Managing Parents
As an only child and the daughter of immigrant parents, studying abroad was a daunting idea for me. Especially since I had only completed my first semester of freshman year when I decided to apply. Everything around me felt big…
UT Education Abroad Blog
Inspiring Longhorns to Explore the World
UT Education Abroad Blog
Inspiring Longhorns to Explore the World
Category Abroad and Beyond
Figuring out where to go, preparation strategies before departure, exploration tips while you are abroad, and how to make the most of your experience once it is over.
International Flights: A Few Things I Wish I Had Known
Before I dive in, I want to preface by saying that I’m writing this post from personal experience while studying abroad, combined with a lot of trial and error (and Google searches). If you’re preparing for your own study abroad…
G’days and Thinking in New Ways
I’m staring outside at a lifted Chevy Silverado 4×4 truck baking in the steaming Texas sun. It’s 6:16 p.m. and feels like 100 degrees outside. Everyone in this Starbucks works silently on their devices, occasionally looking up into the abyss…
Logging Your Memories Abroad: Journaling and Scrapbooking Your Experience
When I first arrived in Paris, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Every street was new, I was starting classes with unfamiliar faces, and every conversation in French was a challenge. I also found that I had a…
Tips for Connecting with Students While Abroad
Connecting with Your International Peers Be Friendly at Orientations You’re in a new country. You might not know anyone, and you really want to make some friends. The good news is that everyone in the room is feeling the same…
10 Do’s and Don’ts of Packing for Study Abroad
When you are studying abroad for an entire semester, you are bound to encounter a wide range of weather conditions. Especially in places with cold winters and warm summers, students need to bring clothes that are practical in any and…
The Joys and Jolts of Holidays in Spain
If you’re going to Spain for the spring semester, you might arrive during Epiphany! Like many holidays in the predominantly Catholic country, Epiphany is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, celebrates the day the three wise…
Building Strong Democracies: Elections, Lawmaking and Civic Education
Since early June, I’ve had the privilege of carrying out my fellowship with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in Panama City, Panama. Working closely with the Institute of Democratic Studies (INED) at the Electoral Tribunal…
Tips for Traveling While Abroad
Hopping on a plane to live and study in a new country for a few months is already an incredible opportunity. And now more than ever, travel is expensive, so having the option to visit neighboring countries and cities is…