Testimonial: Karla Co

Last June, a small groups of Southeast Asian students traveled to Barcelona to join the ESADE Summer School. For most of them it was their first time travelling such a long distance on their own. A new challenge in a different country far away from home. They all had an amazing experience and many lifechanging stories to tell. Here we bring back one of those stories.

We are please to introduce you to Karla Jeanne Co, a brilliant young professinal from the Philippines who did not hesitate to take this chance even tho the preparation time was short and she had to face some obstacles on the way.

Having been to Spain is the most unexpected thing that happened in my year! I’m planning to go to Europe by 2017, that’s in my bucket list! But never did I think of going there this soon by myself.

SENAI made it all happen. A mentor informed us about SENAI’s offer to Filipino students who may be interested in attending ESADE’s Summer school. And that’s it, everything happened so fast. Though with hesitation due to some responsibilities that I would leave, I pushed going there and decided to experience Europe’s people and culture.

You might be wondering how did I choose to come to Spain? Spain is a significant country for us Filipinos. Influencia hispanica en la cultura Filipina!! Philippines has so many traditions being adapted from the Spanish era. I definitely wanted to experience on a first hand basis where our culture rooted from.

This one month experience in BCN (Barcelona) is the best so far! I’ve been to different countries but my Summer School experience is the best one. Imagine being with different nationalities of your age with different perspectives-Asians, European, Americans! What a diverse group! For a month, I was able to experience the world through my classmates and friends. I knew and understand each other’s culture and respect each other’s point-of-views and differences.
Having this opportunity, amid all else, made me knew my real self better. I’ve learned many matters I didn’t know about myself before. It made me more self-dependent, more sociable, it also increased my self-esteem. These are all additional learning not only from the classroom but in life.

Besides, ESADE Business School with their International Business program has a line- of-sight type of curriculum. The lessons on every course were very well planned. The activities and exposures were also helpful to the development of understanding. I like how the cases let me know about the real situation behind every famous international brands from Spain like FC Barcelona, Freinexet, Mango and Zara. It’s amazing how ESADE planned this Summer program! It’s nice that they thought of organizing a program that could bring in people around the globe! This is the best Summer in July of my life! (Which is unusual for me because July is a rainy season in the Philippines.)

SENAI on the other hand is a very reliable consultancy. SENAI has a very efficient team and I must say I couldn’t go to Spain without them. They assisted me from the very basic requirements up to the preparation going to ESADE. They made sure that I didn’t miss anything. Everything is well planned from here in the Philippines up to me being there in Spain. They accommodated me on what I need, my plane ticket, visa, place to stay-in, class schedule, and even tips on where to go and what to try. SENAI also made sure that everyone of us from Southeast Asia are comfortable and enjoy our stay in Spain so much!

Over-all I like the people in Spain, Paella, Sangria and Gaudi!! I also love how they apply the “Live and let live!” kind of living. If you’re planning to visit Spain soon, I recommend you to be yourself. It’s better to enjoy every single moment in Spain. Learn as much as you could more than the lessons in classroom. Grab every opportunity you’ll have there. Try everything but be careful. Enjoy Spain!

After that great month in Spain, Karla is back in Manila and back to her job but with a new prespective and wider horizons. She still plans that trip to Europe in 2017, but if another chance like this Summer School show up she will take it, after all, this was her best summer so far.

Would you like to know where and how can you experience your next summer? do not hesitate to contact us! info@senaistudyabroad.com

The best summer of your life is waiting for you!

Testimonial: Yeong Num Yam about Spain: "Best summer in my life"

Last June, a small groups of Southeast Asian students traveled to Barcelona to join the ESADE Summer School. For most of them it was their first time travelling such a long distance on their own. A new challenge in a different country far away from home. They all had an amazing experience and many lifechanging stories to tell. Here we bring back one of those stories.

We are please to introduce you to Yeong Yun Nam, who dropped her plans to climb Mount Kinabalu in her home country, Malaysia, to see fulfilled her dream to travel to Spain and learn first hand about a country she is passionate about. 

Summer Program Experience in Barcelona, Spain (July 2015)

First of all, I never planned a visit to Spain this summer. Actually, I had another plan: to climb the highest mountain of Southeast Asia - Mount Kota Kinabalu this July with my best friends. That activity plan was made since one year ago, however things always happen out of the plan!
At the end of May, I received an email from my Spanish lecturer about the scholarship from SENAI to study abroad at Barcelona, Spain, for one month in the summer this year. I had some hard times to struggle and decide to abandon my original trip.

In Malaysia, Spain is not as popular as countries like UK, US or Australia when coming to the choice of tourism or study abroad. However, I have been influenced by Spain since young, from architectural, cultural to sport activities (specially football) and these are the reasons I chose to learn Spanish as my foreign language option during my university. After taking the Spanish language course (basic level), my understanding of Spain and Spanish culture became deeper and hence going to Spain became an important thing to do in my dream-list. However, going to study at Spain will definitely increase my financial burden. When I received the news of having the chance to go to join a summer program in Barcelona, I definitely did not hesitate to let go of the chance to fulfill my dream. No doubt, I would say that this July is the best summer in my life so far with the incredible international experience.

If you ask me how to define my international experience, I would say that is a bit difficult to explain in only one or two words. My international experience is more like a process or journey of learning and self-development from domestic to global eyesight. The international experience I have gained started once I departed from the airport. I learned to be independent, because this was the first time I traveled alone to such a long journey (approximately 20 hours) and definitely I success to reach the destination safe and sound!
Besides, my international experience is also about to meet people from all over the world and make friends! I have met many people from different places whose have shared their stories of their countries to me and in exchange I have shared the stories of mine too! Nevertheless, I have experience the difference of education system and teaching style in international level. Therefore, with this opportunity, I think that I have gained a better me with wider eyesight and brighter mind! I believe that I have gained the confidence in myself that my future should not only limit in our home country.
The biggest joy for me in this summer program is to experience the differences between Spain and Malaysia. Cultural difference for example the Spanish style of greetings, the cuisine and eating habits, the chillax lifestyle (siesta and fiesta) have impressed me a lots! Nevertheless, the university experience in Spain is totally difference from my university in Malaysia too! The size of campus which I entered is not that huge if compared with my campus in Malaysia but the design of buildings and facilities is new, modern and more up-to-date than my own university. The teaching style of professors in ESADE, Spain, is different from my previous professors in Malaysia. For instance, the professor of one of my courses -intercultural communication- knew the names of all students in the first lesson and he knew our strengths and weaknesses very well which he managed to pinpoint our flaws, keep encouraged and improved us and made us be more confident after the end of lessons. We even have our own video which recorded our performance in presentations from the first lesson to the final lesson. I can feel like having a personal coach which I've never experienced in my own university. In the university in Spain, I experienced the difference of learning style between the students of western countries and eastern countries (Asia). Western students are more active in class whereas the Asian students are more passive. This is well presented during the lessons as western students are more energetic in participating in class by asking and answering the questions from professors whereas the eastern students usually like to be listeners and seldom willing to give opinions. Their way of learning and passion in study have impressed me and made me learn from them.

After staying one month in Spain, I have truly lived the local life there, and there are things I love the most and the least about Spain. I am thankful that I was staying in Sant Cugat, a small town, instead of the city center of Barcelona because the small town is more peaceful, comfortable and suitable for studying and living than the overwhelming tourist hotspot in Barcelona. Talking about my favorites of Spain, first of all, I love their spirit of work hard, play hard, which make them being serious during work times but not forget to relax during weekend or off working times.

This is much different from the working culture in Malaysia or Singapore that is always hectic until work life imbalance. Nonetheless, the circumstances of Barcelona which surrounded by the richness of arts and histories of Catalonia or Spain are always amazing and my favorite of all times. The friendliness of local people there will make you feel so warm and always welcome. Many people have warned me about the ‘professionalism’ of pickpockets but if you are alert enough then you need not to worry much.

This experience is somehow challenging me and it has taught me how to face those challenges. First of all, to accept the offer of scholarship to join the summer program has taught me how to face time constraint. During the period of scholarship announcement, it was my final exam period in my university. I have to be multitasking, studied for exam and prepared for Barcelona in only 2 weeks.  I am very lucky to have the assistances from SENAI team during that time which guided me all the times, help me in transportations, accommodations and many things else in the limited times. Not forget to thank to the diplomacy of Malaysia government with European Union which allow Malaysian citizen travel to EU without visa for 90 days. This had saved my time on the procedure of application of visa.
Besides, I have faced my mental preparation problems. As I mentioned above, this is my first overseas long haul journey. I felt very excited and adventurous at first but also felt worried after that because I was the only one travel all along from Malaysia to the other side of the globe. Again, the professionalism of SENAI team has soothed and calmed me a lots by their prompt response all the times. Their efficiency and effectiveness in answering all my questions on email and through Skype have made me felt confidence and reliable on them. Without their helps I would not have such pleasure experience study abroad in Spain! After I’m back in my country, many peoples are curious and have asked me about my study experience in Spain and I would definitely recommend SENAI to them!

When I had to leave, I was so happy to return home but so depressed to be leaving such an amazing and incredible city. Barcelona, will always have a special place in my heart and I cannot wait to return! I am so thankful for the supports from my family, my teachers, my friends and my beloved SENAI team members. After all, I would like to give some words to any students who wish to study in Spain but still struggling, do not hesitate to give yourself a chance to gain a wonderful lifetime experience and with the help of SENAI team of course. Need not to worry about pickpocket, Barcelona is a safe and beautiful city!

After her summer in Barcelona, Eunice has found a new prespective. She would like to finish her studies and apply for a master degree in the EU, maybe Spain is the country of her choice, and then SENAI team will be there to support her at any time. Good luck dear!

And you? what are you waiting for? Spain awaits you!

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