Music Credits:

Intro and Outro Song –

Sequential Elements

Written By Sander Kalmeijer

Performed By The Galaxy News

TRANSCRIPT:

[Evelyn Gallardo]: Hello Runners! Welcome to this first episode of Runner Abroad, by The Runner On Air. In this series, we will be talking about the different aspects of studying abroad. I am your host Evelyn Gallardo and I will be accompanied by Melisa Magaña in this episode. We spoke to Gabriela Ochoa, advisor for the international students and programs. She is a former CSU Bakersfield student who also studied abroad. She opened up about her experience as an abroad student and the challenges she encountered throughout her academic journey. Here is what Gabriela shared:

[Gabriela Ochoa]: My Name is Gabriela Ochoa. Everybody calls me Gaby here at the University. I am an academic advisor for International students. So I advise International students that come from other countries to CSUB. I also help with I20’s, basically making sure students that are coming from another country to the United States [to] comply with US Immigration laws. So I make sure they maintain status while they’re here. I also teach a CSUB 1029 class. That’s kind of my involvement and the reason why I became involved with this office, or even got hired on at the beginning of my career was because of my study abroad experience when I was a student.

[Melisa Magaña]: So, you are a professor here as well at CSUB?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Yes.

[Melisa Magaña]: How many years have you been a professor here?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: I only teach one class, I think this is my fifth year teaching a class. It’s only every Fall semester, but it’s pretty cool because I get to [kinda] talk to them a little bit about my experience studying abroad; but also as a first generation college student, I know where most of our students are because we do have a big population of first time college students. So, I feel like I fit in that shoe as well and it’s really cool to be able to reach out to them and kind of let them know [like] hey these are all the opportunities [one] that the university offers and [two] if you wanted to expand and do something else you could definitely go and study as well, as part of your college experience.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: So we know you also studied abroad, where did you study?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Yeah, so when I was a student my junior year I ended up going to Spain. I studied abroad in Universidad Complutense de Madrid. So I lived in Madrid for the whole academic year. And because of my study abroad experience there, typically you normally go for the whole semester or for the whole year, through the program that I did, I think you could do a semester now. I went in minoring in Spanish, but after my first semester I was done with my minor so I was like okay I wanna stay here longer. I ended up majoring in Spanish. So, I ended up when I came back, finishing my Spanish degree and then I also majored in in Sociology. So within the four years that I went to school, I ended up getting two degrees. Studying abroad helped me do both degrees, which is a misconception and that one of the things that

 I like to tell students is: people think or students think that if you study abroad you’re going to be delaying your graduation and it’s not always that. If you plan ahead of time, you can actually sometimes even finish two degrees within the four years.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: Would you recommend studying abroad to students?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Yes, we have a population of students at CSUB– what we call “commuter students”– that come from nearby towns, sometimes just driving in and out and a lot of the times when students do that they miss out on the college per se experience. In my conversations with students in my CSUB 1029 classes, especially reading some of their responses to some of the assignments, a lot of them didn’t choose CSUB to be the first choice and sometimes students end up picking CSUB for the comfort of how close it is. I think for my personal experience I ended up choosing CSUB for that reason but I ended up falling in love with it and then to add on top of that study abroad experience really gave me that additional experience that I wouldn’t have been able to do if I would have gone to a UC or– not that they don’t have those programs– the cost of it is so much more. When students study abroad here at CSUB [one] the cost of attendance is a lot cheaper and when you study abroad it costs the same as if you were coming to CSUB. So, that’s one of the things I like to tell students about if anybody is interested in going. Do I recommend it? Strongly. I think it was the best experience of my life so far. Not only was I able to be a student and study there. While I was there I also got to travel. I did a lot of traveling, I went through Europe. I just did a lot of things that I wouldn’t have been able to do had I not opened my horizon and gone somewhere else. Was it scary? Yes, again I come from a very traditional Mexican family that didn’t allow me, or at first were like super against me going, but I think for them to have allowed me it made me see life in a completely different perspective. Then I came back just even more motivated to finish my degree and pursue a masters program after. So, strongly recommend studying abroad.

[Melisa Magaña]: So, it is fun studying in a different country, but expenses wise would you recommend it? Was it more expensive studying over there in Spain or was it like the same amount [as] here?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: That’s a great question and depending on the country students decide to go to. So when students come to CSUB there’s a cost of attendance that is given to students like if you live with your parents this is how much is going to cost, if you live with on campus this is how much is going to cost, if you live off campus this is how much is going to cost. Studying abroad, in Madrid (at the time), the euro was a little bit stronger than the dollar so for me it was about the same. The reason why I would say it was a little bit more expensive was because I wanted to travel like I wanted to go visit different places so I did have to, you know, spend a little bit more money but it cost the same. One of the programs that we have here is through the Chancellor’s office, so based on that program, the CSU IP–CSU International Program, literally you pay the same amount of tuition here while you’re studying. The difference is that like where you live and if you decide to travel if you already live on your own and pay the department fee that’s how much money you’re probably going to end up paying there. The other thing is if a student decides To go to, let’s say, Mexico or Chile or like a other countries where the cost of living is a lot cheaper you actually end up saving more money than if you want to be studied here in California or in any place. I’ve seen students– I’ve heard of students– actually going to like, I don’t know, Mexico or Chile or just another country and they’re actually saving money by being there while they’re pursuing a degree that you’re going to get [a degree from] CSUB, because if you’re through the program at CSUB when you come back. Not the university that you’re going to but CSUB.

[Melisa Magaña]: And does financial aid cover expenses?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: That’s an amazing question. So if you receive already financial aid, you do get your same financial aid. The program that I’m talking about– I know we have other short term programs, if students wanted to go for the summer there’s programs for that– but the CSU IP program if students get financial aid, they get the exact same financial aid package. So meaning they place you in placeholder 12 unit classes so that when financial aid pays out it seems like your registered in classes so it pays for your tuition whatever it is that it costs and then if you get money back you still get your refund check at the beginning of the semester. So yes if you have financial aid, financial aid does cover it. If it doesn’t, it’s the exact same cost as if students were coming to school here at CSUB.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: So far it sounds like a really good deal.

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Yeah.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: While you studied abroad, did you encounter any culture shocks while you were over there?

[Gabriel Ochoa]: Yeah.. um, so yes. This is gonna sound a little funny but I’m Mexican I actually was born in Mexico and I speak fluent Spanish but when I went to Spain I remember the first time being in the Metro and just sitting next to white males and females, because in Spain everybody’s very light complected and I heard them speak Spanish and I was like what…like this is so crazy. So I remember that being my first culture shock. But just in general, food-wise the food is different, they don’t have any spicy stuff so I ended up having to cook at home a lot of the times or I found an american store that had peanut butter and had, like… I don’t know, Valentina, Tapatio, like just stuff that I would be used to here. But in general there is that adjustment. But then to that as well there is a reversal culture shock. Once you’re there for a long time, when you come back there’s this like oh wait…I’m back. I changed as a person, I grew as a person in the time that I was there and then everything was exactly the same. The classes were still there, the people that I worked with were still doing the same things. So, there is that initial culture shock when you get there but then there’s also like the reverse. Once you get used to it and acclimate to the system there, cuz a few couple of week, maybe the first month, you’re trying to figure out everything. The first semester that you’re there you’re basically getting used to the way of life. A lot of people end up leaving. We had students from like Boston, from different universities, and the US and after the first semester, they were only there for a semester. I got to stay there for two semesters. So the first semester is the adjustment period and the second semester you like become a local. It’s like the coolest thing, but again it’s like, when you come back that where you kinda even have somebody come in and talk to you like “hey you might experience this like reverse”. You don’t think it’s that big of a deal but it does kind of turn out to be like woah that’s true like I grew and I changed as a person but everything around me is still kind of the same. So, um… it’s pretty cool though. Like in general, I strongly encourage anybody. Like even if you both want to go like talk to me about it. I could definitely help in any way.

[Melisa Magaña]: I don’t know if you mentioned it, but how many semesters did you study over there in Spain and how many semesters did you study here?

[Gabriela Magaña]: Um so, it was during my junior year so it was just two semesters. So, a whole academic year. Um, and I came back for one year and then I finished my bachelors. And then I ended up staying and extra two years to do my masters program.

[Melisa Magaña]: What is something that you miss from Spain? Something that, like… it could be food, the culture, anything.

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Hmm, that’s a great question. I don’t think I’ve had that asked in a while. Um, I think it was just the…idea of being in a different country. I think it’s a pretty cool thing that I get to say “hey, I lived in Spain.” Um, you know? So, I think I miss just the day to day of when I was there. And then I also miss just how easy it was just to travel. Like, you can go to a different country, get on the plane and then be there in like an hour and a half to two hours. Plane tickets were like, back then and I’m sure they’re still the same, 30 dollars, 40 dollars round trip. So, it’s like– of course– I mean, I was a broke college student, I mean I was on a budget cuz the whole time I didn’t have like a full time job. I was just a student assistant working. So I saved some money to be able to go there. I took a little bit of loans out in order to be able to do as much traveling as I did, but I just miss that “I’m a student” aspect, like I don’t have like grown up responsibilities. To have like a full time job, I was a student, going to school, just on my free time just traveling. I think out of everything, if I could go back to just do that for a little bit that would be pretty cool. Because a lot of people say “I’ll just go when I’m done, I’ll travel when I’m done with school.” A lot of times you don’t think that once you’re done with school you’re looking for a job, you know? You may not have enough money to go like a, you know, month-long trip and once you get a job you don’t have vacation time. You have so much flexibility as a student. So I miss the student aspect with the travel attached to it. That was really really cool, and just being in a new country and a different place. I think that’s the best part.

[Melisa Magaña]: I think that’s good advice because I have heard so many students say “Oh, once I graduate I’ll travel” and they never do it.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: It’s hard.

[Melisa Magaña] So, they wait. They’re like “oh first study then travel,” and then they finish studying and they never travel. Why? Because financially, sometimes it’s a little bit difficult.

[Gabriela Ochoa]: It is. Especially because when you’re living there you’re paying a monthly rent and when you travel you have to pay for a hotel. So what you probably pay for your monthly rent is like three or four days or maybe five days in a hotel. It’s very different. And then, yeah you get responsibilities, you start working, you kinda start like just going about your life and then you do get to travel maybe when you’re older. I can tell you the ease of traveling for me has not been the same as it was when I was a student. When I was a student, you just don’t like “oh, I’m studying.” Like I could be on the plane reading my notes, whatever it is, be in Italy just going through like… I have really cool experiences of the time and I think it has to do with that aspect that I was a student. I didn’t have the responsibility of like “hey I have to check into work in a week.” Like you don’t really check out once you get those responsibilities as a working adult when you’re traveling then when you’re a student.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: Is there something you learned in Spain that you still carry with you to this day?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: One thing I think I can touch on is how sheltered I was before I studied abroad or even coming to college. I grew up very closed off. My parents are traditional Mexican parents–you can’t do this, you can’t do that– and I think what I carry from my time there was I feel like I was able to fly and become the person that I am today. If it wasn’t for that experience I honestly don’t think I would hold the position that I hold right now. It really opened the doors for me to now work with International students and really understand where they’re coming from. And when you first get to a new country everything’s new to you don’t know what’s going on you kind of need and rely on the guidance from people so I think I carry that sense of freedom and that sense of coming to myself and then being able to use that now in my day to now when I meet with students that are here from a different country. Kind of experiencing, in a different way, same, but different way, because they’re here in Bakersfield, I was in a different place but I get to understand so I think I carry that with me. But more than anything I feel like I finally discovered what it is who it is that I am and I’m able to you know be where I am at because of that opportunity that I’ve got when I was a student and I never thought it would leave me here but at the same time it would just became a pivotal moment in my life. Where, like, “oh this is amazing.” I never thought I would be able to. Would I do it again? Absolutely. It’s just different, you’re kind of in a different life right now. Like you’ve settled into your ways, but I think that’s one of the things that I carry with me.

[Melisa Magaña]: So going back to saying that you would do it again, if you could choose a different country or another place what would it be? Besides Spain or anything related to it.

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Honestly that’s a great question cuz I thought about that. So, if I were to go back I’d try a country that I don’t speak the language at all. The reason why I say that is because when I studied in Spain, I had friends that barely scratched the surface in Spanish and they were there for like the whole Academic Year by the time we left they spoke Spanish. And the thing is they spoke Spanish like the Spaniard way like with the lisp and everything, it was so cool. When I was there as well I ended up visiting a friend that was studying in Italy, in Rome, she was there for a couple of months. Italian and Spanish is very close together so they were able to pick up sentences. So I think for me to pick a specific place maybe like Italy or like just a country that I don’t speak the languages because when you’re there you’re forced to learn and speak and not be afraid to like butcher some words because you’re in a new place and nobody’s gonna be able to communicate with you if you don’t communicate. So probably Italy, it was a beautiful country when I visited, or just any other country with just another language that I do not speak for sure.

[Evelyn Gallardo]: So, did you choose Spain because you spoke Spanish?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: That’s actually a great question, I chose Spain because a friend wanted to go there and I spoke Spanish. So my friend at the time she really liked Ronaldo the soccer player and she really wanted to go there and I just wanted to study abroad and you know we kind of talked about it like oh let’s go together and she ended up not going.I ended up like well I already filled out everything I’m just going to go. Yes, one of the choices and the reasons why I picked it was because I did speak Spanish and it would be easier but I think also it was the influence of going with a friend. And, if there’s something I tell any student is even if you’re planning this with somebody else and one of them like just says that [they] can’t go still go, like for me if my friends when she said no if I would have said oh yeah I’m not going either, I would have it…would be I think I would, I don’t know where I would be to be honest. Just the encouragement of like no matter who you’re planning it with if he got something you want to do regardless of who can’t go can’t go just do a basically. That’s why I chose it, it was a good choice overall. I loved it. I am getting married later this year and I’m excited to you know take my fiance once I’m married to like go and like hey this is where I lived this is what I did because you know so it’s just exciting to to be able to have that as a core memory forever basically.

[Melisa Magaña] What did your parents think when you told them “hey, I’m leaving the country, I’m going to study somewhere else”? Since you’re saying–because Hispanic parents are like very strict, even when it comes to like going even to the corner they wanna know information. So, what did you parents think when you told them that?

[Gabriela Ochoa]: Yes, it’s actually a great question and every time I do study abroad presentations I like to talk about that because the first time I heard about study abroad–I’ll start there– I was a camp student, like the summer program. Somebody and talked about study abroad and I thought that’s so cool, I would like to do that someday and then as a student I used to work in the financial aid office and one day a girl called and she was in Spain–maybe that was another reason why I ended up there. Um, she called and she’s like “I’m in Spain right now and my CAL Grant hasn’t paid out, can you help me?” and I was like “yeah, sure I’ll help you.” After everything I was like “hey can I follow you on Facebook,” back then Facebook was the thing. So I started following her and I saw like all these photos and I was like: oh my goodness, this is amazing. So when I saw that this is very tangible, I can see it like somebody talked about it I can actually see that you know people can do this. So like went and I told my parents they’re like yeah you’re not doing that, don’t even think about it and I was like okay. But at that time, I call them my work mom’s, like at the financial aid office I got really close with some of the workers or like staff members there and I told them and they were very encouraging like “Gaby you should do it, you should do it.” I was like okay. So the deadline was about to end, let’s say the deadline was tomorrow, I had already filled out most of the application and I was like but my parents said I couldn’t go and I’m like you know what I’m not going to lose anything I’m going to apply, I’m going to go to the interview if I get it then you know I’ll tell my parents and I will figure it out from there. So I apply without telling them and I got accepted and once I got accepted I basically told them: look this is something I really want to do. At that time, I had already been saving up for a year, I didn’t know what I was saving up for, but every-time I would get my financial aid check I would put it in my savings or like put it aside. So I was already saving money, I just didn’t even know for what. So then I told my parents: you know what, this is something that I really want to do and I just want your blessing; I don’t need you to worry about how to help me financially. Because a lot of the times that’s their concern like how can I help you financially. My parents are agricultural workers, they don’t have a lot of money to spare per se. And then what if something happens, you know? The really cool thing about this program is once you apply and get accepted, theres an actual orientation for you, yourself and for your parents. And you could go country specific as well. So when I told them at first it was a hard no and then with time, it became more like “okay, I guess you’re doing it.” My mom at the time had my little brother and she’s like: “well, you’re gonna leave your little brother?” and I was like “well mom, that your kid, that’s not my kid, it’s yours.” So I ended up like still pursuing and going and towards the end when I was in Spain I remember my dad would talk to his friends and be like “Yeah, my hija esta estudiando en España,” “My daughter is studying in Spain.” It was this orgullo (pride) after, but I did have to go and break that barrier at first and I think the way that I framed it was more like “hey I really want to do this, but I want you to just give me the blessing. I know the school has insurance, they have everything else covered.” I think if they would have said no I would have been really bummed, but I think after convincing them and letting them know this is what the program is about, they turned out to be amazing. I’m sure they were still pretty freaked out because I was like literally what I called it was “estaba en el otro lado del charco,” (I was on the other side of the puddle) there was just this big distance. When I first got there, I did want to come home because it was very foreign, everything new. My dad was like “yeah, you can come home,” and I was like “no, I’m going to give it another week.” And at the end of that week it was the complete opposite. But it is hard, especially talking to Hispanic families, you know. They just want control of everything, for them that’s kind of losing a little bit of control, but I think that’s what set me free. I think I gained, what I call it, my wings to be able to be my own person away from the noise, maybe? From the culture, your family, or anybody telling you what you need to be. I think that’s when I fully became who I am, in a sense, without anybody telling me in my ear you have to do this or you have to do that. So, yeah.

[Melisa Magaña]: Thank you for listening to today’s episode of Runner Abroad by The Runner on Air. We hope you enjoyed make sure to follow our social media so you will not miss out on any important information going on in our community. Our student’s news organization’s Instagram is @therunner_csub. Also make sure to check out our recent stories at therunneronline.com. Have a great day.