Tag: Butler University

Getting Lost, Sippin Sangria, and Studying Abroad in Alcalá de Henares with Lexa & Caroline

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Lexa & Caroline Study Abroad

“One week, being in another country, you’re going to forget about what everyone else is doing in the U.S., and you’re going to be having so many of your own adventures that you’re not going to be homesick at all.” — Lexa & Caroline (@sippin_sangria)

This interview couldn’t have come at a better ⏰.

Why?

Because I just wrote a post about making lifelong friends abroad and Lexa Muehlbauer and Caroline ZuHone have done exactly that.

It’s really a great story, too:

They were at the same school and didn’t know each other; they went abroad, and then they did. A website ensued, and the rest is history.

If you’re looking to learn Spanish, get lost, make friends, or start a travel blog you should listen to what these two have to say. We also get into what you should do after you graduate.

I’m so glad I was able to get them on the show.

“I’m not lost, I’m just exploring”

SHOW NOTES

  • Meeting in a small town outside of Madrid 👭 [1:55]Butler Blue
  • Deciding to study abroad with a faculty-led program in Spain 📓 [2:56]
  • Cultural learning with Spanish host families and TV 📺 [5:41]
  • Spanish-speaking program geared towards English-speaking students 💬 [7:47]
  • Making friends at pubs for international students 🍻 [9:22]
  • European travels every three-day weekend 🚠 [10:48]
  • Bonding through mountain misadventures in Barcelona 🗻 [11:52]
  • Amazing host mom chefs providing a fresh Mediterranean diet 🍳 [13:54]
  • Post-travel studies and career-paths 💵 [15:16]
  • Butler University’s small-campus vibe and other pros 🏡 [17:28]
  • Media recommendations 👩‍💻 [18:58]

Fall Into The Gap (Year) [Infographic]

*So given the niche of my podcast I’d like to preface this infographic with my two cents:

There are dozens of blog posts similar to the infographic below and I think it’s absolute b.s. to not take into account that you’re probably in debt at this point in your life, and ‘traipsing around Europe’ is probably the last thing on your mind. It makes sense to take a gap year if you do it tactfully.

Head on over to Sippin Sangria to see how Lexa & Caroline did it.

Lexa & Carline Adventures

Mediterranean Diet Video 

Going With A Friend and Location Selection With Nick Trifelos

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Nick Trefelos Butler University

“No matter where people come from, they always have bad experiences that have taught them important life skills, and you can always learn from people by gathering and asking them what their experiences have been and what they learned from them.” —Nick Trifelos 

Nick Trifelos

  1. Nick (@nick.triff) understood his international internship better than anyone I’ve interviewed to date, bar none.
  2. He went against the grain and traveled to Europe with a friend. (Why not, right?!)
  3. Him and his accomplice strategically selected their study abroad location as if they were setting out to conquer Europe. Really analytical stuff, but check out maps. Trieste is smack dab in the middle of it all.

Mic drop 🎤

“If I were to solve a problem, I would spend 99% of my time identifying the problem, and 1% solving it.” – Albert Einstein

SHOW NOTES

  • Choosing to study with a friend in Trieste, a Northern Italian town with easy access to transportation around Europe 👫Refugee Bears Trieste, Italy

    [1:55]

  • Using ISEP to study abroad via a direct exchange 💱[6:59]
  • School life and interning as an English teacher at the American Italian Association 👨‍🏫 [9:39]
  • 10 countries, 35 cities in close to 90 days of studying abroad 🇪🇺 [16:40]
  • Hectic transportation to hike in Zagreb, Croatia 🚘 [18:51]
  • Learning from other people’s experiences and journeys in a foreign country 🧐 [21:19]
  • Aperol spritz – the drink of Trieste 🍹 [23:13]
  • The high rate of studying abroad and other great assets of Butler University 🏫 [26:11]
  • Recommendations and final quotes 🙌 [27:45]

4 Ways To Travel Europe Infographic [Infographic]

 

 

 

Erica Biagini and I Stumble On To a Great Strategy For Selecting a Study Abroad City During Her Interview About Bilbao, Spain

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Erica Biagini Bilbao, Spain

“I’m not going to say that every single day was easy during my time abroad . . . but looking back, the fact that I was able to persevere through those times is priceless to me.” — Erica Biagini

I’ve interviewed many a student who studied abroad in Spain, but none that lived in Bilbao; a city with a population of 345,000 that’s nestled in the north of the water surrounded country.

“Cozy up with a good book” is how I’d describe Erica’s interview. Only in this case, the book is Biagini it’s your ears instead of your eyes. She does a great job of telling multiple stories inside her story and we had a lot of fun recording it. 

My favorite part was her unsuccessful attempt to have a traditional Thanksgiving in Spain.  🦃 not so much, so she had to settle for 🐓.

I’m excited about the PDF 📝 that goes along with this interview, too because:

A) I don’t normally link to PDFs or lists

and

B) it’s great insight

I’ve been weaving this theme into the interviews and articles and it deals with picking a place to study abroad.

Thank you to Erica for shedding the light on this important decision process.

“Everything that you need is already within you.” (“Todo lo que necesitas, ya esta dentro”)

 

SHOW NOTES

  • Choosing to study on scholarship in Bilbao – an underrated gem of Spain 💎 [1:58]
  • Struggling socially in a single-person dorm room, searching for apartments in a second language 🤦‍♀️ [7:51]
  • Exploring the scenic beauty of Spain, France, and Scotland 🏞 [9:28]
  • The stress of being stranded while traveling due to missed busses and Airbnb 🚍[12:00]
  • Better burgers and pizza in Spain and the ubiquity of Sangria 🍔🍕🍷 [16:48]
  • Chicken for Thanksgiving (but Erica gets an A for effort) 🍗 [20:25]
  • Learning to connect with people and commit to plans after studying abroad 🙋‍♂️[23:35]
  • Enjoying the “Community of Care” at Butler University 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 [25:38]
  • Recommendations and final quotes 🙌 [28:48]
    • Skyscanner 🛫
    • Hopper (I haven’t used this personally, but was impressed with the interface of the site and have since downloaded the app) 💺
    • El Corte Inglés (Spain’s Target) 🍌👕

What It Was Like To Take A Ferry to Class With Lindsay Vallance

Posted on by Chris Carlton

Lindsay Vallance in Thailand

“It’s not going to be that perfectly posed picture that you see on Instagram . . . it’s going to be like those candid pictures that are full of memories and learning experiences and full of adventure.” – Lindsay Vallance

Lindsay is the first student on The Study Abroadcast who studied abroad in Bangkok, hell…she is our first student who studied abroad in Thailand. As you guys know I love welcoming firsts and Lindsay fits the bill here.

Her interview checks off all the boxes of what makes a great show. She’s got great stories, vivid memories of the food, and does a great job of painting a picture of life in Bangkok 🎨. Its winter right now, and talking to her was an escape into the gorgeous scenery of Thailand (see rolling hills link below).

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh

Butler UniversitySHOW NOTES

  • Returning to Thailand as an adult to study abroad 🇹🇭 [1:24]
  • Plopped in Thammasat via ICEP and finding roommates on Facebook 🙏🤦‍♀️ [3:00]
  • Taking a three-cent ferry to get to class ⛴ [4:53]
  • Five different meanings of Ka and other feats of learning Thai language 👩‍💻[7:06]
  • Exploring the rolling hills of Pai and other small towns and beaches in Thailand 🏝 [8:48]
  • Escaping a moving taxi on the way to the hostel 🚕 [11:35]
  • Eating egg rolls twice a day and missing khao soy curry 🥖 [14:40]
  • Learning patience and kindness of the Thai locals 😇 [16:39]
  • Experiential learning and a beautiful campus at Butler University 👨‍🏫 [18:21]
  • Recommendations and final quotes 🙌 [19:57] 

5 Things You Might Not Know About Bangkok [Infographic]