YOU HAVE TIME TO TRAVEL BESIDES YOUR STUDIES?

The Mexican university system, unlike ours, works a lot with graded assignments in order to apply what you have learned directly. Although it may have seemed a bit stressful at first, this system offered a lot of freedom as a large part of my studies could be completed remotely. This gave me the opportunity to travel not only around Mexico, but also visit parts of the USA, Panama and Colombia.

HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO NETWORK AND MEET NEW PEOPLE?

The university organised orientation days where all international students had the opportunity to network and get to know each other. As there were over 200 exchange students from all over the world, it was easy to make connections. Of course, there were also regular non-exchange students on site. Since Mexican culture is generally very welcoming, local students were quick to invite me to family events and trips, and making new acquaintances was very easy.

WHAT ARE THE THREE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR SEMESTER ABROAD?

It's really hard to answer this question, because the entire semester was a highlight as a whole. What stood out to me, however, were the numerous incredibly beautiful trips I have taken, the people with their warmth and general joy for life, and the new friends I made with whom I am still in contact.

WHAT WERE YOUR THREE BIGGEST LEARNINGS FROM THIS TIME?

In Mexico, I learned to be more relaxed and enjoy life even when things were not going well. Because life always looks completely different after a "carne asada”—a barbecue with good friends. Adding on to that is a boost of openness and flexibility. The third and biggest learning I would say is self-organization. When you travel alone, this takes on a new meaning. Being on your own and knowing that no one can help you, strengthens your awareness and your ability to deal with difficult situations.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE SEMESTER ABROAD TO STUDENT COLLEAGUES AND IF SO, WHY?

Definitely! As I already mentioned, this was my third stay abroad. I think there’s hardly a time when you can learn more about yourself than when you’re in a completely foreign environment, far away from home. The effect it has on your personal growth is enormous. And it allows you to see the world from a completely different perspective than you would in a politically and economically stable country such as Germany.