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About Virginia O'Connor

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So far Virginia O'Connor has created 130 blog entries.

Re-imagining My Self Image in Scotland

2026-01-22T08:32:17-08:00

UC Santa Barbara student Sadie Bijlsma arrived in Glasgow carrying more than just luggage—she brought limiting beliefs about who she was and what she was capable of. By treating her semester abroad as "life on Creative Mode," she systematically challenged the negative stories she'd told herself, discovering that many of her perceived limitations were simply untested assumptions. Her journey proves that study abroad can transform not just how you see the world, but how you see yourself.

Re-imagining My Self Image in Scotland2026-01-22T08:32:17-08:00

How I Visited 7 Countries on a College Budget

2026-01-05T12:50:45-08:00

As an out-of-state college student financing her own travel, Ava Williams (UC Irvine) managed to visit 7 countries on a college budget. After learning every trick, tip and hack, she shares this: budget travel isn't about sacrifice. Instead, it's about strategy. See the six tips that made her dream of traveling while studying abroad on a college budget possible, so you can too!

How I Visited 7 Countries on a College Budget2026-01-05T12:50:45-08:00

How I Turned My Study Abroad Experience into a Foodie Adventure

2025-11-21T11:51:53-08:00

Planning to study abroad? UC Santa Barbara student Jacob Dicker turned his European adventure into a food lover's quest, discovering everything from affordable Michelin-starred brunches to hidden food halls. Here's his insider's guide to eating well on a student budget, including the three best apps for finding amazing food abroad and why Copenhagen might just beat Paris as Europe's top foodie destination.

How I Turned My Study Abroad Experience into a Foodie Adventure2025-11-21T11:51:53-08:00

Make It Last: 5 Creative Ways Students Documented Their Time Abroad

2025-11-20T15:33:04-08:00

Your study abroad experience will fly by in a blur of new cities, late-night conversations, and unforgettable moments. But how do you hold onto those memories beyond a camera roll full of photos? Five UC students share the creative ways they documented their time abroad.

Make It Last: 5 Creative Ways Students Documented Their Time Abroad2025-11-20T15:33:04-08:00

How to Grow Confidence Abroad: Lessons from My Barcelona Garden

2025-11-20T15:20:05-08:00

Brooke McKenna Taylor (UC Santa Cruz) shares how she cultivated confidence during her semester in Barcelona—one pepper seed, one Spanish conversation, and one mint plant at a time. Through the metaphor of tending plants, she explores the patience required for language learning, cultural adaptation, and personal growth abroad. Her honest reflection reminds us that transformation doesn't happen overnight—it grows from the roots up.

How to Grow Confidence Abroad: Lessons from My Barcelona Garden2025-11-20T15:20:05-08:00

Why We Went: Seven Different Reasons to Study Abroad

2025-09-21T05:18:59-07:00

UC students choose to study abroad for many reasons. From building a Mexican identity in México to finding unexpected joy in Ireland's quiet moments, five UC students share how study abroad transformed their lives in surprising ways. Their stories challenge common assumptions about the "right way" to study abroad or even attend college.

Why We Went: Seven Different Reasons to Study Abroad2025-09-21T05:18:59-07:00

Inside Sweden’s Student Culture: Traditions That Unite Two Historic Universities

2025-09-17T13:08:59-07:00

Step into Sweden's vibrant university culture, where centuries-old traditions shape daily student life in unexpected ways. From racing tandem bikes across the country to joining medieval student nations, UC Berkeley students Max Morena and Stella Keval discovered that studying abroad in Sweden means becoming part of a legacy where formal dinners include napkin-tossing rituals, stress relief comes in the form of collective 10 PM screams, and coffee breaks are elevated to an art form. They reveal how these distinctive traditions transform international students into cultural insiders at Uppsala and Lund Universities.

Inside Sweden’s Student Culture: Traditions That Unite Two Historic Universities2025-09-17T13:08:59-07:00

All the Ways Study Abroad Tests and Strengthens Your Identity

2025-09-15T09:41:32-07:00

Three UC students discover how study abroad transforms identity in unexpected ways. Their stories reveal that studying abroad doesn't require choosing between who you are and who you might become—instead, it creates space for both authentic identity and personal growth.

All the Ways Study Abroad Tests and Strengthens Your Identity2025-09-15T09:41:32-07:00

Unforgettable Lessons from 5 Questions Asked in 5 Cities Abroad

2025-08-26T07:44:56-07:00

What happens when a Type-A planner loses her wallet in Berlin? When is a €15 burger worth it? Through five European cities and five crucial questions, Alyson Lee (UC Berkeley) discovers that the best study abroad lessons come from embracing the unexpected. From Paris's Instagram expectations to Madrid's humble revelations, these are the moments that transform tourist experiences into life-changing wisdom.

Unforgettable Lessons from 5 Questions Asked in 5 Cities Abroad2025-08-26T07:44:56-07:00
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