GEO Blog

GEO Blog

Want to experience the world through the eyes of our students? Dive into the GEO blog and discover captivating tales of adventure, culture, and academic growth. Share your study abroad journey with us by sharing your own blog post!

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A Scandinavian Start

Student smiling in front colorful buildings in Stortorget, Sweden
Hello! I am Ava, a third-year environmental science major interning abroad in Stockholm, Sweden, a program I had not heard UO many students talk about during my application process. I hope to spread the word and help more students understand Stockholm, and come here as well! I chose Stockholm…

Bonjour, Paris

Giana smiling by the Eiffel Tower under a partly cloudy sky.
Hello, Giana Eddy here! I am a Diverse Duck for the Spring term of 2026, as I am studying abroad in Paris, France. Today is March 30th. I arrived in Paris on March 27th. Upon my arrival, I picked up my checked luggage at Charles de Gaulle Airport and took a taxi to my apartment. Today is actually…

Reflecting on My Time in Melbourne

Calvin surfing with friends on Philip Island
What a whirlwind the past eight weeks have been! As I wrap up my time here, I’m looking back on a journey that evolved much faster than I ever anticipated. My internship just finished on a high note: I completed the major projects my boss and I laid out at the start, and I’m still processing this,…

A New Year in Asia

a group of people sit around a large circle table, many dressed in red; they are all smiling and celebrating Chinese New Year
Hello again! I’m now officially a little over halfway through my internship in Hong Kong. The last few weeks have been Chinese New Year, so there have been some amazing celebrations going on with festivals, fireworks, and lots of food. Myself and the other interns here decided to celebrate by…

The Halfway Mark

Group of about 10 students stand with a Costa Rica flag
My time in Costa Rica has been great! Costa Rica is full of culture, beauty, and delicious food. I have had the opportunity to explore several of the providences of Costa Rica and visited some volcanoes, too. I have included a picture of Volcan Poas and Volcan Arenal. One thing that has been…

Finding Myself in Melbourne

Calvin taking a selfie in sunny Melbourne with skyscrapers in the background.
My name is Calvin, and I have now been in Melbourne, Australia, for almost two months! It has flown by, packed with adventures, new faces, and more self-reflection than I expected. Last weekend I spent time on the Gold Coast surfing and hiking with friends I've made here. The landscape is…

My First Week in Hong Kong

Group of students sitting at a dinner table
Hello! I'm Kyler (he/they) and I am currently participating in the GlobalWorks Internship program in Hong Kong doing software consulting! I am a first generation sophomore at UO majoring in data science. I'm also a Pell Grant recipient. Because of my requirement of financial aid to help me through…

My Arrival to Costa Rica

various colorful fruits at the Heredia Mercado
Hello! My name is Valeria Manzano Ballesteros, and I am a first gen Latina/Hispanic student at the University of Oregon. This is my last year at UO, and I am ready and excited to see what the future holds for me! I'm looking forward to highlighting my experience abroad through my identities as a…

Landing in Melbourne

Calvin, in running clothes, a hat, and sunglasses, takes a selfie, with a trail of runners behind him
When most people think of computer science majors, they picture us hunched over laptops in dimly lit rooms, but here I am in sunny Melbourne, Australia! My name is Calvin, and I chose to do an internship through the GEO GlobalWorks program for several reasons. One being my mom, who worked in…

Returning from Kansai

picture taken outside at nighttime; a gate above the sidewalk is illuminated by small lights, people are walking under the gate
Hello blog!  Where do I begin! I believe my last post was a bit fire and brimstone, because I was not really feeling great here on my internship experience, honestly. There were many expected challenges interning abroad alone, such as cultural and language barriers, but it was…