Hoos, Emery

Emery Hoos

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I knew before coming to UNC I wanted to spend a semester abroad, so the study abroad program search was frequently an open tab on my computer. I sort of discovered the Edinburgh on a whim, and it seemed at first glance to meet my requirements—a university with strong academics in a small-ish city. I began to talk to friends, family, and other students with connections to Edinburgh and heard nothing but the most wonderful things about the city, and quickly I was set.

What did you learn about yourself?
My biggest takeaway is one I'm sure numerous study abroad students feel—independence. Not only can I do things independently, but I ENJOY doing them independently. Whether it was going on a walk around the Meadows at sunset, grabbing a scone and cortado at a new coffee shop, or venturing to a new bookstore, I loved to experience little moments of each day abroad where I did something by myself. I learned to really value this time and these new experiences—I even traveled solo a few times, both day trips around Scotland and to other countries—Austria and Hungary! I also feel particularly lucky because I got this experience as a sophomore in college, allowing me to bring my love of independence abroad back to life in Chapel Hill. Learning to value my independence will benefit me post-grad as things change. The ability to adapt and find things to love independently will be such a helpful thing to know moving forward in life, and I am so glad I got to develop this appreciation in Edinburgh.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
The city of Edinburgh itself, along with the people there. The city was beautiful and welcoming, so just walking around the main streets or picnicking in the Meadows by campus are some of my happiest memories. The gorgeous stone flats set atop cute restaurants and charming bookstores made each corner of the city fun to explore. Climbing Arthur's Seat for an incredible view of the city and hiking to see Highland cows are some other highlights.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Take one day at a time! Often while abroad there is (self-inflicted) pressure to experience everything, but remembering that there are no expectations for the experience can help to relieve the day-to-day worries of what to do. Remembering to find the little things, a coffee shop you like or a particular walk you enjoy, can help make your surroundings feel familiar and allow you to settle in to a new place that may sometimes feel overwhelming. Finding connections to home, whether printing pictures of friends and your dog, or calling your family, can help you feel grounded. There are no requirements to how many new places to visit or nights to go out, and that staying in for a relaxing movie night in your new home is a perfectly good way to spend an evening, can help give a reset to what may be an overload of newness.

Memories