When in: Hanoi, Sapa, and Cat Ba Island

Vietnam is amazing. I truly can’t express the wonder of traveling here, and I can’t imagine going to Asia without stopping by. The culture is almost tangible here, from the architecture to the clothing, and don’t get me started on the coffee and food, and the geography and the people and again the food, all …

Sustainable Traveling

Studying abroad can use up a lot of time and resources, but there are ways we can be kinder to our planet during our travels. Walk You will most likely be going to a country that is not as big as the United States and is reasonably walkable around town and to classes (even like …

Short Term vs. Semester Programs… Pt. 2

This post is the second in a two-part series; follow this link to read my first post on semester programs: https://purdueclaabroad.wordpress.com/2018/03/05/short-term-vs-semester-programs-pt-1/ In this post I’ll explore the pros and cons of short term programs, delving into why they’re right for some students and limiting for others. Short Term Programs Four weeks in Barcelona, Spain sitting …

When in Chiang Mai

On Monday I heard someone mention Chiang Mai and I thought it sounded fun so I booked a flight Wednesday morning to the city. Safe to say this was a very last-minute solo trip with minimal preparation. Let me also begin by saying this was one of the best trips I have ever taken in …

How to Fit Your Life in a Suitcase

Lugging around an oversized suitcase, carry-on, and personal item is no fun, especially when you’re trying to bounce back from jet-lag. If you’re anything like me, packing can be the worst part about traveling. You either pack too much or you end up forgetting everything you were supposed to bring. Instead of worrying about how …

When in: Bangkok

Thailand is really incredible. Somehow it has managed to never be weighed down by foreign influence, strategically ceding land in Malaya to the British to avoid colonization, siding with Japan during WWII to avoid conquering, and aligning with the United States to avoid the communist revolutions sweeping the rest of the region. Thailand is thus …

Tips for Living in a Homestay

While living in Madrid, Spain for a semester, I lived in a homestay; my family was a single, elderly woman named Rosa. Through living with her and talking to other students in homestays, I learned a few tricks to make the transition into a new family a little easier. Show up with a gift. Bringing …

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef

When in Australia, you must, must, must visit the Great Barrier Reef! Since I was studying abroad in Sydney, visiting the Great Barrier Reef required a three-hour flight north, but it was SO worth it. Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef was definitely the highlight of my time abroad. There were a lot of …

The Government Wants to Pay YOU to Study Abroad

A common misconception that holds people back from studying abroad is that it seems too expensive. However, this is not true! Not only does Purdue offer many scholarships, but the national government also offers many scholarship opportunities to send students abroad in order to strengthen international relationships and build a cultured citizenry. Here are some …

Traveling on a Budget

Studying abroad is a great way to see the world, but traveling on a budget can be difficult. Follow these simple steps and at the end of your program, you won’t find yourself staring at an empty bank account. Transportation: Unfortunately, transportation tends to be the most expensive part of traveling. Even in Europe where …

Short Term vs. Semester Programs… Pt. 1

I am an indecisive person. I always have been and I always will be, but sometimes it can make my life challenging. I knew I wanted to study abroad, but committing to just one program was difficult to say the least. Did I want to go for a summer or a full semester? To an …

Living in a Homestay

Accommodation styles vary depending on the study abroad experience. There are students that stay in homestays, others live in dorms at the local university, and some stay in hotels during their time abroad. During my summer study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, I lived with two roommates in a homestay. Living with a host family was …

Staying Safe Abroad

Safety is a huge concern when studying abroad. This could be your first time stepping on an international flight by yourself, or even the first time altogether, and it could be incredibly scary in and of itself. Accidents are always possible, so it is important to be alert and to be ready for different situations. …

Getting Sick Abroad

Let me begin by saying, I have the WORST immune system. Growing up I would get ear infections about every three months, until I grew out them around age 12. Unfortunately, as a kid it also wasn’t uncommon for me to catch some sort of stomach flu. It’d happen every year—sometimes twice a year—like clockwork. …

10 ways to make the most out of your study abroad experience

Stay as long as possible Going into study abroad, I was so worried that I was going to get homesick and have serious FOMO. Because of that, I chose a program that was shorter than most, but was long enough for me to get a good feel of the city. Of course once I reached …

Dating in a Foreign Country

After returning from my semester abroad, people often asked how New Zealand was different from the United States. I would tell them about the laid back atmosphere and interesting slang, but I truly believe that I learned the most about Kiwi culture by going on dates. I know, that sounds ridiculous and like I’m about …

When in: Kuala Lumpur and Melaka

There’s a wonderous feeling that you accumulate with the spontaneity of minimal planning and total wanderlust, and I’m here to tell you exactly how to plan on not planning for a weekend in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. How did I get there We (6 people) flew out of Singapore’s Changi Airport late Thursday night/Friday …

Okay so you’re living in a city now…

As Boilermakers, we don’t exactly live in a major city. Drive less than twenty miles north and you’re in a middle of a wind-farm. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s Indiana. But now you’re abroad, or about to be, living in a densely populated, bustling, beautiful city. It is exciting, and you need never be bored. …

Must Visit Locations in New Zealand

  New Zealand is a small, beautiful country located all by itself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Australia is its closest large neighbor and while the two countries are similar, New Zealand is unique with its own culture, landscapes, and people. If you do get the chance to visit New Zealand (and I …

A Language Barrier in an English-Speaking Country

A language barrier in an English-speaking country? Sounds silly, right? I thought so too, until I experienced it for myself. I had my mind made up, I was going to spend 8 weeks in Sydney, Australia on the Sydney Internship Program. After I had put down the non-refundable down payment, I started feeling a little …

Finding Cheap Transportation for Weekend Travel

One of the highlights of my study abroad experience, was traveling to different places other than my host country on the weekends or during spring break. It allowed me to get some traveling in while abroad and it was so worth it! My first time looking at flights and train ticket prices was extremely overwhelming …

Making Friends Abroad

Your plane touches down in a new country. You manage to get yourself to the new university safely and collapse onto your bed after eight plus hours of breathing the same recirculated air and trying to sleep sitting upright. You’re feeling a sense of relief because the hard part is over. Now what? The first …

What to Bring on Your Adventure

Packing for an extended trip can be a daunting task, especially when that trip is for an entire semester or year. How are you supposed to pack up your entire life into a single suitcase? That answer to that question will be slightly different for every person, but there are a few items that everyone …

How to Find an Internship on your Own During your Study Abroad

Going into studying abroad, my main goals were to fully immerse myself in a new culture, and expand my knowledge of the world. I did not end up choosing an internship study abroad program, because I wanted the focus to be more about learning instead of working. Additionally, I just assumed that I could not …

Falling in Love with Florence

“Studying abroad is an experience of a lifetime.” That is what every professor will tell you before discussing the study abroad program options for your major. Maybe they have been abroad, maybe they have not; either way, it is in fact an experience of a lifetime that I am so thankful I took advantage of. …

Adapting to a New Workplace Culture

I always knew I wanted to study abroad, even before coming to college I considered studying abroad to be a given. Although, when I specifically heard about Purdue’s Sydney Internship Program, I was enamored. I knew right away that that was the program for me. I loved the idea of Purdue finding me an internship! …

Berlin: Mixed Culture & History

Berlin, Germany is by far, is the most fascinating and unique place to study abroad. I spent a semester in Berlin in the spring and it was honestly the best few months of my life (besides how cold it was!). Berlin offers a modern and edgy city life, while also overflowing with history. I never …

Living in London

It has always been a dream of mine to live in London for a period of time so when the opportunity arose for me to study abroad spring semester of my junior year, I went for it. Studying abroad not only opens your eyes to different parts of the world but also different facets of …

Semester in Strasbourg

I had the incredible opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Strasbourg, France spring of 2017. After much preparation and help from those at the Study Abroad office as well as from my academic advisor, I felt ready and excited! I arrived at the beginning of January, with another Purdue student in the same program. …

Study Abroad Tips from Mackenzie

Spending a semester in Wellington, New Zealand is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had amazing adventures and completely fell in love with a new country. In my opinion, studying abroad is something that every college student should do at least once. With that being said, here are five tips to make the most of a study abroad experience.

MythBusters: Study Abroad Edition Pt. 1

We love to work with students who are pursuing their own studies and travels abroad, and in our first post, we address some myths about studying abroad!