Bama Bloggers Abroad
France-Bound!
As a French major, one of the biggest goals I had before entering college was to study abroad in a francophone country. As I started as a freshman at UA, I felt secure enough in my French skills to...
Xin Chào, Vietnam! Hello from a Grateful Traveler
Traveling from the United States to Vietnam was no easy feat. Serving as my first international flight experience, the two-day commute with multiple layovers truly tested my resilience and patience....
Adjusting to Life After My European Summer
After spending the last month living in Spain, I’m finally back home: jetlagged, disoriented, and wildly confused about when I'm supposed to eat dinner. (Seriously, how did I adjust to 10 p.m. meals...
Weekend Escape to Ischia – A Perfect Getaway
After a wonderful first week settling into life in Florence, I already feel like I’ve begun to adapt to the Italian lifestyle. From walking the historic streets and sipping espresso in local cafés...
Dolphins in Anguilla! by Six McPherson
I can't believe that this is day one of the final week of our Study Abroad trip in Saint Maarten. I have had so many unforgettable memories, made new friends, and enjoyed countless experiences...
Wheels, Waterways, and Waffles in Amsterdam
We ended our study abroad in the city of Amsterdam. This was one of my favorite cities to visit because of the beautiful waterways and canals that spread all over the town. The thing that was most...
On My Way!
As I finish up my junior year, I can’t believe I’m just weeks away from heading off on my study abroad adventure to Ghent, London, and Amsterdam! I’ve always dreamed of traveling, and when I learned...
First 3 Weeks in Barranquilla, Colombia!
When I first signed up for 6 weeks of school in Barranquilla, I thought I knew and was prepared for everything. Well- I was delightfully wrong! When I first signed up for six weeks of school in...
Sweet as Honey: Waiheke Island (Auckland, NZ)
Our day trip to Waiheke Island, a 45 minute ferry ride out of New Zealand was absolutely my most favorite day of the entire trip.We started the day off with a visit to Waiheke Honey Company, a local...
The Reef, The Ray, and The Responsibility (Cairns, AUS)
I am now on my 5th day of this amazing Study Abroad adventure through Australia and New Zealand, currently in Cairns. We have so much left to do in the city but we definitely did our big one...
Meet Arnold the Koala and Gundy the Blind Wombat (Sydney, AUS)
Just an hour drive out of Sydney, Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected 80-acre bushland space where native animals like kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and of course, koalas roam freely and...
Returning Home: Reflection on Studying Abroad in Germany
After an incredible month in Germany and traveling in Europe, I am finally back home in the US and able to reflect on my time abroad. Following the three and a half weeks I studied German in...
UA in Germany 2025: Final Week and Return Home
Hello again everyone! Last time I checked in, I updated you all on my time in the cities of Konstanz and Strasbourg during my summer abroad in Germany. Well, I’m finally back home in Alabama, and...
You’ll Be Ok.
I don’t think I have been as afraid as I am now to travel. This summer, I am spending about three weeks in France. I have never been too far from my hometown, much less out of the country. When I...
Study Abroad Update
Hello Everyone! As my Greece Study Abroad trip is soon coming to a close, I wanted to provide an update on my thoughts and experiences so far. The first thing I have noticed is that almost everyone...
Returning from Greece: I want to go back!
After spending 17 days in Greece, I have had a rich experience, from spending 24+ hours in the Washington D.C airport to hiking Mount Olympus. I am grateful I was able to experience it all. After...
What It’s Really Like to Study Abroad in Korea
Now that the semester is wrapping up, I’ve had some time to reflect on my time in Korea and how it compares to other places I’ve visited. During these four months, I also traveled to China and...
Reflecting on My Time In Italy and New Zealand
I entered this summer with one goal in mind: to see parts of the world I have never seen before and have fun while doing it. Both New Zealand and Italy were absolute whirlwinds, I can confidently...
Preparing to Go Abroad: Packing More Than Just Clothes
5/25: Before Departure Getting ready to go abroad has completely taken over my mind, my Pinterest boards, and my TikTok feed. I’ve probably watched over a hundred detailed videos on “what I wish I...
Post-Abroad Culture Shocks: Differences After Returning from South Korea
Hi there, it's Willow, one month post-Korea! I expected that there would be some unexpected culture shocks when returning to America, but these are my top 5 shocks over the past month: Tipping...
Post card from Sevilla
After coming back home from my study abroad trip to Sevilla, Spain, I have had time to reflect on the experience and everything I've taken from it. The most important thing has been the connections...
Pho Real: Eating My Way Across Vietnam
One of the biggest attractions of traveling abroad to Vietnam is the diverse cuisine of the region. I initially was excited to experience all of the different foods, but I also knew that my palate...
Nature Unlike Any Other
Norway’s beauty is no secret whatsoever, though it should never be underestimated. During my...
Looking Back on Benin
I left Benin on June 29, and have had time to reflect on the incredible experiences I had. The UA in Benin program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially because it was a faculty-led...
Greece: A Study in Culture & Entrepreneurship!
I have always wanted to study abroad, so when I got the opportunity to spend 17 days in Greece, I quickly took it! Some key factors I considered before studying abroad were the location and the...
Good and Bad Nerves? Traveling Alone in Rome/Venice
Come my second weekend in Italy, I had planned two day trips: Saturday in Venice and Sunday in Rome. The only issue: I would be completely alone in Rome. For Venice, I had booked my trip through...
From the States to the Stones: Our First Week in Oxford
Arriving in the United Kingdom from the United States has been nothing short of transformative. Stepping into Oxford felt like entering a different world—one steeped in centuries of tradition,...
First Step: My Summer Adventure in East Asia
Today, 19 June 2025, marks my 20th day in Tokyo, Japan—and the end of the first part of this incredible adventure. Before I left the United States, people often told me that studying abroad would...
Copenhagen and Culture Shock
When I was preparing to study abroad, the most intimidating thing for me was the idea of culture shock. I feared that culture shock would stop me from enjoying my visit to Copenhagen to the fullest....
ChemE Goes Abroad – UA in Denmark
Hi readers! My name is Hannah and I am studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark at Technical University of Denmark (DTU). I'm packing up my safety glasses and lab coat to begin a critical course in...
Better Than Imagined
I have been having a lot of fun in my summer study abroad program in France. I knew I would be okay once I got over the hurdle of starting the trip. There will never be a time in my life that nerves...
Back Home: Surprising Lessons from My Study Abroad Experience
7/21: Home for a Week Coming back home felt familiar at first—English signs, the foods I know, the usual routines I had missed. But after a little while, I started noticing subtle things that felt...
Academics Abroad: A New Way of Learning
6/15: Half-Way Done Taking classes abroad has been a refreshing shift from what I’m used to at the University of Alabama. Everything feels more casual in the best way—professors go by their first...
A Semester I’ll Never Forget – Teaching English in Spain
by Cameran S.| April 23, 2025|Europe | Human Environmental Sciences| Semester | UA Non-Affiliate Wrapping up my semester abroad in Spain has been so bittersweet. One of the...
Goodbye Seoul
Seoul, South Korea, you have been an unforgettable chapter in my life. As I say goodbye, my heart is filled with gratitude for the kindness and warmth of the people I met here. From the friendly...
My Favorite Things About London
If you are thinking of studying abroad, and London is in your top places as a main base, read this for some of my favorite things about this wonderful city! 1. City Life As someone who comes from a...
The art of “prego”
As I acclimated to Milan's day-to-day life and culture, I began to see a consistent theme besides the noise of the tram, pop-up flower shops, and endless accessibility to carbs in all their glorious...
A Day with Local Students: Where Passion and Play Bridge All Barriers
One of the most humbling and eye-opening experiences during my time in Panama was spending a day with a local school for students who don’t have many resources. I’d heard a lot about the school...
A Sloth-Saving Adventure: The Best Moments Are Often the Most Unexpected
Sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you never see coming. That’s exactly how I felt on my first day in Panama when something completely unexpected happened that would become one of the...
Unforgettable Spain Trips!
Studying abroad in Spain has been an incredible experience, not only for academics but also for cultural immersion. Recently, we visited three historical cities of Spain: Granada, Salamanca, and...
A Culinary Adventure in Panama
One of the best parts of studying abroad in Panama has been the opportunity to explore the local cuisine. The country’s food scene is a reflection of its rich cultural diversity, blending...
Beyond the City: Exploring Breathtaking Beaches near Melbourne
When many Americans (including myself) imagine Australia, we tend to conjure up images of kangaroos, the Outback, and most prominently, beach culture. The movies and television we encounter in the...
Upon Return: UA in Panama 2025
Hola, mis amigos! This week was so much fun, and I got to experience so many new things. On top of that, I was also given the opportunity to manage the social media account for UA in Panama, which...
While Aborad: UA in Panama 2025
What's up, guys! Panama so far has been so much fun. The picture above was from our meeting with Copa Airlines and MSC Shipping. This day was so fun as we got to see live flight simulations take...
Pre-Departure: UA in Panama 2025
Hola, mis amigos! My name is Roman, and I got the chance to study abroad in Panama this spring break! I am so grateful for this opportunity! I chose to study abroad because my father went out of the...
Program Trip to Salamanca
Over the past weekend me and a couple of my friends visited Salamanca, a beautiful and historic city only 2 and half hours away from Madrid. With the program I selected called "ISA" there are...
Getting Ready for Madrid
Ever since I started packing, it seems that I either don't have enough room in my carry on or I simply don't have enough time to read up on European customs. In preparing for Madrid I have watched...
6 Weeks Till Panama City, Panama!!!
The unknown of studying abroad can be very scary. At least for me, I am used to my small town in Alabama and not experiencing too many other cultures. Going out of the country has always been on my...
From Plans to Packing: Study Abroad Tips for Beginners
I started planning to study abroad last summer, and now, sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to Madrid, everything feels surreal. Countless advisor meetings and Duolingo lessons later, it’s...
Pre-Departure: Ghana, Africa
I chose to study abroad in Ghana, Africa, as it has long been an educational goal of mine. Several key factors influenced my decision, including the affordability of the program, the rich cultural...