"I want to thank the Office of International Programs very much for their great help and for letting me have the opportunity of spending a great semester at UTPA! Not only did I learn a lot in the classes I took, I also got to know the Rio Grande Valley, the Tex-Mex culture, and the state of Texas. But the most important aspects were (and still are) the many nice people I met during my stay in Edinburg, including students, teachers, roommates and neighbours. Everybody was very friendly and welcoming. I had a very good time, and I can only advise everybody to attend such a program and to experience all the positive things I did!"
Filip Raseta
Bordeaux, France
"I really enjoy being in the Valley, the weather is nice, people are friendly and parties are awesome. The classes are interesting and the teachers are really passionate. I think I will be back very soon. Thank you."
Aggun Catak
Turkey
My name is Aygun Catak and I am a Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) at The University of Texas-Pan American for the 2006 - 2007 academic year. Before I come here, I was wondering about the adaptation process since I am from Turkey which is a totally different culture and different country from US. But I found an incredible atmosphere here that I sometimes forgot that I am not in my home country. My dual position as an exchange student and at the same time as an instructor of Turkish language gave me the opportunity to have wonderful experiences. First of all, as an exchange student, I would not be able to be so successful in my courses and academic processes without the great help of all the staff of The Office of International Programs. During the semester we, as exchange students, are given lots of activities to spend time and be familiar with the environment such as international parties, free movie nights with free food of course and thanks to all of them that I have never felt alone.
As a FLTA of Turkish language, I have tried to share what I know about my culture and my language and I have tried to learn as much as I can about all the different languages and cultures. As a cultural ambassador, I sold nothing but the idea of tolerance and respect between different cultures and I gained a deeper perspective on American culture, people and language. Actually the most different thing I have experienced in this special place, the Valley, is that I saw the great harmonization of people and cultures and I believe that this place is really special in terms of cultural diversity.
Philip Lucas Schwartz
Luneberg, Germany
As soon as I learned I got chosen to spend a semester abroad at UTPA I got excited a lot but also insecure at the same time. Spending almost half a year abroad about 5,000 miles away from home sounds like an amazing opportunity and experience, but I was also worried about certain things. Due to my disability, I was concerned whether everything would work out well.
My concerns turned out to be baseless. The Office of International Programs organized everything very well.
There was always a person to talk to. Help was readily available and I enjoyed the very warm welcome. Everybody was friendly and open-minded. I had great fun at the events and get-togethers which the Office of International Programs set up during the semester. I am also more than happy that I made friends so quickly. Therefore, I also would like to thank especially my Mexican friends for all the help and fun we had together. Thanks to all for the amazing experience…that surely changed my life.
The Office of International Programs has to keep up the good work! Once again, thank you guys for enabling me to take part in this amazing program.
To my Mexican friends: Gracias a todos Ustedes me la pase muy bien. Es una lastima verlos marchar. Nunca los voy a olvidar, los voy a extranar. Adios amigos, espero verlos de nuevo muy pronto...
Ibrahem Bani Abdo
Jordan
My name is Ibrahem Bani Abdo , a Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) from Jordan, an international graduate student in Linguistics here UTPA , and a part-time instructor of Arabic at UTPA . My experience attending, teaching, and living here in the UTPA community has been excellent. First of all, the courses I have taken as a graduate student have been taught by great teachers who care and know their material well. I have even developed strong professional relationships with my teachers, and they are always eager to visit with me and talk to me if I have any questions.
As an instructor teaching Arabic on campus, it has been a pleasure to educate the students and culture here about my home country, that is, Jordan, and the specific circumstances behind Jordan and the language that the people primarily speak (Arabic). The living situation at UTPA has also been great. In the university apartment complex called " Bronc Village ", I have made good friends and have found it to be a wonderful place to meet people and share experiences with people from countries all around the globe.
In short, UTPA has been a superb chapter in my life, and I would recommend anyone, from any country, to attend or teach here, as the cultural diversity, people, and location all make this place a worthwhile place to dedicate one's academic years.
Thank you very much.
Yu Fei
Ocean University, China
My name is Yu Fei, an exchange student from Ocean University of China. I’m majoring in American and British literature and will get my master degree in June 2007. I’ve been in UTPA from August 17th 2006 as a visiting student with the purpose of teaching Chinese and learning Spanish.
During the process of teaching, I had lots of fun with my students. They feel interested about Chinese Culture and language. Although, there are some similarities and differences between Chinese and American culture, yet we have a wonderful time together, and became good friends. It seems like I’m in my home country and with lots of new friends around me who are really friendly and kindly. I really enjoy this kind of experience and it will benefit for my whole life.
Elvia Susana Prieto
Torreón, México
The semester here at the University of Texas-Pan American was one of my best semesters from my career. I learned different things from each culture and what they were like. I really liked that we had several opportunities to get together with all the exchange students and know more about each other. And around school I was also able to know other people from different countries. I did enjoy my stay here because the city is very calm which was something I did liked and the people are really helpful.
Cecilia Tauzin French Exchange Student from the Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3, France
When I knew I was selected to study at UTPA, I was excited. I was looking forward to discovering a brand new country, a brand new culture and of course, make new friends. The first time I entered the university, it was to go to the Office of International Programs. We didn’t know anybody. I was stricken by the warmth of the staff there – all were so friendly. It felt like home! I am so thankful because every time we have a problem or a question, I know that there will be people willing to help me out, always with a smile! Then, the courses here in UTPA are interesting, as far as business and management are concerned. I learned a lot and on regular basis, which is good and different from what I was used to in France. We are taught subjects in a different way, with many team work projects and presentations, which made me learn a lot. And last but not least, I met incredible people here and from all around the world: Mexicans, Germans, a Saudi Arabian and a Tanzanian. Thanks to them, I had lots of fun. We had a great time together, sharing and discovering each other’s cultures and habits. This experience as a whole has enriched me, both in a human and professional way. It was really self-fulfilling for me. I encourage every student to go study abroad because it is an opportunity of a lifetime. It opens your mind and you see things differently after such an experience.
Pauline Villar French Exchange Student from the Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3, France
“The experience I achieved by participating in the exchange program between my French University and that of UTPA was amazing! I had a great time at UTPA because I met wonderful people here. I liked the Valley a lot, and it was so different!
I think I should have applied for a longer period (more than one semester!) because such experience changes your life and your mind. I would like to encourage students to study abroad, they will never regret it!"
Aurelie Letellier
French Exchange Student from the Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3, France
"Being an exchange student here in UTPA has opened my mind a lot. I have discovered new horizons and cultures, studied very interesting classes and made a lot of wonderful friends. That is what I would call: a very rich experience, and I really enjoy it!!"
Emilie Garcia
French Exchange Student from the Université Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3, France
"My experience in Texas was amazing! I think that my semester in Panam was very good and thanks to all the staff who really helped us in everything...The Office International Programs is very competent and it was good to feel that everybody was so present and helpful.. Thank you so much!
As for the courses, I liked the classes, and the professors were really nice and helpful, too.
I'm really glad to have been able to discover such a different culture and meet so many nice people. I had a good time here and thanks to all these people who tried to make us happy and to help us to see the maximum of things here. I hope to come back soon!"
Juan Enrique Gomez Herrera
Tec de Monterrey, Campus Tampico
"I have been having good times here at Pan Am, and also at the same time getting more skills that I would have never get if I haven't came here."
Francisco Rivas Madero
Tec de Monterrey, Campus Tampico
I will like to thank all of you too, for your time and your dedication. My experience in panam was really fun, it was very good and it did much well to me. The people were very kind, the classes were really interesting and the labs were great there. I really feel it was a value added to my life.
Thank you.
Ali Lasloom
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program from Saudi Arabia
“I am Ali Lasloom from Saudi Arabia. I don't know from where I should start. The University of Texas-Pan American ( UTPA) is one of the greatest universities I have known. UTPA has great professors and they are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. At the beginning, it was difficult for me but I really appreciate the role of the Office of International Programs for arranging meetings for the exchange students and create a friendly environment, which allowed us to know each other very well. I gained a lot of experience from UTPA, especially in education. UTPA also gave me an opportunity to meet people from many countries of the world and learn about their culture. Other then meeting people from USA, of course. I met people from China, Tanzania, Germany, France, Bahrain, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Mexico, Kenya and many more. I owe a special thanks to UTPA for the rest of my life and especially to the Office of International Programs for always being there to help.”
Boniphace Makene
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program from Tanzania
“Being a Fulbright at a university in the U.S. is a privilege that many people miss! I managed to be among the few who enjoyed this privilege by Teaching Swahili Language and African Culture at The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) in the year 2005/06. My teaching experience at UTPA opened my mind and shaped my understanding especially on issues related to culture and international relations. UTPA is a potential multicultural university. Its student’s and staffs are very cooperative. They are ready to learn new things and they are open minded in things happening outside the United States. There is more need for this university to increase contact and relations with universities from Africa as it does to other continents. I will always love to be UTPA alumnae.”
Profesora Nora Guzmán Spanish Department from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)-Campus Monterrey
“Mi experiencia en Pan Am fue excelente, principalmente porque los estudiantes son muy trabajadores y respetuosos. Los llevo en un lugar especial en mi corazón.
Me encantó trabajar con alumnos hispanos que además comparten la cultura estadounidense, pude constatar que tienen lo mejor de las dos experiencias culturales…
A todos los profesores colegas del departamento de Modern Languages y a las secretarias, así como a todas las amigas de la oficina de Programas Internacionales fue un gusto trabajar en Pan Am.”
