Vienna now holds some of my favorite memories. Like a lot of other people, I was unsure at first if I wanted to go abroad for a summer. There were 2 main reasons. The first was that I was unsure if I wanted to spend the entire summer away from my family and friends. The second was whether the summer term was the right choice for me, did I want to have classes over the summer or would I rather do an entire fall or spring semester abroad? Now that I have completed the program I come back to these memories.

I am a first-generation college student.  I have known since I was in high school that I wanted to study abroad before I graduated; however, I wasn’t sure how I was going to afford it since it can be very expensive with tuition, flight costs, and room/board. 

After spending lots of time online and talking with my school’s financial aid department, here are some tips to apply for scholarships and budget while still enjoying your time abroad!

When you think about Germany, the first thing that comes to mind might be sausage. This makes sense. In the U.S. there’s plenty of meat consumed that is originally from Germany. Like Bratwurst. When I decided to study abroad in Germany, I was a bit worried about this. I’m vegetarian. Would I not be able to try traditional German food? Would I not be able to go out to eat? But when I got here, my questions were quickly answered: There’s vegetarian food EVERYWHERE! 

If you told me that I would be crying on my third day in Australia because I realized there wasn't a Chick-fil-A, I'd tell you you're crazy.

Yet, here I was, crying in the middle of the mall at a restaurant with my friend and new roommate, over some noodles that were too bland for my liking. 

Day three.

Paris is an incredible city and is full of everything you can possibly imagine! As a student abroad, sometimes it felt like there was too much to do. I know, how could it be possible??? But it was. Paris is a mix of many different cultures and in every arrondissement you’ll find hidden treasures. It’s simply impossible to explore it all! So, now that I’m home- I’ve put together a guide for the Top 10 things you absolutely MUST do in Paris!