Bama Bloggers Abroad
On to the Next Adventure
With only 2 weeks until the end of my program a lot is coming to a head. There are papers, tests, presentation and goodbyes much like there would be at home, but this time I also have to pack up all...
Serbian Fellowship Experience
Monday, May 8th, 2017, It is Day 1 of the Serbia Fellowhsip Experience. And so far, it has been unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I have traveled internationally on a number of...
Springtime in Paris
Today was the first day that I was truly able to experience spring in Paris. I found myself standing amidst blossoming cherry trees and various kinds of blooming flowers on my walk from the...
Almost Time!
Studying abroad has always been something I aspired to do. I always told myself that no matter what I had to study abroad in college or else I would always regret it. However, it seemed like every...
Dinner with Friends
Here in London I have made friends from all over the world, my closest friends are from Germany, Italy and Mexico. All three of these cultures are very different but also have some similarities, one...
Flying Alone
If you've never been on extended trip away from your family (vacation or otherwise), know that there are a number of factors to consider prior to your arrival in the country in which you have...
London Bound
Studying abroad has always been on my radar ever since my older sister studied in London a few years ago. She had the time of her life traveling and meeting new people. I knew it was something I...
When In Rome: My First Month Abroad
I’m currently sitting in the Tiber Cafe (my school's dining hall) reminiscing on my last month I have spent living in Rome, Italy. I am a junior studying abroad at John Cabot University located in...
Navigating limbo: A month behind everyone else
While the buzz of life on campus restarted, while my friends started filling their agendas and while others studying abroad started taking off for their adventure, I have been stuck in a weird kind...
Life Across the Pond
Once I stepped off the plane at London Gatwick, I felt as if I was in the middle of dream. Everything was different. The people talked funny and the signs I had to follow were different than the...
Florence how will I ever leave you!?!
Living here in Florence has been a dream come true. I live in the PERFECT location. It sits right near the COOLEST market/hip new food court, San Lorenzo Cathedral, a bunch of shopping, my campus,...
Pre-Departure
What I am doing prior to my trip to prepare for 2 months abroad
The real reason why
Currently, I am a senior double majoring in business and Spanish at UA and I am absolutely and completely lost. I have 6 credits left to graduate in August and in order to fulfill those, it seemed...
1 month before departure to Barcelona
Just a girl born and raised in Alabama traveling to Europe for the first time ever
Italy: Amalfi Coast
The past four months I have had the opportunity to travel all over Italy. Before coming here I had no clue how big and diverse the country was, you can go skiing in the Alps up north, exploring in a...
Birthdays and Homesickness
It’s been 3 months since I’ve been in Costa Rica and 3 days since my 21st birthday. Many people would think it would be a dream to spend their birthday abroad, but for me, it was the moment my...
Metropolitan Comparisons
These past few weeks have provided me with the opportunity to travel to a couple other large metropolitan areas of Europe, specifically Munich and Barcelona. Despite being in the same time zone and...
My time in London
I have had the amazing opportunity this semester to study abroad in London. and it has been the most amazing time allowing me to learn not only inside the classroom but outside as well. I took three...
La vie français: Des pâtisseries et du café
I have lived in France for a little over three months now, and every day is still an adventure. My exchange program is placed in Tours, France, and idyllic and quaint French town about an hour train...
First Week in Australia
Lemonade is actually sprite. Thongs are flip flops. Toasties are sandwiches. And everyone screams "Yeeew!" when they're excited. Tim Tams are delicious and Aussie guys will make any girl swoon!...
First day at clinic
We went to a government funded clinic in a town about 5 hours away from where we are staying today. There were a lot of people gathered outside when we arrived, I think they knew we were coming. I...
oh oh we’re halfway there
The checkpoint I've been dreading is finally here. The end of midterms and our spring break marked the halfway point and now the end is unfortunately in sight. Midterms went surprisingly very well...
![[Pre-Departure] Why I wanted to go to Japan and Ritsumeikan University](https://www.bamabloggersabroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ritsumeikan-university.jpg)
[Pre-Departure] Why I wanted to go to Japan and Ritsumeikan University
Why Japan is a cool country more people should visit and the exciting challenges of going to a Japanese university
Thailand: Pre-departure Thoughts
For me, trips don’t feel 100% real until my plane hits the tarmac on the other side. Despite this, my anxiety around packing likes to spike about two weeks before Departure Day. The beginning of...
Out of Place in Paris
After over twelve-hours of total flight time, accompanied by a nine-hour time change, I arrived in Paris in the late afternoon. I was dirty, hungry, and tired, but my journey had just begun. Upon...
The First Few Weeks Abroad
Greetings from across the pond!! As I am now fully acquainted for the semester in Dublin, Ireland, I thought it would be a good time to write my first blog post! I’ve been here roughly 6 weeks and...
Pre-Departure: Alpine Living takes the land of the Kiwis
In March I will be traveling around New Zealand as a photographer for Alpine Living magazine; a publication I have dreamed of working on since the magazine was handed to me during orientation. It...
Pre Departure Feelings about FLORENCE ITALY!
The decision to study abroad for me was always a no brainer. However, the timing of my decision came a surprise to me. I always dreamed about going abroad my junior year of college, but these plans...
First glance of Florence
I have spent many days and hours preparing to have the semester of a lifetime and I still find myself questioning whether or not this really is the life that I am living. I perfectly packed my bags...
First Impressions in Ireland
I have been at UC Dublin in Ireland for a week and have already learned many lessons and experienced many new things. After spending time preparing for my trip I was excited and nervous to see what...
Finish in Four: Pre-Departure
The reason that I chose to study abroad is because I have always liked the idea of traveling. To be honest, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to do so. This is mostly because...
Semester in London
This time tomorrow I will be settling in my dorm room in at London South Bank University. It’s always been a passion of mine to travel, and I’m so excited that I finally have the opportunity to live...
Pre-Departure- Ethiopia!
I have one more day in T-town before I set off to Ethiopia! I got back from Serbia two weeks ago and the travel fever has set in since then.. I'm ready for my next adventure! I've got my 100% DEET...
“This one time in Oxford…
Throughout my time in Oxford, I remember thinking how different the country of England is and how little I'd be able to relate to my time there when I got back to the United States. After just two...
The First Few Days
As I write this post, I'm sitting in one of our two living rooms (Hello, awesome apartment), feeling the cool night breeze coming in through the window, looking out over the picturesque city...
halfway through being halfway across the world
Hola from my room in Santiago de Chile! I am officially halfway through my study abroad trip, having finished the first two of my four consecutive intensive Spanish classes. Let me tell you, when...
The Rose City- Petra
Did you really go to Jordan if you didn't go to Petra? Normally, I'm critical of things that are super popular, but, trust me, Petra is 1 of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World for a reason. There...
When You Want to Book the Next Flight Home…
Long story short...don't. Remember when you stepped off the plane into this new country and everything was beautiful? Granted, you were probably just glad to be out of airports, and at this point,...
‘Kha’ and The 3rd Step
The 3rd step to the eightfold path is right speech. One integral part of this is to avoid 'idle chatter,' something I've come to realize The States seems to specialize in. The other day, I asked my...
The Long Walk
14 kilometers up a mountain. 7 hours. 10,000 other freshman students. I was able to take part in a long held tradition that many students look forward to for years: the Freshman trek up Doi Suthep,...
A Local Festival
"I think we were the only Westerners there besides guys married to Thai's," "Oh, definitely, I didn't see any other farangs there," and as I said that, I realized although we were the only...
Apparently I’m on the fencing team now.
"Do you want to fight in the freshman competition this Sunday?" One minute I was searching for a weights gym with a fellow study abroad student, and ended up peering in on fencing practice. The next...
Where the locals shop
Walking among mounds of colorful chile peppers that will set your mouth on fire and bunches of cilantro that fill my nose with a delightful fresh smell, and I am the only 'farang' in sight. Locals...
And Jordan is…where?
This might be one of the common questions that people ask me once I tell that I'm studying abroad in Jordan this year. If you're not super into history/geography/politics and not obsessed with the...
Returning From the Other Side of the World
It’s always interesting returning to your own country after being abroad, but it’s especially interesting whenever you return after such a long time. Living in another country changes you...
When In Uniform
-White shirt buttoned up all the way, black skirt to your knee, black belt, and a collar pin- thats the dress code. In college they are making us wear a uniform. It is Alabama summer hot every day...
Coming Home from Ethiopia
I have always thought it's harder to come home than it is to depart for a new adventure. After being in Ethiopia, getting to know the culture, and helping run a clinic almost every day I am kind of...
Home is Both Here and There
Studying abroad in London was an amazing experience to say the least. As cheesy as it is, I feel like I left a piece of myself there in London and I am already itching to return to my home away from...
Countdown to Spain
Wow, it blows my mind that in eleven days I will be on an eastward-bound plane to Madrid, Spain. Since the eighth grade, I have dreamed of studying abroad. I feel immensely blessed to have this...
Back in the States
Although I've been back in the states for nearly 4 weeks I still find myself replying in Spanglish and there are some activities that just don't feel quite right. For example meals out; don't take...