Hello! I’m happy to share that I completed my first two weeks of school in Madrid. The initial days were fascinating. Before moving to Spain, I had never ridden the metro on my own — let alone daily. At first, it was scary. I was extremely confused by the line… read more
Moody College of Communication
Overcoming Doubt and Embracing Adventure: My First Two Weeks in Spain
It was hard for me to get excited about my upcoming semester abroad during the weeks leading up to my departure. I had never been to Europe, so I had no idea what to expect. I was afraid of putting Spain on a pedestal, which could lead to disappointment. Friends… read more
From Texan to Tartan: Embracing the Magic of Saying Yes in Scotland
Arriving in Edinburgh felt like stepping into a gothic snow globe. Now, two short weeks later, that feeling hasn’t faded, and I’m confident it will stay with me for the next five months. With its medieval architecture and shadowy cobblestone streets, this city has brought my dream of attending Hogwarts… read more
Finding Home in the Heart of London
Studying abroad in London has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Every day, I find myself in awe, pinching myself as I walk through streets filled with history, culture and endless opportunities. It still feels surreal to be here, surrounded by so much life and energy,… read more
A Letter From Madrid
Hi everyone! I’m writing to you from Madrid. I want to share my experience in this program so you can get a taste of what it’s like to study abroad in Madrid as an international student. I’m a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in communication… read more
Panama: Energy and the Environment
Navigating New Beginnings If someone had told me in high school that I would be studying abroad during my first semester of college, I would have called them crazy. The reality of spending my entire first semester of college in Panama did not truly sink in until I arrived at… read more
Embracing Discomfort Teaches Valuable Life Lessons
It’s unbelievable how big and small the world can feel simultaneously. Yesterday, from where I was standing on an Australian beach, I imagined zooming out via Google Maps to the rest of the world. In my imagination, I was a minuscule dot at a single moment in time. Yet everything… read more
Add Some SPICE to Your Life
“Don’t just be in another place, live in another place!” These were the very wise words in a text my mom sent me a few days after I arrived in Erfurt, Germany. When I got the text, I disregarded it with a half-hearted “I know.” The first few nights I… read more
Journey Through Japan: Sips, Cities and Smart Tech
My time in Japan has been truly transformative. The blend of academic research and cultural immersion across all the cities and universities I’ve visited has been remarkable. Having explored Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and Nara, I’ve experienced Japan’s diverse cultural and urban landscapes firsthand. I’ve had the privilege of participating… read more
Dreaming of Paris
Boarding the plane and flying halfway across the world was not enough to convince me that I was going abroad. Touching down and navigating the streets, looking around at all of the pretty sights and never-ending aesthetic buildings, I still couldn’t comprehend how this was my life. This is the… read more
