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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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…

Before You Board...Download These First

Phone booth in London with Big Ben in the background
When I went to London to study politics, the most common piece of advice I heard about my phone was to keep it away or close at all times so it wouldn’t get stolen. However, nobody mentioned how it is also one of your most powerful tools–even before you arrive in your host country. Google Maps…

The Unexpected Benefits of Studying Abroad

2024 summer in Berlin with the CHC collage.
Seeing the bigger picture. For each person, this could mean something different. Whether it be experiencing a different culture or becoming aware of new opportunities, studying abroad opens your eyes.  For me, it meant discovering I want to live internationally. Prior to my time…

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…

Wrapping Up My First Semester in Svalbard

Maddy and 5 friends stand together in the snow with the northern lights tinting the sky with a green hue
The first semester of my year in Svalbard has finished, and I simply cannot believe how fast it has gone by. It feels like I blinked and suddenly the sun set and polar night started, the sky lighting up with the moon and northern lights rather than the sun. But time truly doesn't go by any faster…

Finding Home in More Than One Place

Ava stands on a balcony, with city buildings in the background
Image Hi everyone! This is Ava, updating you with my final blog post. Coming back to the US has been a mix of excitement and heaviness. I was so ready to see my family and friends again, but it honestly hurt to leave behind the people who became…

Experiencing Work Culture in Kansai

Elizabeth at a cafe and a collage of various, brightly-colored food
So, frankly, my perspective has changed quite a bit since my last blog post. My time in Japan previously both traveling and as a student did not prepare me for the Japanese workplace in the way I thought it would. This was to be expected, but here I am. There's been a lot of challenges for me in…