by Matthew O. | Oct 15, 2026 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, UA-Affiliate
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from travelling, it’s that you have to expect the unexpected. No matter how much you plan, prepare, or organize before the trip, something will go wrong. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Whether it’s a...
by Madisyn Harris | Oct 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Coming back for my second arrival honestly felt so different from the first time—in a really good way. The first time I got here, everything felt kind of chaotic and new, and I was just trying to figure things out. This time, it felt way more familiar, like I actually...
by Grey B. | Oct 5, 2026 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
Coming to The University of Alabama, I was certain of a lot of things. I would come to experience some of which would come to fruition after my first year and some of which I would still have to look forward to. One of the only things I never saw coming was the fact...
by Ellyssa A. | Sep 29, 2026 | Europe, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Taking classes abroad in Barcelona has been a different experience from what I’m used to at the University of Alabama. One of the biggest differences is the people in my classes. Instead of being surrounded by students from Alabama, my classmates come from all over...
by Abbye W. | Sep 23, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate
I planned my trip to Cinque Terre as a solo experience. I booked a guided excursion that included a hike between villages, expecting a quiet day where I would move at my own pace and take everything in on my own. The morning of the trip, I arrived at the train meeting...
by Abbye W. | Sep 21, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate
by Abbye W. Before I studied abroad, I thought my biggest fear would be getting lost in a foreign city, struggling with the language barrier, or being far away from home. But honestly, my biggest fear was much simpler: what if I don’t make friends? I remember...
by Jackson G. | Sep 18, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Above is a picture from my first day in Barcelona. Roll Tide! Hey all! My name is Jackson and I am currently studying in Barcelona. This post, however, is going to be about how I felt before my study abroad began. I did not always plan to study abroad. It was...
by Lauren K. | Sep 17, 2026 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Semester, UA-Affiliate
While in Penang, Malaysia, my contemporary management class had the opportunity to tour the Shangri La Penang Rasa Saya resort and learn about how they manage it! While this resort chain is not in the U.S, it is very prominent in Asia and is seen as very luxury and...
by Madisyn Harris | Sep 15, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
KODAK Digital Still Camera As exciting as it is to travel while you’re already studying abroad, there’s a side of it that people don’t really talk about. It’s not hard, but it does take a little more awareness and preparation than just booking a flight and going. When...
by Mackenzie Cody H. | Sep 8, 2026 | Europe, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Choosing to study abroad in Florence, Italy, was something I knew would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wanted the opportunity to step outside of my normal routine, experience a different culture, and become more independent. Before leaving, I had to consider...
by Arianna Jones | Aug 24, 2026 | Asia, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
First Day at J.F. Oberlin University I’m currently in my last two weeks of studying abroad, and it’s crazy to think I’ve been away from home for a month already. Through this program and classes, I have taken so far. I’ve been able to meet new people, eat...
by Arianna Jones | Aug 24, 2026 | Asia, Summer, UA-Affiliate
It was a long travel day back home; I slept the majority of the time on my flights. Arriving to the first of many airports in the U.S. was interesting. A mixture of the bittersweetness of such a crazy experience and the relief of getting home. I got...
by Ava Noelle R. | Aug 24, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Hello sailors! If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either interested in going abroad or you already plan to. Well, I’m here with a few financial tips to help you along on your journey, wherever your destination may be. Personally, I have set my eyes on the lovely...
by Ellyssa A. | Jul 23, 2026 | Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
When you live in a city for four months, it’s easy to feel like you have all the time in the world to explore it. There’s no rush or pressure because it’s right there in front of you. Ironically, that’s exactly why so many people end up not really experiencing...
by Kayln C. | Jul 22, 2026 | Internship, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
This semester, I completed an internship at Missão Paz in São Paulo, Brazil. Translating to “Peace Mission,” Missão Paz is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and immigrants from more than seventy nationalities as they begin new lives in Brazil....
by Ellyssa A. | Jul 20, 2026 | Africa, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
I thought that just going abroad in general would be out of my comfort zone, but then I went on a trip that really pushed me. This trip was Morocco. Leading up to the trip and during it I was filled with many unknowns and discomforts at times. Now looking back, it was...
by Ava T. | Jul 8, 2026 | Africa, Asia, Europe, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Have you ever really wanted to do something but found that actually doing it is terrifying? If so, you aren’t alone. Ever since I was a freshman in high school I have wanted to study abroad, specifically through Semester at Sea. In December of 2024, this idea of...
by Sofia B. | Jun 9, 2026 | Europe, UA-Affiliate, _
While I’m happy to be back home in the comfort of my own bed, I miss the liveliness and adventures of Portugal. When I first arrived back at the airport in the United States, everything felt familiar, yet different at the same time. I already miss the slower pace of...
by Kayln C. | Feb 2, 2026 | Education, Internship, Semester, South America, UA-Affiliate
Nothing can quite capture the feeling of stepping off a plane in a foreign country and realizing this unfamiliar place is about to be your home. To be honest with you, I did almost zero research before landing in Brazil, let alone São Paulo, because deciding to study...
by Abbye W. | Feb 2, 2026 | Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
My new friends posing with my lost luggage! Being from the Midwest, traveling to arrive in my study abroad city was a nightmare. With various flight delays, missing connections, and rerouting, issues are bound to arise. For me, the aircraft for my connection from...
