Bama Bloggers Abroad
Finally made it to Bologna!
When we first arrived in Bologna I was a little overwhelmed because our luggage was still in Paris so we had to claim lost luggage at the airport. Thankfully, the airport delivered our luggage the...
Pre-Bologna, Italy
As a Hospitality Management major I had heard about the UA in Italy: Food and Wine tour study abroad program for a few years and was very interested. This certain program was the only reason I even...
Traveling Takeaways
I arrived back from Lisbon last night after a 17 hour travel day. Three flights and two connections was all it took to bring an end to my time abroad. Looking back on my study abroad experience, it...
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Go. Go. Go. Summer of 2023, I knew I wanted to study abroad but I let the fear of how much it cost and the uncertainty of scholarships keep me from going. When the opportunity came up for me to go...
What would you do with one day in Paris?
I have dreamed of going to Paris ever since I was little, so obviously when I found out my program would include a day trip to Paris, I was stoked. The problem - so much to do and so little time to...
How prepared should you be for your time abroad?
As my study abroad trip comes to a close, one thing I have thought a lot about is how well I did or did not prepare for my time in each city. Luckily for me, the first half of my trip was in London...
Abroad with Lisbon in Sight
The second half of my study abroad we were in Lisbon, Portugal. We have been traveling non-stop and now are in a new location with a new place to call home until the trip is over. I don't know how...
Spending a Week in London, UK
I think my favorite part about traveling through London was being able to see Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and so many more places that I dreamed of seeing. Days feel so much longer while...
To live and to learn. USA or abroad.
I decided to write this post while being on my long trip home to the usa. I was able to reflect and think about the good and the bad and what I would do if the opportunity arose for me to go abroad...
Culture Shock. Good or Bad?
While traveling abroad I experienced a lot of culture shock. I spent two weeks in Spain, specifically Madrid and Barcelona. Seeing the different culture was not only eye opening but sometimes...
Home Bittersweet Home
I landed in Birmingham after over 24 hours of solid traveling. It’s a lot of work to cross an ocean. I made several of my favorite memories in Barcelona in our last 5 or so days of being...
Hola España! First days in Madrid
Public Transportation
Depending on where you will be traveling to, public transportation may be a useful way to navigate the city that you will be living in for the foreseeable future. If you have never used public...
Eating at Restaurants
Enjoying the Local Cuisine While you are abroad, there will certainly come a time when you and a few others within your group may venture off to enjoy a meal in your free time. This has been one of...
While Abroad in Oceania
My first impression when I arrived in Australia was that I was in an exciting place. I landed in Sydney first, and I wanted to see a glimpse of the opera house from the plane. I knew that I would...
Pre-Departure for Australia
I chose to study abroad in Australia to broaden my horizons in the world of international business. I think a lot of business for me can be done in an English-speaking country, and I thought this...
An Unforgettable Journey from Marrakech to the Sahara
During my study abroad experience, traveling to new places was always a highlight, but my trip to Marrakech, Morocco, and the Sahara Desert stands out as unforgettable. This adventure was unlike any...
Meeting New People at Companies Abroad
New Perspectives on Governments Abroad
New Dining Experiences in Prague and Berlin
A Bittersweet Return from an Unforgettable Adventure
Upon returning to the United States, I couldn't believe how much I had seen and done in a short time. I had taken in so much history, immersed myself in different cultures, tried new foods, etc....
Rome Bound
Studying abroad has always been an interest of mine during college. I received an email about a scholarship to study abroad in Rome, Italy for a month during the summer. Italy was on my top 3 list...
Finals Week While Abroad
Finals week was one of the most challenging weeks to balance while abroad. In my program, our grades were heavily weighted on the midterm and final so that we could have lighter workloads throughout...
Weekend Traveling While Abroad
Before going abroad, I had really limited travel experience that mostly consisted of family road trips and spring break with my friends. I had never been out of the country and was stressed about...
Off the Beaten Path
Although the prospect of studying abroad is exciting, preparing for the things you want to do and see on your trip can be beyond daunting. Before leaving for Italy, my TikTok was filled with...
Thoughts Before Departure: The Beginning of a Summer Adventure in Italy
Last fall 2023 I heard about a scholarship opportunity to study abroad in Italy. I figured that it was a long shot of me ever winning this scholarship but in life we miss every shot that we don't...
Blog #2
When the plane touched down in Rome, I was beyond excited to be in Italy. I felt a bit overwhelmed with how busy it was how different the buildings look, and even the people (how they dress,...
Blog #1, Pre-Departure
I chose to study abroad for a variety of reasons. I have always wanted to travel the world and experience different cultures, and try new things. It truly fascinates me how people across the world...
Exploring Istanbul Before My Program
This post is about my experience traveling while having a long layover before the start of my UA faculty-led program.
The Friends You Make Along the Way
They Say They Call Me Mr. Worldwide
It has been one week since I returned from Prague and Berlin, and I have used this time to reflect on my experience abroad. On a lighter note, I miss the prices of food in Prague. We were given a...
Taking on Germany: Pretzels, Preparation, & Piece of Mind
My name is Dillon Cook and I am a rising senior with a triple-degree in Communication Studies, Human Environmental Sciences, and Criminology & Criminal Justice. Since I started at UA, I was very...
Into the Thick of It : Prague + Berlin
As soon as we arrived in Prague, I was apprehensive about how the experience was going to be. All of my classmates were business majors, and I am not, so I was unfamiliar with most of them. However,...
Studying Abroad as an Introvert who has Never Traveled | Reflecting on Pre-Departure
I’ve never been a particularly spontaneous person, I have always played it safe and always done what is comfortable. This has led to me continuously feeling unaccomplished and like I haven’t used my...
A Train Ride through the Alps
During our stay in Italy, our professor had planned a day for us to visit the Swiss Alps. We started our day bright and early, getting on a bus around 7:15 and driving for about 3 hours to St....
Coffee Culture
So far, I have had coffee in 3 different countries: the United States, Croatia, and Italy. The coffee culture in the U.S. compared to Italy and Croatia has been vastly different. In the United...
Expectations Vs. Reality: Venice, Italy
Growing up, I had seen portrayals of Venice in pictures, videos, and movies. My expectation of the city of Venice was that it was completely a city of water, where there were no sidewalks or...
Some of my Favorite Things on My Study Abroad
At this point in my study abroad, I’ve visited about 12 cities within 4 countries. Each city has its own culture and environment, and I’ve enjoyed experiencing each one. However, there are some...
Maybe the Real Study Abroad was the Friends We Made Along the Way
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but for my study abroad experience, my parents were more stressed over my travels than I was. They were mostly concerned about me missing a flight or being...
Preparing to Leave Spain
A Perfect Weekend Getaway: Cinque Terre from Florence
A Perfect Weekend Getaway: Cinque Terre from Florence On the east coast of Italy lays Cinque Terre, a collection of five small villages that offer a quiet escape from the bustling city of Florence....
Making Friends Abroad: My Roommate Experience in Florence!
Before I left, everyone was saying how studying abroad is a life-changing experience and I will meet my best friends, and after just four full days, I can wholeheartedly agree. When I first arrived...
Packing for Three Weeks in Italy!
As I sit on my suitcase trying to get it to zip, I realize I may have overpacked a taddddd bit, but I can’t help it, I love to be prepared! After another hour of downsizing my bag, I think I now...
Global Journey: Cultural Immersion in Australia
Studying abroad offers a transformative experience that is filled with countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. As I prepare to embark on my journey to Australia, New Zealand,...
Stem Research trip in Europe
F1 On A Free Day
Our abroad trip, UA in Europe: Climate and Water, has two free days built into our schedule. One of these was out of Trento, Italy, on the 19th of May. This happened to be the same day that the...
The Long Way Here
I have made many long-distance trips in the past. Whether this is a car trip with my family to Florida or a multi-hour flight across the states, I can confidently say I have some experience with...
The People Who Made It Special
I came to Milan not knowing a single person and will leave with friends for a lifetime. The first day I got here I got familiar knowing me group full of American students and also my roommate from...
Excursions from Milan
Some of my biggest anticipations when studying abroad were the travels I would embark on. I was intrigued to learn about the many different cultures throughout Europe and the different things each...
The Many Lessons of Studying Abroad in Italy
Now that I'm nearing the end of my semester in Milan, Italy I can appreciate the many important life lessons I've learned. The number one thing I learned is always take the risk. Going to a foreign...