Bama Bloggers Abroad
A Week in Paradise: UA in the Caribbean Week 1
As week one in the Sint Maarten comes to a close, I reflect on the amazing memories I have already made. If you looked at the students on this trip you would not know that most of us met each other...
My Time in Belgium (AC-497)
So far on my trip I have had an amazing time. Our first stop was Ghent, Belgium which was fantastic. I really enjoyed Ghent, it had all kinds of amazing things to do and see. I especially liked the...
Pre-Departure Thoughts
My family enjoys traveling, however, everything is already decided for me wherever we go. Although I like not having to worry about the logistics or details, I’ve wanted the opportunity to plan out...
Copenhagen in Full Color
Studying abroad in Copenhagen has been one of the most exciting and refreshing experiences of my life so far. Each day feels like a new adventure, and I’ve loved getting to know the city not just as...
My favorite thing so far about New Zealand
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...
When in Spain…
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....
Day in My Life in Madrid
Hi! My name is Margulan, and I’m currently a study-abroad student at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain. I chose this university because it’s one of the most reputable in the country—and yes,...
When My Phone Sank in Panama
It happened in slow motion. I was on a paddleboard in the ocean off the coast of Panama. I was surrounded by crystal clear blue water and the laughter of my friends. One minute I was asking my...
Salsa Dancing on The Rooftop
I never thought I would be salsa dancing on a rooftop, under a sky full of stars, in a country I have never been to, but that is the thing about trying new things, you never know saying yes will...
Lost in Translation
When I signed up to study abroad in Panama, I was excited for everything it had to offer, including trips into the rainforest and boating to different islands. What I was not prepared for was the...
Aotearoa, New Zealand: The First Day
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...
“Under the Belizean Sky”
Today is May 16th, and I’ve been abroad for twelve days now—time is just flying by. When I first landed in Belize, I was full of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anxiousness—all hitting me at...
From the Coast to the Capital
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...
Packing and Traveling for Europe
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...
New Adventures in New Zealand!
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...
A Weekend in the Whitsundays
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...
Arrival to, and first Impressions of Dubrovnik
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...
From Sunup to Sundown, From Temple to Shrine: Japan Travel!
From the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji in Nara, to the thousand Shrines of Kyoto, the Kansai region remains filled with the iconic temples and shrines of Japan. And while many regions of the country...
New Zealand’s Cultural Revival
”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...
Pre-Departure Nerves
I have never travelled too far out of my home state of Alabama. I have been on a total of two flights all being less than one hour. In a few days I will be traveling over 4,000 miles outside of the...
Pre-departure to Belize
Studying abroad in Belize offers a unique opportunity to combine my academic interests with my passion for the natural world. As a Biology Major on the Pre-med Track with aspirations of becoming an...
Going to Brussel!!
I’m on my way to Brussels kind of surreal to say that out loud. A mix of excitement, nerves, and that little spark of wonder that travel always brings. I don’t know exactly what this trip will hold,...
Warm Welcomes from Berlin, Germany
Hallo from Berlin! Our international adventure has officially begun, and oh my goodness, we were greeted with history, innovation, and so much currywurst and schnitzel. Day 2: We arrived in Berlin...
Pre-Departure Preparations
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...
Pre-Departure Ghana
Growing up, I often heard about college students studying abroad and the positive impact it had on their lives. As my final semester at UA approaches, I have decided that now is the right time for...
First Day In Denmark
Traveling to Copenhagen was really an amazing experience. Although I was concerned about many things surrounding my study abroad and destination, I was ultimately very excited for the coming weeks....
Beginning of Greece Trip
The question was asked, “Why do you want to go to Athens, Greece for an educational abroad trip?” As a fan of history and traveling, Athens presents exciting new adventures in a new country for me...
Alabama to the Adriatic: A Journey Through Dubrovnik and Macroeconomics
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...
High-Tech Global Business of Vietnam & Taiwan: Day 0
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...
UA in Croatia/Italy: week one
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...
Zadar, Croatia: An Unexpected Favorite
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...
A Detour Before Departure: An Unexpected Day in New York
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...
Dumb as a Doorknob- First Week Abroad
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...
UA in Croatia: Week 1– Dubrovnik/Zadar
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...
U.S Nursing vs. London Nursing
Traveling to London has really expanded my mind on this different part of the world. Even though I did learn so much about the differences in nursing, the two things that stood out to me the most...
Thoughts While Abroad
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...
Europe Bound!!
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...
A Grand Time In “En-Zed”
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...
Almost There: Prepping for Rabat
I leave tomorrow morning for Rabat, Morocco, and it still doesn’t feel real. This trip is something I’ve been looking forward to, but now that it’s here, I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nerves....
Excited for Europe: A Long-Awaited Journey Begins
As I prepare to study abroad, I’m filled with so much excitement and anticipation. I’ll be spending 16 days in Europe, visiting Ghent, Belgium; London, UK; and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Having never...
First Impressions of New Zealand
I recently began my study abroad in New Zealand through UA’s honors program. I was originally intrigued by this program because New Zealand has always been a country that has piqued my interest, and...
In-Transit Thoughts in Istanbul
Writing this from the airport in Istanbul, I am currently very much looking forward to getting a good night's sleep when I finally settle into our hotel outside of Kuala Lumpur a day from now. Air...
Pre-Departure: Australia and New Zealand
Hi, my name is Georgia, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to study abroad with The University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Business. My fellow classmates and I are traveling to...
Trading Tuscaloosa for the Alps – A Predeparture Journal
The countdown to Munich has begun! With finals coming to a close on Friday, my classmates and I have had just three short days to gather up all our gear and get prepared for studying climate and...
New Home!
Since I’m studying abroad on Semester at Sea, my “host location” is a bit unconventional, the MV World Odyssey, sailing in the middle of the ocean. What drew me to this program, and what I’ve come...
Pre-Seoul Anticipation
Hi there! My name is Willow and I'm going on the UA in South Korea trip to study advertising and public relations strategies internationally! I'm currently 18 days out from flying to Incheon...
Pre-Departure Nerves are Okay!
I had known since my freshman year of high school that I wanted to go on Semester at Sea, and I was beyond excited for my junior year of college to finally take on this adventure. Still, deciding to...
Preparing to study abroad in Australia!
Deciding to study abroad was one of the most important choices I've had to make in college so far. There were so many options, all with different cultures! Eventually, I settled on the land down...
Studying Abroad in Barcelona: Moving Out
I had always heard about how difficult it would be to leave my study abroad city, but I never truly knew the extent of that. Now that I only have 1 week left in Barcelona, I would say difficult is...
Studying Abroad in Barcelona: Making Friends
It can be hard to make friends in a new city. When I chose to study abroad in Barcelona, I did not know anyone else who was going to be studying abroad. This was very scary to me. Not only was I...