Study Abroad Spotlight: Eric Barbosa Semedo '27

Every year, Norwich students get the chance to go beyond what they've known, to live somewhere new and immerse themselves in a different language and culture. This spring, that meant a semester in Seville, Spain.

I checked in with Eric Barbosa '27, a senior at Norwich University, about his semester abroad, and here's what he had to say.

From January 21 to May 16, Eric studied through the Academic Programs International (API) Multidisciplinary Studies program at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, living with a host family and taking classes in both English and Spanish. As a Spanish student, he wanted more than a classroom could give him. "Living in Spain would provide an opportunity to improve my language skills in a way that simply isn't possible in a classroom setting."

The nerves he'd expected didn't last. "I was nervous about communicating entirely in Spanish, but living with my host mother and interacting with locals helped me become much more confident." His translation courses changed how he thought about language altogether. He learned that language is tied to culture, and that translating well means understanding regional differences and context as much as vocabulary.

The moment that stuck with him: realizing he could hold full conversations in Spanish without translating in his head first. "It was a rewarding moment because it showed how much I had grown since arriving in Spain." A close second was the traveling. Weekends spent crossing into new countries with friends he'd met through the program, turning a semester of coursework into a semester of memory.

He's quick to credit the people who made it happen. His host mother, first. "She welcomed me into her home and played a major role in helping me improve my Spanish and understand Spanish culture." The friends he traveled with, who made everything from class to weekend trips more meaningful. And the API staff and professors at Pablo de Olavide, who built an environment that pushed students to live the immersion.

Asked why the trip mattered, Eric said: "It pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. I became more independent, adaptable, and confident in unfamiliar situations. Academically, I developed a deeper appreciation for language and communication, particularly through my translation coursework. Personally, I gained the confidence to navigate new environments, connect with people from different backgrounds, and challenge myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. The experience strengthened my Spanish fluency and gave me skills and perspectives that I will carry with me throughout my personal and professional life."

Eric Barbosa is a senior at Norwich University from Brockton, Massachusetts, double majoring in criminal justice and Spanish with a minor in transnational crime. A cadet with Air Force Detachment 867, he plans to commission into the U.S. Air Force as an officer upon graduation. On campus, Eric is a member of the Corps of Cadets, serves as the varsity soccer team manager, and is the executive officer of the Norwich University Combat Rescue Squadron.

Norwich's International Center coordinates opportunities like Eric's, semester and year-long exchanges, faculty-led trips, and short-term programs across the globe. Students interested in exploring their own options can visit norwich.edu/offices/international-center, or reach the office directly at 1 (802) 485-2934 and international@norwich.edu.