By: Grace Carballo ‘17

I would just like to take the time to thank all the great inventors and big dreamers out there who made the world what it is today. Without you folks, I would have no choice but to continuously be at a loss for words with my host family’s hairless cats as my only companions.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

A few days ago at the Instituto Internacional in Madrid, I went to an intercambio/language exchange and I feel pretty good about it because now tengo una cita (I have a date/meeting) with an older man named Ignacio!

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

This summer I am studying in the beautiful city of Madrid. This is my first time traveling without my family and my first time outside of North America so everything is new to me and so far has not been the smoothest of adjustments. I may not be the most fluent of speakers or the most apt of travelers, but I sure do have a gift for finding myself in interesting situations. While these incidents may not be funny to me for a few more years, I trust they will be entertaining for third party viewers and offer a good insight into the summer study abroad experience.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

As I sit amongst my possessions in the beautifully chaotic metamorphosis from unpacking to repacking, I feel mildly overwhelmed by just how much I still have to do before I leave for Madrid on Saturday. I take comfort, however, in knowing that I have already survived finals so I’m probably immune to stress at this point and that I have compiled a very thorough To Do list with the help of those who studied abroad before me and the Internet community as a whole.

By: Lauren Brose ‘15

Last year was the first spring break I spent as the typical college sorority girl.I’d done it all— I spent 5 days in Cabo, developed a substantially complicated relationship with tequila, and came home with cornrows and a henna tattoo of a flying cat. Never having visited Mexico prior to Cabo spring break, I had a list of concerns that potentially kept me from crossing international borders.I heard that Mexico is a highly dangerous place to visit—especially as a female. I was in no position to get abducted by members of the drug cartel only to have my body parts sold on the black market. I knew that was the exact thing my parents were thinking when I told them I was going to Mexico with 15 of my girlfriends. For a solid five minutes, their faces were priceless—and then my dad started telling me of the time he and his buddy drove to Mexico when they were 18 in the early 80s and everything was cool again. Still, I wouldn’t have touched Mexico with a 10-foot pole had their been notable social and political issues occurring south of the border. Luckily for us, paradise is uninterrupted down at the southern peak of Baja California.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

A recap of the Study Abroad fair: I’m genuinely sorry you missed it; I had an awesome time. As did my dear friend, Kathleen, despite her rather indifferent expression (pictured above).

By: Linda Chow ‘15

Traveling and teaching in the slums of India is definitely a memorable way to spend your winter break. The Alternative Winter Break India program enables students to travel to a foreign country and volunteer, while immersing themselves in an unfamiliar culture. When people think of India, the first things that come to mind are probably Bollywood movies and dancing, saris, Indian food, and elephants. However, if there is anything I learned from my experience abroad, there is so much more to India than meets the eye.

By: David Mandell ’15

Traveling to Thailand over winter break with a group of USC students is definitely unique winter break experience. Alternative Winter Break Thailand offers the opportunity for a small group to travel to a foreign country and teach English to children.

By: Vanessa Wilkins ‘15

This past semester I studied abroad in London, England through a journalism program with the USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism! It was an experience of a lifetime, and I would strongly recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to take advantage of it! I’ve been asked many times what my favorite part of studying abroad was, but there are way too many to pick just one!

By: Isabella Sayyah ‘16

My 18-day trip to Israel has just ended, and I’m back at home. As happy as I am to see my family and have the comforts of home again (yay reliably hot showers!), I’m also thinking about the family I’ve left behind in Israel.