[Notre Dame student had her exchange program in UPAEP.]
November 25th, 2019
Hana Marie Oshiro’s hometown is New Mexico and she is in her fifth semester studying Biology and Pre Medicine in Notre Dame University in Indiana, United States. For Fall 2019, she decided to be part of UPAEP, after talking to her, she tells us the best part of living in Mexico during her exchange program.
What made you learn Spanish?
In New Mexico, there is a lot people that speak that language; as a future doctor, I want to be able to give a more comprehensive service and make sure that not knowing Spanish will never be a limitation when I interact with them.
How is that you decided to come to Mexico?
I studied high school in Spain, even though I took classes, it definitely helped me to become better in the language. Therefore, studying in Mexico was a little bit more personal. The program that you have here really motivated me to experience a different atmosphere to what I have in Notre Dame; most of the time there, I dedicate myself only to study. Another thing, since I come from New Mexico, there was a bigger desire to go beyond frontiers.
Did you ever feel scared about the recent news in Mexico?
It is not about me not believing what is happening; but I do know that everyday life is very different of what the media can say. For me, the only way to really involve myself and find the real truth about what is happening was to actually be here, in Mexico. Besides that, my parents were really supportive; they knew that Notre Dame University will never recommend a place that was not safe for me to be there.
Once you arrived in Mexico, what was your first impression?
Even though I did not have any expectations, I was thinking a lot about just desert like Juárez City and El Paso, those are nearby from where I live. Nevertheless, Puebla is a gorgeous city and much different of what I was really anticipating.
What is your experience to live in Mexico with a Mexican homestay family?
Making that decision was really good; although freedom is desirable, something that is useful is having a closer structure and people that can bring support and safety anytime you need it. Besides, this also involved me in more aspects about the Mexican culture. My homestay family is always cooking dishes and cakes. As a result of that, being closer to the Mexican gastronomy happens every day. Another thing is that Mexican families are more attached to each other. Even if sons and daughters are grown-ups; they always stay in touch to each other, and they do not need a special date or celebration to spend time together.
What was what made you say, “I am really in Mexico”?
My impression of Puebla was of a big city, there are a lot of people and it really surprised me. The first night we went to have churros and hot chocolate; besides that, seeing all the fruits and flowers on the street finally confirmed me that I was in Mexico.
What was your first impression of UPAEP?
UPAEP looked a lot different of what I was thinking. My University is in a small city. However, Puebla is a living city and always in movement. Since UPAEP is a city University, you have to walk around the streets in order to go to one class to the other, which was surprising. Besides that, my orientation in UPAEP really helped me since I learnt what I thought is better to see in a class before the real life. An example of this, was to know the instructions in case of a volcano eruption or an earthquake.
What courses are you studying and how has it been for you?
There are many different and very interesting courses such as Latin-American literature, bioethics and pre medicine rotations which are pretty unusual of what I have in the USA. Here, I have a closer approach with the patients and it is very useful. Henceforth, it makes it easier to fulfill your dream job and find in a faster way, what your true calling is.
When it comes to hospital rotations, when I was at UPAEP’s hospital, I was able to work face to face with the doctors and get to know how the Mexican health system works. Another thing is that I experienced earthquake drills and if everybody helps, things can get better and faster. However, at ISSSTE; which is a Mexican public hospital, the environment is a little bit more chaotic since there is a huge amount of people, emergencies and moms completely stressed out; but doctors work pretty well under pressure and it made me learn a lot. There, even though the resources are extremely limited, they always find a solution with what they have.
What has been the best and the worst food that you have eaten so far?
Many years ago I tried mole in New Mexico; but once I ate it here again, the flavor was amazing. However, something that it is definitely not tasty for me was the grasshoppers. They are very sour, or esquites because sometimes they are just too liquid.
Above all the places that you have visited here, do you have a favorite one?
While I am here, I enjoy being outdoors in the nature. Cuernavaca is a good example since the weather is tropical and I like to be in those kinds of places that I have never been before. Archaeological sites are another example since it allows me to see how rich the Mexican culture is. Since I was in Mexico City for such a short amount of time, it is really calling me to go back and I need to take my time to contemplate it. Although I did not experience firsthand Mexico’s independence day, I enjoyed getting to know the celebrations about September 15th and Day of the Death; with this, I have never seen such colorful and bright places and knowing the flower Aztec marigold in the Mexican offerings.
What would you say to your classmates so they can study abroad?
Sometimes this experience can be tough because it makes you to find the way to adapt to different things that you just do not know; but I also believe that it represents a useful way that allows you an academic, personal and future professional self-development.
Mexico is a place that helps you to get to know about its culture, an introspective experience, but also rewarding when it comes to knowledge.
Click here to read the original text in Spanish.
