BBA Extend Student Reflects on Study Abroad in Mexico

Submitted: 7/2/2008 10:54:54 AM

• CoB Study Abroad Participant Discusses Her Experience


By: Lauren Jungkunz

Queretaro, Mexico

Participating in a study abroad program was something I never thought I would actually do. I have always wanted to travel outside of the country, but unfortunately never was able to because I worked full time, took all my courses at Raymond Walters, and had a son. When I heard about the study abroad program at Queretaro, Mexico I knew this was the opportunity for me. The program was very affordable, especially with the grant option and only one week long. It was a perfect fit!

Going to Mexico was the first time I traveled outside of the country and with many people I did not know. Each student stayed with a host family. The families were amazing! They welcomed you into their home and wanted to know everything about you. They would fix you wonderful meals that reflected their culture and lifestyles. My family even had their daughter and granddaughter over for dinner a couple of nights. It was as if I too was part of the family. The host families were very involved and made sure that we were able to get the best of what Queretaro had to offer.

 
During the day we would go to the university, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. Here we had daily company visits which included Colgate Palmolive, Procter and Gamble, and Bombardier. We were introduced to the norms of how business in Mexico is performed. The companies also gave us tours to see the production and manufacturing process of the plants. We even traveled to an outside city San Miguel and had a whole day to tour and learn about its history. Aside from the company visits, we participated in different courses during the afternoon. The courses were all taught in English by professors at the Tec. One of the best experiences we had was interacting with other college students in a class. We were able to see their economic views and business perspective and then compare them with our own.

After class most students would go and have dinner with their host families. Then in the evenings the students would meet in downtown Queretaro. This was a beautiful city with a lot of history. There were many antique churches and buildings that were very unique. The streets were filled with cobble stone paths, fountains, and statues all around. It was a safe and welcoming city. Every night there were live Mexican bands playing on the street corners and outside of restaurants. People would be eating, dancing, and singing all around. The buildings were all open with patios or large windows. The city was another great place where we were able to meet and interact with the people of Queretaro. They told us about their lifestyles and families. They also showed us around and introduced us to what were the best parts of Queretaro.

The trip enabled me to understand the values and norms of the Mexican culture. It was an experience I could not get elsewhere. I now have the ability to take the things I learned and apply them in my future careers. I am now more open minded and have learned to appreciate others and their cultures. I left with great friendships of those I traveled with along with my host family that I currently still keep in touch with. These are things I could not have had with out the experience of studying abroad!   
 

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