Interview with Valeria

Hi, thanks for agreeing to

do this interview with me

First of all, how are you?

Could you tell me a bit about yourself?

Hi, hello!

My name is Valeria.

I'm 21 years old.

I'm from Mexico and ...

I'm currently a student
studying engineering in Exeter.

That's great.

Where exactly
in Mexico are you from?

I'm from a state
called Baja California Sur

and the city I'm from is called La Paz.

It's relatively small
compared to other Mexican cities.

But...

It's close to the Pacific Ocean.

As well as the beach.

It's very hot.

People usually get confused.

Because they think that...

Baja California Sur is close to Tijuana

and that we are bordering America.

But by car it would take around

20 hours to reach Tijuana.

So, we aren't
that close to America.

But people get that confused

because Mexico is a very big country.

I've seen photos

and it seems like a beautiful place.

Did you spend your whole life there

before coming to Devon?

Or have spent time in other countries?

No, I've always lived in Mexico.

But before coming to Devon

I lived in Cambridge

for around one year and a half.

But the only other
country that I've lived in

has been England.

How interesting.

And how long
have you lived in Devon?

In devon...

since I came to university.

So a year and a half.

That doesn't seem long.

So, how has been your experience

moving here been like?

I feel like

compared to other immigrants

that have only
experienced their own country...

where they were
born and grew up.

I had the opportunity
to live in Cambridge...

so I was already
familiar with English culture.

I was more used to the accent..

the language...

the food.

So, it wasn't a big cultural shock.

The fact that I was moving to Exeter.

Because I was already living in England.

And one could say my
mind was already 'programmed'...

to what England is.

So is there a specific reason

that made you decide to move here?

Or was it...

a decision made on a whim?

Well, no.

There were various factors

that played in me choosing Exeter.

Like all students,
I applied through UCAS.

And I chose five universities.

Exeter was actually my second choice.

But I decided to go with it

because I had an
academic scholarship in my first year.

And that assisted
my parents financially.

Another reason is that
it's a Russel Group university.

It's also fairly close to the beach.

Not quite as close as my city is

but it's relatively close
compared to other English cities.

And I've always lived close to the sea.

Though the weather isn't similar

but I'm still more in touch with nature

and that is really important to me.

So would you say you're happy

that you're now in Exeter

and not your initial choice in university?

Well I wouldn't
know how my life would be

if I were at a different university.

This is where I'm at right now.

But I am happy I came to Exeter.

I don't know if I'd be better
off if I went with my first choice.

But my experience at Exeter

despite its highs and lows

I have enjoyed the city.

That's good to hear.

Is there anything here you
initially found difficult adapting to

when you moved here from Mexico?

Or has it been a fairly easy process?

Well, no.

The first time I moved to England

I didn't know I was going to stay here

or study at a university here.

I came as an exchange student

in order to improve my English.

My education has
always given me the privilege

to be able to speak English

though not amazingly in Mexico.

My main goal in coming to
England was to improve my English.

I feel like that helped me

as it was my first time
living abroad for so long.

For almost seven months.

From there, I returned to Mexico.

Not knowing I would return to England.

I thought I would
continue my studies in Mexico.

The idea of returning to England

didn't feel so drastic because

I had already lived
here for almost seven months.

But the accent was initially difficult

because I was more
familiar with the American one.

and they are quite different.

Just like in any country,

certain places in England
speak differently to each other.

And that was difficult to get used to.

Another thing, is the houses here.

Because the houses
and streets in Europe

have been around for many years.

Whereas Mexico,
which is a fairly new country

is designed in a
different, modern way.

So adjusting to the difference in space

was also a drastic change for me.

The first time I came to England,

I stayed with a host family.

I'm not sure how to say it in Spanish

but it's where you are
welcomed into a family's home.

It takes place
through various companies.

The food was not the best because

I didn't get the
chance to have a host family

that was really involved with me

and cared about me
experiencing British culture.

I was just another box to tick.

So I ate food like frozen pizzas

or things I could have
bought in any supermarket.

So that was a pretty extreme change.

But as time passes,
you get used to it.

I imagine it was a big shift for you.

And was there anything specific here

that surprised you upon arrival?

In England? Or in Exeter?

In general, in England.

I guess every
country has its stereotypes.

The stereotype Mexico has of England

is that everything is very elegant...

and high-class

because of the accent here,

people are thought
to have certain values,

and behave a certain way.

But when I got here,

though some people fit the stereotype...

I realised it's just
like any other country...

where the stereotypes
about how people act or dress

are really exaggerated and untrue.

The way people welcomed me...

was a change I didn't expect...

because I had come with certain ideas.

My mind was prepared for one thing

but in the end,
it turned out differently.

I think my experience with
the host family also played a role.

But yeah, that was
one of the biggest changes.

Yeah, that sounds like a big change.

You mentioned you already
spoke English before coming here...

and you've since improved a lot.

Do you speak any other languages

apart from English and Spanish?

A bit of French, though not fluently.

I can understand what I'm hearing,

but I find it difficult to respond.

Do you think knowing other languages

has been beneficial
or not in living here?

It totally has.

Even if I moved back to Mexico,

my mindset has already changed.

You can empathise
more with other cultures

and understand better
where people are coming from.

Also, this is something
I like talking about because

I'm interested in psychology
and how the brain works.

I've read that when
you learn a new language,

your brain activates
areas that would be inactive

if you only speak one langauge.

Because of that,
you start thinking differently.

It also helps with other things

that are not directly related
to speaking another language.

Neurons get activated
in ways you wouldn't expect,

and it's really fascinating.

Certain people can switch languages

from one moment to the next,

or think in different languges

and see the world in different ways.

It's really interesting.

In my case as well,

learning another language
has changed my life and mind.

It's really fascinating.

Something I saw online
about the University here

is that only 13 percent
of the student body in Exeter

belongs to an ethnic minority.

So one could say,
there is not a lot diversity here.

Have you at any point felt
different or out of place here...

or even discriminated against?

I don't know if I'd
say discriminated exactly,

because I don't want
to victimise myself

over things that
could happen anywhere.

But the fact I study engineering

and there aren't many women that do.

Not just in Exeter, but in general.

That has been a factor.

That I mainly interact
with men in my course...

and I don't have many female
friends that study the same thing

or understand what I'm studying.

So I've had to find friends elsewhere,

because my degree
didn't really give me that.

Another thing about being international

and specifically Latina...

is that like I mentioned,

many countries have their stereotypes,

and the preconceptions
about Latinas aren't very nice.

I've felt that coming from Mexico,

people already had a certain
idea about me due to my background...

even without knowing me.

I don't feel like I lost friends

but it wasn't easy to make friends,

mainly because I came from Mexico

and didn't have the same
social status as some people.

Coming to a university like Exeter

where social status plays a big role

in who your friends are,
and how people view you,

and how you dress and how you speak.

It has a big effect.

I imagine it's not been easy
adapting to another country...

especially given the
preconceptions of people

that you've had to face.

On the other hand,

have you had experiences here

that have made you
feel welcomed and accepted?

Yes, of course.

Like I said,
I had to find those people myself

It's true that not
everything in life is just handed to you.

You have to go out and look for it.

But I have met some amazing people...

who aren't from my country or culture,

but who have been
through similar experiences

or simply share the
same priorities and goals as me.

Not just academically,

but also personally and emotionally.

The friends I've made thanks to Exeter

are definitely one of the
things that's make me happiest.

I'm glad I found something here

that I probably wouldn't
have found anywhere else.

Also, aside from
the international aspect,

the opportunity to do networking.

I feel like even
outside of the university,

there's so much to explore here
and many people are willing to help.

There are adults with experience,

who know the professional
field you to want to go into,

by seeing your excitement

and knowing you're a student
they're willing to give you their time

and answer any questions you have.

That's something I really appreciate.

So would you say,

the people here have
exceeded your expectations?

I'd say so.

Obviously, you have to look for

the kind of people you want in you life.

Being a certain way doesn't mean life

will automatically
send you the right people.

So you have to shift your mindset

based on what you want for yourself.

In order to find the kind
of people you want around you.

I don't know if that makes sense.

I mean that I had to
change how I was living

and how I saw my life,

and redirect myself
toward the place I wanted to be,

to go through the
process of accepting what I have,

get to know myself better,

and find people who also
contribute to what I want to achieve.

That makes a lot of sense.

So, would you say you form

part of a community or group here?

If so is it made up of
fellow migrants

or local English people here?

I'd say other migrants.

Definitely.

I have some English friends...

who are great friends

and I think we'll stay
in touch after university.

But most of my friends are international.

I think it's because we've
gone through similar experiences

and maybe our cultures are similar

even if we're from different countries.

So would you say
you feel more connected

to people from other countries,

to international people,

than to the locals here?

Yes.

So when it comes to identity,

do you feel your cultural identity

has changed since moving here?

Definitely.

One factor is that I'm living in Exeter.

But I feel that even
if I had stayed in Mexico,

my mindset and
personality would have changed.

Speaking specifically about culture,

being around people
from different parts of the world

has definitely changed
my perspective on things.

I consider Mexico to be a country

with a more closed mindset.

So breaking that barrier,

and not being afraid
to reach out to people

or trying to empathise more,

has really helped me through

having friends from different cultures.

My family and people close to me
also say that my accent has changed.

Because I happen to have friends from

different parts of Latin America,

and just by
speaking with them everyday

my accent has become more neutral.

But of course, I
still identify as Mexican.

I'm proud of my country and

I still have the same
values and roots I was raised with.

However, some
things have changed and

it's true that my personality
isn't exactly the same anymore.

Would you say these
changes are positive ones?

Yes, I think so.

I guess not everything has been perfect.

Maybe there are
things I'm not even aware of.

and maybe I express
things in ways that aren't always right.

But overall, I do feel
that the change has been positive.

Even though you've changed a lot,

is there something
specific from your Mexican culture

that you've tried to
maintain or share here in Devon?

I think maybe the food.

I mean, I'm not the best cook

but I do try to cook
what I would normally eat in Mexico,

along with other things
that aren't necessarily Mexican.

Also, if people ask questions
and are interested in my country...

I try to share my Mexican
culture to the best of my ability.

I also try to share things
that aren't widely known about Mexico...

on a global scale.

Or if I come across any stereotypes

that don't accurately
represent Mexican culture,

I try to correct them

and identify what Mexico means to me.

That makes sense.

On the other hand,

have you adopted
any British or local customs

since you arrived here?

I'm not sure.

Maybe when I speak in English.

In a way language shapes culture.

After spending time here

do you have a preference
between your hometown and here?

I don't think I see
myself living in either place fully.

I don't think I would go back
to spend my whole life in Mexico

or to build my career
and work experience there.

I'd like the chance to stay either

in England or somewhere else in Europe.

But I also don't see
myself staying in Exeter

after finishing my degree.

I feel like I would work
in a bigger more industrial city

with better work opportunities.

Especially in engineering...

I feel like there
are other English cities

that would benefit me more than Exeter.

But if I were to find an
opportunity and job around here,

or with the university,

of course I would
consider staying in Exeter.