Bama Bloggers Abroad
Balancing Academics and Fun While Abroad
As it turns out, a month abroad isn't very long. My arrival in Cape Town, South Africa, was 10 days ago, which means I now have a mere 17 days remaining in this wonderful country for my Child Life...
Pre- Departure for Barcelona 2024
I have been considering studying abroad since freshman year of college, it had always been a dream of mine to live in another country for a semester. Because I knew early on that I wanted to go...
Why Studying Abroad Without your Friends is Not so Scary!
I am studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and I have now been here for about a week. When I tell you that two days before departure I freaked out and wanted to stay home, I really mean that. I got...
Overcoming Culture Shock and Loneliness in a City of Hustle and Bustle
So, you’ve done the thing. You’ve made it to your study abroad destination. However, your new home does not gleam as much as you wanted it to. I was overwhelmed with...
Marveling at Marrakech: Why Morocco is a Must-See Destination
Who wouldn't want to check another continent off their bucket list?! I recently traveled to Marrakech, Morocco while studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. I can confidently say that I will remember...
Making Study Abroad Work For You – Why I Chose Valencia, Spain
Hello from the Portland Airport! My name is Claire, and I’m a sophomore at UA studying Spanish and Geography. This semester, I’m studying abroad in Valencia, Spain with ISA’s Hispanic Studies...
Discovering Study Abroad
It has officially been two weeks since I started my study abroad journey, and every part has so far been great. I started to write this post on my plane, but somehow time got away from me, so I...
Back from Abroad: Reflections and Revelations from My International Study Adventure
Returning home is bittersweet. While I am excited to reunite with family and friends, I can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for my time abroad. The familiarity of home is comforting, yet I miss...
Abroad in Panamá: Culture shocks, Corporations, and Climatic Observations
Being abroad in Panamá has been a very breathtaking, eye opening, and mind boggling experience. There were too many memorable experiences to write in a single blog post, but I’ll try to touch on...
Beginning A Journey To Panama
Hi, my name is Tyler LeValley and I’m a marketing major at UA. I chose to study abroad to improve my cultural perspective and to better understand how companies operate internationally. I primarily...
The Journey to Panama and Beyond!
Hey there! My name is Sara Jeffrey, and I am a finance major at the Capstone. I have always been interested in business and studying abroad, but I did not know how I would incorporate the two into...
Before the Flight: Predeparture Panama Blog
My anticipation builds as I sit here in the airport, moments away from boarding my flight to Panama. This journey marks the beginning of a week filled with adventure and discovery. As I await our...
In Conclusion: Knowledge of Panama
Today is the day I return home to the US. This experience has been more than what i anticipated. Along with gaining knowledge and opportunities to connect with ambiguous CEO's and leaders that...
Welcome to Panama: A New Experience
As my Plane descend on Panama, I notice the height of the architecture of the buildings. The city was filled with thriving night life and reminds me of Miami at night. When first arriving to Panama...
Preparation for UA In Panama!
As I look out of the window of the plane taking us to Panama, i could only worry about if I came prepared enough. I recall a weeks before this exciting day, researching about every single detail I...
Pre-departure Prep!
Hola! My name is Kelley Pham and I am a freshman that is currently double majoring in Finance and Marketing. I am a Tuscaloosa native (#Be1Pat) and am looking forward to sharing my Panama study...
Embracing Panama: Exploring Cultures and Businesses
When I arrived in Panama, I was instantly struck by the people's vivid energy and kindness. The bustling streets, along with colorful and tall buildings and vibrant music, portrayed a dynamic and...
Pre-departure Thrills
I have always wanted to study abroad since I was a kid, but I never imagined I would have the opportunity until I saw the Freshman Access Grant Panama Business Trip. Coming into college, I was...
First Time Abroad: Post-Trip Thoughts
As I reminisce about my time spent in Panama, I find myself struggling to adequately express the depth of gratitude I feel for having had this extraordinary experience. It's been a journey that has...
First Time Abroad: Mid-Trip Thoughts
As we find ourselves at the midpoint of our adventure, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of awe. When I first stepped foot onto my college campus, the thought of embarking on an international...
First Time Abroad: Pre-Trip Thoughts
Hey folks! Just dropping in to share the details about my upcoming trip to Panama – less than a week left, and the excitement is real! This is my first time venturing abroad, and let me tell you,...
Embracing the Unknown: Anticipation Before a Semester Abroad in Barcelona
How to Never Regret Studying Abroad
Today is December 19, 2023, and it's my last day living in Athens, Greece. My home for the last 4 months has left me nothing short of amazed, and I've loved (almost) every second of my time here. I...
Navigating the Academic Structures of UK Universities
Sometimes we get so excited about being abroad, we forget that we’re there to study. When deciding where you will go to study abroad, it’s important to consider the academic structures of the...
An Unfamiliar Life (and the Importance of Studying!)
I've been living in Athens, Greece for almost 10 weeks now, and as the days tick down, I'm both dreading leaving this adventure, and excited to get home and start the next one. Things have gotten...
A Sight-Seeing Skeptic’s Take on The Magic of the Taj Mahal
What trip to India is complete without visiting the Taj Mahal? After a full semester of classes in Bangalore, my classmates and I took a group trip to North India. We explored the sights of Jaipur,...
The Year of the Expat: Experiences in Spain vs. India
I spent the majority of 2023 as an expat, living in Madrid, Spain and Bangalore, India. Both locations were thrilling, full of vivid experiences, meaningful friendships, and memories I will cherish...
Overcoming Homesickness Together: Garba Dancing at Navratri
I remember moving from Washington to Louisiana when I was 11 years old. Though we never left the U.S., transitioning from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South was like moving to a different...
Honest Conversations in the Scottish Autumn
When I started thinking about studying abroad, the first thing I wanted to do was talk to my friends, professors, and mentors who had experience with study abroad and could give me guidance. I was...
Finding the Right Program
The “Study” Part
Should you do study abroad?
I feel that every single person should find some way to be able to visit another country and experience another culture. I know that for many it is not financially feasible, as it had previously...
Connecting With My Heritage
One of the most meaningful part of my trip to Spain was to be able to connect with my heritage. My mother was born and raised in Spain, however, she married my father who is American and moved to...
Overcoming challenges and putting yourself out there
I've been in Athens, Greece for a little over a week now, and I already know that this is going to be a lifechanging semester! My classes are fun, the town I'm living in is beautiful and completely...
The Chart of Emotions during Study Abroad
During your study abroad, orientation you will probably be told about the emotional curve that is associated with students’ feelings during their study abroad trip. I remember looking at this chart...
Anxieties before takeoff and how to solve them
I can recall scrolling through Pinterest for hours typing the words “London Summer Fashion” repeatedlyin the search bar trying to ensure I had the right wardrobe to fit in. Thousands of worries...
A love Letter to Snells Beach, New Zealand:
The absolutely breathtaking view and chilling blue water made the fact that I had to sit down and do a little bit of computer work better. The sailboats docking in the harbor with the beautiful...
Creating Life-Long Friendships
I chose to study abroad in Australia for its beautiful nature, but I did not realize that what I would miss most were the people. Upon arriving in Australia, I met a group of international...
My Favorite Places in Brisbane
I decided to go to Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia for my study abroad. Here are some things I fell in love with about the area of Brisbane: For my semester, I lived in...
Packing for Multiple Locations with Different Climates
This summer, I participated in multiple study abroad programs, back to back. One was in Florence, Italy and the other was in Copenhagen, Denmark. When preparing for these programs, I had to pack...
UA in Florence – Visiting Rome during a three day weekend
While I was studying abroad this summer in Florence, Italy, my friends and I loved to travel on the weekends. We knew that we had to make it to Rome, and decided to go there on our three-day weekend...
Chemical Engineering Unit Ops Lab in Denmark
This summer, I had the opportunity to take the Unit Operations Lab for chemical engineering majors at Denmark Technical University in Copenhagen. The Unit Ops lab is very well known as one of the...
Day Trip to Bruges
Wrapping up accounting study abroad in Europe, we took a day trip to Bruges, Belgium, from Paris. It is a beautiful city, we took a bus there in the morning and had to get out and walk around the...
Artificial Reef Building on South Water Caye
There was a variety of research projects to participate in on our trip to Belize. There was a "Plastics Team" that recorded quantities of microplastics in the water near several islands. "Team...
Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Tourist (At Least Some)
Adventures in Belize: Post-trip reflections
I am incredibly glad that I decided to go on the trip, and if you’re reading this and you're considering going, I highly encourage you to do so. Especially if your passion involves the ocean, or...
Adventures in Belize: During the trip
One of my first impressions was simply awe at the natural beauty and numerous wonders of Belize. I loved drawing and painting my surroundings, especially all of the beautiful wildlife that I was...
Adventures in Belize: Pre-departure and Arrival
Hello! My name is Meg Dooley and I am a biology major here at Alabama. When I initially declared my major, I was intending on being Pre-med, and going into medicine. While walking around campus one...
Reflecting on Four Months at Sea
Now that I’ve had time to fully reflect on my time abroad and recover from my study abroad “hangover” I can say that my experiences were more than anything I could’ve ever hoped for. I went on the...
