Expectations (Myths) 1. There Are Wild Animals Roaming the Streets I have been here nearly three months and have yet to see a kangaroo, a koala, a scorpion or a snake. This is partly because I still need to visit the zoo, but no, they do not roam the streets… read more
From Australia to America: Cross-Ocean Communication
I write this post from Seven Mile Beach National Park in Gerroa, Australia. I have no cell service and highly unreliable cellular data, essentially off-grid. Most other times I wouldn’t mind a getaway to nature, especially one that involves two days of surfing. But being abroad heavily involves digital communication,… read more
Solo Traveling: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Achieving your Goals
In Australia, at the end of September, all the university students are given a mid-semester break. I figured this was the perfect opportunity to do some traveling and exploration, and I decided to take a two-week backpacking trip up the Australian east coast. This trip would take me and a… read more
Why I Traveled All the way to Australia to Learn German
When you study abroad, it is inevitable that you will face challenges and sometimes be pushed out of your comfort zone. That’s one of the great things about studying abroad. These challenges are what allow you to grow and learn from the experience. In my 5 weeks so far… read more
Enter the 2020 Education Abroad Photo and Video Contest
Inspire Longhorns around the world with photos and videos captured during your experience abroad. Submit Your Photos & Videos The Education Abroad Photo and Video Contest is now open for submissions! The contest is open to any student or graduate who studied abroad in 2018, 2019 or spring 2020. The… read more
Experiencing “Mateship” in Australia
My name is Katherine, and I am a second-year Communication and Leadership major originally from San Antonio, Texas. I have been meaning to check in with y’all for a while now, but I’m glad so much time has passed since my time in Australia because it has allowed me to… read more
From Australia to Austin: Cultural Traditions in Times of Change
I am new to Austin. I just moved to town, and what a time to move! I was most recently living in Doha, Qatar and have been in Austin for just over a month. It is always a challenge to move across oceans, build a new life, learn a new… read more
Money Moves in Melbourne
This post was contributed by Spring 2020 Global Ambassador Katherine Shumaker, a Communication and Leadership student studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia. Hello everyone! My name is Katherine and I am a second-year Communication and Leadership student originally from San Antonio. I find myself resting in a cozy little dorm room… read more
My Quokka Adventure
It’s Ally, again! If you’ve been following along with my blogs, it’s been a while since I’ve been here in Perth! Finals are over and they were brutal. All of my exams were written essays so by the end of the week my hand was throbbing. My lab exam did… read more
How Going Abroad Helped Me Decide About Graduate School
Part of my reasoning for going abroad was that I wasn’t sure about my direction after undergrad. I knew I was interested in grad school, but not anything beyond that. I had many interests, but not one I was passionate about enough to study for a master’s or PhD. I… read more