Student Spotlight: Dominique Gooden in Australia
“Australian cuisine is very meat centric. I'm still learning about Australia's national dishes, but I've enjoyed most of what I've gotten to try so far. For example, meat patties and sausage rolls are very common and are to my liking. I've also enjoyed local snacks and "fairy bread", which is white bread with butter and sprinkles. Vegemite is very popular here and accompanies bread rolls, but I personally am not a fan of it.”
Student Spotlight: Kaelen Baly in England
“In terms of food trends that I’ve noticed, sausage is a big one. Whether it’s in a pastry or a pie, or a sandwich, there’s generally a choice of sausage with most meals. Similarly, I sensed a theme when it came to desserts. In my time here, I’ve come to learn that here in England, there is a cultural propensity to combine chocolate and orange flavoring. Snacks, cookies, candies, you name it.”
Student Spotlight: Olivia Shaffer in Spain
“I've found that in Spain, especially in Madrid, meals are about more than just eating—they're a time to slow down and connect with others. People really use meals to catch up with loved ones, and it's totally normal for them to sit around the table long after the food is gone just talking and enjoying each other’s company. Because I live with a Spanish host mom, I’ve been lucky enough to try a lot of authentic home-cooked dishes like paella, tortilla española, and lentejas (lentils).”
Student Spotlight: Adriana Morgan in Brazil
“In Brazil, food is more than just food it’s like a social experience. Meals are commonly shared with family, coworkers, or classmates, making eating together a key part of daily life. While it’s not unheard of to eat alone, it’s definitely more common to share a meal with others. Compared to the U.S., Brazilians tend to eat earlier. Breakfast and lunch happen relatively early in the day, and dinner is usually finished by 7 PM or so.”
Student Spotlight: Amari Roberts in Jamaica
“My biggest challenge during my time abroad was my battle with control. I realized that I often try to maintain a firm grip on my life, planning and organizing everything to the last detail. For this trip, I consciously decided to let go and fully immerse myself in the experience, which was exciting but also unsettling. Letting go of control made me confront a version of myself I wasn’t entirely familiar with. I overcame this challenge through open communication.”
Student Spotlight: Jaylen Minard in Thailand
“Thai people have a very heavy carbohydrate (Rice and rice noodles) and protein (Pork, Chicken, seafood, or beef) - filled diet that rarely includes vegetables. If I were to have any vegetables accompanied by a dish, it would typically be garlic, onions, spicy peppers, or a leafy green. This is enhanced by lime, peanuts, soy sauce, shrimp paste, or other flavor-enhancing ingredients to give Thai food a signature depth of flavor without using much seasoning.”
Student Spotlight: Camryn Sutton in Italy
“I actually love that Rome has a period of time where everyone just rests. From 3 to 5 pm a lot of restaurants tend to be closed. It’s basically setting the tone that you should be inside and resting. It’s almost like a period of relaxation where you can just breathe. Whether you need to get away from something or just breathe it is really beneficial.”
Student Spotlight: Dakarai Lanes in Qatar
“I had the amazing opportunity to go to a cultural house last month to learn about the history of Qatar and with that I was able to learn a lot of things about their traditions, especially those around eating.”
Student Spotlight: Destiny Mayfield in Thailand
Thai people love spicy food! The portion sizes are smaller here, so you can eat more food throughout the day whenever you get hungry. Most food and ingredients are fresh, and they eat lots of chili’s, noodles, rice, pork, and chicken. Meals are usually in a group, and I have not seen any traditions or customs that aid in digestion.
Student Spotlight: Alexia Hosein in South Korea
“So far what I am able to see is that in Korea, restaurants tend to serve large portions of food because people often dine out in groups. Recently, I visited a small Chinese restaurant in the Myeondong shopping strip with some friends. We ordered a dish called "jjajangmyeon," which consists of noodles in black bean sauce, along with a side of fried dumplings each.”
Student Spotlight: Reid Hewitt in Italy
“Food is very important in Italian culture, not only as a source of nourishment, but there is also a distinctive pride in Italian dishes. I sometimes find the food quite bland because they believe in the quality of ingredients rather than quantity. Wine and coffee are also very important to the Italian diet. There is even a “coffee culture” and unique way of drinking espresso at a bar standing up rather than sitting down. Meals are typically eaten in group settings, with quality time being associated with sharing a meal.”
Student Spotlight: Adrianna Terrell in England
“This is my first time ever out of my home country, and my first time traveling on an airplane, so it has been a very new experience! One challenge that I noticed right away has been getting around within my city. The first day I took the bus to the grocery store, and they sure don’t make it easy for new people to know what to do. Luckily, I was with a large group so I could follow the people in front of me.”