by Lucille G | Feb 4, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
In fall of 2019 I studied abroad in San Ramón, Costa Rica, a small town in the heart of the country. I remember getting to the airport in Chicago to fly to Central America and really understanding for the first time that I wasn’t going to see anyone that I knew...
by Lucille G | Feb 3, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Internship, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
During high school I always dreamed about studying abroad in college, so when I started at UA I made it a top priority to plan ahead and make sure I could fit it in/ take classes that worked for my major. Through talking to an amazing study abroad advisor, I narrowed...
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, By College, Central America, Duration, Faculty-Led, Program Type, Region, Summer
A study abroad program that’s only three weeks long seems very short. It doesn’t seem like you would get a lot out of it. However, my experience in Belize learning about reef systems and conservation management truly taught me a lot. I also learned a lot about myself....
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Study abroad is a great opportunity to learn something different. Studying abroad has been a big part of my university experience. I have gone twice already, both times to China. My focus has always been on language-learning. This time, I’m doing something different....
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I have always loved learning, but being in school can somethings make that hard. I’m a senior and reflecting on all those years in school, classwork, homework, assigned readings can all seem like busywork. They take seem to make learning a chore. It’s really hard to...
by Amber U | Apr 26, 2019 | Central America, Internship, Semester, Social Work, _
Trying to comprehend how 4 months swiftly passed me by is mind boggling, yet beautiful. My time in Mexico cannot be explained in the way that I want because it opened the door for me to reach new heights and achieve things I never thought I would achieve. I am...
by Garrett C | Mar 28, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, UA-Affiliate, _
After two months abroad in Costa Rica, I am finally back home in the states. When I saw my family for the first time in the airport, I was definitely happy to see them, but it was also bittersweet. The trip had never felt officially over until that moment, and I...
by Amber U | Feb 27, 2019 | Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester, Social Work
When I arrived to Mexico, I immediately became overwhelmed with good emotions. I shed a few tears and expressed boundless gratitude for where I am because it is not often that you get to return to places where you once failed, only to be set on a path to succeed. I...
by Garrett C | Jan 7, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester
In just a few days, I will be departing to Costa Rica to spend two months taking classes there. I’ve traveled some before, but I have never been anywhere like Costa Rica. It will be my first time to truly experience another culture, too. I suppose I chose to go there...
by Christina A | Mar 20, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led
During my final day in Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to do something on my bucket list I had yet to cross off. Surfing. I’ve always been a land person—running, hiking, backpacking and camping. I was raised in Louisville, Kentucky—famed for land sports like...
by Christina A | Mar 15, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led, Semester
As I sat in a rocking chair on the porch of my little Costa Rican cottage, I watched an assortment of cars, busses and bicycles zoom by. With no plans for the afternoon, I hoped to make my way into town via one of Costa Rica’s friendly taxi drivers. Before I made the...
by Christina A | Mar 13, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led, Semester
As a writer for VIDA Magazine at UA, I somehow found myself flying solo to Costa Rica less than 48 hours ago. Upon landing among the surrounding Costa Rican mountains and volcanoes, I hopped aboard a bus with a local bus driver, and we began our trek through the busy...
by Isabelle B | Dec 6, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, UA-Affiliate
While studying abroad in Costa Rica, I have found that there is no such thing as a typical weekend. Although most are filled with travel, the activities are as diverse as hiking a mountain, beach hopping, or exploring new cities. One weekend that is exemplary of the...
by Isabelle B | Dec 6, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate
What do you do when you want to be two places at once? That was the feeling I struggled with the last few weeks of my study abroad experience, when my desire to be home and my desire to stay in Costa Rica were fighting it out. About a month before the end of my...
by Alyssa B | Aug 29, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Having spent a few weeks since returning from my study abroad program, I have definitely had time to reflect upon my experiences. During my six weeks in Roatan, Honduras, I learned so much in regards to marine science and field research. It has truly broadened my...
by Carrigan Fain | Jul 26, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Summer, UA Non-Affiliate, _
Life in Cuba has been amazing! Throughout my three, almost four, weeks that I’ve been here I’ve gotten the opportunity to travel around the island as well as the city I’m living in. I’ve gone to Trinidad and tried their local drink of Canchanchara (amazing), danced...
by Allison D | Jun 28, 2017 | Central America, Engineering, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The next leg of our journey brought us to South Water Caye, a tiny island about an hour from Punta Gorda. A tiny paradise, the island is full of palm tree, has a constant ocean breeze, greets you at morning and at night with knock-you-socks-off sunrises and...
by Carrigan Fain | Jun 28, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Summer, UA Non-Affiliate
Hello and welcome to my pre departure self. Currently, I am preparing to study abroad in Cuba for a month! Wahoo!! A place that the United States has been closed off to for over 50 years and only recently reopened its doors to Americans. A place with little to no wifi...
by Abigail S | Jun 27, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
What you’re seeing in the photograph to the left is a stoplight parrotfish against the background of the Belize Barrier Reef. Amazingly enough, this beautiful fish is incredibly common on the reef. While studying abroad, I saw half a dozen different species of...
by Alexandra S | Jun 16, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Returning from Nicaragua was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I had just began to get used to the heat, the food and using Spanish more than English. Above all, I felt like I had not spent enough time in the clinic. It almost seemed unfair to go down to...
