Bama Bloggers Abroad
Macy Morgan- Adapting to the Culture
When I first landed in Stuttgart, Germany, I was exhausted. I just flew over nine hours with no food or sleep. Because my plane was delayed, I missed my train, so I took a taxi instead. The language...
First Time Out of the US… All Alone!
Flying alone has been one of my biggest fears for years. I've flown once, with my parents, across the United States and it was overwhelming, fast, and confusing. Imagine how I felt when the...
Week 2 in Sint Maarten – “Finding My Flow” by Six McPherson
This week has been absolutely insane, in the best way possible. It finally hit me that I won’t be in Sint Maarten forever, and that realization has me appreciating every single moment even more....
What Study Abroad Gave Me That I Didn’t Expect
Coming back from my study abroad experience in New Zealand and Australia, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. The past few weeks has been life changing. From exploring the rich cultures and...
The Joys and Challenges of Hiking: Oceania Edition
One thing I didn’t fully expect when signing up to study abroad in Australia and New Zealand? Just how much hiking I’d be doing, and how many stairs that would involve. From the moment we set foot...
Back to America, Away from Japan
It's been some time since I came back to America since my 5 month long study abroad in Japan. I think I adjusted quickly back into my normal life. I started my internship with less than a week back...
I’ve Come From a Land Down Under
My friends from my affiliate program at our farewell dinner A surge of nostalgia swept over me today in UA’s Student Center. In line for a snack, I suddenly heard the familiar (and perhaps cheesy)...
Elephant safari adventure in Ghana
From the Kakum National Forest to Mole National Park, Ghana has dense jungle and a lush savannah filled with wildlife such as elephants, antelope, and baboons. We were lucky to go on two safaris to...
Final Day in Scotland
Haylee Elizabeth Pack This morning, I visited Holyrood Palace, one of my favorite stops from my last trip. It still holds that same magic for me. As a longtime fan of Mary Queen of Scots, walking...
Savoring My Way Through Spain And It’s Vibrant Culture
I tasted eggplant, which I had never eaten before, on my first night in Seville, Spain. I was apprehensive at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and tasty it was. The next day, I...
A Love Letter to Oxford
Dear Reader, When I first arrived at Worcester College, I must say that I felt deeply disappointed. The picturesque campus that I had been promised was under renovation, with scaffolding and fences...
Seven Suggestions to Survive a Summer Abroad
After taking time to reflect on my summer in Oxford, these are the seven tips I have for students studying abroad next year! Research! Take the time to find 3-5 places to visit, events to go to, or...
Reflections on Returning Home
Now that I am back home, one of the biggest things on my mind is how truly once-in-a-lifetime this experience was. It feels almost bittersweet, like a wave of nostalgia every time I think about it....
Reflections on Australia
I'm writing this, waiting in DFW airport for my final flight home, after traveling 20 hours from Australia. Obviously, my experience and time in the Southern Hemisphere is fresh on my mind. It...
枚方市へようこそ！～ Welcome to Hirakata!
It’s been about two months since I first arrived in Japan for my semester abroad. Those two months, but especially since I first arrived, have been a nonstop learning experience. There was no way I...
Beyond the Host City: A Trip to the Baltics
Picture I took of a street in the old town of Tallinn, Estonia When you study abroad, it is easy to let your host city become your entire world. While immersing yourself in one location is valuable,...
UA in Germany 2025: Stuttgart and Freiburg
Guten Tag! I’m Lillian and this is my first blog post of the summer. Last year I made three blog posts detailing my study abroad experience in Weingarten, Germany. This summer, I’m back in Germany,...
Blog Post #3: Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora, a small town in the Czech Republic that we visited toward the end of our trip, left a strong impression on me for one major reason: silver. It’s hard to overstate how much raw material...
Blog Post #2: Wittenberg – A Walk Through Reformation History
After Berlin we made our way south and made a brief stop in Wittenberg. The town was like stepping into a history book, with cobblestone streets and medieval buildings that make the entire place...
Life on the “Outside”- an American Navigating Major Capitals of the World by Alli Lightsey
By now, I have seen the restless lights of New York City and every pub on the corner of streets in London and have finally made my way to Paris, France! Sure, New York was an American city, but the...
The Global Field of Fashion
By: Alli Lightsey | May 5, 2025 | New York, London, Paris, Milan; Month-Long, Faculty Led Hey! My name is Alli Lightsey, I am a Fashion Marketing Major, and for the first bit of Summer I will be...
While Abroad: Clinics, Missions, and Meaningful Moments in Athens
One of the most meaningful parts of my time in Athens has been getting to serve through clinical outreach and missionary work. Our group had the opportunity to visit refugee camps and work alongside...
Blog Post #1: Berlin
In May MIS went on a trip through Europe, and while Berlin was the city we stayed in the shortest it was one of the most impactful cities we visited during the study abroad trip (at least for me)....
Upon Return: Advice for Future Students
If you’re getting ready to study abroad, especially for a program that includes mission work or visiting refugee camps, my biggest piece of advice is to prepare your heart just as much as your...
Castles, Cathedrals, and Cultures in Europe
I’ve always been a huge fantasy fan. It’s been my dream to explore castles and see beautiful architecture that isn’t captured in the US. I wanted to be able to walk into a different world as...
Fun in Christchurch, NZ!
Kia Ora! In this blog post, I want to highlight two of my favorite places that I visited in Christchurch - the International Antarctic Centre and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve! There is a shuttle...
Adventures in Auckland!
Greetings! Right now, I’m on the bus leaving Auckland for the final time - we spent the first couple days in Auckland and went back several days later. Since we have a fair amount of free time in...
Packing list for New Zealand!
Greetings from New Zealand! Since I am wrapping up my travels, I want to share a packing list of all the things that I used or wished I had during the trip! Keep in mind, everything on this list...
My First Week in Saint Maarten! Six McPherson
This week in Saint Maarten I have learned so much already. For starters, the air here is amazing! When I first walked out of the doors at the airport, I felt an instant breeze that satisfied my soul...
Farewell to Asia
Studying abroad to Asia had always been on my bucket list, but I never imagined how profoundly it would impact me until I spent a month in Taiwan and Vietnam. These two countries, each with their...
Amsterdam and our last few days abroad
Our last stop on our study abroad tour is Amsterdam. So far we have hit 6 countries and we will be spending 4 days in Amsterdam. So far upon arrival this city is amazing. Its incredible how biking...
The North Island (Te Ika a Māui): The New Discoveries and the Old Familiarities
The first half of our trip exploring Aotearoa, New Zealand was full of tropical beaches, Beautiful grasslands, and of course sheep, lots and lots of sheep. Because I have whānau in Aotearoa, I have...
High-Tech Global Business of Vietnam & Taiwan: Final Day
Photo: View from our boat in Ha Long Bay in Northeast Vietnam. Hello! Today, I have made it back to Alabama after another long and tiring day of travel. However, I am incredibly fulfilled after...
Cambodia’s Dark History, Vibrant Culture – Part Two of Asia Trip
The first full day of Cambodia began with a business field trip to a garment factory. The factory we visited is a global supply chain component of the garment industry. It was interesting to read...
I am so grateful to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard
I am writing this during a layover back to the States. This experience has been absolutely amazing. I have made so many genuine friendships that I will forever cherish and have made so many...
Tranquility in Laos – Part Three of Asia Trip
I had finally arrived in the last country of the Asia Trip: Laos. While the rest of the trip had full schedules and packed days, the plan for Laos was similar to how Laos is as a country. We had a...
Back Home, Unpacking London
Coming back home after my time in London has felt a little strange, in a good way. I was only gone for a short time, but it is amazing how much a new place can change the way you see things. London...
Ho Chi Minh City
Wow! What a vibrant, lively, and engaging city! I had no expectations when I signed up for this facility led study abroad. Was beyond excited to experience a new side of the globe I have not yet...
Celebrating 100 Years of Aristotle University: Music and Marketing
My friend, Dima, and I have been lucky enough to study at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the Department of Music Studies. It’s been an unforgettable experience so far. One of the most...
The Gift of Friction
While this study abroad was only two and a half weeks, it feels like I have been gone for much longer. We travelled to 4 countries and 5 cities spanning 3 different languages with entirely different...
Berlin on the Move, Mastering Public Transport
Thinking of visiting Germany and renting a car to fly down the autobahn? You may want to reconsider. With Germany’s incredibly efficient and accessible public transportation system, having a car...
Culinary Reminders of Home in Berlin, Munich, and Prague
Growing up, I used to be a picky eater. Since childhood, I have grown an adventurous appetite where I will eat anything on my plate, consistently trying new culinary cultures. In preparing for my...
Culture shock… at home
When I first left for Europe, I braced myself for culture shock. Different languages, customs, and lifestyles—I expected to feel out of place. What I didn’t expect was how out of place I would feel...
A guide for a cheap but extensive day in Rome
Rome is one of the most famous tourist locations in the world and it absolutely lived up to the hype for me. Rome was one of my favorite places I visited on my study abroad trip; however, we only...
Off to Italy!
To whom it may concern, Today is my final day in Raleigh, NC. In just a few hours, my mom and I will depart on our 12:30 PM flight to JFK airport, then a short layer before our flight to Rome,...
A Weekend in Stockholm: Loving Train Travel in Europe
One of the best parts of studying abroad in Europe is how easy it is to travel between countries. One thing I was very much looking forward to was the planned Stockholm, Sweden which with the...
Reverse Culture Shock After Copenhagen: A Short Stay, A Lasting Impact
I only spent three weeks studying abroad in Copenhagen, but coming back to the U.S. still felt surprisingly different. I didn’t expect such a short trip to shift my perspective so much, but it did...
Returning To The States!
After traveling for the past two weeks, I realized how different living in the United States is from living in Europe! I had such a great experience and was able to do many new things within the...
Oslo Odyssey: A Nordic Adventure
Impressive architecture, sparkling waters, and savory fish that melts on your tongue. These are three things you will experience when you visit Oslo, Norway! During my study abroad I was fortunate...
Upon Return
Now that I’m back home, I’ve been feeling pretty sad that my time abroad is over. I definitely missed some food spots like Chick-fil-A and Willy’s while I was in Europe, and it was fun to have those...