Stumbling Upon Purpose
From a frigid winter wind to the blooming pink sakuras, my spring 2025 study abroad trip was nothing short of fleeting. From exploring the bustling intersections of Shibuya to the quiet tourist-free countryside of Chiba, vastly different experiences existed all within somewhat reasonable commute times. Every experience was its own narrative. It was clubbing till
Growing Into the Person I Want to Become: My Semester in Sydney
The moment it hit me that I was really living in Australia wasn’t when my plane landed or when I saw the Sydney Opera House for the first time. It was much quieter than that. I was standing alone in a grocery store after class, staring at shelves full of unfamiliar brands like Up &
G'Day From Down Under
Life has a funny way of working things out. I was planning on studying abroad in Rome, but instead, I found myself heading halfway around the world to Sydney, Australia. A surprise destination that quickly became the adventure I didn’t know I needed. As excited as I was to study abroad in a new country, I was
Home Can Be Anywhere
During my sophomore year at Chapman, I eagerly planned to study abroad with one of my close friends in the Fall of 2024. Study abroad was always part of my plan; the idea of immersing myself in another culture was incredibly exciting, especially with a friend. Over the next few months, we discussed our hopes
Finding Home Far From Home
Choosing to study abroad in Athens, Greece, was one of those choices that was exciting as well as terrifying. I remember asking myself if I would regret leaving my life behind, if I would feel alone, and if I would fit in. In the end, I can say that going overseas to study was one of
A Year of Dreams
Hi, my name is Ana Rubio, and I studied abroad in two countries in 2025. In January, I went to Firenze (Florence), Italy. Here, I got to live my dream. When I was in high school, I learned about il Duomo, the famous Catholic church painted by Renaissance painter Michelangelo. When Dr. Pacchioni, the trip
Ciao, Roma!
Rome introduced herself to me through senses first: the loud chatter of Italian, the uneven cobblestones, and the freshly brewed cafe lattes. My semester abroad at the American University of Rome allowed me to experience a part of the world I had only dreamed of. Being a first-generation Latina student, studying abroad had always seemed
Seven Things to Do in Japan, Depending on Your Mood
Throughout my study abroad experience in Japan, I learned that study abroad isn’t always the highlight reel we imagine before we leave home. Some days are filled with excitement and energy, while others are exhausting, confusing, or even a little lonely. What made my time in Japan so special was that no matter how I
Home Isn’t a Place—It’s a Feeling (and I Found It Twice)
“There are three of you in this program.” Not quite the sentence I wanted to hear after leaving behind one study abroad program and city for another. Two potential friends sounded a lot less exciting than the almost 20-person program I had just been a part of. I packed up my whole life, moved across
A Semester in the Heart of Tuscany
Studying abroad in Florence, Italy was such an amazing experience that I will never forget. Before leaving to study abroad one of the things that I was most nervous about was not knowing anybody in my program. I was lucky enough to meet so many amazing people there, and formed such a close bond with