by Karli W | Mar 20, 2022 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester
When students decide to attend the University of Alabama, there are many motivations. People want a big school, football, Greek life, countless student organizations, and unmatched school pride. For some, this may just be the best decision for them financially. When I...
by Wolfgang S | Jun 16, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
The last full weekend of the trip was during Dr. Magleoca’s class, The Water Planet. We had already taken our final for the class, and we departed from the Soltis Center for three days to travel to Guanacaste, the northwestern most province of the country, to study...
by Wolfgang S | Jun 12, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
The first two weeks of the trip were led by Dr. Mathew Lafevor, who taught Geography of Latin and South America. He spoke spanish, and knew a good deal about the culture and geography of the area. The class was engaging, but the activities that we did outside of the...
by Wolfgang S | Jun 10, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
I arrived in San Juan, Costa Rica, around 2:30 on January 17th. Only after waiting in the customs line for 45 minutes did I realize that the american man standing behind me, who had been on my flight, was also a UA student there for the same program. We hurried...
by Garrison R | Mar 23, 2020 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Home, Semester, UA-Affiliate
My program was unfortunately cut short by about 2 weeks due to the coronavirus. I was told Thursday that I had to leave as soon as possible and I was on a plane Monday morning, so my experience leaving the country and everything that I called home for three months was...
by Garrison R | Mar 12, 2020 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
As my semester abroad is coming to an end I feel as I have experienced enough to give an overview and the pros and cons of my time here in San Jose Costa Rica. Time has gone by fast and slow at the same time, I remember my first day here like it was yesterday, yet it...
by Garrison R | Feb 18, 2020 | Central America, Education, Semester, UA Non-Affiliate
The spring semester of my junior year I went to San Jose Costa Rica. There were many things that went into my decision to study abroad. The main reason I wanted to leave the country is to experience something new. College, in my opinion, is the perfect time to travel...
by Lucille G | Feb 17, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate
During my study abroad I was always a little excited to return to the United States and to my family and friends, but when the time to leave was actually near, it was more scary and daunting than exciting. Saying goodbye to my new friends and host family was so hard...
by Lucille G | Feb 4, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
In fall of 2019 I studied abroad in San Ramón, Costa Rica, a small town in the heart of the country. I remember getting to the airport in Chicago to fly to Central America and really understanding for the first time that I wasn’t going to see anyone that I knew...
by Lucille G | Feb 3, 2020 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Internship, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
During high school I always dreamed about studying abroad in college, so when I started at UA I made it a top priority to plan ahead and make sure I could fit it in/ take classes that worked for my major. Through talking to an amazing study abroad advisor, I narrowed...
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, By College, Central America, Duration, Faculty-Led, Program Type, Region, Summer
A study abroad program that’s only three weeks long seems very short. It doesn’t seem like you would get a lot out of it. However, my experience in Belize learning about reef systems and conservation management truly taught me a lot. I also learned a lot about myself....
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Study abroad is a great opportunity to learn something different. Studying abroad has been a big part of my university experience. I have gone twice already, both times to China. My focus has always been on language-learning. This time, I’m doing something different....
by Amica | Aug 1, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
I have always loved learning, but being in school can somethings make that hard. I’m a senior and reflecting on all those years in school, classwork, homework, assigned readings can all seem like busywork. They take seem to make learning a chore. It’s really hard to...
by Amber U | Apr 26, 2019 | Central America, Internship, Semester, Social Work, _
Trying to comprehend how 4 months swiftly passed me by is mind boggling, yet beautiful. My time in Mexico cannot be explained in the way that I want because it opened the door for me to reach new heights and achieve things I never thought I would achieve. I am...
by Garrett C | Mar 28, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, UA-Affiliate, _
After two months abroad in Costa Rica, I am finally back home in the states. When I saw my family for the first time in the airport, I was definitely happy to see them, but it was also bittersweet. The trip had never felt officially over until that moment, and I...
by Amber U | Feb 27, 2019 | Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester, Social Work
When I arrived to Mexico, I immediately became overwhelmed with good emotions. I shed a few tears and expressed boundless gratitude for where I am because it is not often that you get to return to places where you once failed, only to be set on a path to succeed. I...
by Garrett C | Jan 7, 2019 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Semester
In just a few days, I will be departing to Costa Rica to spend two months taking classes there. I’ve traveled some before, but I have never been anywhere like Costa Rica. It will be my first time to truly experience another culture, too. I suppose I chose to go there...
by Christina A | Mar 20, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led
During my final day in Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to do something on my bucket list I had yet to cross off. Surfing. I’ve always been a land person—running, hiking, backpacking and camping. I was raised in Louisville, Kentucky—famed for land sports like...
by Christina A | Mar 15, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led, Semester
As I sat in a rocking chair on the porch of my little Costa Rican cottage, I watched an assortment of cars, busses and bicycles zoom by. With no plans for the afternoon, I hoped to make my way into town via one of Costa Rica’s friendly taxi drivers. Before I made the...
by Christina A | Mar 13, 2018 | Central America, Comm & Info Sciences, Faculty-Led, Semester
As a writer for VIDA Magazine at UA, I somehow found myself flying solo to Costa Rica less than 48 hours ago. Upon landing among the surrounding Costa Rican mountains and volcanoes, I hopped aboard a bus with a local bus driver, and we began our trek through the busy...
