My University

The Tec de Monterrey: allegedly the most expensive university in Latin America. With several locations in Mexico and dedicated students, it's among the best in the country. Those who wish to study here contend with fierce competition and pay about 14,000 euros per year. And then there’s me, who gets to experience an entirely new campus; the TU Dresden could never compete with this (in terms of appearance). Our campus is located in the southern part of the city, and it takes about 1-1.5 hours to reach the city center. The Tlalpan neighborhood isn't particularly fancy or gentrified, which makes the university stand out even more.

Everything is fenced in, and there are security guards (some even armed) at all entrances, which can feel strange at first. However, it also ensures that you can move around freely and feel safe when carrying your valuables. Unfortunately, that’s not entirely the case outside on the street.

The campus is super modern, having been almost completely rebuilt in 2017, though for a sad reason: three Tec students lost their lives during a particularly strong earthquake, which is why no expense was spared to make everything earthquake-proof. Yet, we learn on the very first day how to behave in case of emergencies.

The main buildings are just a few minutes apart and surrounded by a lot of greenery. There are seating areas everywhere. There’s even a small lake that somehow collects water and uses it for toilet flushing. Everything is designed to be very sustainable; we separate our waste more rigorously than the Germans, and the elevator doesn’t go to the first floor because it uses more energy than walking up. Plus, there are no sugary snacks in the numerous vending machines. Very interesting.

What I don’t quite understand, however, is the menu of our in-house Starbucks, which is, of course, full of sugar. Generally, there’s everything one could wish for: crêpes, Subway sandwiches, Tim Hortons, smoothie bars, Chinese food, raw foods, fast food, and so much that I haven't even discovered yet and could never try everything.

What quickly becomes my favorite food is a small stand with Mexican cuisine called Taki or something. I don’t find it exceptionally delicious, but the man who works there is an absolute gem. When I tell him that I don't know any Mexican food yet, he becomes totally excited and wants to explain the entire menu to me. By the second time, he simply remembers my name, how sweet. He gives me enchiladas with my first chicken in six years (tastes okay, just dying from spiciness; he specifically says, “no pica”) and tacos dorados. Definitely a great way to slowly get accustomed to everything. It’s all very interesting, and it costs about 3-4 euros for a whole meal! Local food is also cheap in supermarkets, while everything international is just slightly cheaper than at home. Perhaps I’ll make another entry about the food here when I feel like I have a grip on what everything is.

There are also banks and ATMs on campus, a medical center with doctors for any illnesses, a shop for university apparel, a kind of dollar store, and other shops. I feel like a spoiled princess here. What stands out to me, though, is how incredibly much staff there is around. No wonder, it takes so many people to maintain this perfect image. Everyone is very polite and treats me not at all like a little student. It feels quite strange.

As for the buildings, I can let the photos speak for themselves. The library, as the heart of the university, is so cool. At the very top, you can look out over the city from a terrace. I see no end; neighborhoods stretch out in all directions up to the mountains.

For some buildings, there are completely secured, also fenced-off pathways through the streets. Only the sports facilities are a bit further away; one is right next to my home, how convenient. Here, of course, there are all the sports you could wish for, including several gyms with sports classes, tennis, what seems like a swimming pool somewhere, and a grill area. Let’s see where my volleyball and dance classes will take place. And if it’s too far or you feel too insecure, you can just take the university bus that circulates between the different campuses.

This is probably all I notice for now, a bit crazy, right? I’m curious if the quality of the university courses will meet these external expectations.