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<p>From stolen phones in Madrid to sleepless nights in Florence, three UC students reveal that studying abroad isn't always picture-perfect—and that's exactly what makes it transformative. Through honest stories of culture shock, small victories, and unexpected friendships, they share how the challenging moments become the ones that matter most. Whether you're dreaming about study abroad or already navigating life in a new country, discover why the messy, beautiful reality of studying abroad is more valuable than any carefully curated social media feed.</p>

<p>Lily Frohlich (University of California, Santa Cruz) never imagined that her childhood dream of living in Canada would begin with crushing loneliness in the midst of Montreal's brutal winter. Through pushing past her comfort zone and learning to initiate friendships, she transforms isolated days into warm gatherings, discovering that the path to belonging in a new country requires both vulnerability and courage.</p>

<p>Travel the landscapes of Scotland through Trieu Nguyen's (UC Santa Barbara) photo album and see the experiences you can have when you study abroad with UCEAP.</p>

<p>Wondering how to get a career abroad after graduation? Sierra Alef-Defoe has some useful advice for you and it starts with study abroad. Through fellowships, working summers, and graduate work abroad (saving loads of money), she has spent years of her career abroad and has never looked back.</p>

<p>Global health has never been more important. Become a stand-out in your health career preparations as you check off educational requirements at international locations. Develop perspectives you wouldn’t get at home when you work with healthcare teams, environmental researchers, or rural health clinics. Make an impact on the well-being of the world with study abroad. [...]</p>

<p>If you're wondering why you would leave behind the life you worked so hard for back home, Elena Mateus (UC Berkeley) has some advice to offer. Study abroad won't always be easy and it won't always look like the perfect Instagram posts, but it will be worth it and just might be the best decision in your life.</p>

<p>Traveling abroad for the first time is both exciting and a little scary. You can’t know or plan for everything before studying abroad, but you can make your starting point easier. Take a look at these top UCEAP study abroad programs recommended for first-time travelers.</p>

<p>Anna Lai (UC Los Angeles and UC Irvine) traveled through Beijing, Nanjing, and Peking and shares her photo album and see the experiences you can have when you study abroad with UCEAP.</p>

<p>Completing a college internship abroad is a great way to kickstart a future career before graduation. Here are just a few internships you can apply for on study abroad, as recommended by recent UCEAP returnees.</p>

<p>As an undergrad, Sierra Alef-Defoe (UC Berkeley) spent three semesters and two summers away from California. She hopes her story encourages you to study abroad not just once, but many times.</p>