Anwar Boutayba
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Advertising and Global Studies
Program: Sciences Po Paris
Location: Paris, France
Email: bmohamed@live.unc.edu
Term: Spring 2022
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I chose to study abroad because I have always wanted to live abroad for a prolonged period of time especially as an adult. I wanted to experience a new culture and enhance my French speaking skills so Paris was the obvious choice because I am also a pretty cosmopolitan person. The fact that this program was an exchange program also meant that it was cheaper than some of the other ones which meant that my Carolina Covenant scholarship could support it.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that I am much stronger and smarter than I realize.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
One of my favorite memories is going to Greece with some of the best friends I made abroad (who also went to UNC!)
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Take the jump. You're gonna feel so humiliated and embarrassed and shy (even if you're not like that back home) but learn to be comfortable with that for a little while and then, one day, you're gonna notice how everything just clicks. You can walk back home without opening Google Maps; you can order food without having to translate it; you've made friends. The list goes on.
How do you identify?
Student of color, LGBTQ+, Covenant Scholars, Scholarship Recipient
Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
To the people of color, try to study abroad in a big, diverse city. I did not struggle with any microagressions in Paris because there were people that looked like me, that came from where I am from (Morocco) so I felt at home. If I was in a smaller town, I would not have had the same experience.
Memories
