Posts from the ‘Study Abroad News from ISA’ Category

Apr 21

Stellar Storytellers: Apply to be an Official ISA Blogger this Summer

ISA is looking for stellar storytellers to blog about their time abroad with ISA this summer! If sharing your study abroad experience through blog posts, photos and other media while receiving professional training and feedback from the ISA Communications team appeals to you, consider applying to be an ISA Featured Blogger!

Photo by Spring 2013 Featured Blogger Kylene Herr, currently abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We’re particularly interested in hearing from students that currently blog or are interested in building their writing portfolios prior to graduation. Stories from Featured Summer Bloggers will be published on the ISA Study Abroad Student Blog and through other social media channels throughout the summer.

Read the details below and then fill out the online application to apply. If you have any questions, please contact the ISA Communications team at blog@studiesabroad.com

What are the minimum requirements?

Be accepted to an ISA Summer program
Minimum 2.75 GPA
All majors encouraged to apply

What is expected of an ISA Featured Blogger?

Respond to writing prompts from ISA during the summer
Write at least 2 blog posts during the program
Submit posts through the ISA Student Blog platform

What are the benefits of the program?

Expand your writing portfolio
Gain writing experience and exposure
Build your resume

When are applications due?

Application deadline for the summer program is Friday, May 10th

Disclaimer

Not all applicants will be selected to contribute to the ISA Student Blog. Participation in the ISA Student blog is voluntary and no monetary compensation will be provided for participants. ISA reserves the right to edit any/all submissions to the ISA Student Blog, including text, images, video, and any/all types of media and to use any/all submissions on its websites, social media and promotional materials.

Mar 14

The Limits of Preparing to Study Abroad for a semester in Chile!

Molly Sorensen is a student at The College of New Jersey and an ISA Featured Blogger. Molly is currently studying abroad with ISA in Valparaiso, Chile.

If you are reading this for departure/arrival advice, you’ve come to the wrong place! I’m still here in small town Lawrenceville, New Jersey, but I do think I have something valuable to offer. Right now i’m in a position that I think most go through before studying abroad or even making the final decision. For the past couple of weeks, I have been stuck in a strange limbo before my adventure to Valparaiso, Chile.

Jan 5

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In Spain Do As The Spaniards Do: A Comparison of Cultures

Adrienne Prillaman is a student at University of North Texas and an an ISA Classmates Connecting Cultures blogger corresponding with a high school student leadership class in Keller, Texas. Adrienne is studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain on an ISA Fall 4 program.

One of the main concerns people have when studying abroad is experiencing culture shock. It’s inevitable – every culture has differences. However, it’s important to not look these differences as hindrances, but as a way to broaden your cultural horizon. It’s about learning to appreciate and tolerate another way of life, even if you disagree with it. That being said, here are the 10 biggest cultural differences I have encountered while living in Spain – some of them are a little strange, and some are things I prefer over my own culture!

Read more

Dec 19

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Experience of a Lifetime: Zip-lining in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Brandi Gallaher is a student at Oklahoma State University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Brandi is currently studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica on an ISA Fall 4 program.

Upon coming to Costa Rica, I knew the one thing I had to do here was go zip-lining. Costa Rica is famous for zip-lining through its gorgeous rainforests, and I knew there was no better place in the world to go than here in Costa Rica. One of the best zip-lining places here is in a place called Monteverde, which is in the heart of the cloud rainforest in the province of Puntarenas. Most of my other weekends here have been filled with visits to the different beaches here, so I was ready for a good change of pace, since Monteverde is a more mountainous region and the climate is much cooler than the beach regions. So, on Friday after classes, three of my girlfriends and I caught a bus from San Jose to Monteverde.

Ziplining in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Dec 14

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A Year Abroad in Valencia

Rachel Wadsworth is a student at the College of Charleston and an ISA Featured Blogger. Rachel is currently studying abroad in Valencia, Spain on an ISA Year 1 program.

So, this is it…well, for most of us. The semester is winding down, final exams are upon us, and everyone is packing up to head back to the states. I, however, have a whole semester left here in Valencia. When I left Newark Airport on September 7th, I had a moment of panic–I must be crazy, I thought. Eight months in a foreign country? Well, I still have the occasional have-you-lost-your-mind moment, but Valencia is home now. I chose the academic year program so that I could (mostly) complete my Spanish major, improve my language skills, and have an authentic Spanish experience. But in just three and a half months I have gotten so much more than that.

my lovely neighbors at our family Thanksgiving dinner

Dec 13

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The Alhambra: The Best of Spain at My Fingertips

Mary Diduch is a student at Lawrence University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Mary is currently studying abroad in Granada, Spain, on an ISA Fall 2A program.

The Alhambra at night

I didn’t just visit the Alhambra once…nor twice. I visited the Alhambra 3 times, and each time continued to be breathtaking. The first time I went was September 25 when ISA provided a tour for us. Sunny, clear blue sky — it was the perfect day. The second and third times were the week of November 19. My mom and sister visited me for a week, and I knew they couldn’t miss this fantastic place. I made the mistake of not buying the correct tickets the first time with my family. They excluded the Nasrid Palaces, so the second time I made sure we bought the tickets where we could see every part of the complex. I am going to take you on a tour of my favorite places of the Alhambra. Each day was different and unique in its own way, so I’ll go day by day. And I really hope someday you are able to visit this monument. It is something you will never forget.

Nov 19

La plaza de la Virgen in Valencia, Spain

Making History in Valencia

Rachel Wadsworth is a student at the College of Charleston and an ISA Featured Blogger. Rachel is currently studying abroad in Valencia, Spain on an ISA Year 1 program.

Today marks exactly two months that I have been living in Valencia. I’ve traversed the city on foot and on valenbisi, by metro and by bus, and have explored many of the 4,000 streets of this beautiful city. I’ve been to all of the touristy spots and many local favorites, too. I could go on for days about how beautiful this place is! El Centro has the most beautiful medieval architecture and narrow winding streets; the City of Arts and Sciences is modern and gorgeous (especially at night from its lounge/discoteca L’umbracle); the beach sands stretch from gorgeous restaurants and hotels to the incredible Mediterranean Sea.

La plaza de la Virgen in Valencia, Spain

Jul 26

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Fall Students: Apply to Be an ISA Featured Blogger!

ISA is looking for stellar storytellers to blog about their time abroad with ISA this fall. If sharing your study abroad experience through blog posts, photos and other media while receiving professional training and feedback appeals to you, consider applying to be an ISA Featured Blogger!

We’re particularly interested in hearing from students that currently blog or are interested in building their writing portfolios prior to graduation. Stories from Featured Bloggers will be published on the ISA Study Abroad Student Blog and through other social media channels throughout the fall.

Classmates Connecting Cultures

Classmates Connecting Cultures (CCC) is an extracurricular program established to cultivate international awareness and communication by connecting ISA participants with U.S. organizations. CCC participants correspond with a U.S. organization of their choosing through bi-monthly structured blog posts. Past partner organizations have included: university Spanish classes, non-profit organizations, study abroad offices, elementary school students and more. If interested in CCC, be sure to select ‘Yes’ in the appropriate section of the Featured Blogger application and/or contact CCC Program Coordinator Elena Sprick at ccc@studiesabroad.com

Read the details below and then fill out the online application to apply to be a Featured Blogger or Classmates Connecting Cultures blogger.