by Valerie W | May 23, 2018 | Engineering, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
While most people have the attitude of “that will never happen to me,” the reality is that is happens to a LOT of people while abroad. Tourists always seem to have big bullseyes on their foreheads that say “TOURIST.” Most of the people who...
by Danielle S | May 23, 2018 | Community Health Sciences, Faculty-Led, Nursing, South America, Summer
Here in Peru, the language is Spanish. Since I have been studying Spanish since high school, I felt prepared coming into the country. Even though I have never been immersed in country with native speakers, I was confident in my language abilities, especially after...
by Elizabeth B | May 23, 2018 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Non-traditional, Program Type, Region, UA-Affiliate, _
This is the first picture that was photographed of me abroad. It was taken by one of my friends on the trip with me after we had done tai chi in a park with some of the locals. Everyone in the program had just arrived in our first destination, Shanghai, on our study...
by Riley R | May 23, 2018 | Education, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
As I am sitting in the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, during a f i v e hour layover, I am already reflecting on how this experience will change my perspective on so many different things. Early this morning, several girls and I went to Chick-fil-A in the...
by Anne C | May 22, 2018 | Education, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
To be completely honest, the thought of traveling gives me an unsettled feeling. This feeling shows no discrimination to distance, as I become anxious over a simple trip to a neighboring state. That being said, you can only imagine the emotions I am going through as I...
by Brandon R | May 22, 2018 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
On May 10th I arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia,eager to get my journey to Prague started. I knew my layover at JFK in New York would be tight, as it was only scheduled to be an hour long. Our departure time from ATL got delayed by 35 minutes,...
by Kenyanna W | May 21, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Human Environmental Sciences, Summer
My first time out of the country and away from my parents. In my case that’s a huge step for me because I have always been the type of person to never go too far from home. Both of my roommates were attending the trip to Europe and asked me for a while to join them. I...
by Riley R | May 21, 2018 | Education, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
On a typical day during the fall semester of 2017, my best friend and I were sitting in our night class when a former professor came to speak to our group about a trip that she had in the works to Reggio Emilia, Italy. Jokingly, I looked at my friend and said “let’s...
by Olivia S | May 20, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
May 20 11:15 AM. We took the train from Rome to Florence. I am fortunate enough to have my mom and aunt accompany me to Italy and travel with me before classes start. I thought I learned my lesson in when the pickpocketers took my phone right out of my purse. It was...
by Samantha C | May 19, 2018 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, _
This study abroad trip was my first time out of the country and up until two days ago I wasn’t even sure I was going anymore. I am very nervous. I didn’t brush up on the Italian language enough so I’m afraid I will have trouble communicating. I know...
by Kathryn C | May 19, 2018 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer, _
Coming to UA, I never really saw myself leaving the state of Alabama. Alabama is home to me and I grew up just 2 hours north of Title Town. I always heard people talk about their adventures in Spain or Italy and the amazing experiences they had abroad, but I never...
by Anna M | May 19, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA Non-Affiliate, _
It’s been almost a month now since I’ve returned from my study abroad program, and from the beginning of my journey, I knew I wanted to do a post about reverse culture shock. While spending three months in London with the Hansard Scholars Program was a life changing...
by Olivia S | May 18, 2018 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Summer, _
May 18, 2018 10:34 am: Currently, I am anxiously awaiting for my 11 hour layover to pass so I can officially embark on my journey of a lifetime. As I sit here watching plane after plane takeoff, I can only feel my excitement increasing as I realize it is one plane...
by Elle G | May 18, 2018 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer
Hello all!! This is my first ever blog post, so here goes nothing. I just finished my senior year! Yay class of 2018! So you might be asking yourself, why is this person going on a study abroad and paying for an additional class that is not needed to graduate? The...
by Kanisha D | May 18, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Almost a week ago, we arrived in Belgrade, Serbia for the start of our program. Last year was my first time coming to this country as a delegate with the Serbia Fellowship Program and this year I came back as an executive member. It has been so interesting to be on...
by Victoria D | May 18, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Studying abroad was something I always knew I was going to do in my collegiate years. I did not know when or where I would study abroad, but it was something that was always in the back of my mind even when I chose to attend the University of Alabama. The University’s...
by Kaitlin W | May 18, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Before leaving for study abroad (and leaving the country for the first time…ever), I often compared what I thought my experience would be like to a scene in my favorite movie-Tangled. It’s the moment when Rapunzel decides to jump from her tower, and is...
by Jessica F | May 17, 2018 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer, _
Never in my life would I imagine that my first trip out of the country would be to Zambia, Africa. I have always dreamed to visit there one day in the future, but not as a nursing student. When the opportunity became available I was on board from the beginning, but...
by Claire M | May 14, 2018 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have never been to Europe therefore I did not have many expectations for Prague. Within the first hour of arriving and walking around Old Town Square I realized this place was amazing. The colorful buildings, the smell of Trdelnik, and so many things to do within...
by Knox A | May 14, 2018 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
China is incredible. I can’t say enough about the country. However, my view is biased as we only saw the high-tech cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen. I stepped off the plane and the temperature was a bit cold, there was a small drizzle, and lots of fog. It felt like an...