by Lauren K. | Sep 17, 2026 | _
Three weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit my first wonder of the world- the Taj Mahal in India! The Semester at Sea boat, MV World Odyssey, ported in Kochi. Then a group of about forty other students, faculty, and I took a two-hour flight to Agra, where the Taj...
by Alex J. | Sep 17, 2026 | _
As my first trip of my twenties, I chose to travel to Milan with a quick stop in Lake Como for the Olympics. It was the first trip I planned entirely on my own. Although navigating the busy train station and staying in my first hostel felt daunting at times, I am...
by Alex J. | Sep 17, 2026 | _
As Tears for Fears sing, “Welcome to your life / there’s no turning back.” Arriving in a new country truly feels like the beginning of a new chapter, one where you step forward without the option of retreat. When you first land, everything can feel overwhelming: the...
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 Brianna Hobson | Sep 15, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
From the moment I set foot in the London Heathrow Airport, I was in awe. Exhausted and stiff from an overnight flight and surrounded by a flurry of people aside, I was ecstatic to be somewhere I had always dreamed of going. Aside from what the UA orientation told us...
by Cade A. | Sep 15, 2026 | _
I’m sure we’ve all had a moment where someone has looked at you and said, “You’ve changed.” I have had that said to me repeatedly during my time abroad. Some people may take these words a certain way, thinking, Wow, I have changed. What...
by Heidi W. | Sep 15, 2026 | _
Looking back on my trip to Panama, I still can’t believe how many activities we fit into just one week. Some experiences were planned through our program, while others came together on our own, but all of them added something different to the trip. It never really...
by Isabella M. | Sep 15, 2026 | _
Hi! My name is Isabella, and I have been so lucky to have spent this semester in Madrid, Spain, studying at UC3M. I am a junior studying chemical engineering, and I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. As my semester comes to an end, I wanted to use this blog to...
by Emily Wells G. | Sep 8, 2026 | _
When I first started college, studying abroad was always something I hoped I would be able to do. I loved the idea of experiencing a new culture, traveling somewhere completely new, and challenging myself outside the classroom. Now, as a senior kinesiology major at...
by Sadie B. | Aug 25, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
One of the many murals inside the City Hall building of Oslo Hello everyone! My name is Sadie Benson, and I am an upcoming sophomore at the University of Alabama, majoring in Finance and Accounting. This summer II, I am studying Literature in Norway. Before travelling...
by Jake S. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
I am currently sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to London. It is finally hitting me that this is really happening. I am heading to the UK to study the National Health Service and compare it to the American healthcare system. I am a biology major on the...
by Jake S. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
I’ve traveled before, so landing in London wasn’t this huge overwhelming moment for me. No culture shock or anything dramatic. I simply went and grabbed my bags, figured out the Tube, and got to where I needed to be. My first picture was actually of the...
by Katelyn T. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
First time seeing the Radcliffe Camera Entering the Divinity School with my Bodleian card On the hill of the Oxford Castle Prison Blackwell’s Bookstore Before going to the UK, I had only been on a plane once in my life, and I had never been out of the country. I...
by Cassidy G. | Aug 24, 2026 | Africa, Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Internship, Summer, _
After spending the last three months in Europe, I’m finally back in the United States. It’s strange not spending every Thursday night figuring out where I’m flying next or every weekend wandering through a new city. For months, my life revolved...
by Brea G. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
Edinburgh, Scotland Rome, Italy It’s been one whole week since the end of my study abroad experience. Although my trip was only one month, I gained a life-long worth of experiences. For my first time abroad, I would say this experience was a success. I absolutely...
by Laila R. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
It’s the night before I leave to go to Amsterdam. I’m feeling a lot of emotions: excited, scared, restless, etc. This will be my first time out of the country and the longest flight I’ve ever been on. Three weeks away to a place I’ve never been before with...
by Bayli Drobil | Aug 24, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
As somebody who just returned from studying abroad in Oxford for the month of July, I thought it would be helpful to share what I believe are essential things to pack in your suitcase. Before leaving for my trip, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I...
by Luke H. | Aug 24, 2026 | _
While in Porto everything has been spectacular. The scenery is awe inspiring, from the way the narrow cobble stone streets weave their way through city centers and Atlantic Overlooks and the plethora of beautiful architecture in both the buildings and the multitude of...
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 Rebecca M. | Aug 24, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer, _
These are some Japanese Stab Binding books that I got to make in my Book Arts Class While I am studying at Oxford, I am taking two classes. The first is a fantasy creative writing course with Dr. Kidd. Within the class, we read short stories, discuss elements of Lewis...
