ISEP student Rachel B. from University of Montana studied anthropology in Malaysia at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. She gives us snippets of how she’s adjusting to three important factors – food, friends and family. … More How to Adjust to New Cultures While Studying Abroad
I had always looked forward to studying abroad; the concept of living in a new country and traveling through a number of others had me eager to learn. I was curious to observe other cultures and become a public transportation guru. So with this goal in mind, I set off on what was sure to be a great adventure. I was so set on traveling that I initially forgot about one very important part of study abroad: STUDYING abroad. … More Reflecting on the “Study” in Study Abroad
When I decided to study abroad, Finland was not even on my radar. But after being persuaded by my ISEP coordinator to apply and later, accept my placement I quickly realized that it was the best decision of my life. … More An Unexpected Study Abroad Experience in Finland
On the ISEP blog, we like to share stories about students and their study abroad journeys. Today, we’re doing it a little different. ISEP student Lucia, who spent a semester in France, wants others to be able to experience her home university of University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez. Here she shares what makes it so great. … More The Best Parts of Studying in Puerto Rico
In case you had any doubts that studying abroad comes with a huge amount of benefits, we’ve got a couple more reasons to help convince you. Northern Arizona University student and former ISEP Ambassador Natalie F. shares some of her favorite parts of studying abroad at Aix-Marseille Université in France. … More Exploring the Benefits of Studying Abroad
I’d like to shed some light on something I didn’t quite understand when I read it in the ISEP handbook: reverse culture shock. This term could seem odd to you. Especially when the handbook describes it as culture shock, but in your home country. If you haven’t experienced a study abroad semester or year, you may be thinking, “How on earth can that happen?” I’m used to my home country and the culture it possesses. How can I feel disoriented in my familiar surroundings? Well, it’s definitely a possibility. … More My Surprising Experience With Reverse Culture Shock
The majority of students who study abroad with ISEP tend to be undergraduate students. ISEP student James N. is an exception to the norm. He is a graduate student from Arkansas State University spending a full year studying history at Universidad Americana in Nicaragua. James shares a few snippets of advice on how to prepare for a year abroad as a graduate student, manage homesickness and have fun in your host country. … More 3 Tips for Graduate Students Studying Abroad
Making the decision to study abroad in Sub-Saharan Africa can be scary and challenging, but can also to lead amazing experiences. I often deal with hesitant students and parents who are simply afraid of the unknown. Those who have never traveled to South Africa have many varying perceptions of what South Africa may be like. I can tell you one thing: your ideas will definitely change once you go there! Mine sure did — here’s how. … More Why I Studied Abroad in South Africa
Japan, land of the rising sun, is famous for its cherry blossoms and raw fish cuisine. However — as many ISEP students have discovered — studying abroad in Japan is more than sakura and sushi. Kansai Gaidai University, located in the heart of Japan’s historically rich Kansai region, offers an Asian Studies Program that allows students to study Japanese in the morning and take business, humanities or social sciences classes (taught in English!) in the afternoon. Students with stellar grades who enroll directly at the university might also qualify for a $6,000 scholarship. … More Studying Abroad in Japan: More Than Sakura and Sushi
Studying abroad is an exciting adventure, but it’s more than just traveling around your host region — there are academic goals involved! To make the most of your study abroad experience, try to go in with a clear idea of what you want to get out of your semester, year or summer in another country. San Diego State University student and sociology major Trevor did just that — setting goals, especially in terms of learning Spanish — as he prepared to study at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. Why is Trevor focusing on learning a foreign language? … More Choosing a Study Abroad Program for Your Own Goals
One of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad is integrating into your host country: meeting people, making friends, participating in social events (or even joining a sports team) and feeling like you’re a part of your new community. At first, that can be a little tricky. Fortunately, many ISEP universities offer programs to help study abroad students feel at home. … More How To Get Involved On Your Host Campus
You may be intimidated to study in countries where your native language isn’t spoken. But don’t let that stop you! ISEP student Anne, an English major from Emporia State University, didn’t let a language barrier keep her from studying abroad at Toyo University. We asked Anne to tell us about her experience taking Japanese language and literature courses in Tokyo, Japan for an entire academic year — plenty of time to immerse herself in the culture and the language. … More How to Study Abroad in a Place Where You Don’t Speak the Language
“How has study abroad changed your life?” It seems a straightforward enough question. I can talk about how I learned to handle the unexpected, how I coped with living on my own, reminisce about the wonderful people I met, wistfully remember how unconstrained my life felt. However, words won’t do it justice. … More How Has Study Abroad Changed My Life?
Art history student Maggie S from Western Washington University spent a semester studying abroad in Aalborg, Denmark. She takes a minute to share her favorite bits about Aalborg University, Denmark and ISEP. … More Top 6 Aspects of Studying Abroad in Denmark
ISEP student Renee, a Spanish major from the University of North Texas, spent a whole year in Costa Rica at Universidad Nacional. Staying with a host family and taking classes in Spanish helped her improve her Spanish — but she discovered that speaking like locals isn’t quite like the textbooks she’s used to. Here she gives her take on tico (Costa Rican) Spanish. … More How to Make Sense of Slang in a Foreign Language
During my time as a British international student in the U.S, I’ve realized that using technology strategically has helped me become better immersed in my host community. At the same time, I’ve also learned the value of turning off my laptop and unplugging from my cell phone. Here is my advice regarding the use of technology during study abroad, picked up from my experience as a foreign national in the U.S. over the course of my undergraduate degree. … More 5 Tips for Using Technology to Your Advantage During Study Abroad
Katie, a Spanish and international studies major from the University of Iowa, spent a year studying abroad at Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. She speaks about the reality of studying abroad in Mexico versus the way that the news portrays the country. How did Mexico challenge the media’s perceptions? Katie explains it all … … More Mexico Is More Than What Meets The Eye
As many ISEP students prepare to depart on their educational travel adventures, some of our returned students share their newly-found international wisdom. ISEP student Matthew H. from University of Chester studied abroad at Whitworth University for a year to work on his international business major. Here he shares what you can gain from studying abroad. … More What You Can Gain From Studying Abroad
Sara, a math major from Northern Arizona University, had her doubts about committing a full year to studying abroad versus a single semester, but after studying Spanish language and literature in Spain at Universidad de Málaga for a few months, she hasn’t looked back once. Deciding to spend a whole year away from the comforts of your home university can be an overwhelming thought to imagine, but Sara thinks you’ll be just fine (and so do we!). … More A Letter to Myself Before I Studied Abroad
Western Washington University student Rikki, a Spanish major, spent a semester at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay. Even though Rikki finished her semester in Uruguay, you can still check out her educational adventures on her blog. Here’s a glimpse of what a week studying abroad in Montevideo is like. … More What Does a Week in Uruguay Look Like?
You’re getting ready to study abroad. Let’s be honest — you’re probably going to have an awesome time. You might want to share your awesome time with others — family and friends at home, strangers on the internet and maybe even your future self. So you decide to start a study abroad blog. How exactly do you do that? What are the ingredients necessary for a great study abroad blog? … More How to Write a Study Abroad Blog
You’ve decided you want to study abroad. Great — we’re really excited for you. But what if your parents aren’t quite as pumped as you are? What if they say no? Former Program Officer Rachel encountered some resistance from her parents when she wanted to study abroad in Ecuador. How did she convince her dad to let her go? Read on to learn her tips and tricks. … More How To Convince Your Parents To Let You Study Abroad
You’ve submitted your resume and cover letter, and you’ve been selected for an interview. As you prepare, remember that studying abroad is more than an opportunity to see the world. The challenges of living in a different country build skills that make you a valuable employee, but how do you communicate that to your interviewer? In a competitive job market, study abroad experiences make you stand out, but you have to discuss them strategically. … More How to Talk About Study Abroad in a Job Interview
ISEP staff know study abroad — including the ups and downs. Former Communications and Marketing Assistant Sarah shares her advice on how to manage homesickness. … More How to Manage Homesickness While Studying Abroad
We asked Linda, ISEP Coordinator at American University of Sharjah, to dispel some misconceptions people may have about the Middle East. … More Myth Busting the Middle East
It seems as though every time you ask someone who is studying abroad how they are doing, you get the almost automatic response: “Yeah, it’s great!” We feel nearly obligated to say something positive because of the perceived “greatness” study abroad brings along with it. However, study abroad is also like an emotional roller coaster on steroids. Actually, it’s more like being strapped to a figurative space shuttle and being blasted into emotional outer space. … More Holding on Through the Study Abroad Emotional Rollercoaster
ISEP student Amy P., a history and international relations major at Agnes Scott College, spent a year at Vesalius College in Belgium to deepen her understanding of international politics and explore a new culture. During her time abroad, she made a list of the top five reasons why Belgium should be on your study abroad destination list. … More 5 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in Belgium
Looking for a way to meet locals and make a difference on your host campus? Get involved in activities! You can even start your own, like ISEP alumni Ryotaro, a Toyo University student who studied abroad at Hendrix College. Here he tells the story of teaching Japanese on his host campus. … More How I Started a Japanese Language Course on My Host Campus
Are you worried about studying abroad and having to get around on your own without your folks? Or are you instead wishing your parents would stop nagging you because you know you’ll be just fine? Whatever the case may be, parental involvement in a student’s study abroad experience requires a delicate balance. … More 5 Tips To Help Deal With Parents When Studying Abroad
Between family, friends, football games and more, we get that you might think there’s a lot that you’ll miss out on while you’re abroad. However, we challenge you to instead think about the things you might miss out on if you didn’t go abroad. That list is much longer! Here’s how to conquer the fear of missing out (commonly known as FOMO). … More Overcome the Fear of Missing Out: Why Now Is the Best Time to Study Abroad
You’re just starting college and there’s a lot going on. There are a lot of uncertainties: what to major in, what clubs to join, what’s the best study spot on campus and so much more. But one things is for sure – you know you want to study abroad. How do you get started? ISEP Coordinator Sue Jackson from Whitworth University shares some words of wisdom for freshmen who are eager to get out into the world by studying abroad. … More Tips for Freshmen Who Want to Study Abroad
Studying abroad is about making the most of wherever you are. ISEP Program Officer Hilary H. has insider tips from her study abroad experiences. Here are her top 10 things that she recommends all students do while abroad! … More 10 Things to Do When You Study Abroad
It is very normal to be completely lost the first few days. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there will always be someone to help you! Calm down and give yourself some time to get used to your new home. And remember, you are the one who needs to work hard to get the most from this experience. … More What to Do When You First Arrive in Your Host Country
Mental health is a subject that is highly taboo in America. There is little to no discussion on the topic which creates a culturally accepted climate of ignorance surrounding the issue. This post is a means of showing the impact mental illness had on my time studying abroad.
This is a personal account, and as such, my experiences may not apply to every individual living with mental illness. Everyone lives with and manages their mental illness in a different way. I merely hope that in sharing my story on this platform I can help people with mental illness who may be hesitant to study abroad and decrease the stigma surrounding this topic. … More Traveling Abroad With Mental Illness
Each time you enter a new country, or even a new region, there are so many things to explore and take in. Obviously you’ll want to hit the big landmarks, see all of the unique geography and if you’re like me you’ll want to visit a few smaller scale places off the beaten path. Many people think the most important part of travel is the landmarks, but to many it is the food. Everywhere you go is likely to have a food that is completely, well, foreign to you. Even if it’s something that doesn’t sound great to you, it’s important to be adventurous! Immerse yourself into your new culture, and give it a try. If you don’t like it, that’s okay. You can say you tried it, and you just might end up with a new favorite food item. … More How to Make the Most of Food Adventures While Studying Abroad
Over Easter break, I had about two weeks off of classes and decided to take this time to see as much of Europe as possible. I began my journey March 19 and did not return to Edinburgh until April 2. During this time, I spent about two days in each destination I visited. From my trip, I developed this list of tips and tricks to take advantage of the time you have while you travel. … More Tips for Traveling Around 6 Countries in 14 Days
After four and a half months of studying abroad, I am back home in Italy. I can’t say I feel the same as when I left in January; staying abroad for a few months definitely changes you. Living within a different culture helps you to become a better person because you learn to see the world with different eyes. You learn to appreciate what you have, to value the people who are a part of your life and to enjoy every moment. … More What I Learned From Studying Abroad in the United States
Sometimes when people check in with me (which I really appreciate, by the way!), they ask if I will be ready to come home from my five month vacation. There is no doubt that I have been lucky to have this opportunity, or that I have been a tourist a time or two. However, a part of me still wants to reply with, “I’m not on vacation. I live here.” … More Finding a Home Away From Home in Costa Rica
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a big-city lover or an overall adventurer, studying abroad offers endless opportunities. Visiting new places means more than just new sights and views. It means learning to be flexible when the train you planned to take is cancelled last minute, developing cross-cultural communication skills when you have to work through a language barrier, fostering independence through your first solo trip and so much more. But as this is all going on, the views are a great distraction. … More 9 Photos That Will Inspire You to Study Abroad
I will soon step onto a plane and fly more than 5,000 miles away from my permanent home in Wisconsin to my new temporary home in Valparaíso, Chile. There haven’t been many times in my life I’ve been as excited as I am right now, attempting to imagine how different my life will be in just a few days. But simultaneously, I feel sad, scared and helpless because I’m beginning my international adventure as my home nation aches over the shooting in Orlando, Florida. This tragedy has broken hearts all across the United States, and mine is no exception. At this moment, there’s a call to action in this country. A call to contributing more than just “thoughts and prayers” to the cause. A call to honor 49 victims with real change. … More How The Tragedy in Orlando Will Impact My Study Abroad
Edinburgh is a wonderful place to study, but also just to visit! Here are 13 reasons to visit or study in the capital of Scotland. … More 13 Reasons to Go to the Capital of Scotland
I still remember the day when I got selected to come to Eckerd College this semester. I was on the train and I started crying tears of joy and astonishment. I could not believe that my dreams had finally come true and I would come to this amazing college in Florida! Soon after I found out, I met another Italian who attended Eckerd with ISEP two years ago. I was surprised when he asked me if I was ready to study at Eckerd because it was going to change my life forever. I didn’t believe him at first but now, at the end of my experience here, I can honestly tell you that I have never heard something so true in my entire life. … More When You Realize Studying Abroad Changed Your Life Forever
When I began this adventure, I went into my experience expecting to have “the study abroad experience.” I didn’t know what that was exactly, but I imagined it as this great experience shared by all international students. What I didn’t realize was there are many subcategories to “the study abroad experience” because there are many types of international students! Here is a list of nine subcategories I came up with for the different types of international students I have encountered and the different approaches they’ve taken to studying abroad. … More What Study Abroad Personality Are You?
I have received many questions about my host school, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, in Milan. Here are a couple of things to know! … More Top 8 Answers You Want to Know Most About Studying in Italy
Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert on Earth. With a landscape so similar to that of Mars, NASA and other space exploration organizations have used Atacama as a testing site for new Mars rovers. This region averages .6 inches of rainfall per year. Though a wildly popular tourist destination, the radical climate and landscape is not an ideal place for those that are used to places with regular humidity and a lower altitude. To survive a visit to a place such as Atacama, you’re going to need to take a few things into consideration. … More How to Survive the Driest Place on Earth
At first, you might not even realize it’s coming. You’ve always known the date you’re set to return home from abroad, but it sneaks up on you. You just got used your new place. You made friends; some distant, some seemingly lifelong. You’ve been having fun, experiencing so many new things and meeting new types of people, both good and bad. You were so used to thinking you had more time to do everything on your list. But then it hits you: the beginning of the end. … More The Beginning of the End
Okay, so everyone has seen those travel Instagrams and blogs that are just too beautiful to be true. They’re the pictures that give you wanderlust and make you a bit jealous because you’re sitting in your bed with a bag of chips watching Netflix. The thing is, it’s all a lie. Yes, there are beautiful places and sometimes pictures can capture some pretty amazing moments, but nothing is as perfect as it seems. Here are some of my Instagram posts from the last five months, but this time, there’s a little bit more truth. … More How My Study Abroad Instagram Life Isn’t Quite Reality
As my time abroad is coming to an end and finals are approaching, I can’t help but feel anxious. When I freeze time just for a bit and ponder on my experiences that travel abroad has brought me, it brings a sense of overwhelming happiness. I have met people from all over the world, took every chance to travel to places I never thought would be possible and learned from every culture I encountered. Below are some pictures from my adventures. I hope it inspires people to travel outside of their comfort zone, and to learn more about the world. … More 13 Pictures That Will Inspire You to Travel
When I decided to study abroad in Europe, I had to take into consideration that I don’t fit the “typical” American image that the world has been accustomed to. While pondering thoughts of being discriminated against because of my ethnicity, I realized that my identity is not to be feared but to be glorified when faced with certain circumstances. Being a minority in Madrid helped me discover the true beauty of having a racially diverse community. Not only did I rediscover my own self worth and identity, but I stumbled across the cultural diffusion of a small neighborhood in Madrid, called Lavapies. … More Walking on the Diverse Side of Madrid
When you study abroad in a new and exciting country, oftentimes your loved ones from back home will want to come visit you in your new home. When these times come, the pressure is on! They’re on vacation and you’re not. And unlike times when you’re on vacation and hire a tour guide, when people come to visit you abroad, YOU are the tour guide. … More How to Make the Most out of a Visitor Abroad
ISEP Study Abroad Blog 