Bama Bloggers Abroad
Pre-departure Prep!
Hola! My name is Kelley Pham and I am a freshman that is currently double majoring in Finance and Marketing. I am a Tuscaloosa native (#Be1Pat) and am looking forward to sharing my Panama study...
Embracing Panama: Exploring Cultures and Businesses
When I arrived in Panama, I was instantly struck by the people's vivid energy and kindness. The bustling streets, along with colorful and tall buildings and vibrant music, portrayed a dynamic and...
Pre-departure Thrills
I have always wanted to study abroad since I was a kid, but I never imagined I would have the opportunity until I saw the Freshman Access Grant Panama Business Trip. Coming into college, I was...
First Time Abroad: Post-Trip Thoughts
As I reminisce about my time spent in Panama, I find myself struggling to adequately express the depth of gratitude I feel for having had this extraordinary experience. It's been a journey that has...
First Time Abroad: Mid-Trip Thoughts
As we find ourselves at the midpoint of our adventure, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of awe. When I first stepped foot onto my college campus, the thought of embarking on an international...
First Time Abroad: Pre-Trip Thoughts
Hey folks! Just dropping in to share the details about my upcoming trip to Panama – less than a week left, and the excitement is real! This is my first time venturing abroad, and let me tell you,...
Embracing the Unknown: Anticipation Before a Semester Abroad in Barcelona
How to Never Regret Studying Abroad
Today is December 19, 2023, and it's my last day living in Athens, Greece. My home for the last 4 months has left me nothing short of amazed, and I've loved (almost) every second of my time here. I...
Navigating the Academic Structures of UK Universities
Sometimes we get so excited about being abroad, we forget that we’re there to study. When deciding where you will go to study abroad, it’s important to consider the academic structures of the...
An Unfamiliar Life (and the Importance of Studying!)
I've been living in Athens, Greece for almost 10 weeks now, and as the days tick down, I'm both dreading leaving this adventure, and excited to get home and start the next one. Things have gotten...
A Sight-Seeing Skeptic’s Take on The Magic of the Taj Mahal
What trip to India is complete without visiting the Taj Mahal? After a full semester of classes in Bangalore, my classmates and I took a group trip to North India. We explored the sights of Jaipur,...
The Year of the Expat: Experiences in Spain vs. India
I spent the majority of 2023 as an expat, living in Madrid, Spain and Bangalore, India. Both locations were thrilling, full of vivid experiences, meaningful friendships, and memories I will cherish...
Overcoming Homesickness Together: Garba Dancing at Navratri
I remember moving from Washington to Louisiana when I was 11 years old. Though we never left the U.S., transitioning from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South was like moving to a different...
Honest Conversations in the Scottish Autumn
When I started thinking about studying abroad, the first thing I wanted to do was talk to my friends, professors, and mentors who had experience with study abroad and could give me guidance. I was...
Finding the Right Program
The “Study” Part
Should you do study abroad?
I feel that every single person should find some way to be able to visit another country and experience another culture. I know that for many it is not financially feasible, as it had previously...
Connecting With My Heritage
One of the most meaningful part of my trip to Spain was to be able to connect with my heritage. My mother was born and raised in Spain, however, she married my father who is American and moved to...
Overcoming challenges and putting yourself out there
I've been in Athens, Greece for a little over a week now, and I already know that this is going to be a lifechanging semester! My classes are fun, the town I'm living in is beautiful and completely...
The Chart of Emotions during Study Abroad
During your study abroad, orientation you will probably be told about the emotional curve that is associated with students’ feelings during their study abroad trip. I remember looking at this chart...
Anxieties before takeoff and how to solve them
I can recall scrolling through Pinterest for hours typing the words “London Summer Fashion” repeatedlyin the search bar trying to ensure I had the right wardrobe to fit in. Thousands of worries...
A love Letter to Snells Beach, New Zealand:
The absolutely breathtaking view and chilling blue water made the fact that I had to sit down and do a little bit of computer work better. The sailboats docking in the harbor with the beautiful...
Creating Life-Long Friendships
I chose to study abroad in Australia for its beautiful nature, but I did not realize that what I would miss most were the people. Upon arriving in Australia, I met a group of international...
My Favorite Places in Brisbane
I decided to go to Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia for my study abroad. Here are some things I fell in love with about the area of Brisbane: For my semester, I lived in...
Packing for Multiple Locations with Different Climates
This summer, I participated in multiple study abroad programs, back to back. One was in Florence, Italy and the other was in Copenhagen, Denmark. When preparing for these programs, I had to pack...
UA in Florence – Visiting Rome during a three day weekend
While I was studying abroad this summer in Florence, Italy, my friends and I loved to travel on the weekends. We knew that we had to make it to Rome, and decided to go there on our three-day weekend...
Chemical Engineering Unit Ops Lab in Denmark
This summer, I had the opportunity to take the Unit Operations Lab for chemical engineering majors at Denmark Technical University in Copenhagen. The Unit Ops lab is very well known as one of the...
Day Trip to Bruges
Wrapping up accounting study abroad in Europe, we took a day trip to Bruges, Belgium, from Paris. It is a beautiful city, we took a bus there in the morning and had to get out and walk around the...
Artificial Reef Building on South Water Caye
There was a variety of research projects to participate in on our trip to Belize. There was a "Plastics Team" that recorded quantities of microplastics in the water near several islands. "Team...
Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Tourist (At Least Some)
Adventures in Belize: Post-trip reflections
I am incredibly glad that I decided to go on the trip, and if you’re reading this and you're considering going, I highly encourage you to do so. Especially if your passion involves the ocean, or...
Adventures in Belize: During the trip
One of my first impressions was simply awe at the natural beauty and numerous wonders of Belize. I loved drawing and painting my surroundings, especially all of the beautiful wildlife that I was...
Adventures in Belize: Pre-departure and Arrival
Hello! My name is Meg Dooley and I am a biology major here at Alabama. When I initially declared my major, I was intending on being Pre-med, and going into medicine. While walking around campus one...
Reflecting on Four Months at Sea
Now that I’ve had time to fully reflect on my time abroad and recover from my study abroad “hangover” I can say that my experiences were more than anything I could’ve ever hoped for. I went on the...
Sunset in Nihon
My Time in Oxford
As soon as it began I was in awe, and what a time it was. From the 2nd of July to the 26th of July I was in Oxford, England. The most important area of concern before the trip had even begun was...
The London School of Economics – First Day in London!
Today marks the first day of my study-abroad trip to London, England! I’m taking a class in Econometrics at the London School of Economics (LSE) this August, and I just arrived in my dorm room where...
Seven Nights In Phuket: UA in Thailand 2/3
Our study abroad group in front of James Bond Island in the Phang Nga Bay Hey, it’s me again. If you didn’t catch my last entry, I’m Connor Higgins (far right in the photo above), and I’m writing...
Fourteen Nights in Bangkok: UA in Thailand 1/3
Our study abroad group (seated) with Dr. Paan Jindapon (back row, second from left) and our hosts for "Thailand 101" at Bangkok University. Hello! My name is Connor Higgins. I'm seated on the far...
Five Nights In Chiang Mai: UA In Thailand 3/3
Our study abroad group at a coffee farm in northern Chiang Mai Hello again! I’m Connor Higgins (second from left above), and this is my last entry on UA in Thailand: International Economics. If you...
Reflecting on My Journey
It was finally time for me to depart Europe. I made my final journey to the airport, dragging my suitcases behind me on the cobblestone walkways. Next thing I knew, I was in the air on my way back...
Meeting My Long Lost Family in Ireland
My Goodbye to London, England
Today was my final day at the London School of Economics, and truthfully, it was a sad one! My three weeks in London went by far too quick, and while I saw everything (and everyone) I had hoped to,...
Portugal’s Hidden Piece of Paradise
One of the neatest experiences I had in Portugal was when I signed up for an all-day excursion to the Peneda-Geres National Park. Since I wasn't staying in downtown Porto I caught an Uber to the...
An Unexpected Adventure
An Unexpected Adventure I have just arrived back in the states after a 3-week study abroad trip in Porto, Portugal and there is just so much to unpack (however, not physically, because my luggage is...
Surprise Outcomes after Greece
When you're about to study abroad or cross any sort of ocean, there's an implication from others that you come back changed. After all, you're visiting parts of the world with different histories,...
Reflection
I have just returned from my summer travels in Croatia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and I am returning to school in Tuscaloosa in a week and a half. Traveling in Asia has even further...
Resuming Life at Home
Now that I've been home for a few weeks, I've experienced a return to normalcy in my life. I'm over my period of sadness and wistfulness, and can properly reflect on my time there without my...
Guatemala in Review
