Staying in the Moment

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy the comforts of home and familiarity. Before studying abroad, I had never been out of the country. For most people, their first time out of the country would not be for five straight months and 4,000 miles away. However, I had always dreamt about traveling the world since I was little.

I studied Sociology in Brighton, England for the entire spring semester. In preparation to leave for my study abroad experience, I had rose colored glasses of what my time would be like overseas. The initial culture shock was almost too much for me to bear when I first stepped onto English soil. No one had warned me of the small but very important differences in cultures before my experience abroad. Between the differences in food, everyday interactions, and classes I was completely overwhelmed in my first few weeks. At one point in time we all get a feeling of homesickness being away from what is familiar, whether it just be missing home cooked meals or friends. Eventually, I learned to adapt to my new surroundings and ultimately grew to love where I was at. The accessibility of facetime and texting eased all my feelings of homesickness. Even though I finally felt excited and comfortable where I was, homesickness comes in waves. No one discusses the highs and lows that come with studying abroad. For me, the lows were extremely low due to an increasing desire to be home and surrounded by familiar things. However, the highs were amazing and in those moments I never wanted to come home.

Every trip I went on, distracted me from thinking of home and brought me out of my comfort zone. In total I got to travel to France, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Greece, and Ireland.

Studying abroad challenged me to learn more about myself in so many different ways. I have learned to be more independent while also enjoying spending time by myself. After the homesickness started to subside, I realized the importance of staying in the moment and to take as many pictures as I can! Throughout my study abroad experience I got to take a trip to Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece! If I had let the feelings of homesickness take over me, I would not have been able to enjoy my experience to the fullest extent. Remember that homesickness comes in waves for many people, to live in the moment, and take every opportunity at your fingertips.

Travel Tuesday #HogsAbroad in England

Hi! My name is Caroline Johnson. I’m in the Fulbright Honors College double majoring in Criminology and Sociology. This spring, I got the incredible opportunity to do an internship abroad in London! I worked for Breaking Barriers; an amazing non-profit that helps refugees resettle in the United Kingdom.

I lived in student housing in the Whitechapel/Shoreditch area, which is a super cool part of East London. I have never lived in a city before, but I found that I loved living in such a busy area. There was always something to do every single night, and the public transportation made it so easy to get there. I went to trivia nights, speakeasys, plays, markets, ping pong tournaments, escape rooms, and a ton of other cool places. I’m also a big foodie, so I loved trying out all the new restaurants and cuisines!

While I really loved living in London, the best part of the entire study abroad experience was the travel. Every weekend, I flew out to a different city thanks to the very cheap Ryanair airline (£17 roundtrip to Germany!). I went to:

Barcelona, Spain

Paris, France

Brighton, UK

Cork & Kinsale, Ireland

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Heidelberg, Germany

Bath, UK

Salzburg & Vienna, Austria

Looking back, I am so glad I decided to study abroad. I had the time of my life running around Europe while also having an incredible internship doing real, important work. If you are considering doing a program like this, I would 100% encourage you to do it. I’m already planning a trip to go back!

The Do's and Don'ts of Packing for a Study Abroad Trip #HogsAbroad in Florence

Hey! My name is Katie Fowler. I am a Walton College Honors Student who is studying Marketing. I participated in the AIFS StudyAbroad Program in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2022 semester.

The anticipation leading up to a study abroad program is almost unbearable. One of the things I did to pass the time was creating an extensive packing list. I wanted to be prepared for whatever weather or event I may face during my program. In the weeks leading up to my departure I researched the average weather in Italy so I could accurately pack the clothing that I would need. I also took that time to expand my wardrobe so that I could better “fit in” with the fashion trends in Florence and not immediately be pegged as a tourist. Over the weeks I slowly took inventory of the items I wanted to bring with me. I tried to keep my packing list as minimal as possible so I would have extra space in my bags for souvenirs. Now that I am back home after the most incredible three months of my life, I can definitively say what was helpful and what was hurtful while packing.

My first piece of advice is to keep things simple. I was only brought one checked bag, one carry on, and one personal item with me to Italy. I wanted to make things easier on myself because I knew I would have to carry all my luggage up four flights of stairs. It was also helpful only having a small amount of luggage while getting around the airport. My main goal was bringing the things I needed while still being self-sufficient.

The key to packing is making your clothes as small as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to roll your clothes. You can find many tutorials online on how to do this, but simply it is slightly folding your clothes and then rolling them up as tight as you can. Then you can place all these items in your suitcase, and it takes up much less space than by folding your clothes. I was able to fit almost all my clothes in one half of my checked bag by using this packing method. In the other half of my checked bag, I put a few pairs of jeans, my shoes, toiletries, and miscellaneous items. I even had room to spare in my bag after I finished packing, and this was without the expandable portion in use.

Another thing I did to cut down on how much I packed was only bringing clothes I knew I would wear. I didn’t want to take up valuable space in my bags on clothing I would never wear. I also only brought four pairs of shoes with me to Italy. I packed two pairs of sandals for warmer climates, one pair of sneakers, and one pair of boots. Shoes take up the most space in your bag, so try to consolidate them and bring only what you need. The shoes I brought were versatile and comfortable, so I was able to wear them with many different outfits and circumstances. It’s also no surprise that you are going to want to purchase clothes while abroad. Take this into consideration when you are packing. Leave plenty of space if you know you are going to want to expand your wardrobe. Another piece of advice is to pack staple items that you can layer and re-wear to form different outfits. One item of clothing can become so many different outfits which saves space when packing. Something to keep in mind when packing is that many things will not need to be packed for your return trip. For instance, I used up the majority of my toiletries while I was abroad. I had a large box of menstrual products and a large box of face masks that I used which gave me more space to pack souvenirs.

By far the best decision I could have made was bringing a backpack. Both my carry on and my personal items were backpacks of different sizes. I was able to use my personal item as my school backpack while in Italy and my carry on was beneficial for travelling. Many airlines in Europe, such as Ryan Air, only allow you to bring one personal item on the plane. If you would like to bring a carry on you have to purchase it for an extra cost. For travelers wanting to save money its best to stick with the personal item. I was able to use my carry-on backpack as a personal item on every flight I went on. I used the rolling packing method to fit everything I would need for the trip in my bag and was able to shove my bag under my seat. This was incredibly helpful because not only did I save money, but it was so much easier getting around the places I was travelling with only a backpack. Walking is the main form of transportation in Europe, at least it was for me. It would have been miserable lugging a suitcase around on the bumpy cobblestone streets. With a backpack you have your hands free and can walk with little hassle.

Lastly, I just want to mention a few things I packed that came in handy on more than one occasion. The most important thing was a first aid kit. I bought a premade kit from Welly right before I left the states. It included bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, cortisone cream, and hand sanitizer. This was so useful for blisters, cuts, scrapes, and minor injuries for myself and many of my classmates while I was abroad. I also packed plenty of ibuprofen and allergy medicine which proved to be helpful. Another thing I would advise bringing is a rain jacket and an umbrella. You obviously don’t want to be caught out in the rain and get soaked in the process. Finally, my favorites items I brought were my cameras. I brought three different types just so I could get a variety of photos while I was abroad. Make sure you are capturing so much of your experience. This way you can look back and remember the exact moments, friends, meals, trips, and fun that you had. The easiest way to capture this is with your phone. I have so many photos and videos from my time abroad that I will cherish forever. I also took more professional type photos with my DSLR camera. I mainly used this when I was travelling or visiting a place for the first time. I just wanted to make sure I had good quality photos I could share and look at for years to come. The other cameras I brought were more for my own enjoyment. The first was a Fujifilm instant camera. These are fun because you’re able to have the photos immediately. The second was a disposable camera. The fun thing about these is that you have no idea what the photos are going to look like until you get them developed. I have yet to get mine back, so the anticipation is still killing me. My point is that you want to capture as much as you can of your time during your study abroad program. Don’t be ashamed to lug around three different types of cameras (plus your phone). I can assure you; you won’t be the only one. Plus, this is not only fun for you, but for the friends you will make along the way.

I hope these tips have helped and I encourage everyone to study abroad. It will truly be the best time of your life!

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Marketing major Katie Fowler spent the Spring 2022 term in Florence with AIFS with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and Walton College.

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Snapshots from Sevilla #HogsAbroad in Spain

Hello! My name is Reagan White and I'm currently a student at the University of Arkansas studying supply chain management and international economics with a Spanish minor! While I'm originally from Fayetteville, AR and have been a Razorback for all of my life, I will be living and taking classes in Sevilla, Spain during Spring 2022.

Ever since my freshman year, I have been interested in studying abroad, because of my interest in international business, passion for learning new languages, and love for experiencing other cultures. I'm beyond excited and grateful that my dream is becoming a reality this spring semester. My Spanish minor and desire to experience Europe made choosing a country quite easy, since my main reason for studying abroad was to immerse myself within the Spanish language and culture. However, selecting a host city proved to be quite difficult, since Spain is full of beautiful towns, each with their own distinct characteristics and cultures. During my research process, I considered Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Granada, Salamanca, and of course, the charming Sevilla.

While I plan on visiting several of the other cities mentioned above, once I learned about Sevilla, I immediately knew it was the city for me. Geographically located within the Andalucía region in southern Spain, the city boasts numerous historical landmarks, museums, the world's largest Gothic cathedral, the Real Alcázar, the Plaza de España, the origin of flamenco, and countless other hidden treasures. During my time in Sevilla, I will be completing the ISA International Studies, Business & Spanish Language Veritas Program. My courses will include the Veritas International Missions/Service-Learning Practicum, International Finance, International Trade in the Global Economy, and Spanish Culture and Civilization.

I'm excited to share my journey with you all through this blog as I have always loved writing. It is my sincere hope that my shared experiences inspire you to travel and seek new experiences that may be outside of your comfort zone. My next post will be coming from Sevilla, Spain, but until then, ¡Chao y espero que tengas una buena semana!

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International Economics and Supply Chain Management major Reagan white spent the Spring 2022 term in Sevilla, Spain with ISA with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and Walton College. Read more from Reagan here. 

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Teaching in Limerick: Take the Ride! #HogsAbroad in Ireland

Hi! My name is Francesca Eller and I am currently in the Education and Health Professions Program earning a bachelor's degree in Special Education. 

This past month I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Limerick, Ireland doing a one-month student teaching internship. Through the internship I was given the opportunity to see how other countries operate their education system while getting exposed to different cultures and building relationships with people from different walks of life! I learned so much while on the trip and got to experience so many parts of Europe as I traveled all around Ireland, and even went to Amsterdam, Netherlands! Bonus points for cheap airfare when traveling out of the US! 

I have always been told that one of the biggest regrets post-graduate students have been not taking the chance to study abroad during their time in undergrad, and I am so glad that I listened, and decided to apply, and make it happen! The memories, and experiences I shared with other students in my program, are some of the priceless moments that I know I'll share about my college experience for years to come! 

My biggest advice that I have for someone who is planning to study abroad is to travel as much as you can, and to plan moments ahead of time before you leave! Life moves quickly when you are abroad, and it makes your travel so much easier when you already have plans in place. Also, write a journal while you are gone and take notes of everything you see! This will be a great gift to bring back with you, so you never forget the big, and small moments that brought you joy! Buy the ticket, take the ride!

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Special Education major Francesca Eller completed a student teaching placement in Limerick, Ireland in Spring 2022 with support from the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

You can start planning your adventure abroad today! Dive in to our Explore page at https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php, and start your program search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Gilman Scholarship Applications Open for January, Spring, Summer, Fall & Year 2022 Programs!

Applications are OPEN for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program!

The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions. The program also encourages students to study languages, especially critical need languages (those deemed important to national security). Veterans of military service are encouraged to apply, and preference is given to veterans when other factors are equivalent. By supporting undergraduate students who have high financial need, the program has been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including but not limited to first-generation college students, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students attending HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) or other minority-serving institutions, students attending community colleges, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements

Students applying for any academic term (Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, or January/May/August Intersessions) must be:

• a United States citizen
• enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at a two or four-year U.S. Institution
• receive a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of study or internship abroad program
• in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study or internship abroad program, or a virtual international program. Virtual programs and internships will be eligible until Summer 2022.
• Applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or area with an overall Travel Advisor Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System

Gilman Application Deadline: October 5th @ 11:59pm PT, for programs that start between December 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022. This includes Study Abroad program terms: January Intersession 2022, Spring 2022, May Intersession 2022, Summer 2022, August Intersession 2022, Fall 2022, and Academic Year 2022-2023.

With the October 5th deadline a little over 3 weeks away, now is the perfect time to start a Gilman or Gilman-McCain application for a January or Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall or Year 2022 program, and the Office of Study Abroad is here to help!

How to continue to receive study abroad & scholarship support before the application deadline:

• Attend a Gilman Application Workshop Presentation, Mondays @ 3:30-5 & Thursdays @ 10:30-12 on Zoom. Drop in for more information and extra pointers on how to write your Gilman application essays! Join us on Zoom:
• Monday 9/13, Monday 9/20, Monday 9/27, Monday 10/4 @ 3:30-5pm. Register for a Monday session: https://uark.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwuce2sqj0iHNfjmrLnGoea1YBBNDCLQsij
• Thursday 9/16, Thursday 9/23, Thursday 9/30 @ 10:30am-12pm. Register for a Thursday session: https://uark.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvd-qhqD0oGNeYuyeRkTaUcwtnCKNyrQea
• Schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with your Study Abroad Advisor: https://uark.sharepoint.com/teams/StudyAbroad/SitePages/Choose%20your%20college.aspx
• Virtual Office Hours for 1-on-1 advising, Wednesdays from 1-4:30pm. Drop-in if you need additional help selecting a study abroad program or want an advisor to review your Gilman application essays. Use this Blackboard link to join: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/b534467826c94a54b96d2c1aab11f122

Don’t forget to poke around the Study Abroad website! The Explore page is particularly helpful, there is a search feature, and more scholarship opportunities!

We look forward to helping you go abroad!