Bama Bloggers Abroad
枚方市へようこそ！～ Welcome to Hirakata!
It’s been about two months since I first arrived in Japan for my semester abroad. Those two months, but especially since I first arrived, have been a nonstop learning experience. There was no way I...
Beyond the Host City: A Trip to the Baltics
Picture I took of a street in the old town of Tallinn, Estonia When you study abroad, it is easy to let your host city become your entire world. While immersing yourself in one location is valuable,...
UA in Germany 2025: Stuttgart and Freiburg
Guten Tag! I’m Lillian and this is my first blog post of the summer. Last year I made three blog posts detailing my study abroad experience in Weingarten, Germany. This summer, I’m back in Germany,...
Blog Post #3: Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora, a small town in the Czech Republic that we visited toward the end of our trip, left a strong impression on me for one major reason: silver. It’s hard to overstate how much raw material...
Blog Post #2: Wittenberg – A Walk Through Reformation History
After Berlin we made our way south and made a brief stop in Wittenberg. The town was like stepping into a history book, with cobblestone streets and medieval buildings that make the entire place...
Life on the “Outside”- an American Navigating Major Capitals of the World by Alli Lightsey
By now, I have seen the restless lights of New York City and every pub on the corner of streets in London and have finally made my way to Paris, France! Sure, New York was an American city, but the...
The Global Field of Fashion
By: Alli Lightsey | May 5, 2025 | New York, London, Paris, Milan; Month-Long, Faculty Led Hey! My name is Alli Lightsey, I am a Fashion Marketing Major, and for the first bit of Summer I will be...
While Abroad: Clinics, Missions, and Meaningful Moments in Athens
One of the most meaningful parts of my time in Athens has been getting to serve through clinical outreach and missionary work. Our group had the opportunity to visit refugee camps and work alongside...
Blog Post #1: Berlin
In May MIS went on a trip through Europe, and while Berlin was the city we stayed in the shortest it was one of the most impactful cities we visited during the study abroad trip (at least for me)....
Upon Return: Advice for Future Students
If you’re getting ready to study abroad, especially for a program that includes mission work or visiting refugee camps, my biggest piece of advice is to prepare your heart just as much as your...
Castles, Cathedrals, and Cultures in Europe
I’ve always been a huge fantasy fan. It’s been my dream to explore castles and see beautiful architecture that isn’t captured in the US. I wanted to be able to walk into a different world as...
Fun in Christchurch, NZ!
Kia Ora! In this blog post, I want to highlight two of my favorite places that I visited in Christchurch - the International Antarctic Centre and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve! There is a shuttle...
Adventures in Auckland!
Greetings! Right now, I’m on the bus leaving Auckland for the final time - we spent the first couple days in Auckland and went back several days later. Since we have a fair amount of free time in...
Packing list for New Zealand!
Greetings from New Zealand! Since I am wrapping up my travels, I want to share a packing list of all the things that I used or wished I had during the trip! Keep in mind, everything on this list...
My First Week in Saint Maarten! Six McPherson
This week in Saint Maarten I have learned so much already. For starters, the air here is amazing! When I first walked out of the doors at the airport, I felt an instant breeze that satisfied my soul...
Farewell to Asia
Studying abroad to Asia had always been on my bucket list, but I never imagined how profoundly it would impact me until I spent a month in Taiwan and Vietnam. These two countries, each with their...
Amsterdam and our last few days abroad
Our last stop on our study abroad tour is Amsterdam. So far we have hit 6 countries and we will be spending 4 days in Amsterdam. So far upon arrival this city is amazing. Its incredible how biking...
The North Island (Te Ika a Māui): The New Discoveries and the Old Familiarities
The first half of our trip exploring Aotearoa, New Zealand was full of tropical beaches, Beautiful grasslands, and of course sheep, lots and lots of sheep. Because I have whānau in Aotearoa, I have...
High-Tech Global Business of Vietnam & Taiwan: Final Day
Photo: View from our boat in Ha Long Bay in Northeast Vietnam. Hello! Today, I have made it back to Alabama after another long and tiring day of travel. However, I am incredibly fulfilled after...
Cambodia’s Dark History, Vibrant Culture – Part Two of Asia Trip
The first full day of Cambodia began with a business field trip to a garment factory. The factory we visited is a global supply chain component of the garment industry. It was interesting to read...
I am so grateful to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard
I am writing this during a layover back to the States. This experience has been absolutely amazing. I have made so many genuine friendships that I will forever cherish and have made so many...
Tranquility in Laos – Part Three of Asia Trip
I had finally arrived in the last country of the Asia Trip: Laos. While the rest of the trip had full schedules and packed days, the plan for Laos was similar to how Laos is as a country. We had a...
Back Home, Unpacking London
Coming back home after my time in London has felt a little strange, in a good way. I was only gone for a short time, but it is amazing how much a new place can change the way you see things. London...
Ho Chi Minh City
Wow! What a vibrant, lively, and engaging city! I had no expectations when I signed up for this facility led study abroad. Was beyond excited to experience a new side of the globe I have not yet...
Celebrating 100 Years of Aristotle University: Music and Marketing
My friend, Dima, and I have been lucky enough to study at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the Department of Music Studies. It’s been an unforgettable experience so far. One of the most...
The Gift of Friction
While this study abroad was only two and a half weeks, it feels like I have been gone for much longer. We travelled to 4 countries and 5 cities spanning 3 different languages with entirely different...
Berlin on the Move, Mastering Public Transport
Thinking of visiting Germany and renting a car to fly down the autobahn? You may want to reconsider. With Germany’s incredibly efficient and accessible public transportation system, having a car...
Culinary Reminders of Home in Berlin, Munich, and Prague
Growing up, I used to be a picky eater. Since childhood, I have grown an adventurous appetite where I will eat anything on my plate, consistently trying new culinary cultures. In preparing for my...
Culture shock… at home
When I first left for Europe, I braced myself for culture shock. Different languages, customs, and lifestyles—I expected to feel out of place. What I didn’t expect was how out of place I would feel...
A guide for a cheap but extensive day in Rome
Rome is one of the most famous tourist locations in the world and it absolutely lived up to the hype for me. Rome was one of my favorite places I visited on my study abroad trip; however, we only...
Off to Italy!
To whom it may concern, Today is my final day in Raleigh, NC. In just a few hours, my mom and I will depart on our 12:30 PM flight to JFK airport, then a short layer before our flight to Rome,...
A Weekend in Stockholm: Loving Train Travel in Europe
One of the best parts of studying abroad in Europe is how easy it is to travel between countries. One thing I was very much looking forward to was the planned Stockholm, Sweden which with the...
Reverse Culture Shock After Copenhagen: A Short Stay, A Lasting Impact
I only spent three weeks studying abroad in Copenhagen, but coming back to the U.S. still felt surprisingly different. I didn’t expect such a short trip to shift my perspective so much, but it did...
Returning To The States!
After traveling for the past two weeks, I realized how different living in the United States is from living in Europe! I had such a great experience and was able to do many new things within the...
Oslo Odyssey: A Nordic Adventure
Impressive architecture, sparkling waters, and savory fish that melts on your tongue. These are three things you will experience when you visit Oslo, Norway! During my study abroad I was fortunate...
Upon Return
Now that I’m back home, I’ve been feeling pretty sad that my time abroad is over. I definitely missed some food spots like Chick-fil-A and Willy’s while I was in Europe, and it was fun to have those...
While Abroad
When I first arrived in Florence, I was actually really nervous. We got dropped off just outside the city center, and it didn’t look like any of the pictures or videos I had seen online. I remember...
Preperation
When it came to getting ready for study abroad, I took a pretty practical approach. I focused on the essentials, especially clothes. A few solid pairs of pants and shorts, some reliable t-shirts,...
Preparing for the Unknown: Personal Travel Tips
If you’re anything like me, the thought of studying abroad brings a wave of excitement and nerves. Before I came to the university, I dreamed of studying abroad, but never thought I’d have the...
Homesick–>Abroadsick
Now that I am back home and have completed what feels like a million loads of laundry, I have finally been able to reflect back on my trip and reminisce on all of the amazing memories that I have...
Oh, what fun! Abroad in Croatia & Italy
When I first arrived in Dubrovnik, Croatia, there were a lot of thoughts running through my head. Firstly, as I grabbed my bag off of the baggage claim belt, I noticed that my suitcase had been...
UA in Croatia/Italy: week three
I left off on the last blog with Venice, so I'll start there. Saturday and Sunday in Venice were straight out of a dream. Saturday, I ran into my friend from campus, who was on a different study...
Film Festivals and Freddo Cappuccinos
My study abroad program in Thessaloniki, Greece has been one of the most educational, enriching things I have ever experienced. In my internship, I have joined a group of students at Aristotle...
Diminishing Nerves
Give me a wig and call me Hermione—I packed a lot into that backpack. I don’t actually know whether I packed enough or too much. But after getting no sleep and facing a 10-hour layover today, I feel...
London, Barcelona, Paris, and Rome
Hey everyone! I am having the most amazing time abroad and I want to share some of the things I have been up too. We traveled from Belgium to London and we had a few day trips during our time in...
Belize Reflection
I got home from Belize today, and I already miss it so much. It was incredibly hard to leave. I made so many memories I’ll never forget and friendships I hope will last for years to come. I started...
Public Transit When Abroad
One essential truths about visiting European cities is that not every city is walkable and ubers can be quite expensive. The solutipn to this is utilizing the public transit systems that majority of...
Seven Countries in Two Weeks: My Major Takeaways
A May interim program has its pros and cons. While not as long as a semester or summer program, it presents the opportunity to spend a few weeks abroad while maintaining flexibility to work summer...
Prague: A City We Don’t Hear About
When you hear study abroad it is common to hear Barcelona, Paris, Rome, etc. but through a day trip, I was able to experience all that the city of Prague in the Czech Republic has to offer.Prague is...
From a Scrap to a Scrumptious Bite: Everybody Eats
Kia Ora! So, I actually began to write a blog about the indescribable beauty of the nature of New Zealand, but before I finished it, we went to a dinner that felt much more important to me to share...