6/15: Half-Way Done
Taking classes abroad has been a refreshing shift from what I’m used to at the University of Alabama. Everything feels more casual in the best way—professors go by their first names, which felt strange at first but quickly became natural. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and the focus is more on conversation than lecture. Classes are interactive, and it feels like everyone’s voice matters.
One of the biggest differences is how laid-back the classroom setting is. Instead of sitting silently through long lectures, we spend more time talking, debating, and connecting ideas to real-life experiences. That style of learning has made me feel more confident participating and more invested in what we’re studying.
Most of my classmates are also from all over the South, which has added a fun layer to the experience. Even though we’re in a different country, we’ve found a shared sense of humor, similar values, and familiar accents. Talking with them, I’ve learned about so many different colleges I hadn’t heard much about before—how their campus life compares to mine, what their majors are like, and even how different professors or traditions are across Southern schools. It’s made me realize how diverse even one region of the U.S. can be.
Taking classes abroad hasn’t just changed how I learn academically—it’s profoundly expanded the way I connect with others, ask meaningful questions, and understand the complex world around me. It’s learning in every sense of the word, both inside and outside the classroom.