Student Spotlight: Isaiah White in England
How do daily routines—like shopping, cooking, or resting—differ from what you’re used to at home?
Being in the UK has changed my daily routine in what I first thought was a small way, but it has now become definitely noticeable. Shopping has been very tempting here, especially because there are so many options and everything feels easily accessible. I find myself window shopping much more as of right now, whether it’s just walking through local streets or browsing stores in Central London.
How to Navigate Public Transportation While Studying Abroad
For many students, studying abroad is the first time relying on public transportation every single day. At home, you may drive, get rides from family, or live on a campus where everything is walkable. Abroad, buses, metros, trams, and trains quickly become part of your daily routine.
Studying Abroad Isn’t Just an Experience — It’s a Career Strategy
When people think about studying abroad, they usually picture weekend trips, new friends, and unforgettable memories.
And yes, those things are real.
But there’s another side to study abroad that doesn’t get talked about enough:
Studying abroad can be one of the smartest ways to explore what it would actually feel like to build a life and career in another country.
How to Plan a Weekend Getaway During Study Abroad
One of the best parts of studying abroad is realizing how close you are to places you’ve always dreamed of seeing.
A weekend getaway can turn your study abroad experience into something even more unforgettable without requiring a big budget or complicated planning.
Here’s how to plan a weekend getaway during study abroad without overspending or stressing yourself out.
Student Spotlight: Mary Napoleon in England
What’s one challenge you’ve already encountered? How are you navigating it so far?
A challenge that I have encountered is remaining conscious of fees and converted prices, especially when it comes to shopping for necessities. To navigate how to reduce the amount of money spent, I asked locals I meet at cafes and events where they normally shop. I started going to the recommended stores an my grocery bill was almost half the price in the stores they recommended compared to where I was going previously.
Student Spotlight: Quirino Griffin in Japan
What’s one challenge you’ve already encountered? How are you navigating it so far?
One challenge I've come across is the language barrier, especially when learning Japanese. It's been more difficult than I thought, and with a hectic schedule, finding consistent time to practice takes work. Even though I usually comprehend parts of what people say, ordering food or dealing with little daily interactions can still be scary at times.
Alumni Stories: Brooklyn Washington in France
Can you tell us a little about where you studied abroad and what drew you to that location?
In Fall 2024, I studied abroad in Aix en Provence, France. I chose this location because of its rich language and culture immersion program, which allowed me to complete my last four French classes for my minor.
Alumni Stories: Adriana Morgan in Brazil
I studied abroad in Brazil, in a city called Belo Horizonte. What drew me there was really the chance to do something different. A lot of study abroad options at my school were in Europe, and while that’s amazing, I wanted to challenge myself in a new way. I was deciding between Spain and Brazil, and since I already had a Spanish background, I thought, why not go somewhere I didn’t speak the language at all? Brazil felt like a place full of culture, energy, and life that I could learn from. It just felt like the right choice for me to grow.
Student Spotlight: Zoe Touray in Cyprus
What does family life look like in your host country? Have you noticed any traditions, or lifestyle dynamics within families?
Family structure in Cyprus is actually quite unique. In the area that I live in, I don't actually see any families with children or otherwise. I see many students, young people with roommates, or older people living on their own. I have only seen families at beaches together or in smaller towns we have visited in the north of Cyprus.
Student Spotlight: Orion Douglas in Spain
What type of government does the country have (e.g., democracy, monarchy, authoritarian regime)? What role do political parties play in the government, and how are they structured?
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, meaning it combines a hereditary monarchy with a democratic government. King Felipe VI serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister, currently Pedro Sánchez, leads the government and oversees daily affairs. The national legislature, known as the Cortes Generales, is composed of two chambers: the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.
Student Spotlight: Omarion Aubert in France
What type of government does the country have (e.g., democracy, monarchy, authoritarian regime)? What role do political parties play in the government, and how are they structured?
France has a secular democratic semi‑presidential constitutional republic form of government. The power is shared between the President (head of state) and the Prime Minister (head of government). The role of the political parties is central to the system, as they are essential for electoral competition, legislative authority, and government formation.
Alumni Stories: Jaylen Minard in Thailand
Can you tell us a little about where you studied abroad and what drew you to that location?
I studied for an academic year in Salaya, Thailand during the 2024-2025 school year. My choice of studying in Thailand was greatly due to my intrest of studying the LGBTQ+ community, and with Thailand's notorious queer inclusivity, I thought their was no better place to study this topic.
Student Spotlight: Zoe Touray in Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus was explained to me as a unitarian government with a president as the seat of power. Much like the US, they have a house of representatives as a sovereign and independent republic. The centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY) is the largest and leading political party in Cyprus, currently holding 17 of the 56 seats in the House of Representatives.
Travel as a Catalyst for Community Change
Studying abroad is more than a chance to explore new cities or check off bucket-list destinations. For scholarship students, it’s a transformative opportunity — a way to step outside your comfort zone, connect with diverse communities, and create meaningful impact both personally and socially.
Student Spotlight: Temilade Onile in Greece
I would say that Greeks take a more natural approach to food as fresh fruit, produce, meats etc are very accessible. They have a very Mediterranean diet with plenty red onions, tomatoes, seafood and fresh ingredients. I haven't noticed anything yet pertaining to traditions around digestion but I know that they eat a lot of acidic food like tomatoes, lemons, yogurt etc which are good for gut health.
Student Spotlight: Laila Barnes in Scotland
“In Mississippi, we don’t really use public transportation. Here in Edinburgh, Scotland, public transport is the main transportation to any destination. Learning how to navigate it by making sure I catch the bus on time or catch the right bus was a struggle at first. I decided to take a day to ride three main buses just to see where they would take me, and so I could become very familiar with them. I am now a public transportation pro!”
Student Spotlight: Sidney Eramil in Denmark
“I have found it challenging to make friends as I found that many people in my program are attending with groups of friends from their schools which makes it challenging to get to know people. Additionally, it can be quite frustrating knowing that 80% of my study abroad program is white people from the US making it hard to identify and relate to many of them.”
Student Spotlight: Hadija Primus in South Korea
“One challenge that I've encountered is not allowing myself to be okay with not knowing. I've been beating myself up about not being fluent in Korean or freezing up too much when someone starts to speak to me in Korean. I expect myself to be good at navigating through Korea, but that's impossible because this is my first time here. So, I'm having a hard with giving myself a break.”
Student Spotlight: Adriana Sneed in France
“One challenge I have encountered is communicating properly within the language. I have had issues at grocery stores where I struggled to explain an issue. I am navigating it by using translate to figure out a word then still talking to them. This is helping me consistently learn new phrases and words everyday. I practice and write down these phrases so I can return to them later. This has made connecting with locals a little harder, but I remain committed to making these connections.”
Student Spotlight: Dana Deloney in Germany
“Upon settling in, I have been challenged by not knowing the language of the country I am studying in. Now, most people in Germany actually do know English, but there are a plethora of things that are NOT in English: every grocery store item, signs, train station names, and a lot more. Unfortunately, Google Translate is not always helpful.”