UQ Program: Bachelor of Arts
Monterrey is a great city. You will have fun going on exchange there. The people are fun, there is plenty to do, and the proximity of accommodation to the university creates an urban student community, making walking to parties and friends’ houses easy. It’s picturesque, surrounded by mountains with plenty of outdoor activities and bars. They’re big on attendance and homework, but you’ll be able to cope with the workload more than easily while still getting a lot of fun times and socialising in.
All that said, it is not the Monterrey of 5 years ago. It is not what you would call an entirely safe city. Monterrey is 200 kilometres south of the Mexico/USA border, which is its biggest problem. When I was there, January to May 2010, rival cartels and criminal groups were, and still are fighting over the drug routes to the United States. The fighting intensified during the semester. I would be lying if I said I didn’t get used to the sound of gunfire, or news of crazy things happening over night. Robberies occurred, people were arrested without reason, and occasionally you’d see something you wished you hadn’t.
I feel it’s important for me to mention those things, but also that I had an amazing experience. I met wonderful people, I went to wonderful places, and with a bit of common sense I managed to avoid most major possible problems. I don’t want to scare you out of going to Tec de Monterrey, but I don’t want you going there without knowing what’s going on. Personally, I would have stayed another semester if I didn’t have pressing concerns in Australia. Again, I had a brilliant time. If you have any questions about anything, places to go, accommodation, prices, whatever tickles your fancy, contact me on samuel.wintergreenarthur@uq.edu.au.