Before arriving in Sydney, I was honestly a little scared about studying abroad. I was excited to explore what my life would be like in Australia for the next few months, but I was also hesitant about being all by myself 8,000 miles away from home. Many people asked why… read more
International Relations
Seoul Searching: Studying Abroad in South Korea
Pre-Departure Traveling to South Korea has been a dream of mine since I was 13. I was the biggest K-pop fan and had a deep appreciation for the culture and language as a kid. I began studying the language on my own. Eventually, I took the Korean language placement exam… read more
Thriving Abroad: Conquering Culture Shock and Language Barriers
Congratulations, Longhorn! You’ve snagged that much-desired study abroad spot, and an epic adventure awaits! But let’s be real: Venturing into a new culture with a language you don’t know can feel like jumping into a mosh pit at a concert where you barely know the music. Culture shock and… read more
Spain: A Bundle of Arrows
In my experience, people underestimate Spain. We are under the impression that we must go to an unfamiliar place like Moscow, Xi’an, Bengaluru, Istanbul or Addis Ababa to truly experience another culture. Because Spanish influence is strongly present in American culture, the novelty of Spain’s identity is overlooked. I must… read more
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
How Studying Abroad in Paris Can Change Your Life Vlog
Meet Lazarus Om, globetrotter extraordinaire, as they recount in this 6-minute vlog how studying abroad in Paris has been an incredible journey of personal growth. In the garden of Paris Cité University, Lazarus explains how they have embraced new languages, navigated different cultures and discovered facets of themselves they never… read more
Disconnected
Bonjour, tout le monde! My name is Savannah Breedlove. I’m a third year IRG major writing to you now from a cat cafe (yes, it is exactly what it sounds like it is) in Reims, France- my home city for the next four months. Finally being here is almost surreal;… read more
Bienvenidos a Queretaro
Hola y Bienvenidos a Querétaro, Mexico! My name is Paige and I’m a Sophomore studying International Relations and Global Studies. With a specialization in Latin American studies and security, I knew that Mexico would be the perfect location to continue my studies. Since this is my first reflection on my… read more
Signing out From Seoul
Dear World, This time I’ll try and keep it short and sweet: As my days here in South Korea dwindle down and my friends leave one-by-one, I can’t help but feel nostalgic as I reflect upon the amazing experience I had here as a student. Going into this study-abroad experience,… read more
Saying Our Goodbyes
The last night of my program was spent toasting to the semester, hugging and taking pictures, laughing at memories, and crying from saying our goodbyes. The hardest thing I have had to do was say goodbye to friends that I have made along the way and survived almost everything with.… read more