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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Going Abroad: Finding My Future

A person with braided hair and glasses is seen upside-down, with a serene waterway and classic Venetian architecture in the background.
Image When I decided to go abroad, I had been studying and was fairly set on anthropology for my future. I knew I would be an archaeologist -- that was that. What I didn’t realize then, however, was that I had no idea what the scope of “…

A Day at the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy

Three people sitting on a cobblestone street at night, smiling and posing for a photo.
Image Last summer, I studied abroad in Siena, Italy for a month. At first, I wanted to be everywhere else. I stayed in Florence hostels and spent weekends by the sea. Time passed. I realized I wanted to make Siena — this medieval city in orange…

Experiencing Japan as an Exchange Student

A group of people participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a tatami-matted room.
Image In fall 2022, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan, which was one of my biggest life goals. This adventure was my first time traveling alone outside of the United States, which was a little daunting but also exciting. After living…

Overcoming the Language Barrier in Italy

Skyline of Siena, Italy
Image My two months abroad have been some of the best months of my life. While there are definitely some hectic moments, there’s been a lot of calm and peaceful ones as well. Cooking dinner with my roommates is always the highlight of any day…

Navigating Accessibility in Medieval Italy

Wil Tayco with the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Image My name’s Wil (they/he) and I’m a disabled Queer student at the University of Oregon. I’m originally from Utah and decided to move to Oregon because I loved the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I’m a second year majoring in medieval…

A Jet-Lagged Guide to Norwich

View of a pebble beach with a few individuals in the distance, facing traditional seafront buildings under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
My name is Ashley Fale-Olsen and I identify as a gay woman. I have grown up around Portland and have now lived in Eugene for two years. Both growing up, and being on a liberal heavy college campus, being gay is typically accepted, but with some of the political climate in the United States…