STUDENT FROM ABROAD

DANIEL BEJARANO, 24 YEARS OLD CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I come from a small city called Aguascalientes, located in the northcentral region of Mexico.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE NETHERLANDS?

I graduated with my bachelor’s in 2021 and started working in a construction company. While I was working, I became aware that I wanted to do something more with my life than just work. I realised that I wanted to contribute to help solving real-world problems for the future, but also wanted to learn about different cultures and countries around the world. So, I started looking, and based on ranking and opportunities for scholarships I found the UT. The opportunity came to study for my master’s and specialized in Water Management and Engineering and so I took it.

WHAT DO YOU DO HERE BESIDES STUDYING?

Well, if I could summarize, I would say on Tuesday I go to events that Ludica organises even if I’m not good at tennis, I just like to meet new people. On Wednesday I train volleyball at Harambee currently I’m part of the team “Tent”. On Thursdays I often go with my friends from my master to the bar of ConcepT at the university. All these activities are related to associations of the university which are great for meeting people and finding new friends. Outside of the university, I go out with my international housemates and Dutch friends to the city center and some weekends I travel around Europe to see and experience new places.

WHAT DID YOU NOTICE WHEN MOVING TO THE NETHERLANDS?

It is such a 360 coming from Mexico, everything looks more organised and cleaner. It was so fun and nice to see lots of people riding their bikes and of course struggling to find my own. Getting used to wintertime and barely seeing the sun for two weeks was new to me but also had fun living like that for the first time. I thought I liked the cold weather but now I think of myself as more of the warm type of person as here the temperatures are lower than I’m used to and you can’t go out without a jacket for most of the year.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH NEW STUDENTS?

The UT and the Netherlands will welcome you with open arms, but you must put effort into it. You will have to come openminded, ready to face new challenges and new experiences. Sometimes you will feel that you are not up to the level or that you don’t fit in, but stay focused and motivated. I think there is a place for everyone here even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Enjoy everything you can for as long as it is possible because time goes fast, and people tend to be happier when they look back and think about the things they dared to do even if it did not work out than the things they didn’t do at all.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STUDYING ABROAD?

For sure! I think being abroad puts you in a situation where you grow and develop more as a person. You get to experience the whole culture of a different country and learn new ways to see life itself. In a way, you also learn to appreciate your own culture more. You learn to develop your social skills and even more so because you are speaking a different language. It’s a unique experience that can’t be explained, you must live it.