Interview about Universidad EAFIT

INTERVIEW CLIO STUDY ABROAD:

More info about the university: http://www.eafit.edu.co/

How did you find where to spend your semester abroad? How did the application go? Was it your first choice?

I decided to go abroad as a freemover, meaning that I had organize my stay abroad by myself and apply directly to the university of my choice. I wanted to improve my Spanish and learn more about Latin America, furthermore I heard amazing things about Colombia and especially Medellín. So when a friend recommended Universidad EAFIT to me, I searched for more information online and sent an email to their exchange office. The application process as a freemover turned out to be simple and the staff at EAFIT was extremely helpful. Applying as a freemover means that you do not have anything to do with the Mobility Office anymore, the application is directly sent to the chosen university, which can make things a lot easier and less complicated. However, I definitely recommend a close coordination with the Study Advisors and the Board of Examiners in order to make sure that courses will be recognized later. As a freemover you are also not entitled to funding such as Marco Polo or Erasmus and might have to pay tuition fees at the host university. Looking for external funding or scholarships is therefore recommendable.

What were the requirements for you to go to this place?

EAFIT offers both English and Spanish courses. Since I wanted to take courses in Spanish, a B1 level was required. There are no language requirements if only English courses are chosen.

What was/is your favourite sightseeing spot there?

Medellín itself does not have many specific sightseeing spots, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the city in general. I also recommend visiting Comuna 13, a neighborhood which was once dangerous and has changed a lot during the past few years. They have beautiful street art and you can learn a lot about the recent history of Medellín and how it has changed. Around Medellín I recommend visiting Guatapé and the Coffee region, especially the small town of Salento.

What was/is your favourite local food there? Are there any surprising dishes we need to know about?

Typical Colombian food includes a lot of meat and I am a vegetarian, so I can’t really tell you much about it. But I enjoyed arepa (corn bread) and patacones (fried plantains). Also Colombian coffee is very good and the variety of fruits is incredible!

Were/are there many green spaces to relax, such as cool parks?

The campus of the university is designed as a park with many green areas and a lot of different plants and even animals. Apart from that (and perhaps the botanical garden) the city does not have many green spaces. A bit outside the city you can find mountains and woods to go hiking though.

Did/do you practice any sports or were you active in other associations there?

I signed up for the gym on campus and took Salsa classes. Many other exchange students also joined one of the university sports teams. I also joined the university choir, which was another great opportunity to meet new people.

Did/do you go out a lot? Where should we definitely go?

Medellín is great for going out, there are many nice restaurants, bars and clubs, especially around the area called Parque Lleras in Poblado. You can find any kind of music, but in most of the clubs they will play reggaeton. I also recommend going to a Salsa bar to improve your Salsa skills!

What did/do you think of the university? The location? The campus? The buildings? The teachers? The study programme? Was the university helpful to international students?

EAFIT University has an amazing campus with very modern buildings. It is located in Poblado, the wealthiest area of Medellín. All of my teachers were very nice and helpful, which helped me especially in the beginning, because my Spanish was not very good when I arrived. Also other Colombian students were very helpful in explaining things and helping with assignments. The exchange office was very helpful to international students and very well organized. I was able to choose my courses from any faculty, so I was able to choose courses that really interested me.

How did/does it go financially? The accommodation (provided by the university or not)? Food? Public transport?

Colombia is generally cheap, especially when it comes to accommodation, food and public transport. However, there are huge differences and prices in Poblado (where the university is located) are much higher compared to other areas of the city. The same goes for restaurants and supermarkets. Living close to the university can therefore be convenient but also a lot more expensive compared to other neighborhoods. The university does not provide accomodation but the exchange office can assist in finding something. For a room in Poblado you will pay around 200-300€, in other neighborhoods from 150€ onwards. Lunch at the university will be around 2€, dinner in a good restaurant in Poblado 6-8€, in cheaper restaurants around 3-4€. Busses or Metro cost around 50ct, Taxi 2-3€ depending on the distance.

What did/do you think of the workload (compared to the RUG)?

I took 5 courses (=30 ECTS) which was definitely doable. The work is less intense compared to the RUG, with less readings and more group work, assignments and presentations. I took a course in development economics, which required a lot of background knowledge in economics and statistics (which I did not have) so the workload for this course was quite high for me. All the other courses did not require a lot of preparation and only some effort for final projects.

Did/do you meet many international students? Was there an international environment or did/do you really need knowledge of the national language?

We were around 150 exchange students from all over the world and there were some activities to get to know each other, so I knew many of the other internationals and spent a lot of time with them. Unfortunately, the main language among the exchange students was English, as .many of the exchange students spoke little or no Spanish.  Also most of the Colombian students at EAFIT speak English  very well, so it was almost difficult to create an environment in which I was forced to speak Spanish (which was one of my main goals of my semester abroad).

What was the most surprising thing about this new culture?

Not necessarily surprising, but I really enjoyed spending time with Colombians, as they are very open and friendly, have a very positive attitude and enjoy life.

What is the funniest word you learned in the new language?

Empalagado - when something is way too sweet to eat. Can easily happen with many of the Colombian sweets!

Any last words or quotes that describe your exchange perfectly?

Medellín is an amazing city for a semester abroad and for me it was the best decision to organize my stay abroad individually as a freemover!

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