Renate Förster
Semester Abroad at the Campus Aguascalientes at ITESM in Mexico.
Exploring new horizons, tackling new challenges and getting to know new cultures – these were my motivations for pursuing the adventure of a ‘semester abroad’ for the second time in my academic career. Mexico appealed to me in particular due to its rich culture and beautiful landscapes. In addition to attending lectures at the Campus Aguascalientes at ITESM, I took some trips with the other exchange students which made me really fall in love with Mexico’s diverse culture and landscapes.
Of course, not everything can always run to plan and I did encounter some challenges along the way such as a delayed luggage arrival, the flight there and back and the choice of course. But in Mexico there is a solution for everything – even if it is short-term and last minute. Another special feature was the Mexican culture, mentality and attitude: the word ‘stress’ does not exist in Mexico and family, friends and personal contacts are more important to Mexicans than professional commitments.
In summary: my trip abroad was very enriching on both a professional and personal level. I don’t regret having made this decision and really recommend spending a semester abroad to anyone who enjoys travelling the world and gaining new experiences.
