Living my Parisian dream! by Maddie Skalski

My first two weeks in Paris were so much better than expected. Not only is the city as beautiful and dreamy as you can imagine, but the small snippet I have experienced into the food, culture, and people has been great. My study abroad class is small, but this has proved to be a great advantage. We have already gotten to know each other so well and build meaningful friendships.…

Hanyang University by Grace Hendrix

Finishing my first week of classes at Hanyang University , I’ve noticed that most experiences are the same in terms of lecture design and assignments. But I think what makes this academic experience stand out from my experiences at the College of Charleston is that in classes in Seoul, I am an American student, which is one of the lesser majorities of ethnicity on this campus. In my Global Business…

Host Family by Hannah Johnson

One of my favorite aspects of my study abroad experience was living with a host family. Living with a host family not only enhanced my Spanish speaking skills, but also gave me the opportunity to see the Spanish culture in everyday, ordinary life. Furthermore, living with a host family allowed me to feel more connected to Trujillo and a part of the community. Living with a host family was also…

Introduction by Jenna Zaremsky

Hello! My name is Jenna Zaremsky, and I’m majoring in Astrophysics and Environmental Geosciences. I won’t be graduating until the spring of 2026, but I was still given the wonderful opportunity to go to South Africa through CofC for my Geosciences field experience, and I was looking forward to experiencing the sights and culture on my first international trip throughout the Spring 2023 semester! I specifically chose this country because…

Learning Everywhere/ Global Classroom by Maria Enriquez Becerra

While studying abroad I learned in a completely different way. My class was not in a usual classroom but instead, we went straight to the places that we were learning about. Due to the rich history England has with psychology, we were able to go to museums, exhibitions, and tours. This gave my classmates and me a visual of these events and an even deeper understanding of the lesson since…

People and Places! by Raven Jameson

When first coming abroad I was extremely nervous about talking to native speakers. I just didn’t want to embarrass myself and was so worried about getting made fun of. Well, when entering Trujillo that fear and nervousness went right away. The people of Trujillo are so nice and welcoming. My host family and the community truly want to see you grow and learn so much. They guide you through different…

Classes in Trujillo by Camille Burch

The classes during the Maymester were very different in comparison to normal CofC classes. On a typical day, I would wake up at around eight and hike about fifteen minutes uphill to the convent where classes were held. Extremadura, the region of Spain that Trujillo is in, is very hilly and mountainous. Because of this, most of our day-to-day walks were uphill and very steep. Once I arrived at the…

Lessons Learned – Preparing and Packing for Study Abroad by Abby Ryan

As I am preparing for my last days of class and final exams, I am also reflecting on what I have learned throughout this experience and what advice I would offer to students preparing to embark on their own study abroad programs.   When planning for study abroad, I recommend spending time researching the weather and attractions in each place you’re visiting. Knowing your destinations’ climates will help you pack more…

Living Like a Local in Lisbon by Nicholas Baker

Our accommodations for my public health study abroad program in Lisbon, Portugal, are right in the heart of the city. With every passing day abroad, my familiarity with the layout of the city and the Portuguese language has grown. I am beginning to understand the public transit systems – elaborate tram stops and metro lines make Lisbon an incredibly accessible city. With every ride on the metro, I get more…