I had never been outside the U.S. before my current Education Abroad program in Santiago, Chile. While I’ve taken some trips around the country, most of my experiences stem from the same Texas suburb. Therefore, when family or friends asked what I was looking forward to before embarking, I had… read more
The City of Music
There is not a single city that I have found myself in that devotes itself so fiercely to the arts as Vienna does. With the military decline of the Habsburg empire, Vienna suddenly found itself pushed to look inward and cultivate its own culture, and it certainly shows. In the… read more
Breaking Through the Roadblocks: Scholarship Searches
Our goal at Education Abroad is to make studying abroad accessible to all students. One of how we fulfill this objective is by providing a plethora of scholarship opportunities. Studying abroad can be costly, but our funding resources help alleviate some of those expenses. One Peer Mentor, who is utilizing… read more
Art, Gelato and New Friends
I arrived in Rome on May 31 after a 15-hour flight. It was 8 a.m. in Rome, and I had been awake since 5 a.m. Mountain Time. Additionally, I needed to stay awake through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) orientation to avoid further jet lag. I… read more
It’s Okay to Slow Down
I have about two months left in my exchange program in Japan, and I’ve already been here for two months. Coming from immigrant parents and growing up in a small border town, I would have never thought I’d be studying abroad in a country more than 6,000 miles away. Before… read more
Beauty in Every Corner
High on mountain peaks, I gazed and longed to linger, admiring cherry blossoms. How the ceaseless winds must be caressing them now. This poem, written in the Heian period by an anonymous poet in waka style, perfectly captures the emotions I’ve experienced… read more
Bringing Global Health Perspectives to Austin
Eldoret, Kenya is known as “The City of Champions” because its consistent production of world-class runners and Olympians is well-known throughout the city and globally. Upon arrival, my first 20 minutes were spent discussing running, the culture of mobility and the expectation of excellence. I have always believed that time… read more
My First 24 Hours Abroad
Traveling abroad can be challenging, especially when it’s a country and culture you have never experienced. During my summer abroad, I truly hit the ground running: My flight to Copenhagen, Denmark landed 16 hours before my first class. For someone like me who enjoys a fast-paced environment, this was a… read more
Keeping Up Your Language Skills When You Return
Participating in a study abroad program is a great way to learn a new language or improve your language skills. Being immersed in countries where the dominant language isn’t English will force you to utilize your second language and gain experience that you wouldn’t find in a classroom setting. But… read more
Embracing Spontaneity
Throughout my life, I’ve always been a planner. I’ve always had every detail to the second written down, organized and filed. I rarely make plans at the last second or embark on something when I don’t know all the details. It’s just how I’m wired. However, my way of organizing… read more
