After planning my study abroad trip for more than three years (thanks to what I’ve nicknamed “pandemic patience”), my four months in Costa Rica passed in a flash. I’ve been back in the United States for a little over a month now, and my time abroad already feels like a… read more
Moody College of Communication
650 Subjective Words About My Study Abroad in Madrid
“You are living your best life.” I’ve gotten that text from a couple of friends recently. It’s something I struggle to comprehend. Am I living my best life? Right now, I am pretty darn homesick, but I’ve learned a lot from my time here. Madrid is very nice. It is… read more
Falling in Love with Language Learning
Spanish Frustrations Between my mediocre high school Spanish program and the intense 6-hour courses at UT, I had taken 7 years of Spanish classes in the United States before arriving in Costa Rica. Despite my good grades, I had little to show for it in the conversation department. As someone… read more
Host Family Life
First Impressions Within an hour of my arrival in San José, I had been dropped off at a papaya-colored house 75 meters east of the Palí supermarket, which I soon learned was as close to an official address as you can get in Costa Rica. As my host mom, or… read more
Overcoming Barriers to Study Abroad
Three years ago, I was applying to colleges with the hope of spending a portion of my college career abroad. As a first-generation student, being accepted into my first-choice college was an accomplishment in itself, but as soon as I stepped on campus, I began planning for my ultimate goal–a… read more
The Impact of My Experience Abroad in Paris, France
Since my last blog post, COVID-19 safety measures have fluctuated in France. All non-essential businesses are currently closed, and there is a 7 p.m. curfew in place. Up until a few weeks ago, you could not travel more than 10 kilometers outside your residence or be outside in groups of… read more
Being Present in Paris, France
My experience as an exchange student feels unreal sometimes. Although I have lived in Paris for nearly two months, I have to frequently remind myself that I’m not just a student taking online classes in her apartment; I am living in Paris, France – a city I’ve dreamed of visiting… 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
Coming Home: the Lasts and the Firsts
This post was contributed by Spring 2020 Global Ambassador Sabrina LeBoeuf, a journalism and RTF student studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. Read more about Sabrina’s experience. The Lasts The first and last time I tried banoffee pie was Wednesday, March 11, 2020. My friend Giulia and I met at a cake… 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