The ultimate culture, language, and seaside experience

In a semester abroad, meeting new friends, experiencing a new culture, maybe even a language, and studying at another university are all part of the program!

All MU bachelor students have the opportunity to do an exchange semester at one of our 18 partner universities- 4th semester BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management student Simon Hala shares his experience in the Yucatán.  

''I started my exchange semester in Mérida, Mexico after having had a Spanish language class for only one semester in Vienna. I thought that living in a Spanish-speaking environment would be the most efficient way of learning the language.

I had the choice of three partner universities in Hispanic countries and as a result of my fascination for the Mayan culture, I decided to apply for Universidad Anáhuac Mayab.

After visiting the office of my exchange university on the first day after my arrival in Mérida, I felt like taking the next plane back home. I realized that I had just moved to a country without really speaking the language, knowing where I would sleep the following 4 months, or how I would get anywhere – I just felt very lost.

At least I knew an Anáhuac Mayab student from her exchange year at MU, who really helped me a lot. Additionally, learning about culture shock in the Intercultural Communications class at MU gave me hope that I would start feeling at home soon - and it turned out to be that way. What followed were five months that I would never want to have missed!

This article would turn into a book if I would go into detail about all the great and exceptional memories I made in Mexico. Snorkelling with whale sharks was probably one of the greatest experiences I will have ever had. Watching flamingos, monkeys, crocodiles or giant iguanas from only a couple meters, as well as diving in the second largest reef in the world and seeing turtles, cat sharks, sting rays, eagle rays, king crabs and many more animals I only knew from watching National Geographic were things I would have never expected to experience in my life.

The incredible sites of former Mayan cultures with ruins of up to 50 meters in height and a history of many thousand years were just as beautiful as the “cenotes” (natural springs) which the Mayans thought were the gates to gods.

Of course, I spent a lot of time on the Caribbean beaches as well and visited Mexico City and the Pacific Ocean to go surfing. As I mentioned before, it is impossible to refer to all the great things I saw and amazing people I met during my exchange semester in this article without taking up way too much space!

Overall I learned a new language, about a new culture, saw amazing natural and manmade sites, had incredible experiences I never dreamed of, and met some of the most amazing people I have ever known.

I can only advise every student at Modul to take advantage of this great opportunity!''