Martina Banasova
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Biostatistics Major, Chemistry and Russian Language Minors
Program: Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Email: banasmar@unc.edu
Term: Summer 2024
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I was able to go to Kyrgyzstan on foreign exchange with National Security Language Initiative for Youth in the summer before my first year of college and found immersion programs to be incredibly rewarding. I loved experiencing a new culture with a host family and found myself to be living off of “language adrenaline” - in awe at the fact that I was communicating more clearly and coherently by the day! I knew that I wanted to experience Russian language immersion again but in a new part of the world this summer. Ultimately, my Russian professors and Russian-learning friends recommended the Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program to me.
What did you learn about yourself?
I quite literally learned to slow down and take the scenic route in Armenia. My route home one evening involved an old Soviet railroad along a river that was turned into a city park, and I heard beautiful live piano music from a riverside restaurant. On another occasion, I walked into a stunning carpet store and learned more about how Armenian carpets are made.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
My favorite memory was going with a local hiking group to watch a sunset from Mount Artanish. It was a beautiful day out, and I had an amazing time talking to the other hikers. Most notably, I met a girl who was Czech-Russian, and she was the first person I have ever been able to talk to in all three of my languages. Our entire group shared candies and conversations at the top of the mountain as the sun set over Lake Sevan. On the way back to our van, our guide heard a kitten, and she ended up finding it in a bush and taking it back to the city with us!
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Take advantage of the resources you have access to. Talk to students or professors in your program, and remember that you are definitely not alone in your uncertainties - culture shock or otherwise. If you have friends from home or local friends who have studied abroad, talk to them as well. It is always easy to post pictures of places you visit in your host country, but not all of study abroad is glamorous.
How do you identify?
Scholarship Recipient
Memories




