by Katie M. | Jul 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
Before studying abroad, you are told to expect culture shock. It is an inevitable part of traveling. As I settled into my first two weeks in Colombia, I found that adapting to a new culture has two faces: disorientation and wonderment. First, disorientation. The...
by Katie M. | Jul 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
As I write this, I am finishing my last day of classes in Colombia. It is a very strange feeling. I am sad, yet relieved to return to the United States. Study abroad consists of a lot: classes, excursions, and adapting to a different culture. While it is fun, it wears...
by Katie M. | Jul 14, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer
When I was preparing for my 6 weeks in Colombia, I struggled to find traveler tips. Of the few tips I could find, most were very tourist-y for short trips. Now that I have returned, I feel it is my duty to provide my own list of things I think students need to know...
by Margarita A. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Hm. I never thought I’d be sitting next to my mom buying a plane ticket with a minimum travel time of 14 hours. First time for everything I suppose. Speaking of firsts—this will be my first time overseas in Madrid, Spain, Europe; pretty much anywhere that is not the...
by Ella S. | Dec 12, 2024 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Today was my final day of class. As I walked out of the building I was filled with a wave of accomplishment. I started my walk home taking in the sights one last time as this was the last time I would walk home from class. I started to think back to my first day. The...
by Trista M. | Nov 26, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Hola chicos! I’ve been in Madrid since June 4th, and still wake up everyday completely in awe of this city. The people, the culture, the SHOPPING, and the sheer amount of enthusiasm that Spaniards live their lives with is just something I could write about...
by Addison L. | Nov 15, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
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by Addison L. | Nov 15, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
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by Claire K. | Jul 29, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Two weeks ago, I returned home after my semester abroad in Valencia, Spain. Although I love being home and seeing family and friends again, I’ve learned that reverse culture shock is real. The first time I looked on Google Maps and saw that all the restaurants...
by Addison L. | Jun 27, 2024 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
by Ella S. | Jun 27, 2024 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Today at 8 a.m., I touched down in the vibrant heart of Spain-Madrid! It’s been a day packed with thrilling firsts, each one a bold checkmark on my bucket list. To start my day, my inaugural international adventure has begun, and guess what? My passport now...
by Claire K. | May 13, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Time flies, especially when you’re having fun, and I’ve been having an incredible time in Valencia, Spain, for the past three months. It’s always been a dream of mine to study abroad in Spain, and I feel so grateful that I could come here and...
by Claire K. | Apr 5, 2024 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Hello from the Portland Airport! My name is Claire, and I’m a sophomore at UA studying Spanish and Geography. This semester, I’m studying abroad in Valencia, Spain with ISA’s Hispanic Studies program. But why this program? Why now? A variety of factors influenced this...
by Ella F. | Aug 10, 2023 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Looking back on my time in Spain, I’m so grateful to have gotten this opportunity! I got to experience so many different cities in Spain. Despite this, I could spend another summer in Spain and there would still be new cities to explore! I guess this gives me a good...
by Morgan Mittlestadt | Jul 25, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, South America, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
Morgan Mittlestadt | Candidate for B.S. in Chemistry| McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars
by Ella F. | Jul 17, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
Hola! I’ve been living in Madrid for almost three weeks now, and it’s taken a bit to get adjusted to a different way of living. After a week of 3-hour long siestas (just adjusting), I’ve started to become accustomed to the different lifestyle. For starters, I walk or...
by V. Campbell | Jun 15, 2022 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
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by Sarah O. | Jun 15, 2022 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
I have hoped to study abroad in Spain since my freshman year, as many Spanish minors dream of, and I feel and I am so thankful that I am able to before my graduation in August. Madrid has been my home for about a week now, and I could never have predicted all that I...
by Caila B | Apr 22, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
In the weeks leading up to my semester abroad, I had a a lot of worries running through my mind, but above all, I was nervous about “culture shock.” It seemed as though I couldn’t escape that term, as warnings flew at me from every direction whether...
by Katie Holcomb | Aug 1, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Home, Summer, UA-Affiliate, _
Yesterday, I had to pack up what had been home for six weeks and say my good-byes. Now, I am sitting on a plane heading back to Alabama. It is a little bittersweet as I hated to leave, but I can’t wait to see all my people back home. So here is my run-down for the...
