by Ashton B | Dec 7, 2016 | Semester, South America, UA-Affiliate
Hola from my room in Santiago de Chile! I am officially halfway through my study abroad trip, having finished the first two of my four consecutive intensive Spanish classes. Let me tell you, when they say, “intensive,” they really are not joking. I knew...
by Madison K | Oct 13, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
The 3rd step to the eightfold path is right speech. One integral part of this is to avoid ‘idle chatter,’ something I’ve come to realize The States seems to specialize in. The other day, I asked my Thai professor, how do I say “I agree”...
by Madison K | Oct 13, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
14 kilometers up a mountain. 7 hours. 10,000 other freshman students. I was able to take part in a long held tradition that many students look forward to for years: the Freshman trek up Doi Suthep, also deemed, ‘the long walk.’ Over the course of 7 hours,...
by Madison K | Oct 13, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
“I think we were the only Westerners there besides guys married to Thai’s,” “Oh, definitely, I didn’t see any other farangs there,” and as I said that, I realized although we were the only foreigners there, not at any point did I...
by Madison K | Oct 13, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
“Do you want to fight in the freshman competition this Sunday?” One minute I was searching for a weights gym with a fellow study abroad student, and ended up peering in on fencing practice. The next moment we were asked if we’d like to join the...
by Madison K | Oct 13, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Walking among mounds of colorful chile peppers that will set your mouth on fire and bunches of cilantro that fill my nose with a delightful fresh smell, and I am the only ‘farang’ in sight. Locals load their motorbike sidecars with bags full of cabbage and...
by Emily P | Sep 22, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Semester, UA-Affiliate
This might be one of the common questions that people ask me once I tell that I’m studying abroad in Jordan this year. If you’re not super into history/geography/politics and not obsessed with the Middle East (like me), it’s understandable that you...
by Kurt A | Sep 22, 2016 | Asia, Engineering, Semester, UA-Affiliate
It’s always interesting returning to your own country after being abroad, but it’s especially interesting whenever you return after such a long time. Living in another country changes you subtly, day by day, in really small ways that you can’t see until you hit...
by Madison K | Sep 22, 2016 | Asia, Community Health Sciences, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
-White shirt buttoned up all the way, black skirt to your knee, black belt, and a collar pin- thats the dress code. In college they are making us wear a uniform. It is Alabama summer hot every day and will be for months, and we have to wear a button up shirt. You...
by Lucy E | Sep 22, 2016 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer
I have always thought it’s harder to come home than it is to depart for a new adventure. After being in Ethiopia, getting to know the culture, and helping run a clinic almost every day I am kind of at a loss of what to do with myself. I spend the first week back...
by Amy W | Aug 23, 2016 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Studying abroad in London was an amazing experience to say the least. As cheesy as it is, I feel like I left a piece of myself there in London and I am already itching to return to my home away from home. All of my expectations were met to the highest degree and I...
by Brianna M | Aug 23, 2016 | Education, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Wow, it blows my mind that in eleven days I will be on an eastward-bound plane to Madrid, Spain. Since the eighth grade, I have dreamed of studying abroad. I feel immensely blessed to have this opportunity to stay in Spain this fall. Last spring semester, I was...
by Cody W | Aug 23, 2016 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Although I’ve been back in the states for nearly 4 weeks I still find myself replying in Spanglish and there are some activities that just don’t feel quite right. For example meals out; don’t take enough time and the servers are too fast. This is...
by Qiangfung F | Aug 23, 2016 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer
The Elmina Castle And Slavery River With the sea wave fluttering the beach, everyone got up. Today is the first day we live in the Anomabo Beach Restore, which is the best place we lived so far. We listen the sound of the Atlantic Ocean everyday. After the breakfast,...
by Qiangfung F | Aug 19, 2016 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer
Monkey Sanctuary With the sunrise of the morning, we stepped on the road to the monkey sanctuary.It was a long trip that we headed north part of Ghana for almost 4 hours. When the driver drove our van on the main street, I found that the deforest rate is significantly...
by Sara L | Aug 19, 2016 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
My journey through Europe is complete. These past two weeks have been nothing less than amazing. I came into the trip with the mindset that I was going to learn a lot about the differences between GAAP and IFRS, but I never thought about how much I would learn about...
by Justin C | Aug 19, 2016 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
It feels like only yesterday we landed in Heathrow Airport. After visiting a couple of countries after my stay, I felt myself being pulled back to Oxford, as if I left of part of myself in that great, eye-opening town. I wish I could take part in this program every...
by Erin B | Aug 19, 2016 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Faculty-Led, Summer
I’ve been home from my time in China for a while now and I must say, I miss it. I never would have imagined missing a country so different from my own with people so different from myself. By the end of my trip, I definitely was ready to come back to the United...
by Lindsey Zimmer | Aug 17, 2016 | Asia, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer
Wow. I’ve been home from East Asia for a couple weeks, and in that time I’ve had the chance to reflect on all that I saw and learned while abroad. I’m definitely missing the city I was in, the family and group of nationals that we worked with each...
by Jacob T | Aug 17, 2016 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
As I touched down on the tarmac in Philadelphia, I was overcome with pride and joy. Don’t misunderstand, I absolutely love traveling and wouldn’t trade my experiences and time abroad for anything, but no place on Earth tops the place I call home. Particularly, I most...