R: Hello everyone, I’m Robyifan, and today we are here with Mario, who is originally from Guatemala. We are in the NTU in Singapore.
Mario is going to share with us a little about his experience. Mario is a mechanical engineer doing his postgraduate studies here in Singapore. And a Master’s degree in South Korea.
Thank you very much for being here. Study In Asia
M: No, thanks for inviting me, you know.
1- Tell me why you chose Singapore, right? And how to get here?
M: It is an interesting question. Some time ago I came as a tourist and I saw that it was a very, very new city. This city is progressing a lot that is developing a lot in many fields. Of course, some of those fields are also the Academy and the industry and all this Singapore.
I think that it is one of the most developed countries in Asia a lot has to do with its positioning its size, and well all the economy that is based Not here too then Well also at the time of applying I realized that this university is one of the best in Asia and mainly the department where I am, which is materials science and engineering now it is like number one in the world for relatively new universities. Then well, I applied and luckily they gave me the scholarship and well here I am. Study In Asia
2- Study In Asia: You have had the opportunity to
be able to differentiate between a university or between the same career but in two social universities, different universities, either in Guatemala or here, well, what differences do you see? between one and another?
M: I can really compare well the differences between the University where I was in Guatemala and these are good abysmal I would say more than anything I think it has to do with research, for example, well in Guatemala in engineering, at least in my career, not at least at the moment in which I left the race there was no investigation was non-existent and of course, they teach you as engineering more technical mechanics not so much as development, that is as engineering that they teach you is I feel more like applied for design as parts for good for machinery by course but it is a non-innovative design.
I think too well, the laboratories are totally primitive and they were more than anything to teach the student what could be in the industry no? Study In Asia. While here they teach you of course what you could see in the industry but more than anything How to do Innovation not Then I don’t know in comparison there in a science class of the materials there taught you maybe to I don’t know how to use a lathe to see how in a microscope or things like that on the materials while here you use very, very recent devices such as lasers or also from electron shots to see how the internal structure of the material and everything.
So yes, of course, this doesn’t mean the university is bad, or the professors are bad. It is just the resources they allocate to that. The resources destined for education are HUGE. There are many companies that are also injecting a lot of money into these laboratories and there are many collaborations. In the case of Guatemala, I have never seen greater collaboration in Guatemala. Study In Asia. There are no big companies either and of course, the government doesn’t give that much money either then I feel that Guatemala makes the teachers make a lot of effort and teach as far as they can but of course, you can’t compare.
3- Do you feel a connection between Latinos?
M: I think it should be a little easier because speaking of Latin America, well, we have the same language, and the cultures are very similar, but yes, even here I don’t know between Singapore and Malaysia
there are also no barriers. Study In Asia. In other words, the language, but I also think that the great barrier is the economic one and it is the same in Latin America, I imagine I think that is why I think I will talk a lot about the governments but I think it is the governments that do not try to interact as much with each other, it is not so much the people because yes, whenever you listen to people traveling to other countries in Latin America.
I know if someone from Guatemala travels to Argentina or Chile or Peru I don’t know I have always heard very good references not that the people are very open very friendly that they treat them as they do close friends and after a while it even seems that they are from the same place there is no longer a major difference but speaking of economics and all this I think it does have a lot to do with governments and political interests and all this of course there is always treaties not for example in Central America we have this treaty between the Central Americans but even so I think it is not exploited as much and the other issue is that maybe we don’t have that much to share so much to share with each other. Study In Asia
4- How was the decision to come to Study In Asia?
M: I come from a family, let’s say middle class, of course we didn’t have the resources. My parents didn’t have the resources to send me to study abroad. I was always surrounded by people who were very academic. Who had studied in other countries and had a very different vision of life at times.
To a certain extent, I also wanted to see something different. I had always wanted to go out and explore the world. Study In Asia. I think that one of the issues that led me to make the decision to look for an opportunity outside of Guatemala was that, well, I was working in a company at that time where I had almost reached as high as I could. I did want to continue climbing, financially more than anything. So I had to move to another company or look for some other opportunity.
Also added to this, just before leaving Guatemala I had a couple of situations due to insecurity. They robbed my vehicle. I was already tired of all this. Seeing the newspaper always more news: death, robberies… I was tired and to all this, added that I had always wanted to go abroad.
It was a bit abrupt…
I remember that it was a bit abrupt, maybe? how I started looking for this opportunity to go out. I started to look for scholarships, but I have to say that I wasn’t the best student. I think it wasn’t my fault that I wasn’t the best either, since I was working full time. In Latin America, it’s usually more common now, but before, the parents who don’t have the means to support you financially… they are there for you, of course, their house, food… but you can’t live like that all your life either.
I worked a regular 8-hour job. Left work and went to college. Study In Asia. So, of course, you can’t expect the best performance. At the same time, my grades weren’t the best and there were many courses that were online only. And the only times I saw the teacher was when I was going to do the exams. That, of course, was reflected in my grades.
That is why when starting to look for an option abroad, you are limited, not because they do not have it. Study In Asia. I didn’t have much hope of getting a scholarship, of course, that limited me a lot and also gave me a lot of insecurity.
Going for scholarships
In the end, I applied for this Korean scholarship. In my case, the process began with applying to the university and showing interest. They answered me: of course, welcome, if a laboratory or a professor accepts you… Well, the job consisted of going to the university’s page and seeing each laboratory.
At that time I had almost no experience of anything research, I had no idea. Then I applied to several laboratories and in the end, well, I was accepted by a laboratory. This whole process, I think, lasted more or less six months. It was a little abrupt because at first, my laboratory did not notify me that I had been accepted.
Like two months before the departure time, a girl from the government secretariat contacts me and tells me “Hey, it seems that they did accept you, you’re ready to go?” So those two months were like: I still had a job. I had my apartment, I had a car, I had a girlfriend… In those two months, I got rid of my life and I put the rest of it in a suitcase, and I went to Korea. And so that’s how I arrived. Study In Asia.
Perhaps this is how changes have to happen
M: I think so, something has to happen in your life sometimes to realize what you want to do. I know that this is not the dream of many and especially Latinos, for example. We are very close with the family, for many people to leave the family is like NO. And it’s not like going to the United States, you take a 4-hour flight and you’re already there. Here you have to spend at least one day flying and of course, the cost increases a lot. I feel that an important factor is the family. I think depends a lot on each person. Study In Asia.
5- Would you make the same decision again to Study In Asia?
M: Sometimes I think of my life If I had stayed in Guatemala and I think it would be a good life. At the time I made this decision. I had a job that was good, I had a vehicle, I had a house, I think it was quite good in terms of life in Latin America. But I think I would make the same decision. The things that I have seen, the things that I have learned, well the people… Everything has opened my eyes to a different way of seeing life. Yes, it is very different. Study In Asia.
6- What are your future plans?
Study In Asia.
M: To start, of course, first finish the doctorate. It is a disadvantage and an advantage at the same time. When you finish a doctorate (these days you are very focused on a very specific problem) and when something is very specific, it limits your work a lot. So there are not many opportunities, but if you find a job in that area, it is very good.
I think what you have to try to do is, try to focus on the skills that you have learned AND try to transfer them to other areas as well. Not only focus on what you learned in the doctorate or in your research topic, but in a more general term. This is reflected, in statistics, 70% of the people who graduate with a doctorate, end up in fields not so related to what they studied.
I have met several people even here in Singapore, who studied engineering. Because they’re good with numbers, usually end up in other fields. In the end, it is about adapting to see what is on the market and what you are liking. In my case these days I am also teaching.
So I like to teach, it’s fine, but I don’t know if I’ll continue in the academy. I’m still uncertain. I would very much like to explore the industry of course. I have already had work experience before, but not at this level, as a doctorate. To see what the industry is like. At these levels, that would mean finding a job related to what I am doing. That could be a little complicated. The other question is: could I stay in the academy? try to pursue a post-doctorate and from there become a professor and well, expand.
Would you be a teacher here?
M: It would depend on where there are opportunities. I imagine that if there is a good opportunity right here and if you’re good enough. Study In Asia.
R: It’s just that I imagine: the trip started how it is that suddenly what do I know. Ten years ago maybe you were in Guatemala and now suddenly you are a professor at the number one university in the world… Is like, a big difference or even being able to say that there could even be that possibility, right?
M: Yes I think that I think it could exist, but of course, one has to be quite good for that and these days there are a lot of people, very capable, competing. There are also people who are like geniuses, so it is a very competitive field I feel.
If there is any opportunity, you apply, and you prove you’re good enough. Right now I don’t know, I think I’m focused a little more on the industry. I’m even taking a couple more courses to focus on, strengthening some skills that would be more useful for the industry. Study In Asia.
7- The culture of knowledge in Latin America
M: I haven’t lived in Guatemala for a long time, but at that time before, I don’t remember hearing many people saying: I want to take this course. Or even, of course, it is known that English is something
very basic, and has a lot of applicability regardless of the industry.
I didn’t listen to many people saying yes, I’m going to learn English or something like that. So in this one, I think that now with all the facilities there are, I imagine that there are more people who learn by their own means, already with these platforms of Coursera, Edex and all this that give you courses. I think it has greatly promoted ease. Now you can do everything, and learn anything for free. Study In Asia.
8- Tips for going to Study In Asia.
M: Come, always! I recommend this from any perspective: to study, well in my case I come with a scholarship, I received a stipend from the scholarship, which was low, but you do what you can. At least you have to leave the country, you have to make sacrifices. Not everything is so easy. If you go to Europe, or if you go to the United States, or Canada maybe the environment is a little more friendly.
Not-so-little culture shock
When you come here to Asia, I think there is a not-so-little culture shock, how people behave is different. So to begin with, Latins feel like they don’t know how to adapt, knowing that not everything is done the same as in Latin America. Many people in Europe and in America, in general, people are cordial. Study In Asia. Say hello and everything, while here in Asia, people don’t tell you anything.
There’s a little colder treatment from people, they are more lonely. Let’s say that if you go to one of these countries like Korea or Japan the local people are a little more closed, they’re not so friendly, of course, if you talk to someone it’s not like they’re going to make faces at you or anything. Also maybe your life is not going to be as you imagine it. You have to adapt from there. Also, the economic issue that I mentioned, is also from my personal experience, because some scholarships may not give enough money to live the life that one would think. So you have to resort to doing other things. In my case, I was teaching a little English a little Spanish and doing a little freelancing to stabilize myself financially a little. So keep that in mind, many times well one lives pretty tight. Study In Asia.
What you have to do is in order to survive.
M: Yes and if you’re lucky, then you get a little help from your parents or you have savings that allow you to be a little better.
R: Something that I liked a lot about this region is that, of course, we need the treatment of people personally. But at the same time I feel that in the next few years at least the next decades you have to be very focused. To a certain extent, the cold of Asians has made me stay focused on it. Remember that we are doing things, right? because they are like: we have to have this ready by then, we are NOW thinking about how to solve the problem of the environment… if there is time later, we can go for a beer. Study In Asia.
8- Tips for traveling to latin america
Study In Asia.
M: Well, most of the people I’ve met who go from Asia to Latin America, or is it for a business trip or is it because they are interested in culture. I think some Latin American countries are not like the best for traveling. Due to insecurity and all this. I think if you want to do business or if you want to learn Latin American Spanish it’s okay.
R: The good thing is that people assume that if someone arrives from Asia is a good business. For example, I have met people from China who go there, and are treated like “this person is going to bring business so we are going to treat him well”.
M: Yes I think so, in general, the Asians who go to do business there It is because they already have something in mind. As you said, Asians are very focused on what they want to do. So for an Asian to consider going to Latin America, it is because he has something already in mind. I think and no it’s not that I’m going to explore to see what I do.
The trip is all true, good and bad.
M: If the trip brings a little bit of everything many inconsistencies many many difficult times many joys you also meet all kinds of people you realize how the world is set up.
R: And the perspective it gives you. The brain changes, and the mind changes, as you see things… even when you return to your country, everything seems like it’s not the same.
M: Yes, sometimes I say that when I return to my country, unfortunately, it is one of the most backward countries I would consider, in Latin America, so every time I return it is like a trip back in time, you know?
R: I think that is very much needed other people have seen I still had another perspective and come back and say look there’s something here you’re curious. Study In Asia.
EXTRA MILE!
M: I think one of the big problems in Latin America is that people leave and they don’t come back, that is, they go out, specialize and everything and they don’t come back. Up to a certain point, I also consider myself in that group because I went out and they gave me the opportunity.
But I really am doing nothing to develop my country. I have some plans for the future that perhaps I would like to develop more for the benefit of my country. But it is very necessary that people also return of course This is not only about “Oh, I’m going back to help my country” is also about what opportunities are there? what is your field of work? how are you going to help people? and then it is complicated.
I would like to tell people who apply to cheer up.
There are many scholarships at least in Guatemala. I imagine that in the rest of Latin America. They also get lost because people don’t get active sometimes. They think I’m not good enough to go on a scholarship as I thought. Luckily they gave me the opportunity to show that you don’t have to make an extra effort, of course, and everything, but well, everything requires an effort.
They encouraged Exactly that they were not encouraged that they see the scholarship they see the opportunity and it’s like “Oh I don’t want to leave” many times I have seen people who go to which they go abroad to study and from there they return to their country That is, it does not have to be a reason for something permanent, no, it is possible that you go You may not like it and but you learn what you have to learn and everything you return to your country and that’s it with that then you look for a job or not I know what you want to do not many pursue an academic career it is also much simpler. Study In Asia.
GO and DO IT!
R: Incredible incredible what you comment there or be a great change of life Nothing else for that go and apply.
M: There is no limit that limiting oneself I think because of what one thinks one has to think more of oneself and well in Guatemala we say pounce. I think that’s the main thing and knowing that it’s not permanent too, that is sure if you go do your best not everything is as it is, let’s go see the other culture and how beautiful and everything is clear it has its nice parts of seeing other cultures other foods and all that but you go with a goal.
FOCUS!
R: There too as if to imply that even though you go with your best efforts, there are also many people who go with their best effort and you will have to be the best if you want to highlight this. Thank you, Mario, for your time and I hope that the rest of the experience you have here in Singapore is super but thank you to everyone who comes then we hope to obviously visit Guatemala and be able to see your center.
M: Yes, in the future collaboration I will have of course yes, thank you very much for this interview and I hope that it reaches many people and helps them see the good side and the bad side but also
see the possibilities that there are not that the notes of the University or that you how is your life do not limit you. Study In Asia.
R: Thank you very much, Pura Vida.
https://robyifan.com/
Equipment used in this video/interview: -Camara Canon M50 Mark II https://amzn.to/3SuSNGI -Microphone HyperX QuadCast https://amzn.to/3AblLEf -Omnidesk https://theomnidesk.com/a/rewards/r/6… -Mouse Razer Basilisk V3 https://amzn.to/3waFK4L -Laptop Razer Blade 14 https://amzn.to/3raWpSO -Elgato Ring Light https://amzn.to/3ramKAh
