The People Behind CASA
By Daniela Mayorga
Partnerships Manager
Moving to another country sounds exciting, and it is. What you don’t see beforehand is how many decisions and moments of uncertainty come with starting a life somewhere new.
Before moving to the U.S., I lived in Colombia and worked alongside my mom in our family’s clinical laboratory. I had built a life there, but I wanted to push beyond what was familiar and learn how businesses are built in an international environment. That brought me to Babson for my MBA.
Why Babson, Why Boston
Babson stood out for its entrepreneurial culture and the chance to learn alongside people who wanted to make an economic and social impact. I’ve always wanted to build something of my own, so that environment felt right. Boston appealed to me too: a walkable city with people from around the world, great food, and the ocean nearby.
Before I could enjoy any of it, though, I had to figure out how to get here.
What No One Prepares You For
Housing was stressful. I almost fell for an apartment scam, and a friend already in the U.S. helped me check whether the listing was legitimate. It still took more than a month to find a roommate. Because I didn’t know Boston’s neighborhoods, I ended up living farther from where I wanted to be.
That experience taught me how much local knowledge matters. Things work differently when you’re new to a city, and advice from someone who has been through the process can save time, money, and stress.
Adapting Was a Process
Once I arrived, the adjustments kept coming. I was already bilingual, but completing an entire graduate program in English took more energy than I expected. I was thinking, learning, and speaking in it almost constantly. Driving took some relearning too, with different signs and rules from the ones I knew.
Then came winter. Growing up without distinct seasons, I had to adjust to the cold and early sunsets. I also learned how much the right winter clothes matter. Being away from family was its own challenge, even when I could visit home over a break.
What surprised me was how quickly I found a sense of belonging through Colombian, Latino, and international communities, and through friends who began to feel like home.
Who I Am Now
The person who arrived in Boston and the person I am today aren’t the same. I’m more resilient, more appreciative of the life I had in Colombia, and more ambitious about what comes next. Most of all, I learned that I’m resourceful. Unfamiliar situations eventually became things I knew how to handle.
What I’d Tell an Incoming Student
Give yourself time. If you can, arrive before classes begin so you can learn your commute, explore your neighborhood, and sort out essentials such as your phone and bank account.
Research ahead and build a realistic budget. Small costs add up quickly when you’re setting up a life from scratch. And if you’re coming from somewhere warm, take winter seriously.
For big decisions involving housing, roommates, or your move, ask people who know the system and can point you to the right resources. You may be able to figure everything out eventually, but you don’t have to spend all your energy doing it alone.
Once school starts, make room for experiences beyond class. Join a club, attend an event, meet people outside your program, and explore Boston. The time goes by faster than you think.
Where CASA Fits In
I joined CASA in the summer of 2026 because its work felt close to my own experience: helping international students navigate a move and build community across Boston’s schools.
I remember how different my housing search might have felt if I’d understood the neighborhoods and rental process earlier, or had more help finding a compatible roommate. That’s why CASA’s housing guidance, roommate matching, and community matter to me. In my work today, I help connect students with people, resources, and opportunities around the city.
A place to live matters. Building a life here also takes connection, belonging, and the confidence to ask for help.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If I could talk to myself the day before I moved, I’d tell her to relax a little and enjoy it. The experience goes by fast.
To anyone starting that journey: keep an open mind. Be flexible. Try things you might never have tried back home, and ask for help when you need it. The less time you spend solving problems someone else can help you understand, the more time you have to enjoy why you came here in the first place.