By: Grace Carballo ‘17

I would just like to take the time to thank all the great inventors and big dreamers out there who made the world what it is today. Without you folks, I would have no choice but to continuously be at a loss for words with my host family’s hairless cats as my only companions.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

A few days ago at the Instituto Internacional in Madrid, I went to an intercambio/language exchange and I feel pretty good about it because now tengo una cita (I have a date/meeting) with an older man named Ignacio!

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

This summer I am studying in the beautiful city of Madrid. This is my first time traveling without my family and my first time outside of North America so everything is new to me and so far has not been the smoothest of adjustments. I may not be the most fluent of speakers or the most apt of travelers, but I sure do have a gift for finding myself in interesting situations. While these incidents may not be funny to me for a few more years, I trust they will be entertaining for third party viewers and offer a good insight into the summer study abroad experience.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

As I sit amongst my possessions in the beautifully chaotic metamorphosis from unpacking to repacking, I feel mildly overwhelmed by just how much I still have to do before I leave for Madrid on Saturday. I take comfort, however, in knowing that I have already survived finals so I’m probably immune to stress at this point and that I have compiled a very thorough To Do list with the help of those who studied abroad before me and the Internet community as a whole.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Probably the most valuable lesson I’ve learned in college is that there is a whole lot in this big, beautiful world of ours that I know very little about. I won’t ever know everything, but I plan on learning more and more, even after graduating from USC in May 2017, which is approaching way too quickly. To facilitate this, I’ve started checking out my options because honestly the dream is to continue going to school as long as possible.

By: Mark Love ‘16

With Spring Break behind us, we only have five weeks left until this school year comes to a close. For seniors, their times of juvenile hijinks and inconsequential party behaviors will cease – unless they’re attending graduate school – as they delve into the real world. Freshmen and sophomores can steer clear of any stress since these teenyboppers have over a year left to attempt to figure out their lives. And then there’s the juniors, like myself, who are lingering at the crossroads. We can choose to engorge ourselves with alcohol and chill out as summer approaches, but deep down, we know that walk across the graduation stage is right around the corner. It can be a confusing time for us soon-to-be seniors, so I have some advice for those who are at the same stage in their lives as me.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

With consistently ideal weather and plenty of events and adventures available every single day, it is easy to forget the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with higher education. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, with the unlimited swipes meal plan freshman year, life was basically an all-inclusive resort. Until of course, midterms roll around and reality rears its ugly head.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

A recap of the Study Abroad fair: I’m genuinely sorry you missed it; I had an awesome time. As did my dear friend, Kathleen, despite her rather indifferent expression (pictured above).

By: Linda Chow ‘15

Traveling and teaching in the slums of India is definitely a memorable way to spend your winter break. The Alternative Winter Break India program enables students to travel to a foreign country and volunteer, while immersing themselves in an unfamiliar culture. When people think of India, the first things that come to mind are probably Bollywood movies and dancing, saris, Indian food, and elephants. However, if there is anything I learned from my experience abroad, there is so much more to India than meets the eye.

By: David Mandell ’15

Traveling to Thailand over winter break with a group of USC students is definitely unique winter break experience. Alternative Winter Break Thailand offers the opportunity for a small group to travel to a foreign country and teach English to children.

By: Vanessa Wilkins ‘15

This past semester I studied abroad in London, England through a journalism program with the USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism! It was an experience of a lifetime, and I would strongly recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to take advantage of it! I’ve been asked many times what my favorite part of studying abroad was, but there are way too many to pick just one!