by Joseph W. | Oct 15, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
My favorite thing about my study abroad trip in New Zealand is undoubtedly the natural environment. The landscapes here feel almost otherworldly in their beauty and diversity. From lush forests and mountains to crystal-clear beaches and thermal springs, every region...
by Margulan B. | Oct 15, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Semester, UA Non-Affiliate, _
The first thing that surprised me when I landed in Madrid-Barajas Airport was that people in Spain don’t speak much English. I guess I always knew that, but I never gave much thought to it. Exhausted from the 12-hour flight and eager to meet my host family, I...
by William W. | Oct 15, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
To start off this blog, I think that traveling to New Zealand for this trip was the easiest it has ever been for me. Because my mother is a Maori woman herself, I have been to New Zealand about five or six times in my life.Both of my flights to Houston and Los Angeles...
by Jack S. | Oct 14, 2025 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Traveling through Croatia has been fast and furious, with stunning sights, amazing food and a memorable experience. We started the day by leaving Dubrovnik early in the morning and heading north along the coast to Split. Our time in Split was short, but we made the...
by Katrina F. | Oct 14, 2025 | By College, Commerce & Business, Duration, Europe, Honors College, Program Type, Region, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Tip number 1: Expect the unexpected and try not to stress over what you cannot control. Due to not knowing when my passport/visa was coming back to me, I had to pay more to change my flight to a week and a half later. Although it was sad missing a lot of orientation...
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 Emily A. | Oct 14, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate
It is mid-May in Melbourne. Footy is in full swing, the leaves are changing, and I am preparing for finals! While I have, and will continue to, enjoy exploring Melbourne, one of my favorite parts of studying abroad have been trips around Oceania. This area’s natural...
by Brad P. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
My first impressions began before I even landed in Dubrovnik. As my plane descended towards the Dubrovnik airport and it broke through the clouds, I could see the beautiful Croatian coastline. The water was strikingly blue, like I had never seen before. The small...
by Addison S. | Oct 14, 2025 | Australia/New Zealand, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
”How do you feed the stars?” This was a question posed to us this morning. How DO you feed the stars? I didn’t even realize the stars were something that needed to be fed. I guess that’s what comes from cultural differences, especially in comparison to one with such...
by Jack S. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The anticipation for my study abroad trip had been on the back burner while I finished my Spring semester finals and moved out of my current housing at UA. Once that was complete on Friday, it began to set in that in a few short days, I would be on my way to...
by Chase U. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
My latest adventure has taken me from Bidgood and Hewson Hall, all the way to the University of Dubrovnik, Croatia. As someone who has never been to Europe, this whole experience thus far has been magical. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous at first, making my way...
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 Stephanie G. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
On Sunday, May 4th, I hugged my parents one last time before I went through the Atlanta airport security line. This was my first time flying alone and I was trying not to be nervous about the idea of being suspended over the Atlantic for eight hours. Compared to the...
by Gabrielle D. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, Summer
I didn’t expect Zadar to become my favorite stop, but it stole my heart in just one night. Tucked along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, Zadar wasn’t high on my travel wishlist. It was supposed to be a stop along the way, a scenic pause before heading elsewhere. But from...
by Gabrielle D. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Human Environmental Sciences, Summer, _
Studying abroad is all about expecting the unexpected, and that mindset came in handy a lot sooner than I imagined. My journey was supposed to start with a flight from Memphis to Chicago and then Chicago to New York and then to my host country, but Air Traffic Control...
by Emily P. | Oct 14, 2025 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I have been lucky enough to have spent seven entire days in Croatia- marking my one week anniversary of coming abroad. In this blog, I will list (and explain) some of the biggest culture shocks I have experience over the course of the past week. Dumb as a Doorknob I...
by Grant A. | Oct 14, 2025 | Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Looking out amazed over the beautiful city of Dubrovnik from atop Fort Lovrijenac. My first week on the UA in Croatia/Italy study abroad trip has already exceeded every expectation I had going into it. We landed in Dubrovnik on Monday, and from that moment on, it felt...
by Sameen H. | Oct 14, 2025 | Asia, Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Semester, _
When I first arrived in my program’s first host country of Malaysia, I was immediately struck by the heat and humidity that far exceeded any I had ever encountered in the United States. In fact, it was so humid that in the last few minutes of my flight to Kuala...
by Yasmine H. | Oct 14, 2025 | Engineering, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Deciding to study abroad has been one of the best choices of my college experience! I wanted to immerse myself in a new culture. On top of gaining a broader worldview, I wanted to meet more people outside of a typical classroom setting. Emotionally, I feel a mix of...
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...
