My Thoughts Before Leaving Abroad to Australia
Sydney, Australia is a world recognized city with lots of things to do. Before embarking on this new adventure, I had my share of feelings of doubts and nervousness. Of course I was beyond excited to explore the other side of the world. There was so much to look forward to. I could not wait to scuba the Great Barrier Reef, feed kangaroos, and learn how to surf. However, I could not help but think “what if I don’t make friends,”...
The Best People in the Best Place
I have always known I wanted to study abroad but where and when were the parts I was never sure of. However, after a friend told me she was also interested in studying abroad and wanting to go to Madrid, I was all in. After months of planning, it was finally time for our month abroad together. We knew we would have two other roommates and just assumed Kaleigh and I would be doing what we wanted and occasionally see our...
Guide to a Summer in Barcelona
Barcelona is a unique city full of many sights and Catalan charm. I have been studying in Barcelona for 4 exciting and super busy weeks. With so much to see and do in a short summer semester, here are a few tips to make the most of your study abroad experience. Be aware of the cultural differences. You have to keep in mind that you are in a different country, so some things that might seem rude or strange to you is normal for...
Some Reverse Culture Shock
It’s been almost a month now since I’ve returned from my study abroad program, and from the beginning of my journey, I knew I wanted to do a post about reverse culture shock. While spending three months in London with the Hansard Scholars Program was a life changing experience, few phenomena compare to coming home after a whirlwind adventure to family and life back in the US. While, culturally, London was a fairly similar city to...
The Semester of Me
At the start of 2017, I promised myself that I would push myself to do things that scared me. Last summer, I decided to move to a new city alone for an internship, and it created a renewed sense of independence within myself. Navigating a new life in this city helped me grow as an individual and reminded me of how exciting life can be if you let it. As I returned to Tuscaloosa in the fall, I was eager to create new adventures and...
A Hansard Scholar in London
Anyone who has ever studied abroad will most likely describe the first few weeks in one compact, colorful term: whirlwind. My time so far here in London, England, has been just that. So much so that it has taken me over a month to finally sit down and reflect on everything that has happened. I’m here in the UK from January to April participating in the Hansard Scholars Programme (British spelling, see I’m acclimating). During...