Meet our Spring 2020 study abroad correspondents

A 2018 study showed that in a moment when public distrust and concern about fake news abounds, museums remain one of the few institutions that we overwhelmingly trust.

The Fulbright Lunch & Learn Spring Seminar Series continues with "A Medievalist in Iceland: Or, Why Fulbrights Are Good for Faculty in All Fields," featuring speaker Karen Wachsmuth, University of Iowa Fulbright Program advisor and scholar liaison. This event will take place Thursday, February 27, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in 1117 University Capitol Centre.

The Fulbright Lunch & Learn Spring Seminar Series kicks off with "​​​​​​​Taiwan: A Beautiful Island for a Flourishing Fulbright Program," featuring speaker Karen Wachsmuth, University of Iowa Fulbright Program advisor and scholar liaison. This event will take place Wednesday, February 12, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in 1117 University Capitol Centre.

For many international students on campus, the concept of caucusing as part of an election process is new. To help UI international students and scholars understand the Iowa caucus, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) hosted an event called Iowa Caucus on January 24. The event featured visiting professor David Redlawsk, political psychologist, and author of the book Why Iowa?: How Caucuses and Sequential Elections Improve the Presidential Nominating Process.

Following the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, China, the UI is tracking health officials’ recommendations for maintaining safety.

University of Iowa paleoanthropologist Russell Ciochon worked with an international team of researchers to date the last known settlement of Homo erectus, on the Indonesian island of Java, called Ngandong.

I had the opportunity to take some incredible classes including windsurfing in the Mediterranean, Spanish cuisine and cooking, and Spanish dance. These classes were in addition to my Spanish language and chemistry courses and were by far the most fun.

The benefits of my experience abroad are immeasurable and irreplaceable. I learned so much about Spain, Spanish, travel, myself, being open-minded, standing up for myself, my thoughts and beliefs, my habits and culture, food likes (and dislikes), who I surround myself with, how I travel, who I travel well with (and don’t), how I dress, speak, communicate and treat people, and more.

An important decision to make before studying abroad is whether to live with other students in an apartment or with a host family.

In my semester abroad I tried many new foods. I found some of my absolute favorites while also keeping a healthy distance from others (like the raw cow tongue in the market). There is no shortage of fascinating dishes to try in Europe.

The Irish Writing Program is a rigorous creative writing study abroad program requiring talent, commitment, and discipline. Its goal is to help aspiring writers become better at their craft. The program offers six semester hours of credit and has two components: writing workshops and an interdisciplinary Irish literature and culture course.