The world offers no shortage of destinations to consider when studying abroad. However, it seems that many students often favor the same Western European options. While Spain’s assortment of flavorful “tapas” and the romantic atmosphere of France land these countries among the top three on the U.S. News and World… read more
Africa
Botswana: My Time in Ghanzi
I’ve never flown by myself before, let alone taken four international flights to a continent I’ve only seen in movies. Despite not knowing what to expect, I traveled to Maun, Botswana, for a once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experience. Landing in the dusty village of Maun with a few other students, nervous… read more
Studying Abroad More Than Once
There are many myths associated with studying abroad, such as its unbearable expense, that you can only go abroad once or that the planning phase is completely overwhelming. My experience debunks these myths. I’ve had the extraordinary ability to study abroad twice and am going abroad a third time this… read more
Ramadan in Rabat
Wow! I can’t believe the midterm season is finally over, which means I’m already more than halfway through the semester. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been here for over two months. I want time to stop because I’ve enjoyed it here so much. In a way, it feels as if… read more
Beyond Borders: Exploring the World, Finding My Way
Living abroad in Europe is a remarkable experience for countless reasons, but perhaps one of the most extraordinary aspects is the ease and affordability of travel. The ability to hop on a train or plane and find yourself in a new country within just a few hours has allowed me… read more
The Magic of Marrakesh and Essaouira
I can’t believe a new semester is already here! After spending the entire fall semester in Rabat, Morocco, I was excited to delve back into my courses this year and eager to return to this city that I now call my second home. This past weekend, though, I wasted no… read more
Tangier and Chefchaouen: Morocco’s Hidden Gems
Wow. It doesn’t even feel like it’s been two months, but this semester has flown by. I genuinely feel like I’ve seen more of Morocco than I have seen of my home state of Texas. The classes I’m taking through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) have… read more
Morocco: Part 2
Five years ago, during one life-changing month, I fell completely in love with this country. It was particularly transformative because it was my first time flying on a plane, solo traveling and traveling outside the country. I discovered a place where I could improve my Arabic, French and even Spanish… read more
Africa Is Now
About halfway through my internship program, I became overwhelmed by countless power outages, a variety of native bugs, the inescapable Senegalese heat and frustrating language barriers. My second summer class had also started, and my days felt long and dreadful. I kept asking myself, “What am I doing here?” and… read more
Coming Home
For the duration of the summer, I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to intern with House of Bacoro, a cosmetic store in the center of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. On the surface, House of Bacoro is a mere beauty supply store, but if you dig a little deeper into… read more