Culture Shock - CIS Abroad

CIS Abroad Response to COVID-19. Updates here.

What does it mean to “Look American” abroad?

Studying abroad was my first time leaving the United States on my own. When I arrived in China, I effortlessly blended in with the majority culture because I shared the same race and similar features. I had never experienced that before. It was liberating. It was also frustrating. Read on for my story about being told that I didn’t […]

5 Virtual Internship Success Tips from Winnie the Pooh

My name’s Liam, and I’ve spent the last couple months working remotely as an intern for the New Zealand-based non-profit Skylight Trust. I learned so much about how to work remotely across cultures the past few months and I wanted to share with you all my 5 virtual internship success tips! Did I mention that […]

Growing Through Reverse Culture Shock | Student Blog from Aix-En-Provence

There’s no doubt that studying abroad is life-changing. By moving to a foreign country for a few months, I gained a new perspective not only on the world but also on my home country. I saw in-depth details of life in Europe and grew to love them dearly. The food, the people, and even the […]

6 Questions That Answered Themselves | Student Blog from Hawai’i

As my semester in Hawai’i comes close to its end, I have a lot of experiences to reflect on. Coming into study away, I was nervous—more than I should have been. Even on my plane ride to the tropical islands, the worst-case scenarios were running through my head: What if I get lost? What if […]

The Real Italian Food | Intern blog from Florence

I have been in Florence, Italy for a couple of weeks now, and my experience has definitely been a rollercoaster. Before arriving in Florence, I was expecting a series of tremendous highs and did not even think there was a possibility for some lows. Florence is amazing. I could go on and on about all […]

Being a Non-Traditionally Aged Student Abroad | Student Blog from Cusco, Peru

Andrea is studying abroad in Cusco, Peru at 27. Read about how her experience in Peru was better than she'd ever imagined.

Being a First-Gen Black Student in Spain | Student Blog from Barcelona

The Parent Pitch When presenting to my parents the idea of doing a semester abroad in Barcelona, I only expected the worst. Their instant approval shocked me. My parents were excited I was able to have this opportunity that they never had and never would have. They work long, painstaking hours to make sure that […]

"Did you make that up just now?" | Language Misunderstandings in Australia

I knew that leaving the US and traveling to Sydney, Australia would introduce me to some new words. But what I didn’t realize was truly how different the everyday language can get, even though everyone is still technically speaking English. Here’s a round-up of some of the funniest language misunderstandings in Australia that my friends and […]