by Saphia H. | Jun 23, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I landed at the airport around noon in Paris, France and took a bus to Tours, France to meet my host family after landing. I was tired and super nervous to meet them. Meeting them eased some of my worries a bit, and the country is so beautiful. I cant wait to go see...
by Saphia H. | Jun 23, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, _
After spending a month in Tours, France, I have had numerous interesting experiences. The culture shock has worn off, and I have adjusted to life here. Classes were intensive, and my French has improved a lot since I’ve been here. The Language and Culture Study...
by Olivia B. | Jun 23, 2025 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
When I signed up for UA in Benin I was very nervous, knowing little about Benin and throwing myself into this adventure alone. I had never been away from home for such a long time, and had never traveled somewhere so unfamiliar. However, I was still very excited! I...
by Natalie F. | Jan 7, 2025 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Back home and feeling a little bit of reverse culture shock: not having to tackle waiters to get the check, not knowing how or what to recycle, not using cash and coins. It’s been just a week, and I can feel my language skills slipping even though I’m still consuming...
by Annabelle B. | Jan 7, 2025 | Europe, Honors College, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Thinking of Studying Abroad? Here Are My Top Tips! Studying abroad is one of the most exciting, life-changing adventures you can embark on. It’s not just about academics, it’s about discovering new cultures, meeting amazing people, and stepping out of your...
by Alyssa W. | Dec 20, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
“Americans are so talkative and friendly—people here don’t just chat with everyone they meet”. This was a comment I got on the train to London at 4 a.m., after spending the past hour talking to someone from the area about everything from economics to music. It was a...
by Alyssa W. | Dec 18, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Everywhere has a signature food: New York pizza, Wisconsin cheese curds, Kentucky fried chicken. When traveling, we imagine taking advantage of the famous restaurants, and schedule time to sample Chicago deep dish from Giordanos or sourdough bread from a San Fransisco...
by Alyssa W. | Dec 18, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I am a chronic overpacker. There’s no getting around it. I always find myself leaving home with a bag bursting at the seams, hoping desperately I don’t have to open it and somehow manage to achieve the miracle of zipping it shut a second time. Unfortunately, this is a...
by Emma D. | Dec 18, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
If you have been on the Internet for any length of time, you have no doubt experienced a sharp divide between European and American users. One can often find the two groups arguing about food, stereotypes, tourism, and most often and most divisively; politics. No...
by Annabelle B. | Dec 17, 2024 | Europe, Honors College, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
After living here for six weeks, I now see Paris on a deeper, more nuanced level. Paris is not just a beautiful city, it is a place where the layers of history and culture are intricately woven into the urban landscape. Paris has become a place to observe and reflect,...
by Diamond T. | Dec 13, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
by Abigail Tanner | Dec 12, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer, _
With this trip being my first time abroad, I had no clue what to pack for a month in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Now, I realize some things I *really* should have brought with me and some things I **really** should have left at home. Starting with the Dos: DO pack an...
by Abigail Tanner | Dec 12, 2024 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer, _
It is now officially less than 24 hours until I depart Copenhagen and catch my flight (well, couple of flights) back to the States. Reflecting on my trip, I can say with full confidence that I have loved my time abroad. Pre-departure, I was nervous about making...
by Kyndra L. | Dec 12, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
I can confidently say that I had (and still have) a great first impression of Colombia. Everyone was warning me about how hot Colombia is during the summer, but as a native of Mobile, Alabama, heat is nothing new to me. The humidity was a little stronger than...
by Kyndra L. | Dec 12, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
Now that I’m back home, I have such a great perspective for the rest of my summer and the rest of my college experience. I have learned so much over the past few weeks, both academically and socially. I struggled with a lot of homesickness during my trip, but in...
by Natalie F. | Dec 12, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
by Diamond T. | Dec 12, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
by Gerald C. | Dec 12, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
by Gerald C. | Dec 12, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
by Gerald C. | Dec 12, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
