Meet Nicolás Livon-Navarro, our new Assistant Site Director in Barcelona! After graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to Barcelona and rediscovered his lifelong passion for education, showing him the incredible value of cross-cultural experiences.
Why are you excited to work for CIS Abroad?
I am so excited to combine my professional skills with my personal passions to have a positive impact on students. I have worked extensively with study abroad programs in several countries, both as a student and as an administrator. I know how transformative, but also nerveracking these experiences can be. I love working across cultural and linguistic barriers, and I am so excited to use all that I have learned to help a new generation of students become global citizens!
Describe a memorable moment from abroad
In 2017 and 2018, I spent a year living with a host family in Brazil. My host grandfather Iboré and I developed an incredibly strong bond. He was retired and had many health problems, so he was always home. Everyday after work I would come home and spend all afternoon watching every soccer game imaginable with him. He would spend hours explaining the complexities of Brazilian history to me, naturally, as any good history professor would. He became a huge part of my daily life and played an immense role in my Portuguese improving so rapidly.
Unfortunately he passed away after I had returned to the US, but my host mom waited for me to return to Brazil to disperse his ashes, because she knew that he wanted me to be there. I was finally able to return to see them in 2024, 6 years later! In addition to spreading his ashes, which was very emotional, I met for the first time my host parents' daughter, Antonella, who always calls me tío Nico, uncle Nico. Iboré was a kind and stubborn man who loved to tell stories and teach others. He was the biggest fan of the soccer club International from Porto Alegre. He only ever wore red (his team's colors) and he and all of his siblings’s names started with “I” for Internacional. I still have the International jersey that he gave me, and to this day I still consider it one of my most prized possessions.
I never met either of my grandfathers, so it was a deeply impactful experience to be welcomed into this family and feel like Iboré was my grandfather, even if not by blood. The bond and memories I created with this family have had a profound impact on who I am today and why I have chosen a career in global education.
What has your career path looked like? How did you end up in the field of International Education?
I’ve always known that I wanted to work with language, particularly across linguistic barriers. I have dedicated many years learning Portuguese, French and Italian. One of the most beautiful feelings is getting to speak with someone in their native language, and the best way to achieve this is through immersion. My experiences immersing myself in foreign cultures have transformed my world view and have motivated me to pursue a career in International Education, with the hope of giving students the same opportunity to have transformative experiences that I had.
A typical weekend for me is…
watching and playing soccer, listening to music and spending time with friends at the beach.
5 words that describe yourself
- Empathetic
- Enthusiastic
- Organized
- Adaptable
- Patient
Travel Tip:
Always try to engage with locals in their language. Even if you only learn a couple words or phrases, it goes a long way. Remember, making mistakes is part of the process!
Why should a student choose to study abroad in Barcelona?
Barcelona is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the world. The food, architecture and people set it apart.Related Posts
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