A Day in the Life is a Campus Times series highlighting the studies and lives of UR students. Answers have been lightly edited for grammar, clarity, and/or style.
Junior Fernanda Sesto is a Business Analytics major studying abroad at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, specifically at ESCI-UPF (Escuela Superior de Comercio Internacional) in Barcelona, Spain. CT interviewed Sesto to see how the semester is going, and why she decided to study abroad.
Tell us about a typical day in your life studying abroad in Barcelona.
I usually wake up around 9:30 a.m. because my classes don’t start until 10:30. I’m staying at a homestay, so I get a quick breakfast there and then I walk to the metro station which is less than a block away. Mondays and Wednesdays are the busiest days for me because I have four classes so I don’t come back until late in the evening. Around 12:30, I get lunch that is often an “entrepans,” which is a baguette sandwich. After my classes are done, I go to the gym near the Universitat de Barcelona. I like staying active and I think it’s also a good way to meet people. Around 9 p.m., I have dinner with my host mom and my roommate. Depending on the day, I might go out with friends, because Barcelona is such a vibrant city at night!
What is your major and why did you choose it?
I’m studying Business Analytics. I really like the use of data to guide business decisions, and I’m also a Computer Science minor, so I think it’s very interesting to work in the intersection of technology and business.
Where are you studying and why did you choose to study abroad?
In Barcelona, I’m taking four business classes, one political science class, and one history class. I needed a few of these classes for my major but I also wanted to explore other fields that I haven’t gotten the chance to. The history class is my favorite so far!
I chose to study abroad because I think traveling and living in other countries helps college students gain a more multicultural perspective of the world. As a professional, this is very important to bring to work because it helps you to understand other cultures much better.
What has been your study abroad experience so far?
My study abroad experience so far has been amazing! One of my main goals when traveling is to understand how the local culture is and how the daily life of the people who live here is. I’ve been meeting so many students from Barcelona, and because I speak Spanish natively (I’m from Uruguay), it is very easy for me to get to know them better.
What are some of your favorite classes at the university you’re currently attending?
My favorite class so far is History of Medieval Catalonia. It’s so interesting to learn about the different conflicts that happened during this time and then be able to visit places where people used to live in the 8th century! I was never passionate about history before so it’s definitely a personal discovery!
What is something you want people to know about studying abroad?
Studying abroad can seem very intimidating at first. As someone who is an international student at UR and now an international student in Spain, I understand the fear of going to a place where everything is new. However, growth only happens when we challenge ourselves. The experience of meeting people from all over the world and having that cultural exchange is one that we should all be able to have!
