UC Santa Barbara Archives - UCEAP News and Features

My Moka and Me: How Italian Coffee Culture Transformed My Year Abroad

by Jennifer Monroe | Jun 1, 2026 | Europe, Home Feature, Local Living, UC Santa Barbara

By Casey Lopez (UC Santa Barbara), studied abroad in Padua, Italy The first time I used my 10 euro Moka pot, one of Italy’s simplest and most iconic coffee makers, I was sure it was broken. Impatient and jetlagged, I stood at the communal kitchen stove, hoping no one...

Re-imagining My Self Image in Scotland

by Jennifer Monroe | Apr 20, 2026 | Europe, UC Santa Barbara

by Sadie Bijlsma (UC Santa Barbara) studied abroad in Edinburgh The Promise of Eternal Beauty On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, there is a river that is rumored to have been enchanted by fairies. According to Scottish folklore, if you dip your face into the waters...

How To Talk With Your Family About Study Abroad

by Virginia O'Connor | Apr 20, 2026 | UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz

Contributors: Anai Ramos (UC Berkeley), Danella (Dani) Escalante-Regalado (UC Berkeley), and Emma Baltadano-Bañales (UC Santa Cruz), 2024 blog writing contestants You know your friends and family care about you, and their concerns come from a place of love and...

How I Turned My Study Abroad Experience into a Foodie Adventure

by Jennifer Monroe | Mar 31, 2026 | Europe, Local Living, UC Santa Barbara

By Jacob Dicker (UC Santa Barbara), studied abroad in the Netherlands Upon receiving my official acceptance into a study abroad program, the very first thing I did wasn’t researching what my new home would look like, or figuring out travel plans, or making sure...

Beyond the Semester: Why a Year Abroad Changes Everything

by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 30, 2026 | Australia and Oceania, Choosing a Program, UC Merced, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UCLA

Contributors: Aliyah Flamson Rubalcava (UC Santa Cruz), Elias Veran (UC Santa Barbara), Sarah Schecter (UC Los Angeles), Shaun Colegado (UC Merced), and Sophia Chang (UC San Diego), 2024 blog writing contestants UCEAP alums agree that when it comes to studying...

From Strangers to Family: Building Your Community Abroad

by Virginia O'Connor | Mar 10, 2025 | Europe, Local Living, Personal Growth, UC Santa Barbara

By Irish Vaughan (UC Santa Barbara) studied abroad in Edinburgh On study abroad, you quickly learn that you will find your people and build a community abroad In late November 2023, a makeshift dinner table constructed from desks, couches, and swivel chairs hosted...

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Study Abroad Program: Lund University, Sweden
Program Location: Lund, Sweden
Other Countries Visited: Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria,
Hungary, and Norway
Home University: UC Berkeley
Major: Bioengineering
Year: Junior (Graduating Spring 2017)

Alison Long is a rising senior studying tissue engineering and drug delivery at UC Berkeley. She loves spending time outdoors, hiking, biking and playing soccer. As a nature enthusiast, her travels involved exploring national parks and canvassing tulip festivals around Europe. In her free time, Alison enjoys painting and watching cooking competitions on the Food Network.

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