by Macy M | Nov 4, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
When I first landed in Stuttgart, Germany, I was exhausted. I just flew over nine hours with no food or sleep. Because my plane was delayed, I missed my train, so I took a taxi instead. The language barrier was almost immediately. I could hardly understand him and my...
by Abrielle B. | Nov 4, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Summer, UA-Affiliate
I tasted eggplant, which I had never eaten before, on my first night in Seville, Spain. I was apprehensive at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and tasty it was. The next day, I tried tapas—small appetizer-style foods intended for sharing—for the...
by Robyn H. | Oct 24, 2025 | Asia, Exchange, Semester
It’s been about two months since I first arrived in Japan for my semester abroad. Those two months, but especially since I first arrived, have been a nonstop learning experience. There was no way I could know everything about Japan, my host institution, or every...
by Lillian J. | Oct 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Guten Tag! I’m Lillian and this is my first blog post of the summer. Last year I made three blog posts detailing my study abroad experience in Weingarten, Germany. This summer, I’m back in Germany, this time in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. Our program began with...
by Rob K. | Oct 20, 2025 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Photo: View from our boat in Ha Long Bay in Northeast Vietnam. Hello! Today, I have made it back to Alabama after another long and tiring day of travel. However, I am incredibly fulfilled after completing our time in North Vietnam and Taipei, Taiwan. Both places were...
by Anna B. | Oct 17, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
While this study abroad was only two and a half weeks, it feels like I have been gone for much longer. We travelled to 4 countries and 5 cities spanning 3 different languages with entirely different roots. The thing that has shocked me most about coming home is just...
by Jenna V. | Oct 17, 2025 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
To whom it may concern, Today is my final day in Raleigh, NC. In just a few hours, my mom and I will depart on our 12:30 PM flight to JFK airport, then a short layer before our flight to Rome, Italy! I could not be more excited for this trip! I have been...
by Brandon S. | Oct 15, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
This past week, we travelled around the South Island, landing in Christchurch, and then eventually making our way to Queenstown. Throughout the trip, we have had the opportunity to interact with students and professors from other universities. We went to the...
by Jessica W. | Oct 15, 2025 | Commerce & Business, _
This trip has already been an unforgettable journey, and we’re only just getting started. Every day brings something new—new cities, new people, and best of all, new food. I’ve been doing my best to try everything, and so far, the standout has been an incredible...
by Dawson M. | Oct 15, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer, _
The New Zealand scenery has definitely not disappointed. We have gone on about four or five hikes so far and they have been absolutely gorgeous. It’s crazy to me that I’ve been in the country for two weeks now and that my trip is almost over. Each day individually...
by Shelby W. | Oct 15, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I can’t believe I’m going to Greece! Studying abroad has been a dream of mine ever since we first learned about the opportunity in middle school. Now, as a junior in college, it feels like the perfect time to make it happen! I’ve never been out of the country before,...
by Brandon S. | Oct 14, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
This study abroad experience has been incredible, and it is just getting started! I arrived one week ago, and within thirty minutes of my arrival at the hotel/hostel, we went to an intermediate school and learned about the education system of New Zealand. We then...
by Rob K. | Oct 14, 2025 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Summer, _
Hello! Earlier today, I finally arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after a very long journey starting from Birmingham, Alabama. To be honest, so far, the city is about as I expected based on my past travel experience to Southeast Asia. In other words, I am enjoying...
by Dawson M. | Oct 14, 2025 | Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
After 36 hours, 3 plane flights, and 8,300 miles of travel, I finally got to my hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. Although I have been out of the country before, this is by far the longest trip and the first time I have been to a different continent. At first, it...
by Dorothy S. | Oct 7, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
As I sat on the plane awaiting takeoff from the Milan airport, my senses were being assaulted. Although there is a popular stereotype of the Italian culture and language being loud and expressive, it is no comparison to a plane full of chatty Americans aboard a...
by Dawson M. | Sep 26, 2025 | Australia/New Zealand, Engineering, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The past three weeks have been packed full of incredible adventures, but the time has absolutely flown by. It all feels like a blur of hikes, cities, restaurants, presentations, and traveling. However, I truly do feel like to made the most of every moment and it was...
by Anna H. | Sep 17, 2025 | Asia, Semester, _
Truthfully, I haven’t been dealing with a lot of culture shock. It turns out that researching and studying a country for three years will prepare you for the cultural differences and challenges you have to face. Who knew? But there are some things that even...
by Olivia Womack | Aug 12, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in.” A month travelling across England to see stage adaptations from the Bard himself makes me agree with his sentiment! As part of our EN 333 course, Shakespeare, our class attended four productions of Shakespeare...
by Andreea T. | Jul 23, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
As a French major, one of the biggest goals I had before entering college was to study abroad in a francophone country. As I started as a freshman at UA, I felt secure enough in my French skills to apply for the “UA in France: Language and Culture”...
by Liz R. | Jul 22, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Human Environmental Sciences, South America, Summer, _
When I first signed up for 6 weeks of school in Barranquilla, I thought I knew and was prepared for everything. Well- I was delightfully wrong! When I first signed up for six weeks of school in Barranquilla, I thought I was completely prepared. I am a Spanish as well...
