Tag Host Family

A group of students smile while posing next to a structure.

The Eternal City

College of Liberal Arts Colleges and Schools Global Ambassador Summer Programs

July 23, 2024

As someone who studies Ancient Rome, Latin and Italian, there’s nowhere more fitting for me to live than in Rome. It feels nearly impossible to write a blog post about it because there are many different aspects of Roman and…

The inside of a residential home has a titled porch that is covered by a roof and welcomes visitors before entering the door of a cream colored, one-story house.

Buen Provecho

College of Liberal Arts Colleges and Schools Countries Faculty-Led Programs Global Ambassador Guatemala Summer Programs

August 4, 2023

“¡Buen provecho!” exclaimed Doña Dilia, my homestay mom, as she served us a steaming bowl of vegetable soup and a plate of tamales. The genuine warmth in her voice and the twinkle in her eyes encapsulated the essence of Guatemalan…

A small, handmade boat floats on top of still water. Dark grey mountains stand tall in the background behind a cloudy sky.

Shanghai Serenade

Abroad and Beyond China College of Liberal Arts Colleges and Schools Countries Exchange Programs Global Ambassador Summer Programs

August 3, 2023

After six long years and a global pandemic, I was back in China. I arrived in Shanghai two days before my academic program began to get adjusted to the city that I would call home for the summer. East China…

Three young men wear lightweight jackets and black nylon bags across their body as they smile for a photo. The background includes tall city buildings atop a hill

Chilean Connections

Affiliated Programs Chile College of Liberal Arts Colleges and Schools Countries Global Ambassador Internships Abroad

July 7, 2023

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…

Student posing in front of a pyramid in Mexico

What Immersion Does To Your Brain

College of Natural Sciences Colleges and Schools Countries Exchange Programs Gilman Scholarship Global Ambassador Mexico

March 1, 2023
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In two days, it will be three weeks since I arrived here in Mexico City for the first time. Two years ago, I would have never thought I’d be here. It’s funny to me because in the first semester of…

The Hardest Decisions Create the Greatest Outcomes

College of Liberal Arts Colleges and Schools Countries Exchange Programs Global Ambassador Mexico Moody College of Communication

September 16, 2022
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I’m going to be honest: the closer I got to my flight date to leave Texas and go to Mexico, the more I doubted I would board the plane. The summer was two months full of obstacles with registration, health…

Gillian, wearing a red dress, poses on a balcony, the city of Salamanca and the Cathedral of Salamanca behind her.

The Pre-Med Abroad

College of Natural Sciences Colleges and Schools Countries Faculty-Led Programs Global Ambassador Spain Summer Programs

July 26, 2022

¡Hola! My name is Gillian Witten, and I’m a pre-med neuroscience major at The University of Texas at Austin, working on my certification in Spanish for the medical professions. My undergraduate thesis focuses on improving ways to facilitate culturally competent…

A group of female students take a selfie

Learning Through A New Lens

Antigua Colleges and Schools Countries Faculty-Led Programs Global Ambassador Guatemala Moody College of Communication Summer Programs

July 21, 2022
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As I sit down to write this blog, I truly cannot believe I have barely been in Guatemala a week. My heart is already swollen with love for the Guatemalan people, culture and beautiful landscape, and it genuinely swells a…

You Can Study Abroad

Affiliated Programs Chile College of Natural Sciences Colleges and Schools Countries Global Ambassador

June 15, 2022
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As I sit in international departures at the airport, I think of my memories over the last three months. Chile is such a magical place, where everything comes together. Traveling and immersion experiences should be a requirement for all college…