by Kayln C. | Feb 2, 2026 | Education, Internship, Semester, South America, UA-Affiliate
Nothing can quite capture the feeling of stepping off a plane in a foreign country and realizing this unfamiliar place is about to be your home. To be honest with you, I did almost zero research before landing in Brazil, let alone São Paulo, because deciding to study...
by Abbye W. | Feb 2, 2026 | Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
My new friends posing with my lost luggage! Being from the Midwest, traveling to arrive in my study abroad city was a nightmare. With various flight delays, missing connections, and rerouting, issues are bound to arise. For me, the aircraft for my connection from...
by Jones T. | Jan 28, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Exchange, Semester, _
It only took a few weeks of settling in while abroad to decide I was ready to travel outside of my host city. Sitting only an hour train ride away is the small town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. This town, most well known as the birthplace of Shakespeare, bolsters a wide...
by Tyler L. | Jan 23, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
It has been a month since I returned to the US from my semester abroad in Budapest, Hungary and I have been reflecting on how this unique opportunity has changed me. I realize that I’ve now fundamentally changed from the version of myself who departed for Europe five...
by Emmett D. | Jan 23, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Hey all! I am Emmett and I am studying in Barcelona, so far it’s been amazing! I went to Madrid the second weekend and loved it! Choosing to study abroad was something I had thought about for years since my mom studied in Rome for a year, but it became a real...
by Eloise C. | Jan 8, 2026 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
As a young woman, I was nervous to travel around Europe by myself. But as I’ve pushed my boundaries and stopped waiting for other people to join me before traveling somewhere, I’ve found out how fulfilling solo travel can be. Solo travel is a...
by Robyn H. | Jan 8, 2026 | Asia, Exchange, Semester
It’s been a while since I’ve returned to the United States, if the post date is any indication. A new semester is just beginning, and it’s hard not to reflect on what I’ve experienced in my time away. Prior to this, my idea of Japan didn’t really have any firsthand...
by Johanna N. | Jan 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Starting a new semester is always exciting. A study abroad semester is even more so, and I was thrilled when I first read the syllabi for my classes (called papers in New Zealand). There was no homework/busy work and just 1-3 big assignments or exams for each course....
by Johanna N. | Jan 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Generally speaking, I love to research before traveling somewhere new. I want to be fully prepared for unfamiliar customs, as well as find recommendations for food or activities. Before going to New Zealand, I learned about popular slang, common Māori phrases,...
by Katrina F. | Jan 5, 2026 | By College, Commerce & Business, Duration, Europe, Honors College, Program Type, Region, Semester, UA-Affiliate
I’ve officially been back in the US for one month. I wish I had more time there, but I’m glad I’m home at the same time. One thing I will say for anyone going abroad – eat as much as you want because the food is to die for. I miss Italian food...
by Emma C. | Dec 12, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Exchange, Semester, _
สวัสดีค่ะ from Thailand! My name is Emma. I am a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track, and this semester, I have been studying in Salaya, a small town outside of Bangkok. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in service-learning...
by Weston T. | Dec 12, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Semester, UA Non-Affiliate
Cafe Regatta: A popular study spot for students in Helsinki, Finland — also one of my favorites. Engineering students face a unique set of challenges when studying abroad. While other students might be taking general electives to fill their schedules, those of...
by Tyler L. | Dec 11, 2025 | Africa, Commerce & Business, Semester, UA-Affiliate
As a student who has traveled around Europe extensively throughout my semester abroad in Hungary, I wanted to travel somewhere with a completely different culture that would really push me outside of my comfort zone. I ultimately decided to leave the continent and...
by Robyn H. | Dec 11, 2025 | Asia, Exchange, Semester, _
At time of writing, it’s just become December here in Hirakata, and in spite of that, it’s not really all that cold. The Kansai region has a pretty comparable climate to Alabama, actually; both of them are Cfa (humid subtropical) climate types. That basically means...
by Alex S. | Dec 11, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Exchange, Semester, _
Two months ago, after countless hours of preparation, I finally stepped out of the gate at Incheon International Airport and said my first hello to Seoul, the city that would be my new home for the semester. While in the taxi on the way to my new dorm, I...
by Alayna B. | Nov 17, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Study abroad was nothing like I had possibly imagined – and yet it was everything that I needed. Before I left, I would have totally considered myself an introvert. I studied alone, and that is what I spent most of my time doing just to survive my engineering career....
by Alayna B. | Nov 17, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate
That feeling of regret. I know it all too well. I had planned to study abroad in Madrid for the past 6 months. I was so excited to have a break from my regular courses and experience an entirely new culture. How refreshing that would be! But, when my plane touched...
by Anna H. | Nov 4, 2025 | Semester, _
It’s been some time since I came back to America since my 5 month long study abroad in Japan. I think I adjusted quickly back into my normal life. I started my internship with less than a week back in the states and found a routine to fall into. I still...
by Emily A. | Nov 4, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate
My friends from my affiliate program at our farewell dinner A surge of nostalgia swept over me today in UA’s Student Center. In line for a snack, I suddenly heard the familiar (and perhaps cheesy) tune of “Down Under” by Men at Work. While this song serendipitously...
by Blake W. | Nov 4, 2025 | Australia/New Zealand, Commerce & Business, Semester, _
I’m writing this, waiting in DFW airport for my final flight home, after traveling 20 hours from Australia. Obviously, my experience and time in the Southern Hemisphere is fresh on my mind. It hasn’t fully set in that I am back home, in a different...
