by Faith G. | Jul 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have been having a lot of fun in my summer study abroad program in France. I knew I would be okay once I got over the hurdle of starting the trip. There will never be a time in my life that nerves will never overwhelm me when trying new things. Leaving home was hard...
by Caitlin S. | Jul 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
7/21: Home for a Week Coming back home felt familiar at first—English signs, the foods I know, the usual routines I had missed. But after a little while, I started noticing subtle things that felt unexpectedly different and new. For example, I found myself getting...
by Caitlin S. | Jul 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
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...
by Alex F. | Jul 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Seoul, South Korea, you have been an unforgettable chapter in my life. As I say goodbye, my heart is filled with gratitude for the kindness and warmth of the people I met here. From the friendly strangers who offered directions with a smile, to the friends who shared...
by Emily A. | Jul 17, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate
When many Americans (including myself) imagine Australia, we tend to conjure up images of kangaroos, the Outback, and most prominently, beach culture. The movies and television we encounter in the U.S. heavily feature Bondi Beach and Byron Bay, places where sun-soaked...
by Suzanna B. | Jul 17, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Let’s just say, I do not have the best track record when it comes to packing lightly. I have always been that one person in my family that has to be prepared for every minor problem that may arise. However, I realize that while living abroad overpacking will...
by Kevin H. | Jul 17, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Being in Ireland has given me appreciation for many things I take for granted in the U.S. Although, I loved my time in Europe, the lack of air conditioning at night was killing me. The biggest thing I missed from America, however, was the food. Don’t get me wrong,...
by Jack R. | Jul 17, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer
Shakespeare is woven into the tapestry of life in Oxford, England. From the Radcliffe Camera library of the Bodleian (which is designed in the style of Shakespeare’s Globe’s) to the stained glass scenes from Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies in Worcester College,...
by Alexandria R. | Jul 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
I am so pumped!!!…but also nervous. How crazy is it that I get to go and create memories that will last a lifetime while also learning and doing something that I love???? I think the nerves come from hoping that I’m not forgetting something, or hoping that...
by Katie M. | Jul 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
Before studying abroad, you are told to expect culture shock. It is an inevitable part of traveling. As I settled into my first two weeks in Colombia, I found that adapting to a new culture has two faces: disorientation and wonderment. First, disorientation. The...
by Katie M. | Jul 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
As I write this, I am finishing my last day of classes in Colombia. It is a very strange feeling. I am sad, yet relieved to return to the United States. Study abroad consists of a lot: classes, excursions, and adapting to a different culture. While it is fun, it wears...
by Kathryn V. | Jul 14, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
My time overseas has come to an end, but the lessons I have learned and the memories I have made will stick with me for a lifetime. Here are some of my tips to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Make friends in your group, but don’t be afraid to do some...
by Katie M. | Jul 14, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
When I was preparing for my 6 weeks in Colombia, I struggled to find traveler tips. Of the few tips I could find, most were very tourist-y for short trips. Now that I have returned, I feel it is my duty to provide my own list of things I think students need to know...
by Amelia W. | Jul 14, 2025 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Now that I’m done with my experience studying abroad in Benin, I have learned a lot, but not only in terms of academics; it also has been a very personal journey for me. In retrospect, there are certainly things I wish I’d known before I flew the coop. So to anyone...
by Isabella D. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, _
Now that I’m back home, it’s surreal to think that just a week ago I was walking the cobblestone streets of Florence with 17 other students from Alabama, strangers who turned into my lifelong friends. I remember stepping off the plane and feeling equal parts nervous...
by Isabella D. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
As I write this blog post I currently have the warm summer sun illuminating my funky italian room, my host mom is preparing our amazing and fresh dinner, and our 20 year old cat is snuggled up next to me. Who would have ever thought that I would find such a new...
by Isabella D. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Program Type, Summer, _
Before I left for Florence I had no clue what to expect. Between the excitement of experiencing the unknown cultural normalities and the vast range of Italian food, I was already ecstatic! I was initially nervous about studying abroad by myself, as someone who is a...
by Makiya H. | Jul 10, 2025 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
As my four-week study abroad experience in Benin, Africa comes to an end, I’m filled with mixed emotions like gratitude, nostalgia, and a little bit of sadness. The first week was a whirlwind of excursions, where we immersed ourselves in the culture, history, and the...
by Makiya H. | Jul 10, 2025 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I have been in Benin, Africa, for one week, and I have already learned a great deal. We have started to explore African culture, religion, and economic development by visiting Ganvié, the “Venice of Africa,” Ouidah and all of its historic sites, Porto...
by Olivia D. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
While the French are famously known for their bread, many of their other food customs remain far less familiar… When I was in France, I lived with a host family who only spoke French. My host mother was very traditional, so our eating customs were far removed...
