Bama Bloggers Abroad
Transportation in Japan
In America, we usually drive around cars to get from place to place. The same is true for Japan for some people. Except, driving in Japan is extremely expensive. Japanese law mandates people to go...
Summer in Barcelona
I’ve been back in the United States for about a week now and I have had some time to reflect on my summer abroad. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been able to spend six weeks in Barcelona and...
How to Bargain in India
You may think you're good at bargaining, but even the most savvy, budget-conscious, stubborn negotiator can learn some valuable skills from the average corner shop owner in India. They are masters...
A Collection from Costa Rica: Things I’ve learned through the struggles
Costa Rica is an entirely different country with a beautiful outlook on life. In their culture, the phrase "pura vida" rings through in everything that they do. Pura vida means pure life in spanish....
Weird things they do in Costa Rica: another list
I believe that the title says it all: Give right of way to cars and not to pedestrians Put 10 keys on a key ring when you use 2 of them Participate in "loaf of bread" day. One day every week where...
Returning Home From Oxford
While on the plane back from London, I felt tired. Part of me looked forward to getting back to my regular routine in the states (seeing my dog again). But mostly, I was not ready to leave, as was...
Honors Abroad
Choosing to study abroad was easily one of the best decisions I have made in my life thus far, but I’m pretty sure you will hear that from anyone who studies abroad or visits Europe in...
Coming to an End
As my month in Ireland comes to an end, I can't help but to think back on all of the things I have seen and done. In only 30 days, I have traveled across the south portion of the Ireland, from...
Traveling While Traveling
I have been living in Oxford for the past two weeks and each weekend I have taken an opportunity to travel to a new place. Though the UK and Europe are the ideal places to country hop and sightsee,...
A Few of Oxford’s Secrets
Here I sit, five hours into my nearly ten-hour flight to Atlanta and I’m flipping through my journal entries from the past month. I am a avid visual-journalist so my pages are filled with my small...
Home Sweet Home
By the last week I was so ready to get home and see my friends, family, dog, and to chow down on some Chick-fil-a. It wasn’t until the last day of classes when our teachers started to say their...
Readjusting Again
Currently, I am sitting at home and watching TV with my family for the first time in five weeks. It is a very bittersweet feeling; I am happy to be with my family again, but sad to be home already....
Enjoying Berlin
One of my first thoughts upon arriving in Berlin was that it isn't much different than any other large American city. Tall buildings, lots of people everywhere, a confusing public transportation...
St. Sava Temple
One building dominates the skyline of Old Belgrade – the St. Sava Temple. Its huge light-blue domes capped with golden Orthodox crosses seemingly pop out of nowhere when looking at the sky. It...
Reminiscing
Previously, I wrote a post about how homesick I was; now, I am homesick for the country that was temporarily my home. It has been exactly 38 days since I have returned to Alabama, but the experience...
Skomer Island, Wales
While abroad I have learned a lot, and had the wonderful opportunity to travel. This is a picture of me and a dear friend I was able to meet here, Elyssa. We had just finished hiking a...
Abroad in Germany – Berlin and Munich
During my time abroad, my language skills have improved significantly in certain areas. Though I continue to struggle with listening comprehension, conveying messages and exchanging in casual...
Reverse Culture Shock is Real
Coming back to the USA from being abroad always requires a period of readjustment, and this journey abroad was no different. My first feeling upon landing in Charlotte was that of being completely...
While Abroad
The first emotions I experienced after arriving in Bali, Indonesia were excited, but also quite nervous. Arriving at midnight, taking a cab in an unfamiliar city, and concluding that I might die on...
Life in Cuba
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...
Upon Return
After 35 hours of traveling, I arrived in my home-town airport. There were so many different thoughts running through my head, such as excited and relieved to be back home and also overwhelmed by...
Bonjour de Bruxelles!
Although I’ve only been in Brussels for two weeks, I’ve already come to feel at home here. I’ve found my favorite café on the corner of Place du Jordan and have eaten enough frites to feed a small...
Packing Lightly for Serbia
I travel a lot, and yet packing is still something that I struggle with. It isn’t procrastination that I suffer from more than I can never seem to pack lightly. In the last year, I have traveled...
Ready, Set, Go (STEM Study Abroad in India)
It’s finally here. It has been more than a year that I have planned, budgeted, and anticipated this trip to India. Unique to the STEM Path to the MBA, I am one of ten students that are traveling to various parts of India over the next three weeks to study and apply the idea of reverse innovation.
Ciao Firenze!
Italy is beautiful, even more beautiful than I thought. I am enjoying living with my Italian mother, Anastasia. I was worried about living with an Italian family because I thought it might be...
More Than Just the Lago
During each session we had one free weekend to travel on our own. For the second free weekend I decided to travel to Zurich, Switzerland with my friend. The highlight of the weekend was Saturday. We...
I love you France, but the rest of Europe is waiting
I first travelled to Europe in 2012 on a spring break tour, and it was that quick trip zipping through London, Paris, and Rome, that made me crave the experience of studying abroad. So I should have...
Returning from Ghana
Now that I am back from Ghana, I feel fulfilled. I feel accomplished that I was able to travel the world all by myself and return safely. I feel as if my stay in Ghana was not long enough. I...
Returning From Spain
It has been about two weeks since I came back from Spain. My last couple of days in Spain were spent exploring the capital, Madrid. While in Madrid, I toured the Royal Palace. My favorite part of...
My Time in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Landing in Madrid, the first thing I noticed was the immediate immersion into the Spanish language. Everything from the airport signs, to advertisements, to the people talking around me was...
Pre-Departure to Berlin 2017
Since this trip will be my first time leaving the country on my own, without having the safety net of my parents or guardian to watch over and guide me all the time, there is a sense of excitement...
Snapping Back to Reality
Stepping off the airplane in Atlanta was one of the most bittersweet feelings I have ever experienced. On one hand, my mouth was watering at the thought of purchasing hot Cheetos after a month and a...
A Not so Difficult Decision
Since I left Germany after a two week vacation in high school, my goal has always been to go back, but I did not know how. The opportunity presented itself with the Two Steps Ahead program at UA....
Leaving Madrid & Coming Home
My final blog on studying abroad in Madrid, Spain
Abroad in Germany – Pre-Departure and First Days
The school I am studying at for the summer semester This summer I am studying abroad in Germany. I am spending 4 weeks in Berlin and 1 week in Munich as a part of the UA in Germany program....
While Abroad
When I arrived in El Escorial, Spain for my study abroad program, I was extremely overwhelmed and jet lagged. I was nervous and afraid of making new friends, speaking to the locals, and classes....
Finishing my Travels
7/1/17: My final week and a half of traveling abroad in Spain was bittersweet. For the past four weeks, I had come to love my new country and I was sad that I had to leave it. I had made tremendous...
Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage
Every part of my first three weeks in Barcelona has been amazing and eye-opening. One of the most unique opportunities with which I have been presented during my time here is one of my summer...
Month in Madrid
Hola! Today marks the last Monday I will be spending in Spain (at least for a while). It's a little bittersweet feeling. This country has for sure stolen a piece of my heart. But along with the...
Pre-departure
I chose to study abroad because I wanted to gain field experience in primatology, so the program I chose was the perfect fit. Several factors led to my decision to attend the Balinese Macaque...
Back to the States
I'm finally back and rested ready to get back to work and my normal life here in Alabama. I have to say, I will be going back. I fell in love with how slow everything is. My favorite part about the...
The Adjustment Period
So after a very strenuous day of travel we have finally arrived in the beautiful city of Santorini. Santorini is a city full of beautiful white building and an even more beautiful crystal clear...
Living History
One of the truly amazing things about studying abroad is the opportunity to make the history that you learn in the classroom come alive! While you are abroad, you will most likely visit so many...
Pre-Departure Thoughts
3 days from now, once I step on the plane, my life is going to change forever. I’ve only been out of the United States twice; both times were to visit our missionary friends with my...
Returning From Ghana–Reassuring My Path in Medicine
Not but three days ago, I left Ghanaian soil with more fulfillment of medical and cultural knowledge than I ever wished for. Most especially, I believe my conversation with the Ghanaian man that sat...
Greece Abroad
First Impressions My first impression of Greece was "Wow, this looks like home." The airport in Santorini is up on a cliff and looks a lot like the Sonoran Desert at home in Arizona, except with an...
A New Experience
This summer I chose to study abroad because I truly believe it is the best and most unique way to not only learn information inside a classroom but gain cultural experience as well. Last summer I...
The Beginning of a Journey
The first day of my journey was full of stress. Not only did I have to try to remember everything, but I then had to drive 4 hours in the pouring rain to the airport. My dad and I had a sad, yet...
Why Medical Missions in Ghana??
Pre-departure: Why did you choose to study abroad? What factors (year in school, location, etc.) played into your decision? What key things did you have to consider before deciding to go...
While Abroad Adventures in Ghana
While Abroad We have taken several excursions while in Ghana. Each time, I am taken aback by how lively our discoveries and experiences are while adventuring. I go into each weekend excursion...