Name: Dufty Brown
Degree: BBA/BSOCSC
Exchanged to: México, UDLAP
Date: 01 Jan – 01 June 2014
“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be
content with a sedentary life, that I will always be
haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” ―
Isabelle Eberhardt
Where do I begin? Maybe with a hello, or like we say in México ‘Hola mi
amigo!’ So you are reading this because like me, you are interested in going
overseas and doing one or two semesters, which is something that I can say
with much enthusiasm and no qualms about recommending.
I started planning for my exchange a year before I left for UDLAP, and is
something that I would recommend, because choosing where you want to go
requires a lot of thought and planning and more often than not you will change
your mind. There were many reasons why I chose to do an exchange at
UDLAP, which I will explain in the later paragraphs. I will also spare you the
bureaucracy as UDLAP offers a great international pre-arrival pack, which
pretty much covers all the stuff you need to know, better than I ever could.
Now when I first
arrived in México City
also known as (DF) I
was meet there by a
group of UDLAP
students who meet me
at the airport and
helped me transfer
from México City to
Cholula, Puebla where
the University is
situated roughly 2
hours from the city.
This is where you are
bound to meet a lot of
Going to a wrestling match in Puebla
the new exchange
students, and the bus
ride to the university is a great bonding time and helps you make new friends
with people on the same boat as you, which can help facing México for the
first couple of weeks a little bit smoother. When I arrived at the university I
was surprised at the quality of the campus, it rules! It is like it’s own city,
offering plenty of shops, walkways, fountains, meditation area’s, pool,
gymnasium two fields and so much more, a far cry from the concrete, drab
office styled looking buildings that Waikato offers, not saying that it is bad, but
UDLAP is much more appealing.
In my first week, I learnt about why México is dubbed the party capital of the
world, the nightlife was crazy and the prices for drinks were even crazier!
Coming from a country where a corona goes for at least $7 dollars each, here
they ranged from 80 cents to $1 each and 120 shots of tequila for $10 equals
a cheap night out! Over here it seems like no one ever sleeps, there are
always something happening from house parties, to dress up parties to your
traditional Mariachi bands playing late into the night. Your first week you will
be introduced to the student life, from the best clubs and more than likely end
up waking up with a throbbing head and dazed memory of the night before.
México also has the
greatest sights, while I
was here I had the
opportunity to visit
many parts of México,
and what I can say, is
that I have never been
to a place that was so
diverse and beautiful!
Just outside of México
City it offers the most
well known
archaeological site in
México which is known
as Teotihuacan, which
was breath taking and
A shot from the top of the Teotihuacan
was like taking a walk
pyramids.
into the past, walking up
the stairs to the top
wasn’t the best, but the view was totally worth it! The rain forest in Chiapas
were wild and untamed, and lets not forget the countless beaches from
Acapulco and Cancun and the amazing surf, sun and the clear blue waters
and white sand, you will more than often visit more beaches than one can
keep a count of, so bring a lot of togs, because the weather here is always
warm.
The people here always greet with one kiss on the cheek and a smile, and so
helpful and patience, and in my broken Spanish were patience and willing to
help me practice and perfect, so for those wanting to learn Spanish, Mexicans
are always delighted in helping you learn it. I can also say that the Mexican
people are some of the nicest people you will ever meet on the earth, and
making friends here is easy as people here are overly thrilled to have
someone from a country that they have never even heard of and at times you
kind of feel like a celebrity.
Now for all those food
lovers out there, the food
is to die for! The spices,
herbs, fruit and
vegetables, meat come in
all shapes, smells and in
everyway something could
be prepared. But one of
my favourite food, was this
big ball of Oaxaca cheese,
which is like a stringy
cheese that is pretty much
in everything you eat.
A shot taken outside from our
There
is
a
saying
over here that putting on
accommodation while staying in Cancun
weight is ‘happy weight’, because food
plays a huge part in the culture and is seen
as a celebratory and festive, so be prepared to eat you bodyweight in food.
So these are just a few reasons why México was such a great country, and
where great memories and friends were made. Quickly, I will just give a few
tips I what I learnt while on my exchange that could help you plan effectively
and wisely as well.

I would recommend if you want to meet new people and be fully
immersed into the university and culture of your chosen country,
staying on campus would be the best option!

Step out of your comfort zone, there will many moments that you feel a
little uncomfortable but learn to embrace them, some of the moments
where I felt most uncomfortable ended up being some of the best
memories.

Budgeting is fundamental; make sure you have enough to cover your
expenses while overseas, because nothing is worse than not having
enough.

Join groups at your chosen campus; this is a great way of getting really
involved in the university community.

Travel your chosen country, sometimes you can get caught up studying
which is good, but remember you are in a different country, explore it!!

Familiarise yourself with the papers of your chosen university well
before you leave, preferably a semester before you leave so you can
plan what papers to take while you’re over there and also if you require
prerequisites.

Enjoy you time!
Trying to fit the whole experience in to a short report is super hard, and will
most probably be something you will understand once you have to write one,
after your exchange. But I am so thankful for being able to get this opportunity
to spend a semester overseas, and it is great that Waikat university offers
such a programme, and has been a great opportunity that has grown and
expanded me as person and as cliché as it sound, it really does change you
for the better. If you are considering México, you should totally go and
experience with what I can only call one of the most beautiful, vibrant and
exciting country I have ever visited.
Kind, regards
Dufty Brown