by Andreea T. | Jul 10, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
As I landed in Charles de Gaulle, the strongest emotion I felt was tiredness. I had not slept at all on the plane; moreover, I was hauling around a broken suitcase and carry-on luggage. I was overwhelmed on the bus ride home but as my new host “mom” welcomed me to...
by Saphia H. | Jun 23, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I landed at the airport around noon in Paris, France and took a bus to Tours, France to meet my host family after landing. I was tired and super nervous to meet them. Meeting them eased some of my worries a bit, and the country is so beautiful. I cant wait to go see...
by Annabelle B. | Dec 17, 2024 | Europe, Honors College, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
After living here for six weeks, I now see Paris on a deeper, more nuanced level. Paris is not just a beautiful city, it is a place where the layers of history and culture are intricately woven into the urban landscape. Paris has become a place to observe and reflect,...
by Annabelle B. | Nov 27, 2024 | Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Exchange, Honors College, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Studying abroad with CIEE’s Open Campus Program has truly been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I can’t recommend it enough. What I love most about the program is the freedom it gives you to create your own adventure, from choosing where to study...
by F. Hillard | Jun 23, 2022 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Hi everyone, I’m finally back in the U.S.! It was a crazy trip home running through three different airports just to finally get home a full day later. From Paris, I arrived in Toronto and went through customs in Canada before arriving in Chicago, then finally...
by Kaitlin W | May 18, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Before leaving for study abroad (and leaving the country for the first time…ever), I often compared what I thought my experience would be like to a scene in my favorite movie-Tangled. It’s the moment when Rapunzel decides to jump from her tower, and is...
by Kaitlin W | Apr 9, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
“What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever experienced?” Before last month, I used to say that I was scared of heights, of spiders, or even public speaking. Then, on a weekend trip six hours away from my program’s city, I ended up in a...
by Kaitlin W | Feb 13, 2018 | Arts & Sciences, Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
For me, study abroad has been full of a lot of firsts. First time leaving the country; first time out of the state of Alabama for more than ten days, but some of these firsts haven’t been quite as extreme. I spent one of my first weekends in Grenoble, France an...
by Keturah N | Jul 26, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Coming back to the USA from being abroad always requires a period of readjustment, and this journey abroad was no different. My first feeling upon landing in Charlotte was that of being completely overwhelmed. American airports are a sensory overload! Everyone was...
by Keturah N | Jun 28, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
It is my final night in Tours and it has been an emotional ride to say the least. I started the day by going to my last French classes at the Institut de Touraine. All of my work has been turned in and we recieved our final grades for the courses we took. I was...
by Keturah N | Jun 2, 2017 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The first week in France has ended and I can finally begin to organize my thoughts on all of the things that have happened thus far. The first week in France was spent in Paris with the goal of helping us to get accustomed to hearing and responding to French on a...
