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. The expectations were lofty: become a fluent German speaker inside of...

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. Still, I couldn’t stop looking at the breathtaking views of the...

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 friends on this trip and I was very disappointed that I had to leave...

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 feeling of never wanting to leave, I am excited to get home to see...

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 trip would have to be the Church of Bones in Rome. I thought it...

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 coastline. In fact, when you imagine Greece, this is probably the first...

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 beautiful (and not-so-beautiful) places where so many historic events took...

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 parents and it didn’t feel much like I was leaving the country. I’ve...

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 ocean view. It was so funny that I had to take a picture....