February 2012
1 post
The Chance for Your Very Own Olympic Gold
For those of you who have been interested in studying abroad in London, when is a better time to go than now? The Olympic games are being hosted in this magical city and you can acquire your own taste of the action. Who knew that London could become even more historical than it already is?
I took the picture above when I was in London last Spring. Notice how it says “only” 483 days,...
October 2011
2 posts
rhymeswitheight asked: hello! I stumbled across your blog and am thinking of applying to study abroad in Florence through SAI. The study abroad adviser at my college said they've had some negative feedback about "student support" from the SAI program but she didn't have any specifics. Could you tell me your thoughts/experiences on this?
September 2011
1 post
Norway: Culture Shock is Real.
As I’ve already mentioned in a previous post, I traveled to Oslo, Norway during my time abroad, and it was a complete accident. As embarrassing as it is, my friend and I saw an extremely inexpensive ticket on Ryanair to a city called Oslo and bought it instantly. Instead of researching the city before clicking “Submit,” we had committed ourselves to a long...
August 2011
2 posts
"All You Need is Love"
I’m guessing you’ve heard that quote before. I’m also guessing that you’re guessing why I guessed that. Did I guess right? Ahem…well, regardless of the obvious innuendo I could be making in relation to studying abroad, it is a more literal correlation this time. I am, in fact, talking about the Beatles, which I’m sure you’re very aware of. Now, why am...
...Do as the Romans Do.
Being the art history fanatic that I am (I speak the truth), Italy was at the top of my list of places to visit. While Florence was the city I wished to explore the most because of my background in Italian Renaissance art (most everything I learned in an entire semester is located in the Uffizi Gallery), I made a huge discovery while in Rome. After visiting certain museums that required one to...
July 2011
2 posts
My Recommended Guidebook:
Megabus
Offers very cheap bus rides all across the UK. From London, take a £9 trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. Although it will last nine hours, make it an overnight bus ride, and you will wake up to the sound of bagpipes :)
Or, simply take an inexpensive day trip to Oxford or Cambridge to explore the historic universities. Thinking of going...
Two Names You Will Want to Remember...
Ryanair and Easyjet: Your two new best friends.
Because I had never been out of the country before studying with SAI, I wanted to take complete advantage of the traveling opportunity at hand. However, I did not have a money tree growing in my backyard. Although I did not make it to every city I had hoped to visit, money was not an issue, thanks to two websites. This is where your two new friends...
June 2011
7 posts
Verona, Italy: The Real Romeo and Juliet
Get lost in the Shakespearean tragic love story by visiting Juliet’s Balcony in Verona, Italy. Only a train ride away from all SAI locations in Italy, Verona is a fairy-tale-like city filled with narrow cobbled roads and unique sights for all. Made famous by the movie, Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried, the hidden balcony is a magical sight, visible only after walking through a...
When in Rome...Visit the Santa Maria degli Angeli
While it is not one of the most famous or spoken about Churches located in the ancient city of Rome, it is definitely one not to be missed. While exploring Rome, my friend and I were walking down the street and suddenly stopped at the same moment. We were distracted by the odd doors of this huge Church that appeared to be forming from a large rock-like structure.
The doors had partial figures...
London: A Sunday Night at the Old Queen's Head
Looking for a relaxing spot on a Sunday night filled with live bands and a fun atmosphere? Make sure to stop at the Old Queen’s Head in London, only a short walk from the Angel tube stop. As you enter, you will see an abundance of plates serving a Sunday Roast as well as board games unfolded atop of all the tables. The establishment is filled with comfortable chairs and couches as well as...
London: Waterloo at Night
There is no place in London as beautiful at night as Waterloo, in my opinion at least. From the distance, the London Eye is an astonishing view and one of the key landmarks of this amazing city. My tip of the day is to visit the area right before sunset.
^^No editing was done to this picture folks: 100% London^^
If you arrive a bit early, perhaps have a relaxing dinner overlooking...
SAI in a Nutshell
Hey everyone! My name is Melissa and I’m the new Campus Ambassador at the University of Alabama for Study Abroad Italy (SAI). I recently studied with the program in London this past Spring and it has single-handedly been the best experience of my life thus far.
I am a rising Senior majoring in Telecommunications and Film with a focus on Media Production and minoring...
