[The student that comes from Taiwan will stay in our country for a year.]
August 25th, 2017
Translated by: Mercedes A. Hernández Pacheco
“I thought coming to Mexico will be difficult, I was nervous to get in contact with others, but from the first day, people have been amazing to me” said I Lun Hsieh, exchange student from Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan who will stay in UPAEP for a year.
She told us that her wish to come to Mexico originated because she did not know anything about our country, she recognized only what she saw in movies, but she needed to get to be familiar with the real thing.
“My parents and my friends were really worried when I made the decision, my father wished me to go to Spain, but when I told him it was Mexico, he was really surprised, he told me that Mexico was very dangerous since that is the impression that we all have even though is not true”.
She said that she has been feeling very welcomed in our country because, for example, if she does not understand some things like the menu, Mexican people try to explain her and help her to comprehend it, even she told us that they have brought her the ingredients in order for her to identify with what the dish is made of.
The Institutions Administration student shared that every time she finishes her classes, she goes to the cafeteria to eat something and she always finds new friends because other students go closer just to get to know her.
“Whenever I sit, a lot of people try to talk to me, it is great, I thought they would be shy, but they always ask where I am from, what I do here, they try to make me feel better”.
In the academic feel, she said that most of her classes are in Spanish which makes it a little bit difficult every time she hears her professors; however, they have been so nice to her because they try to speak slower and they use every single resource possible in order for her to understand better.
“Even when I do not understand in a 100% what the professor said, I try to get it through body language and the way they speak, so basically most of it comes from the context”.
Something that she really likes about UPAEP is the activities available to make the students feel themselves at home.
“You have a lot of activities for the new ones, they are pretty fun and every day I can see something happening in the campus, in Taiwan we do not have as many and we always have to be aware of what is happening through the news or advertisements”.
She also said that with these kinds of activities, exchange students feel more integrated because she gets to spend more time at the University and has the chance to experience more the culture when she is surrounded by Mexican young people.
According to the gastronomy, she has already tried cemitas and tacos which she considers them very good.
“I love tacos, they are great, you have such a big variety, I have tried gringa, Arab taco and you love avocados and so do I; I am getting used to spicier food now, in Taiwan I did not eat that much but here I do it every day and my stomach is ok”.
The differences between Mexico and Taiwan are the family relationships; here you tend to be closer to your loved ones.
“You tend to be very united, in Taiwan we are, but we do not get to express it so easily, here you kiss and hug, we do not do that in Taiwan, I envy you a little bit”.
Finally, she invited all the young Mexican people to get to know her country, especially if you want to learn Chinese and get to be better in English since everyone in Taiwan speak both languages.
“Taiwan is a very small island, we are very close to the nature and urbanity, my school is in Taipei, it is very convenient with all the stores and restaurants working 24 hrs, but if you drive 2 hrs from the city, you get to find mountains and the beach, I will recommend Taiwan for the lifestyle, food is very cheap and delicious”.
ORIGINAL TEXT:https://www.upress.mx/index.php/opinion/entrevistas/1316-i-lun-hsieh-encantada-con-mexico
