Growing up in Eugene, I’ve always loved weekend trips to the Oregon Coast. While I have a penchant for searching for shells, wave jumping, or having an ice cream on the dock, I have found that hiking along the coastline brings me a distinct sense of calm and intrigue. Perhaps I feel called to those places for the impressive landscapes, the striking beauty of the verdant spruces perched on cliffsides that meet soft sand, and the deep Pacific blue. Maybe it's the gentle breeze whipping at my hair, the smell of salt, or the butterflies floating from flower to flower around me.

Hello again! I have officially been in Barcelona for over a month now, and my experience here has been amazing. I came into this experience with minimal expectations and an open mind, and I think that has allowed me to appreciate everything I've gotten to experience so far.

It didn’t really feel real, leaving Mexico—it finally hit me when I stood in the George Bush International Airport customs line in Houston, and I realized that I could actually understand what everyone was saying around me (“I don’t feel dumb anymore!” I said to my grandma), and that I realized I wasn’t going to be back for a while.

Currently, I am solo traveling in Ireland, and I have not had to integrate back into the United States, but it has been difficult leaving my peers behind. Studying abroad was an amazing experience, and to leave Wales with the knowledge of not being able to have the same experience again was devastating. Going from spending every minute with classmates and teachers to solo-traveling was a hard adjustment.

Hello! I’m back in the U.S. and missing my home in Mexico. It was hard to say goodbye to my friends and family in Queretaro because I don’t yet have a plan for when I will return, but I know that I will, and soon. I suddenly have a lot of free time now because the program actually ended up having a lot more homework than I planned for. Three classes don’t sound like a lot on campus during the year, but during the summer, while I was spending so much time exploring the city, meeting people, and hanging out with my family, the course load was a bit heavier than expected.

💼 Explore the world of Business with Lili'u, a motivated intern gaining hands-on experience at Bridgeman Images in London! 🇬🇧

📈 👉 In this inspiring testimonial, Lili'u shares their journey navigating the business world while immersing themselves in London’s dynamic professional environment through The Intern Group and GlobalWorks.

Milan is the design capital of the world, and as product design students of UO, we went on an incredible journey. From visiting historical landmarks, speaking to keynote designers, and taking a look into international schools, we were able to soak in what Italy had to offer. The museums that we went to were specific to the history of Italian design and culture, and we were able to set foot into the studios of famous designers and converse with high-profile designers over dinner.

I couldn’t have asked for a better study abroad experience! Siena is quaint, safe, and amazingly rich in history and culture. Studying wine, marketing, and sustainability here has been incredible, but the hands-on experiences outside the classroom are what make it unforgettable. From immersing ourselves in local ways of life to learning about the deep passion behind the Palio horse race, a tradition going strong for over 700 years, every day brings something very new! One of my favorite parts so far has been the cooking class we took as a program.

My trip to Milan was amazing; we learned so much about Italian design and the beautiful arts and culture that make it so special. These photos and videos are highlights of the trip, from what we learned and unforgettable experiences with my classmates! Being abroad is an educational experience in itself, but the professors went above and beyond to integrate Italian design education into our everyday lives on this trip! This is an experience I’ll carry with me into my education and how I design!

Studying abroad in Amsterdam was a fantastic experience. I had the opportunity to explore an incredible city on my own, with new friends, with local Amsterdammers, and with incredible academic guides. The content of this course engages important and pressing questions about what it means to be queer in the world today. Amsterdam is the perfect landscape through which to explore these profound questions about resilience, oppression, global queer culture, community, belonging, archives and history, and queer global travel.