by Angel T | Jun 6, 2019 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Upon arrival in South Africa I was still not sure what to expect. While driving from the airport to the hostel, I took in the gorgeous scenery of the skyline of the city. When I seen, this I thought, “maybe South Africa has more to offer than meets the eye.” The...
by Anna K | Jun 5, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have been in Zagreb, Croatia for a few days now, and am already having so much fun! The people in my group are amazing, and I am already starting to get to know them really well. My professor cares about us not only as his students, but also as college-aged...
by Elliot S | Jun 3, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
The key factors that led me to choose studying abroad were a chance to go to a country that I have never been to, being able learn more about the country than you ever would on vacation, and getting to do this with other UA students while earning class credit. I chose...
by Claudia M | Jun 3, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer
I am currently on the fifteen hour plane ride back home, and I have reached a new level of exhaustion that I previously did not believe existed. Between my Lord of the Rings and Hobbit marathon, I have had ample time to reflect on my trip. It didn’t take me much time...
by Caroline B | Jun 3, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, By College, _
My most interesting and memorable experience so far from New Zealand was horseback riding on Waiheke Island with Emily and Claudia. I rode Marmite, a horse who thought he was a stallion but was not. Also keep in mind right before we knew exactly what horse we were...
by Anna K | Jun 2, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
While sitting in the D.C. airport, I am already more nervous than I thought I would be. This will be my first international flight alone, and thoughts are running through my mind: what if I have a problem? What if I can’t find my next gate? What do I do??...
by Payton M | May 31, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
During this trip, I hope to gain a new perspective of the world. I have been to a few countries in the Caribbean, but I have never been to Europe before. I love to travel, and Paris and London have always been on my bucket list. I never really thought that me being an...
by Molly L | May 30, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
We are halfway through our trip and so far it has been incredible. Of course it has not been without its challenges. Our first destination, Lime Caye, was a remote 5 acre island around 2 hours away from the mainland by boat. There was few structures, and most...
by Claudia M | May 29, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer
This was an especially early morning. I staggered around and got dressed at 5:30 this morning. Then, our whole group loaded onto a glass-ceiling bus and began our long journey. About two hours in, we stopped for breakfast in Te Anau. I got some incredible banana...
by Anna C | May 26, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have two days left in New Zealand. I’ve been here for three weeks now but feel like I’ve practically moved here. Cars driving on the left side is expected now. Replying “kia ora” or “hello” to locals is second nature. Seeing...
by Anna C | May 26, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Time seems to greatly speed up when you find yourself in another country. I have been in New Zealand for 12 days now, but I feel like I landed just yesterday. No one in my group ever knows what day of the week it is or how long we’ve been here. We start our days...
by Angel T | May 22, 2019 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Upon deciding that I wanted to study abroad in South Africa, I received a lot of questions and backlash. I got many questions such as “Why Africa?” Comments such as “I would never go there.” and “Make sure you get your shots.” I am...
by Riley R | May 19, 2019 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The contrast between Johannesburg and Cape Town is immense, but I value both experiences exponentially. Many parts of Cape Town could be described as ~boujee~. Our first stop was a high-class beachfront location. It was a starch difference between the people and...
by Riley R | May 19, 2019 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
When we arrived at our hostel in Johannesburg, the experience became real. I had three roommates, so our dorm/hostel room consisted of a bathroom bunk beds and two stationary beds. We did not immediately hit it off, but I think it was understandable since we had all...
by Claudia M | May 17, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
At 4am tomorrow morning, I will be dropped off at the Birmingham airport where I will catch a flight to Houston and then to Auckland, New Zealand. It still seems quite surreal that all of my preparation has finally paid off and the day has finally arrived. I spent...
by Brooke H | May 15, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
Sitting in my terminal waiting to board the plane that will take me to Belize, I’m nervous. I’m wondering if I forgot anything. I’m worried about customs since I’ve never flown by myself or been to a foreign country without my family. I’m scared the other students I’m...
by Emma B | May 15, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
This week before going abroad has been crazy! I was on the way home from UA when I realized I did not have my passport. I went back to my apartment in Tuscaloosa and looked EVERYWHERE before accepting defeat. I was freaking out because I only had 8 days before...
by Ellie N | May 14, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Education, North America, Summer, UA-Affiliate
Spanish speakers are so incredibly prevalent in the United States, yet too often they are unfairly marginalized. As a future educator, I can prevent this from happening at the student level by educating myself in order to better understand and communicate with people...
by Emily C | Apr 30, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
I can’t believe I only have a month left in this magical city! I have met so many incredible new friends and travelled to so many new places. One of the main things that has surprised me about this experience is how much I have ended up traveling in my host...
by Averi L | Apr 30, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Education, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
When I made my decision to study abroad in Florence, Italy, it was a pretty hasty choice without much research to back it. I had known all throughout college that I wanted to study abroad, and...