-Why did you decide to study abroad for a semester?
-I wanted to spend a semester abroad because I think it’s a great opportunity offered by Universidad ORT Uruguay learn about other ways of life, not just academically, but also culturally. I thought it would broaden my horizons in many ways, and it certainly did.
-How did the opportunity to study at the University of Kent come about? Why did you choose to study there?
-Since I attended an English school from elementary school through my junior year of high school, I thought it would be a good idea to travel to England, mainly to brush up on the language I hadn’t spoken in many years; plus, the opportunity to visit a university there seemed very interesting to me.
Kent was one of my options, but it wasn't my first choice. I was really drawn to Manchester and Bath as well, but if I had the chance to choose again today, I wouldn't hesitate to go to Kent.
-What was it like to study at a world-class university?
-My experience in Kent was amazing. The university is excellent and very different from Universidad ORT Uruguay. The way classes are taught is quite different, which really caught my attention.
There were both theory and practical components in every subject. While there were no more than 20 of us in the practical sessions, there were sometimes over 100 of us in the theory classes.
The staff at Kent were very helpful. Although there are a lot of students, each one has a tutor who is there to make our stay more enjoyable and answer any questions we may have. The level of difficulty varied from subject to subject, but they were all of a similar standard.
-Did you feel ready to study there?
-Yes, I think that thanks to the preparation I did here, I was able to stay above the class average and still have time for other activities. The language didn't pose any problems for me when it came to attending class and studying.
-What was your life like during the exchange program? How long were you there?
-The semester I spent at Kent was pretty short. Classes started on September 10 and ended on December 14. I think because the term was so short, we moved through some courses more quickly, so I had to study a lot to keep up.
I lived on campus. It was really great because it was so different from what I was used to. To get to my classes, I had to walk anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on where I was going.
My classes were usually in the morning, so I'd wake up, have breakfast, go to class, then come back for lunch and take a little nap. In the afternoon, I'd often go to the campus gym and study for a while.
At dinnertime, we usually took turns cooking with two roommates who lived with me, and we ate together; after that, we’d always get together for a drink with my friends there or go out to do something.
There was plenty going on at night right on campus—at the bowling alley or in the various pubs—but since they eat dinner early and everything closes early, I was able to do everything.
On the weekends, I went out a couple of times to explore nearby places. Otherwise, we'd head down to Canterbury for lunch or to take a stroll.
-Besides studying, what did you do during your time abroad?
-In addition to studying, I went to the gym and made friends with people I saw every day, and we did all sorts of activities together. When the semester ended, my boyfriend came to visit me, and we spent 45 days traveling around Europe in a campervan, visiting lots of places.
-What kind of relationships did you form during your stay?
-During my stay, I met a lot of people from all over. I usually spent a lot of time with friends who lived on campus like me, but who weren't exchange students; instead, they had come to Kent to complete their entire degree program.
We formed a really nice group of more than 20 people. There were people of various nationalities among us, but most were English, from different parts of England. There was also a Greek man, two girls from Dubai, a Canadian, an Indian man, and a Jamaican woman.
I used to meet up with this group after class, since none of them were in my class and they were all freshmen.
On the other hand, every class required group projects, which gave me the chance to meet a lot of people and build strong relationships with them.
I can say that I made some very good friends, with whom I’m still in regular contact to this day.
-What stood out to you the most during your time abroad?
-That's a tough question to answer. There are so many things that caught my attention and really enriched me.
From the friendships I made with people who were very different from me—and much more open-minded—to the seamless operation of such a large university. The sheer variety of customs and cultures all in one place, and being able to get along with everyone, was truly impressive.
-How did this experience enrich you?
-I think I’ve grown a lot personally and have managed to question a lot of things I never thought would be possible at one point. I realized that beyond what we have in Uruguay, there’s a world out there where we can fit right in.
Interview published in 2014.