Unforgettable Lessons from 5 Questions Asked in 5 Cities Abroad
<p>What happens when a Type-A planner loses her wallet in Berlin? When is a €15 burger worth it? Through five European cities and five crucial questions, Alyson Lee (UC Berkeley) discovers that the best study abroad lessons come from embracing the unexpected. From Paris's Instagram expectations to Madrid's humble revelations, these are the moments that transform tourist experiences into life-changing wisdom.</p>
The First 24 Hours: Two Stories of What Can Go Wrong Abroad
<p>When two UC students, Justine Pendergraft (UC Los Angeles) and Maria Newman (UC Berkeley) arrived for their study abroad programs—one in Berlin, one in Paris—they faced every traveler's worst nightmares within their first 24 hours. These are the unexpected and valuable lessons study abroad teaches you. They each discovered that those dreaded "what if" scenarios from predeparture orientation aren't just warnings—they were opportunities to prove just how resourceful you can be.</p>
The American Student Who Wasn’t: Creating the French Version of Me
<p>When California native, Micah-Rose Hoffman, arrived in in Bordeaux for study abroad, she made a surprising discovery: what should have felt foreign instead felt like coming home. Through language learning, cultural immersion, and daily life in France, this student from UC Los Angeles created a second identity for herself—proving that cultural belonging isn't just inherited, it can be built from scratch. Her story reveals how study abroad can help us find versions of ourselves we never knew existed.</p>
Dear Lily: A Love Letter to My Montreal Dream
<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>
5 Steps to Break the Comfort Zone Trap and Adopt a Study Abroad Mindset
<p>Before studying abroad in Rome, Monique Evdokiou (UC Berkeley) felt fully prepared, but quickly found herself stuck in a limiting routine. By resetting her expectations, exploring on her own, and embracing curiosity, she broke out of my comfort zone and immersed in the culture. The mindset shift made her semester unforgettable, teaching her resilience, independence, and the joy of living intentionally.</p>