The Study Abroad Blog

The Study Abroad Student’s 2012 Christmas List

The guaranteed way to get something useful for studying abroad

China Pizza Hut Waitresses Christmas — Merry Christmas from my friends and I to you and yours

So I actually stuck by my idea and have kept this going as an annual post. In case you missed my explanation in the 2011 Christmas List, it’s basically a compilation of things I used, thought might be useful, or wish I had bought before I went abroad all together in one easy-to-email to friends and relatives list. While I thought some things would remain on the list from year to year, this year’s is 100% fresh. For the third year in a row, here’s The Study Abroad Student’s Christmas List for 2012.

A Life Of Sunshine And Siestas In Southern Spain

How 6 weeks of studying abroad set up one student’s life in Seville, Spain

Cat Gaa Study Abroad Spain Family Valladolid — Cat visiting Valladolid for her 25th birthday in 2010

My abroad story began long before I boarded a plane, rumbo Madrid. While earning college money the summer before leaving to study journalism at the University of Iowa, I came across an old, crimson photo album. Worn gold letters on the binding read, LOYOLA ROME CENTER, while the yellowed pages contained gem after gem of 1970s hair, bell-bottoms and the most celebrated sites of the Eternal City.

The Magic Wand Scanner

The Magic Wand Portable Scanner: so you can live the dream, not live in the library

One of the best parts of the University of St. Andrews is that you don’t have to buy the majority of your textbooks. The flip side to that is that most of your textbooks are in the library, and because copies are limited, St. Andrews has this system called short loan where certain books are set aside, can only be taken out for 4 hours at a time, and can’t leave the library. If you’re writing a paper, preparing a presentation, or just trying to do some reading for class, you can see how inconvenient this is not to mention how much of your time it will take up. The solution? The Magic Wand Portable Scanner.

Why I Loved NOT Studying Abroad In London

Looking past London to the beauty of Brighton

Amanda Guarino Study Abroad Brighton England — Amanda standing on the Brighton Pier with the city in the background

I can’t tell you how many times, upon learning that I studied abroad in England, people assume I was in London. Of course, since it is the nation’s capital, it is obviously the most recognizable place and is home to many universities that Americans attend. However, my experience was a bit different, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s It Like To Live La Vida Española?

Living the study abroad life with a host family in Spain

Study Abroad Student Spanish Host Family — Kerianne and her host family

Studying abroad anywhere in the world involves a degree of change and adaptation – not limited to language, culture, the metric system, living arrangements and even using public transportation to get to class. I knew what I was getting into when I willingly chose to live my life almost entirely in Spanish. From the beginning, I checked off “Only speaks Spanish” on my housing assignment form. Yup – I would be living with a Spanish-speaking host family for an entire year. Drastic language adaptation was required, for one thing, and I anticipated being a witness to Spanish family culture.

Cultural Immersion – The Essence Of Study Abroad

Defining the most important part of studying abroad – cultural immersion

Cultural immersion – what every study abroad advisor will tell you is the most essential part of going abroad, and what many students say justifies the cost and time spent studying in another country. I’ve realized that to most students, myself included, phrases like “cultural immersion” and “global education” seem pretty vague. I’ve decided to expand on the whole concept in this post, as it’s much easier for students to take part in the most important aspect of their study abroad experience once they actually know what it is.