by Laura L | Jul 14, 2018 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Non-traditional, Program Type, Region, Summer
One of the first things I thought about when I first entertained the notion of studying abroad is what my family would think of my trip. Prior to my trip, I had never even been on an airplane, much less traveled out of the country. Surprisingly, my family was...
by Madeline R | Jul 13, 2018 | Commerce & Business, Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
“Oh my goodness are you so excited???” *on the inside* “Not at all I am completely terrified” *on the outside* “Yes, so excited! It is going to be such an amazing experience.” The days leading up to my trip have been especially hard for me as I have only been around...
by Mackenzie S | Jul 13, 2018 | Faculty-Led, Nursing, South America, Summer, _
Now that I am back home, I realized I was taking so much for granted. This trip was amazing and stressful all in the same time. Our original trip was to Nicaragua and we changed the location last minute due to violent protests in Nicaragua. Due to the recent change,...
by Olivia E | Jul 13, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
It is the last week of June, which sadly means my time in Madrid is coming to an end. As the date of my return flight gets closer and closer the more I realize I don’t want to get on the plane. Madrid has finally begun to feel like home away from home and I have...
by Samantha C | Jul 12, 2018 | Europe, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
I’m suffering from some serious Italy withdrawals. I am so bored now that I am home. I must admit my view here cannot compete with my view from my apartment in Florence. I just miss the smells of fresh food and the water from the river. I also miss the pizza (I...
by Elle G | Jul 12, 2018 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer, _
Saying goodbye to the people of Zambia was very sad. The last day of clinic we had to turn away the most people we had all week. It was the hardest thing for us all to say we could not help everyone but as we left we dropped off our extra medicine at a pharmacy for...
by Megan E | Jul 12, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
So, I have been back in sweet home Alabama for a few weeks now, and honestly it does not feel so sweet. Living in Italy for a month was such an amazing experience; it was really eye opening to see how other people live their lives. I lived in the heart of Florence...
by Anuska N | Jul 12, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
After a beautiful month in Italy, I am finally back home in the grand ole USA! And it is good to be back to the comforts of home: air conditioning, having my car, and cheap fast food. I didn’t expect to experience any sort of reverse culture shock since I’ve been to...
by Heather G | Jul 11, 2018 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer, _
It was a long journey home, but I have safely returned to Alabama! After landing and going through dreadful customs at the airport, I was so excited to be able to run into the arms of my mom and dad. I even enjoyed a nice Chick-Fil-A meal on the way home :). While I...
by Tabranecia Patterson | Jul 11, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Duration, Europe, Faculty-Led, Home, Summer, Uncategorized
See ya later Florence, Italy! My time in Florence has ended, and I am now back in the States. While over in Florence, I was asked a plentiful number of times “do I miss my country?” or “am I going to miss Italy?”. After thinking about the two the answer is yes to...
by Heather G | Jul 10, 2018 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer
In a few days, I will board a 12-hour flight headed to Athens, Greece. I would have never imagined that I would be able to be a part of such an amazing opportunity. I have always desired to be able to use my nursing skills to serve others and through this trip, I will...
by Virginia R | Jul 10, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer
…So what extraordinary things will you make happen here? Looking through a tiny oval window on the plane I could only begin to imagine the extraordinary things but seeing the lush, green rolling mountains, I knew I was already in love. When I think of New...
by Caroline S | Jul 10, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
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...
by Heather G | Jul 9, 2018 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer, _
My first few days in Athens, Greece have been truly amazing. Maybe it is from the pure exhaustion of jet-lag (an eight hour time difference) or maybe it is the excitement of exploring a new country. The first two days consisted of sight-seeing. Our team began the trip...
by Victoria D | Jul 8, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
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...
by Madison K | Jul 8, 2018 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Annnnnnd, we’re back. In America. The home of the brave and land of the free and what not. And let me tell you, it actually is kind of nice to be back. My first night home I all but guzzled a cup of cheese dip at my favorite local Mexican restaurant. Later that week I...
by Madison K | Jul 8, 2018 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Culture shock. Before I left for study abroad and once I arrived at my new temporary home, it seemed to be all people could discuss. I patiently sat through at least five different lectures or online seminars with a graphic of the same culture shock curve presented...
by Anne Marie T | Jul 8, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
My first few days in Madrid were full of sleepy days and sweaty nights. The time difference hit me hard the first few days and all I wanted to do was sleep! Another huge difference was the lack of AC in the bedrooms which led to sleepless night of sweating and...
by Ethan F | Jul 6, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
8 days, 1 hour, 2 minutes, 34 seconds. That’s how much time has elapsed since I arrived back home at Pensacola International Airport on Friday evening, the 29thof June at approximately 4:30pm. It’s only been a little over a week; yet, feels like forever ago. How much...
by Emily B | Jul 6, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
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...
