Embrace It

During a free day in our program, a friend and I decided to take a day trip to a site our teacher had recommended– crystal clear natural, spring-fed pools nestled in the Spanish mountains. The destination sounded spectacular and the trip there was free with our...

Coming Home from Greece

It was hard for me to describe my study abroad experience to anyone who asked when I returned home. I would show them the pictures and tell them about the course I took, but nothing really captures how amazing it really was. People that have traveled to Greece...

Back Home, Now What?

I’ve been back in the states (Tuscaloosa, actually) for about a week now, and honestly, it’s a little strange. In Madrid, life was hectic and busy with a new adventure around every corner. Here, summer slowly floats along in a sleepy college town. I keep...

Back in the States

I have mixed emotions about being back in the States. When I first landed in Atlanta, it was strange speaking in English. I felt like I was going to get in trouble for not speaking Spanish! I have recently been catching myself speaking “Spain-glish,” when...

Week 2

Our group event for Tuesday consisted of a tour of a vineyard in Chianti, about a 40 minute bus ride from Florence. Never have I gotten car sick in my life, but going through half the drive on bumpy, dirt roads and facing the opposite direction really took a toll on...

UA in Greece: Upon Return

I returned home from Greece yesterday. It is going to take me a few days to readjust back to the time change. It took me a few days in Greece to adjust, and I have always heard it is harder coming back. I guess I will find out if that is true. As I am glad I got home...

Final Thoughts

Wow! I cannot believe that my time studying abroad has come to an end. It doesn’t feel real, after a month of living somewhere you get used to your new surroundings. I absolutely fell in love with Spain…Madrid, in particular, as it was the city I was able to call my...

UA in Oxford Pre-Departure

I will soon be heading across the pond to study for a month in Oxford, England. I will be studying at Worcester College, which is one of Oxford University’s 38 colleges. Since I was a young girl, traveling to England has always been a dream of mine. One of the...

Warming up to Madrid

Looking back now, my first day was actually pretty comical. However, it definitely was not funny at the time. I guess I’ll start with my flight from Atlanta to Madrid. I was extremely excited and a little nervous to finally be on my way to Madrid, Spain! (I was...

Weekend Trips in Spain

While studying abroad does include some actual studying, the thing I have enjoyed and looked forward to the most are the weekend trips! For our program, we have a planned excursion every Saturday as a group, and then we can plan things for ourselves on Sundays. At...