You will quickly learn during your time abroad that some of your best memories and experiences will happen outside of your home city! Taking weekend trips to various places will likely make up a majority of your time, especially if you are studying in Europe. There are a ton of cost-effective airlines and train routes that can get you just about anywhere relatively quickly. Oftentimes, other people you meet in class, in your residential area or you knew before leaving will also want to travel, so planning trips can be pretty easy and full of sights to see. With a little forward thinking, your ..read more

Studying abroad in Barcelona has been an incredible experience, but one of the highlights has definitely been the opportunity to travel to other amazing destinations. Rome, Italy, was one such weekend getaway that left a lasting impression on me. Accompanied by a small group of fellow students from my program, we embarked on our Roman adventure with eager anticipation. Rome, with its rich history, iconic landmarks, and delicious cuisine, was a destination we simply couldn’t pass up. Our first stop was the Colosseum, a monumental structure that surpassed all expectations. Standing in the shadow ..read more

As April is quickly passing and I come towards the end of my program, I look back on the time I’ve spent studying in Rome, Italy. Personally, I am so grateful for the decision I made to study here. Rome is a great spot not only because all of the rich history it provides, but also the ease of travel that comes along with being in Italy. This past weekend, I embarked on so far what has been my favourite trip of the semester to Split, Croatia. Being here in the Spring term, I have witnessed the weather turn into the perfect summer weather for beach like destinations. Croatia was also a great spo ..read more

It’s been about 2 and a half weeks since I arrived in Tokyo, Japan and the process of settling in has gone very smoothly! I came here through an affiliate program called CISAbroad, and they’ve been very helpful every step of the way. Between finding flights, setting up my schedule, and airport transportation, I’m glad to have had such a capable support system. This is actually my second semester abroad, though last semester I was centered in Athens, Greece. Even in just the first few weeks though, I can tell that this semester is in a league of its own. A far more noticeable language barrier a ..read more

I was really blown away by the experience in Panama, it was truly eye-opening, not just from a business perspective but from a cultural perspective as well. Beforehand, I had a sense for how global business is connected and always on, but I was able to tangibly see this firsthand through the variety of businesses we met with and by visiting the Panama Canal. We were also able to experience the local culture from different angles. All the businesses we met with were impressive in their operations and willingness to share, and we met with local high school students, which was humbling, and we g ..read more

Arriving in Panama City at night, the first thing I saw were the streetlights by the ocean twinkling like stars. Amidst the anticipation, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. As I stepped out of the airport to board the shuttle, I was already thinking about everything we were going to do as a group.  The first thing I saw when I woke was a group of lively green parrots and the sight of a miniature capybara-like rodent, creating a sense of wonder at Panama’s natural diversity. That’s when I took my first picture.  Amidst the maze of buildings in Casco Viejo, I found beauty in ..read more

As I’m getting used to university in France, I’ve been reflecting on my expectations for school here and how they’ve been changed throughout my time here at the University of Pau and the Adour Region. Overall, I love the French university structure and the American structure. They’re pretty different, but both have their advantages and disadvantages! Here is a short summary of what you can expect from a typical French university:  The Classes:  Initially, I expected my classes to be pretty similar to my language courses at the University of Alabama. Upon my arrival in Pau, I found ou ..read more

Just as the title suggests, this trip has been the greatest experience of my life thus far. Now that I am back home–and even before we left–I had already missed the streets of Panama that sold delicious food every where we went and the walkable streets that allowed us to find anything we needed within walking distance. First arriving in the airport felt like a snapback into reality as I used this time to work on assignments that I didn’t get to work on during the trip. I was dreading going home because it meant I have to dive immediately back into all of my commitments without having much time ..read more

Picturing Scotland can conjure up images of rolling green golf courses, tartan kilts, bagpipes or haggis. Scotland is known for all these cultural hallmarks, as well as their unique dialect stemming from English, Scots, and Gaelic. These are the three most common languages spoken in Scotland. Since I arriving in January, I have come to learn and love new lingo. Glasgow sits between the famous Loch Lomond and Edinburgh, about an hour away from each. This semester, I am an exchange student at the University of Glasgow. Established in 1451, it’s the fourth oldest university in the United Kingdom ..read more

My name is Chaney Scott and I am an exchange student for the semester at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Through the semester, I have been extremely fortunate to travel around Europe. My favorite cities have been Edinburgh, Vienna, Belfast and Lisbon. While there are exciting adventures awaiting in every place, overall, my favorite country I’ve visited has been Portugal.          As far as I know, I am the only student from the state of Alabama at the University of Glasgow. I was the only exchange student sent from UA. Early on, I joined campus s ..read more