by Zoe G | Jun 29, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Now that I have made it back home all safe and sound, I am very appreciative of the the air conditioning here but sad that I had to leave such wonderful country. It was so nice to leave my bustling, fast-paced lifestyle in the US and slow down to appreciate the...
by Grace V | Jun 29, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
I have been home a month now. People always told me it would be just as difficult to adjust upon return home as it was upon arrival in a new place. Maybe for some that holds true, but I think I was just so ready to come home that I adjusted with ease. My sleep...
by Madison K | Jun 28, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
What was supposed to happen: getting on board a flight from Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina, having an hour layover there, and then getting on board an overnight flight to Dublin Ireland. What is currently happening: writing a blog post after a transfer from the...
by John E | Jun 28, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
By more than a few strokes of luck and some financial assistance, I have found myself waiting to leave on a flight to Dublin tomorrow. UA’s program in Ireland ended up as my choice for study abroad for several reasons, among them being able to keep my job...
by Grace V | Jun 28, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Is this real life? I think I might be dreaming. *pinch*.. Nope this is real… Before: Excitement and fear brewed inside me in the days leading up to my departure. People would ask, “Are you excited?” I usually responded with “Very!” but I...
by Caroline W | Jun 24, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have been in Granada, Nicaragua for a couple of days and I love it! At times I might complain about the heat (okay probably more often than I’m willing to admit), but the kindness and compassion of the people makes it worth it. My host mom is a 73 year old woman who...
by Danielle K | Jun 24, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
My first thoughts as I got off the plane in Huston after spending two weeks in Nicaragua were nothing as poignant as I might have expected. As the plane hit the tarmac there was an initial sense of relief about being home in the United States, but this was almost...
by Zoe G | Jun 24, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
After a week in Granada, it feels like a second home. Aside for the heat and lack of running water in the morning, I could stay here indefinitely. It took a while to get used to the lack of air conditioning but now I have just embraced being hot all the time. I do not...
by Julia T | Jun 23, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Before this trip abroad I studied Italian for four years in high school and for three semesters at Alabama. Italian has always come to me pretty easily so I didn’t expect it to be any different while taking classes in Italy. I was wrong. It’s not even that...
by Caroline W | Jun 23, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Granada, Nicaragua looks gorgeous in any pictures I have googled, but I am still unsure what to expect when I get there. I know the buildings are painted in bright colors and air conditioning is nonexistent (cannot wait for 100 degree temperatures), but that is it. I...
by Liddy D | Jun 22, 2016 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Community Health Sciences, Faculty-Led, Human Environmental Sciences, Summer
Today is my first day in Ghana! After over 24 hours of plane rides and layovers and 3 flights, we made it. I’m excited to spend the next month in Elmina, and to explore Accra and other towns and villages. My first impressions of here are that Accra is a very...
by Zoe N | Jun 21, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
The first week of Dr. Steinberg’s summer class “Rainforests, Reefs, and Ruins” was spent in the Toledo District. From there, we traveled to various locations to learn about Belize and participate in conservation activities. On the seventh day, we said goodbye to Punta...
by Abigail Ward | Jun 20, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
I cannot believe that I am finally on my way to Honduras. I spent so much time getting ready for this moment and am so excited to finally be headed there. The process getting to this point was full of anticipation, excitement, and fear. I have been wanting to study...
by Elizabeth P | Jun 16, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Simple phrases like “ciao,” “per favore,” and “grazie” can get you far in a tourist center like Florence. I’ve been in Italy for almost a week now, and I’m starting to get used to the rhythm of the city. Although this is...
by Zoe N | Jun 15, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
A few days after my graduation, I arrived at the Atlanta Airport. I departed from Atlanta to Belize for Dr. Steinberg’s summer class called “Rainforests, Reefs, and Ruins.” The three hour plane ride to Belize City was followed by a 6 hour bus ride to southern Belize....
by Theresa S | Jun 15, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
And just like that, it’s over. The day I’ve dreaded is here, taking me by the hand, yanking me to a place I don’t wish to go. I write this with a cloudy mind, misty eyes, somewhere over the Atlantic. I write this with an inexplicable heaviness,...
by Julia T | Jun 15, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
When the Italian department announced that Italian would officially become a major at Alabama there were two things I knew I had to do. The first thing was to declare Italian as my second major and the second thing was to study abroad in Italy. My passion for Italian...
by Danielle K | Jun 14, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer
Nicaragua is very different from Alabama. I was very aware of this before the trip but seeing all of the differences in person made them so much more real to me. The moment I stepped off the plane everything switched to Spanish. I knew it was going to happen but it...
by Anna E | Jun 14, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Sitting inside during a cold afternoon during November, I began dreaming of summer (it seemed like it was forever away at this point) and I realized that I only have a very few summers left. I instantly felt a little panicked to make sure I did not waste even a second...
by Amanda B | Jun 14, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Summer, UA-Affiliate
In just three short days I will be departing from my small PA suburb to fly to Sydney, Australia. Over a year ago as I spent hours researching which programs I was interested in, I came across this internship program in Sydney. And I laughed because it seemed...
