Bama Bloggers Abroad
Scotland Overall: Preparing and Performing
Preparing to study abroad in Scotland was a lot less glamorous than people imagine. Before I could even think about castles or festivals, I had to deal with the basics, mostly money. I applied to...
Adventure in Lit New Zealand 2025
Wow, what a trip. I have so much to reflect on I don’t even know where to start. Even though I joined late, I feel like I have been on this trip for the whole time. As we wrap up on the last day or...
New Zealand 2025!!!
This is my first column for my trip to New Zealand! Hopefully, I will be able to capture some of my travels for the first section of the trip thoroughly. While the trip started on May 5, I arrived...
Kayaks, Clear Water, and My First Exam in Dubrovnik – Amazing!
Wow—what a way to kick off my study abroad adventure! I spent my first week in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and I honestly feel like I stepped into a movie set. Between the stunning views, the salty sea air,...
The Importance of Traveling While Abroad
While you are studying abroad, I believe it is equally important to travel and explore away from school while pursuing an education abroad. Living in a new country allows you to visit new, exciting...
Reflections on Service-Learning in Krabi
สวัสดีค่ะ from Thailand! My name is Emma. I am a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track, and this semester, I have been studying in Salaya, a small town outside of Bangkok. This...
Conquering The “Study” in Study Abroad
Cafe Regatta: A popular study spot for students in Helsinki, Finland -- also one of my favorites. Engineering students face a unique set of challenges when studying abroad. While other students...
Reflections From My Enlightening Scottish Expirence
Back from Scotland! I am back from Scotland! While I loved every moment of my time abroad, I was also excited to return home and share everything I learned. The second I landed in the Atlanta...
Fringe, Friends, & Fun
"WOW, I can't belive we're actually here!!!" Are my first thoughts as soon as the plan touches down in Edinburgh. But little did I know that there would be many more "wow" moments to come. First...
Preparing for Edinburgh
I chose to study abroad because I’ve always wanted to travel outside of the United States. I have always found it fascinating to see how different people live their everyday lives! This particular...
Two Trips, One Heart Full of Yes
Despite studying in Seville, Spain, I made the most of my time in Europe by traveling to Paris, France, and Faro, Portugal, and experiencing two different cultures. I would advise anyone studying...
From Alabama to Edinburgh!
When I first arrived in Edinburgh, I was immediately taken by the cool air and all the historic, older buildings. What I did not anticipate, though, was the number of stairs and hills I would have...
Further Learning Through Airlines, and thinking of Porto
Following a flight cancellation and rescheduling, I have finally returned to Alabama. After passing through security and approaching the gate of my flight, which had been delayed, I received a...
My Unlikely Journey to Study Abroad Through Contemporary Dance
The opportunity to study abroad found me in the most unexpected way, through dance! As a dance major, I heard about auditions for Yonder Contemporary Dance Company, a unique group that tours across...
Getting Familiar with the Streets of Porto
Taking part in the European Innovation Academy program, this summer has led me, alongside thirty other UA students, to Porto, Portugal. What I quickly realized was just how dense the city of Porto...
How Scotland Connected Me to My Royal Family Heritage
Hello from Scotland! I absolutely love it here! I’ve been learning so much and fully immersing myself in Scottish culture. Here’s a little about my study abroad experience so far: First Impressions...
Three Weeks, One Accelerator: Academics at the European Innovation Academy
After three weekends of trains and travel, weekdays in Porto had one focus: the European Innovation Academy. I treated EIA like a full-time class with clear deliverables. The schedule was three...
Beyond the Postcards: Experiencing Real Culture Shock in Egypt
As a student who has traveled around Europe extensively throughout my semester abroad in Hungary, I wanted to travel somewhere with a completely different culture that would really push me outside...
道に迷ったら、方向を選んで、歩き続けて ~ If You Get Lost, Pick a Direction and Keep Walking
At time of writing, it’s just become December here in Hirakata, and in spite of that, it’s not really all that cold. The Kansai region has a pretty comparable climate to Alabama, actually; both of...
Exploring unique villages in Ghana
When we weren’t visiting historical sites, we were able to visit different communities around the country. One village, Nzulezu, sat on stilts over the water. The community was made up of a...
My first days in sunny Elmina
Elmina is a coastal town that once operated as the colonial capital of the Gold Coast before Cape Coast and Accra. Its name comes from the Portuguese for “the mine,” but mostly the economy is based...
Even Bigger AL!!
These photos were taken at Mole National Park in Larabanga, Ghana. From where we were staying in Elmina, it took about 12 hours, broken up into two days, to reach. Before entering the park, we were...
Adjusting Back to Normal Life After the Best Trip
My study abroad trip was single-handedly one of the best experiences of my life. I learned things I never knew about myself, saw things I have always dreamed of, and grew in ways that no classroom...
Studying at DTU: A month in Denmark
This summer I had the opportunity to study abroad at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where I took CHE 323: Unit Operations Laboratory, an important and demanding hands-on experience with...
Three Flights Later…
After three very long flights back to the United States, I am officially home. I was so relieved after traveling all day. We had to leave for the airport at 3 AM Scotland time, and we didn’t get...
Settling into Seoul – How to Triumph over FOMO in a City that Never Sleeps
Two months ago, after countless hours of preparation, I finally stepped out of the gate at Incheon International Airport and said my first hello to Seoul, the city that would be my new home for the...
Scotland in My Eyes: A Journey Through Time, Taste, and Wild Beauty
When I first stepped onto the streets of Edinburgh, I felt like I’d entered another era. The age of the buildings and the cobblestone beneath my feet whispered stories from centuries past. I...
The Sound of Bagpipes
Arriving in Scotland was such an amazing feeling. Since I’ve never flown to another country before, I’m soaking in every second of being here. On the first day, we walked all along the famous Royal...
Reflecting During Final Day in Porto
As my time in Porto has ended, I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the connections I have made. The people and places have all left a unique impression on me that I know I will take it...
Good Eats in Ghana
Before going to Ghana, I knew I had to try jollof rice because there is so much hype surrounding it, and I just had to see what the hype was about. Anywhere we went to eat, there was jollof rice on...
A Day at Edinburgh Castle
Haylee Elizabeth Pack Today was all about stepping back in time. Some friends and I made our way up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, its stone walls towering above the city like something out of...
Adios Barcelona!- Advice for Students Interested in Studying Abroad
It has been almost 2 weeks since my study abroad program in Barcelona ended, so I have had plenty of time to reflect on my experience and think about any last thoughts I want to share. I was very...
If You’re Going to Italy, Read This First
There are bound to be some culture shocks when traveling to a foreign country. One of the biggest shocks for me in Italy was having to pay a cover charge per person when eating out at a restaurant....
Final Thoughts – Tips & Takeaways from My Study Abroad Experience
Now that I’ve wrapped up my study abroad program in Germany and the Czech Republic, I’ve had a chance to reflect on what made the experience meaningful—and what I’d do differently next time. If...
One month later: Still missing Thessaloniki
It’s been a little over a month since I got back from my study abroad trip in Thessaloniki, Greece, and I miss it more than I can explain! I’m so grateful for the lifelong friends I made, both the...
Touching the roof of Indochina
In Vietnam there is a very special place one can visit and in doing so take part in Guinness record holding cable cart rides. The place is Mount Fransipan and it is the tallest peak in all of...
Three Weeks, Eight Towns: A Practical Guide of Portugal
Three weeks in Portugal go by quickly, so I’ve treated every free day as a mini-project. My rules are simple: spend less than 30 euros on transport, stay under three hours from Porto, and find one...
Overcoming Language Barriers
One of the things I was most excited about was hearing another language constantly. Since I minored in French, I was ready to learn all I could through immersion and constant practice. I didn’t get...
How to Prepare for 3 Countries in 3 Weeks
This summer, I participated in a study and travel program that took me to three different countries, where I visited a total of seven cities. It was one of the most exciting experiences I have ever...
New Traveling Experiences
Although I am not new to traveling, I have never had to travel as long and as far as I did for this trip. I also experience motion sickness, so I'm not a fan of planes, especially longer flights....
My First Weekend in the UK (UA in Oxford)
After a loooong flight and a few days adjusting to the new environment, I spent my first weekend in the UK in London. London was certainly much a much different environment than Oxford, where my...
Goodbye Norway; I Miss the Small Things
As I conclude my life-changing time, I can’t help but compare everything in Norway to its counterparts in the USA. Every step I take in my home country reminds me of those cobblestone streets so...
Learning Beyond the Classroom: My Study Abroad Academic Experience
On my first morning studying abroad, I had no idea what I was getting into. I walked into class unsure of what to expect—and quickly realized this was going to be a completely different kind of...
Home Abound: Adjusting Back to Normalcy
It is with a heavy heart that I must say that my experience abroad has come to an end. As I stood at the airport gate, waiting to board my last of seven planes, I felt a strange sense of longing and...
Navigating Spain with A Gluten Allergy
While studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, I have had some of the greatest experiences and food of my life. As many people with allergies know, it can be extremely daunting trying to find safe food to...
CIS in France: Paris Recap!
Bonjour! France has been wonderful! The seven days we were in Paris, we had a chance to visit the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Musée de l’Orangerie, we took a Seine River Cruise,...
CIS in France: Here we go!
Hi! I’m Mary Katherine, a rising junior majoring in Creative Advertising with a minor in Leadership Communication. I am getting the incredible opportunity to study abroad for the first time with CIS...
The Return
Now that I’m back home I have mixed feelings. Once I arrived back to the airport I was relieved because I was finally home. I missed sleeping in my own bed, but I also miss visiting all the...
An Unforgettable Afternoon Meeting Elephants in Laos!
During the UA in Asia program, we had the opportunity to visit Laos, a beautiful country located in Southeast Asia known for its natural landscapes. During our journey we stayed in the city of Luang...
The Highlight of Cambodia!
During the UA in Asia program, we had the opportunity to visit the beautiful and culturally rich country of Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia. Among incredible landscapes and beautiful temples,...