I arrived in Davis a year ago after being accepted in the new Postgraduate Certificate Program in Aquatic Ecosystems, Aquaculture and Fisheries in the Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture. I did my undergraduate studies at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. I studied environmental sciences because no degrees were offered in wildlife and fisheries.

I came here to study for one year, and now I am thinking in extending my stay because Davis has become my home, even though I am far from my family and old friends. The Mediterranean climate of California has helped me to feel at home and let me enjoy this country. The UC Davis campus is very different from the Barcelona campus, and it took time to get used to its large dimensions and not get lost.

I have learned more in this year than in all my undergraduate studies. The courses I have taken at UC Davis were interesting and stimulating with very high quality lecture material. The professors used their research in their lectures, which made the material interesting and pertinent to the students. I think this is a very realistic way to get students more excited and involved in their courses. Furthermore, the labs were very practical, and most professors were deeply involved.

However, the most striking aspect has been the relationship between professors and students. Even though professors are many times involved in time consuming research projects, they always have time for answering students’ problems and helping in any other way possible. This active involvement makes students more comfortable in class and motivates them to work towards high grades and make the professors proud.

Although I found the exams at UC Davis to be easier than those at UAB, I realize that I learned more here at UC Davis. Not only did I get to study what I really love—fish—but I found that the faculty,students and atmosphere at UC Davis was an open and positive environment. This combination of factors allowed me to pursue my interest and expand my knowledge in the world of fisheries.

Gerard Catot Carmona