I feel so lucky that my exchange university has such a robust orientation and welcome program. So far, the greatest friends I have made have been local students who work in the study abroad office and also went abroad for a semester or two. They have been able to share their own experiences, advice, and suggestions for being abroad, as well as about this new country.
The best part about the study abroad office here is the activities and trips that they organize throughout the first week and then during the semester for all of the exchange students. They took us to the most famous locations like the Burj Khalifa, the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and more. It was so nice to have opportunities to explore my host country built into my exchange program, and a great way to get to know the staff and other exchange students better. My favorite trip so far was our trip to Abu Dhabi, partially because it was the day before my birthday, and all the other students celebrated with me, making it easier to be far away from home.
I'm really grateful that I chose my study abroad institution because of the effort that they take to integrate the exchange students and improve their experience. I'm really excited for the rest of the semester and the next trips and activities that the office has planned for us!
Allie Jacobs
Fall 2025
GW Exchange - American University of Sharjah
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs & History Double Major