Our Campus as an Intercultural Scenario

This is Mariana Iveth Baños López, a student of Nutrition and Dietetics from the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. 

Since she was a child, one of her goals was to leave Mexico and broaden her horizons and vision of other Latin American countries, which led her to decide to visit Colombia. During her exchange at Javeriana, Mariana had the opportunity to explore new academic, social, cultural, and tourist environments. 

Upon her arrival in the country, Mariana visited several tourist spots and highlighted the Rosario Islands in Cartagena, saying, “That’s my favorite place; the water is beautiful.” In Bogotá, she took the famous tour of La Candelaria; in Zipaquirá, she visited the Salt Cathedral, recognized as a historical, cultural, and religious heritage site of the nation; and finally, the Guatavita Lagoon. 

Socially, Mariana "broke the ice" many times with Colombians, especially in elective classes and cultural events. “They would chat with me, and I had fun; I laughed,” she said. Additionally, she made friends with other exchange students from Finland, Japan, Italy, and Belgium, with whom she built wonderful friendships and learned about their languages and various cultural expressions, particularly highlighting Colombian phrases such as “Qué chimba” and “Bacano.” 

Her academic process was a significant challenge for her, as the study and learning dynamics were much faster-paced compared to the Mexican educational system. However, despite the difficulties, Mariana managed to learn about Colombian nutrition and dietetics policies and laws. 

For Mariana, her exchange experience at Javeriana was enriching in many ways, especially highlighting the quality and academic level of her professors and peers, as well as the campus, which offered recreational and leisure spaces like the library and gym. 

“As an exchange student from the Universidad Veracruzana in the Faculty of Nutrition, I definitely recommend coming to study at Javeriana. Despite the challenges and difficulties I faced, the experience of participating in international mobility will give you a wealth of wisdom and experience,” she concluded.