MEET MATT

Matt, a Civil Engineering major, studied abroad in Sydney, Australia during Spring 2017.
  IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: Essential beach things like sunglasses, hats, and bathing suits. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Sunscreen. The sun is very different in Sydney, so they have a specialized sunscreen that does a lot better than ones you get here.  WHERE TO LIVE: Maroubra or Coogee. Both are close to UNSW campus. Coogee is more of a nightlife, where Maroubra is good if you’re interested in surfing. BEST PLACES TO EAT: I never had a bad experience with any local places, but I will say I did not have a good hamburger anywhere so watch out. BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: The end of the Bondi to Coogee walk in Coogee has a lot of benches in a park and it is very peaceful. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: UNSW library was pretty good. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: It’s not that foreign for Australian Pizza is interesting just because of egg on a pizza. BEST PHOTO OP: Anywhere in the blue mountains BIGGEST FAIL: Plenty of times, I took the wrong bus trying to get to class. BEST PURCHASE: Personally, I bought a surfboard so that I did not need to rent, and that forced me to go surfing more. MOST INTERESTING CLASS: MSCI0501 BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: The program does a lot of events for you to meet other people studying abroad. MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: I camped in Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains, and it was beautiful. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: They had a vivid light festival where everything around the harbor was lit up and very cool. FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Something I still say is “no worries” as a response similar to “no problem” or “forget about it.” IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… I would try to find different housing. I was in a rented home with other foreigners, but not other students so it was annoying to not have that outlet to also meet peopleRead more

MEET ERIC

Eric studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the Spring of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: Your phone and credit card! Everything else can be bought again if necessary. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Shampoo and other toiletries as they are easily bought at the local stores. WHERE TO LIVE: Definitely the on campus housing called “Campus Village”. You live with all international students inside of renovated shipping containers! BEST PLACES TO EAT: On the opposite side of the train tracks in town is a restaurant called Gordion. It’s very good in the local town. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: Attending the local soccer matches. Cheap and a great experience. BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: Not much of a personal hideout per se, but the s-huset (student house) has pool tables, ping pong, and a bar to hang out at! FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: Any building on campus or in the main library. Easily accessible with tables and space. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: Frikadeller or smørrebrød – essentially meatballs and open+faced sandwiches. BEST PHOTO OP: Nyhvan in downtown – the colorful houses on the famous canal. BIGGEST FAIL: Planning trips before I even got there. You meet plenty of new friends and should definitely go on trips with them, planning only needs to be like a week or two before a trip realistically. BEST PURCHASE: A light jacket, it never gets too cold but stays chilly outside for a while. MOST INTERESTING CLASS: GIS, Geographical Information Systems, or really just stuff like Google Maps. Was easy, interesting, and fulfilled science credit. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: The introduction week is a great experience. You meet many of your friends and visit the city for the first time together. MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: Renting cars is not expensive and is a great way to see multiple cities on the same trip. I went to Belgium and Netherlands with a car and had the time of my life. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: Christmas season is nice as well as beach season  FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: “Hygge” and all other Danish words. Learn to say them correctly and you will be the envy of your friends  IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… Again, stating that I regret planning trips before I got to campus, because I missed out on a trip to Iceland with my friendsRead more

MEET ARJUN

Arjun traveled to Cape Town, South Africa over Winter Break 2017. He worked on projects on the UIUC campus during the 2017 Fall semester, and then went to Cape Town to implement them. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK…

Extra clothes that you can afford to get dirty. If you do a lot of hands on work, then you will always have a spare set of clothes to change into. ON S ECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME Read more

MEET OLIVIA

Olivia traveled to Madrid, Spain for the Spring 2018 semester. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK…

A warm coat. Even though Spain is warmer than Illinois, it can still get pretty cold especially in January and February, and there were definitely some people that were not prepared for the weather. Also a compact bath towel and your own lock to use at hostels. It saves money because you won’t have to rent one everywhere you go. ON SECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME Read more

MEET ALEXANDER

He studied abroad at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Darmstadt, Germany and completed their International Research Experience Program. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK…

A water bottle. Europeans have this weird tendency not to drink water, so it’s hard to come by. You won’t find many drinking fountains, and you won’t be served water at restaurants. So if you want to stay hydrated, you need to take care of it yourself. (For those wondering what Europeans normally do in restaurants, the answer is either go dry or order a drink.) ON SECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME… Read more

MEET CHARLIE

Charlie studied abroad in Vienna, Austria during the Spring semester of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: 

A small fan–most Studentenwohnheime (dorms) don’t have AC. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: 

Any kitchen tools/misc. house items–the Vienna program saves all of the previous participants’ items and you get to keep the while you’re there! WHERE TO LIVE: Read more

MEET SAMANTHA…  

Samantha studied abroad in France in the ISAE Summer Space Program. IF NOTHING ELSE DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

A fan!!! A/C in France is far and few in between so having a small portable fan for the dorm room, train rides, hotels and even class made such a difference. ON SECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET LAUREN

Lauren studied abroad at UCL in London, England in the Fall of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

A portable battery. I was constantly using my phone to take photos/navigate while traveling and a portable charger saved me so many times! ON SECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET ABBY

Abby, a Civil & Environmental Engineering major, studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark at DTU, the Technical University of Denmark in the Fall of 2018. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

A good backpack/suitcase to travel with on weekends! Getting around Europe is super easy, and you are going to want to take some weekend trips, so having a good travel bag is useful. Also, clothes for all weather. It rains a lot in Copenhagen, so a rain jacket is useful. It doesn’t get quite as cold or quite as hot as Illinois, but if you travel you will still want some clothes variety. ON SECOND THOUGHT, LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET LUCAS

Lucas, a Materials Science & Engineering major, studied abroad in São Paulo, Brazil during Summer 2018. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

A good pair of shoes that you don’t mind taking off the beaten track! You never know where your trip might take you and it’s always good to be prepared to jump into any adventure. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET ANISH

Anish, an Electrical Engineering major, studied abroad in Cusco, Peru during Winter Break 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: Sunscreen. Peru is very close to the Equator, so you’ll be getting a lot more direct sun. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Bugspray, if you are staying in high-elevation cities such as Cusco (it’s at 11,000 ft!). If you go to lower cities such as Lima, however, you might need it. WHERE TO LIVE: Since I pursued a short-term study abroad in Cusco and surrounding cities, I stayed exclusively in hotels. There are plenty of Western-style hotel that won’t break the bank. BEST PLACES TO EAT: In Cuzco, any restaurant around the Plaza de Armas is almost guaranteed to be great! My professor suggested to head for any restaurants that had tourists within. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: Indulging in the local bars was a pleasure. There are a number of local drinks, such as the Pisco Sour and Chicha, which are a huge part of Peruvian culture. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: Most of our studying was while traveling, through guided tours and hiking. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: Lomo Saltado is near and dear to almost every Peruvian, and I could tell why — it’s delicious! BEST PHOTO OP: Macchu Picchu, without a doubt. BEST PURCHASE: Alpaca sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves! MOST INTERESTING CLASS: The class I went with was ANTH199 HS1 Peru Heritage & Study Tour, with Professor Silverman. The class was stimulating and it was a joy to be guided by Professor Silverman and her expertise. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: Visiting the city of Ollantaytambo was incredibile — we were surrounded by mountains with Incan ruins on almost every side. In the afternoons we could go hiking to visit them, and we even found an old Incan cave! MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: Macchu Picchu is stunning and absolutely incredible. Pictures struggle to do it justice; if anything, make sure you visit the site! IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… I would try to spend more time in Ollantaytambo. This city, though relatively small, offered so much to the adventurous tourist. You can easily go hiking multiple days, to different ruins each afternoonRead more

MEET ELIZABETH

Elizabeth, a Chemical Engineering major, studied abroad in São Paulo, Brazil during Summer 2018. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: 

A battery pack, a water bottle, a good pair of shoes, and a rain coat. These three items will get you through any adventure! (As well as your travel documents and extra cash, obviously…) ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET AVANTIKA
Avantika studied abroad in Hong Kong during the summer of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: An umbrella! It gets so wet. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Your hoodie. Trust me when I say it gets hot. WHERE TO LIVE: I think campus is a good place to live in. BEST PLACES TO EAT: I’m a vegetarian so local foods were not my thing. I mostly went to Tsim Sha Tsui / Central / Wan Chai. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: Fortune telling at local temples! BEST PERSONAL HIDE OUT: Temple street night market. Do go to ‘Manakamana Nepali Restaurant’ and sample their excellent momos! It’s addictive. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: In my room. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: Dim sums! BEST PHOTO OP: Go up Victoria peak. BIGGEST FAIL: Reached the metro station a minute after the last train for the day. BEST PUR CHASE: All my souvenirs! You can’t stop shopping in Hong Kong. MO ST INTERESTING CLASS: Astronomy. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: All of it! MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: Hiking up the dragon’s back trail. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: Hong Kong SAR Day! FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Meimei. It means sister, and that’s how I got discounts from most woman shopkeepers! IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… If I could do it again, I would go on so many more hikesRead more

MEET MATT

Matt studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the Spring semester of 2017.
  IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: Do not forget to pack an umbrella. Getting stuck without one of those is just about the worst start to a day. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: You can leave some clothes at home. Over packing clothes can be a huge burden for little reason. Doing laundry slightly more often is really not that bad. WHERE TO LIVE: I stayed in an apartment with 3 other students studying abroad from other parts of the world. It was a fantastic experience to get to know other students abroad but nothing can beat staying with a family if you are trying to immerse yourself in the culture. BEST PLACES TO EAT: Best places to eat in Denmark are all the small bakeries littering every corner, but they are all delicious somehow. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: Favorite cultural activity is going for a lovely stroll around the Nordhavnen area. The boats and colorful buildings are perfect for a sunset as well. BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: The best personal hideout area is Christiana. Everyone there is just looking to chill out. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: My favorite place to study was the library at DTU. There are always people working there. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: A must-try local dish would be Smørrebrød. It is basically just an open-face sandwich, but they come in a wide variety of flavors. BEST PHOTO OP: Best photo location is either Møns Klint (a lovely white cliff) or the harbor of Nordhavnen. BIGGEST FAIL: Biggest fail was forgetting to ask for my credit card back from a taxi driver after a night of drinking, and had to cancel the card the next day. BEST PURCHASE: Best purchase is definitely a nice rain jacket. Luckily I already had one, but in Denmark, it is an essential. MOST INTERESTING CLASS: My most interesting class was the Eco-Marathon project-based class I took. I was the only non-Danish student and we got to build an entire Eco-Car and then race it in a competition in London. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: The best part of the program would be the environment. DTU grouped all the abroad students into “buddy groups” on day one, and I spent nearly every day with someone from mine. MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: The most memorable trip was the one I took to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. Never before have I seen so many happy and helpful people. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: The best local event would have to be the first day of spring when the weather is nice. It is not technically a holiday but everyone just hangs outside without coats on and many catch colds from getting too excited and staying out too long. FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Favorite slang word is “hygge,” which is kind of a life-style more than a word. It can be used to describe anything that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, and encapsulates the joyful Danish way of life in my opinionRead more

MEET MATHEW



Mathew studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain during the Spring of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: 

A debit card or credit card that you can use internationally. Withdrawing money can be a hassle and the best way to get money is often through a credit card that doesn’t charge conversion fees or through an ATM for a (usually) 3% fee. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: American clothing/apparel. Once you leave the country, no one really cares where you’re from as much as you do. You’ll enjoy the experience a lot more if you try to integrate yourself rather than being uppity about where you’re from. WHERE TO LIVE: Barri Gòtic is a beautiful area close to a lot of clubs, touristy things and the beach. If you want a quieter place to live, I lived up in Gràcia, which is a beautiful, quieter area farther “pujant” (toward the mountains). BEST PLACES TO EAT: My favorite restaurant in Barcelona is La Pubilla in Gràcia. They have really high quality, but reasonably priced Catalan food. Bar Gato Negro is a great local bar up in Gràcia for tapas, sandwiches and cheap “jarras” (pints). El Glop is a more traditional Catalan restaurant in Gràcia as well. Down by the sea Bo de B has pretty amazing sandwiches and Gocce di Latte has really good gelato as well. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: There’s events called correfocs where they have little kids run around dressed up as devils spraying people with roman candles. There’s also the “castellers”, which are where Catalans form human towers in the middle of massive crowds. It’s really a sight to see. Both of these events and a lot of other cultural events as well are in Plaça Sant Jaume. BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: Montjuic is a more peaceful area in the city with great views since its on a mountain and on the end of the city. There’s also a cool traffic tunnel up there that was converted into a rock climbing area which you should totally check out. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: The library at the Universitat de Barcelona is beautiful and a great place to study. Cafes and public libraries around Barcelona are also pretty safe bets in general. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: If you come in the Spring, you should try to go to a calçotada, which is where Catalans eat barbecued Catalan green onions along with romesco sauce and drink wine from a porrón. If you’re not quite as lucky, you should try patatas bravas, morcilla de burgos, mató con miel, and crema catalana which are more common around. BEST PHOTO OP: Literally the entire city of Barcelona is a photo op. The most popular areas for photos are Gaudí’s buildings like Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia as well as La Platja de la Barceloneta (the beach). BIGGEST FAIL: A lot of students in our program lost their phones, wallets, keys, etc. to pick pockets. Keep your wallet in your front pocket and stay aware of your belongings, especially in touristy areas/events. BEST PURCHASE: My best purchase in Barcelona was probably a wine key. Bottles of wine are only 1 euro in Barcelona, so a corkscrew of some sort is indispensable. MOST INTERESTING CLASS: Contemporary Spanish Art was my favorite class because we got to learn a lot about the city of about the city of Barcelona and about how Spain, and Catalonia specifically, influenced art around the world. Artists like Picasso, Dalí and Joan Miró are from Catalonia and inspired international movements in art. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: Our program organized a lot of trips around Barcelona and Catalonia. My favorite of these was the trip to the Dalí Museum in Figueres. I was never a huge fan of museums but Dalí designed this museum himself so the entire museum is incredible. MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: Probably when I went to Mallorca and tried out “deep water soloing” which is rock climbing over water without ropes. I went with a friend of mine who was studying abroad in a different country, and it was terrifying, but also one of the most rewarding parts of my trip. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: Probably the Festes de Santa Eulalia where teams compete in forming human towers (castelleres). FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Vale. It means okay, got it, cool, etc. I use it a lot now even when I’m not speaking to Spaniards. IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… There’s a super long list of things to do in Barcelona. If I could do it all again, I’d probably not waste as much time laying around and explore the city moreRead more

MEET MADISON

She studied abroad during the Spring semester of 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

Pictures from home to decorate your dorm or apartment room with! ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME:

Tons of extra clothes. When you travel, a pair of tennis shoes, a few pairs of pants, and shirts will keep you covered and make the travel lighter. WHERE TO LIVE: Read more

MEET JODI

Jodi studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland during Spring semester of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: 

Medicine to last the entire trip – Its hard to find specific medicine in a different country. If you get medicine sent to you it can be held up in customs and take a long time to arrive. Good walking shoes (preferably waterproof) – It rains a lot in Dublin and you will walk most places, so comfortable shoes that won’t get soaking wet are key ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET ALEX

Alex studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland during the Spring semester of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:  A rain jacket and comfortable shoes. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME:  Winter weather clothes. WHERE TO LIVE:  Live in the dorms on campus. The school holds spots for international students, and the dorms are quite conveniently located. BEST PLACES TO EAT:  The Stag’s Head. FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY:  Listening to live music, especially traditional Irish music in local pubs. BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT:  Student Lounge in the International Building. FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY:  James Joyce Library study areas. MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH:  Fish and Chips or Fish Stew. BEST PHOTO OP:  Cliffs of Moher. BIGGEST FAIL:  Missing a train that nearly caused me to miss my flight. BEST PURCHASE:  Ski Lessons. MOST INTERESTING CLASS:  Buildings and the Environment. BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM:  The opportunity to travel to different parts of Ireland and meet the locals. MOST MEMORABLE TRIP:  Spring break trip to Budapest, VIenna, and Prague. BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY:  St. Patricks Day. FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG:  “Craic.” IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN…  Travel more on my own.Read more

MEET STEPHANIE


Stephanie studied abroad in Munich, Germany during the Summer of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK:

Passport, CASH, backpack, laptop, towels/toiletries, snacks for early mornings, swimsuit, a light jacket. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET STEPHANIE

Stephanie studied abroad in South Korea and United Kingdom during the Spring and Summer of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: 

Travel documents!! Things like your passport, hotel reservations, flight tickets, train tickets, etc. are obviously very important. I also recommend google-mapping places and saving screenshots because finding your hostel in the middle of the night by yourself with almost no navigation after a 14 hour journey can be pretty nerve-wracking (and expensive since international data rates are crazy). Trust me on this. ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Read more

MEET JOHN


John Born studied abroad in Madrid, Spain during the summer of 2017. IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: “Extra cash in the country’s currency. You don’t want to get to land in the airport and not be able to get a taxi to your new home.” ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: “You can leave at home your extra clothes. Take 7-8 days worth of clothes so you can do laundry once a week.” WHERE TO LIVE: “I lived in a homestay, but I would probably have liked an apartment/dorm more. I was definitely immersed in the language at the homestay, however, having more freedom and autonomy while abroad would be nice.” BEST PLACES TO EAT: “You have to take a trip to Granada and eat at tapas at the bars! They come free with a drink!” FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: “I usually don’t care too much for museums, but the artwork at the Prado and Reina Sofia were really amazing.” BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: “I know, I know, I’m super American. They have Starbucks in Madrid and it was the one place I could escape to that felt like home.” FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: “Studying at Starbucks was also the best set-up for me.” MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: “Tinto de verano is perhaps the best drink ever. Why they don’t have Tinto or even lemon Fanta in the United States is beyond me.” BEST PHOTO OP: “Take pictures at the Alhambra in Granada!” BIGGEST FAIL: “My biggest fail was was getting sunburned at the beach.” BEST PURCHASE: “I bought some coca-cola when I felt homesick and that made me feel better.” MOST INTERESTING CLASS: “The Spanish culture class was the best class at Comillas. Being able to learn about Madrilean and Spanish culture while living where all of it takes place is amazing.” BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: “The best part of the Comillas program was being able to speak Spanish with natural speakers without them automatically switching to English.” MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: “My favorite trip was going to Granada with one of my best friends from high school.” BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: “The best event was Madrid Pride. It was the center of Spanish LGBT culture and happened to be a fun festival!” FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: “!Que guay! (it means “cool!”)” IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… “ I would stay in an apartment and read up on what to do in Spain before departure more.&rdquoRead more