by Matthew C | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Semester, _
I left the United States eager for my study abroad experience. This is my chance to try something new, I thought. I couldn’t wait to leave behind my American life, not because it was bad, but because it was familiar. There’s an excitement—an exhilaration, even—in...
by E. Hidalgo | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
Last Sunday, at 4:15 A.M., I stood in the New Orleans airport waiting to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Tired and overwhelmed, my mind raced through a variety of fears. Would my Spanish be good enough to get by? Would my host family like me? Would I make friends?...
by Garrett Reynolds | Jun 9, 2023 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
So I just got home from my UA in South Africa trip, and I have finally been able to have some time to just sit and reflect on my time in South Africa. I was not ready to leave, but I was starting to miss some parts of being home. The differences between our culture...
by Garrett Reynolds | Jun 9, 2023 | Africa, Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The final few days of the UA in South Africa trip are coming to a close. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was arriving in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I blinked and now we are coming to the end of the trip. One of the most unique experiences about this trip has...
by Noah J | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Semester, _
Our last destination in Belize was a resort called Blue Marlin in the north of the country. We lived just a few minutes away from the second largest barrier reef in the world— every day we would spend hours exploring mazes of coral, marveling at all the...
by Noah J | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Semester, _
In between traveling to tropical islands during our Rainforest & Reefs trip in Belize, we stopped by ancient Mayan ruins in the middle of the jungle to learn about the country’s rich cultural history. Thousands of Mayan peoples still live in the region...
by Noah J | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester, _
Lime Caye is a remote island an hour and a half off the coast of Belize, only accessible by boat. I spent almost a week living and working in this tropical paradise while studying abroad with Dr. Steinberg’s Rainforests & Reefs trip. We spent our free...
by Carson Wollfarth | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Summer, UA-Affiliate
Just arrived at the airport!
by Aubrei Grisaffe | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer, _
Growing up, I heard what seemed to be endless stories about my parents’ adventures abroad. I always knew that when the time came, I would cease the opportunity to go abroad. When I first visited Alabama during scholars weekend my senior year of high school, I heard...
by Aubrei Grisaffe | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer
Assumption is an invitation to reevaluate and combat our perceived truth. Since arriving in New Zealand just over a week ago, I have realized that assumptions, those that I have made and that others have presented, can inhibit people from truly understanding one...
by Alexander C. | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
Today began a brand-new adventure in my life. I have always wanted to visit a Spanish speaking country and UA en Colombia has provided the perfect opportunity. There was a lot of excitement for the trip as I packed the day before. I finished packing around 12:00am and...
by Antonia S | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Honors College, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
The decision to study abroad was absolutely the best decision I have ever made in my life. I learned so many new lessons and life skills I would have never thought I would’ve encountered. I met new lifelong friends and made connections with students around the...
by Nicole Chavez | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I’m currently in Spain and experiencing a culture shock. As someone from a small town in rural Alabama, traveling to various cities in such a short amount of time is unlike any other traveling experience I’ve ever had. Sightseeing and walking have been...
by Nicole Chavez | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Hi there! I am Nicole a rising junior here at UA. I have been interested in participating in a study abroad since I started at UA and have always wanted to explore outside of the country and thought it would be best to participate now as a student while I can....
by Maya S | Jun 9, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
It’s no secret that one of the best perks of studying abroad in Europe is the ability to travel to new countries inexpensively and easily. So far during my study abroad, I have been able to travel to multiple countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France....
by Dalton Goodson | Jun 8, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Group photo in front of La Fontaine Medicis When waiting in the line for security in the first airport I had ever been in, after having just hugged my dad goodbye, I realized the gravity of the decision I had made. I, a student born and raised in Alabama, was about to...
by Ryan E. | Jun 7, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America, Summer, _
Our program here is about Spanish Language and Culture and our program is based out of Barranquilla, Colombia but we are spending two of our weekends in other cities on the northern coast of Colombia. This weekend we went to the city of Santa Marta. Santa Marta is a...
by Dorothy Hemauer | Jun 7, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Faculty-Led, Summer
Vietnam / Cambodia / Thailand To say I am sad about my time being over in Asia is an understatement. In just 12 days I learned so much and came to love so many things that I thought I never would. Obviously, I knew I would enjoy studying abroad, I wouldn’t have done...
by Dorothy Hemauer | Jun 7, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Heading to Vietnam / Cambodia / Thailand I chose to study abroad because I have yet to leave the country and I knew that at this point in my life, I had the perfect opportunity to do so. My family has yet to leave the country, so having the chance to be able to...
by Dorothy Hemauer | Jun 7, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Asia, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Vietnam / Cambodia / Thailand Studying abroad has been incredibly interesting so far. Specifically, the connections that I have made and the variances that I have seen in lifestyle between regions.In each city that we have been in I have tried my best to make a...
