Noah Robertson
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Global Studies; Cognitive Science, Advertising and Public Relations
Program: CINECU: UNC In Sevilla
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Email: nnoah@live.unc.edu
Term: Spring 2020
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I always knew that I wanted to study abroad because it is such a unique opportunity to live in a brand new place, meet new people, and having new experiences each day. To be able to experience the way that others live outside of the U.S. and to have the opportunity to travel and explore the world drove me to study abroad. That knowledge along with my years of taking Spanish led me to choose Spain for studying abroad. There I knew I could not only explore the beautiful country of Spain, but also Europe as well. I also aimed for a program with a homestay so I could greatly improve my Spanish speaking ability. The UNC program in Sevilla was perfect for me because it gave me a homestay opportunity, Sevilla is a beautiful city, the program had a combination of Spanish and English classes, and it was a smaller group of students meaning I could get to know everyone very well.
What did you learn about yourself?
This experience really showed me how much I love to travel and have new experience and that I am not content with just sitting around doing nothing. I learned more about how I really care about bettering myself and trying new things. In the past I sometimes hesitated to take on new experiences, but especially having been sent home early because of COVID-19 I realized how important it is to take the leap and live life to the fullest. This experience helped me learn that I am a pretty independent person, but that I need to also make sure I let others in.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
One of my favorite memories is my time in Cadiz for Carneval. Cadiz is such a beautiful city on the ocean so it was a perfect place to hang out for the day and the celebrations all night long were so fun too. We took a train there in the morning and took a train home at 6am the next day. It was so much fun and a beautiful visit.
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
My advice could go on for hours, but I'll try to keep it simple. Live your life to the fullest and make your experience the best you possibly can be. You never know when uncertainty could bring your best laid plans crashing down around you. But, if you take advantage of all the opportunities and experiences you can then you'll still feel fulfilled and happy.
Memories
