Virginia O'Connor, Author at UCEAP News and Features

What Four Months in Paris Taught Me: Lessons in Culture, Politics, Society and Self-Discovery

by Virginia O'Connor | Aug 26, 2024 | Personal Growth, UC Berkeley

Written by Angelina Engalla (UC Berkeley), winner of The Californian Abroad Blog Contest In transit to Paris, while waiting at the check-in counter at Hong Kong International Airport, I chatted with another traveler on my flight. We covered the typical airport small...

Furthering my mother’s legacy through study abroad

by Virginia O'Connor | Aug 26, 2024 | Personal Growth, UC San Diego

Written by Ekaterina Griffin (UC San Diego), winner of The Californian Abroad Blog Contest My parents named me Katia after the little children they taught in Russia while in the Peace Corps. Their tales of the bitter Russian winters, rowdy schoolchildren, and...

Navigating Scholarships to Study Abroad: A First-Gen Student’s Roadmap

by Virginia O'Connor | Jul 15, 2024 | Europe, Funding Your Education Abroad, UC Irvine

By Qi Jun Chen (UC Irvine) Too many first-generation students put off studying abroad because they believe it’s too expensive. The good news? There are so many scholarships out there just waiting for first-gen students like us to apply. I was able to score multiple...

3-Minute Travel Guide: Queensland, Australia

by Virginia O'Connor | Jun 17, 2024 | Australia and Oceania, UC Santa Barbara

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A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving in South Korea

by Virginia O'Connor | Jun 4, 2024 | Asia, Local Living

By Jodi Felder (UC Riverside) My first week of study abroad in Korea, I was ready to turn around and board the next flight back home. I’m glad I didn’t. In this guide, I share the insights that helped me not just survive but thrive as a Black woman...