5 Things I Wish I Knew Going into Arcadia Orientation In Sydney, Australia

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 EDT

You’ve just touched down at the Sydney Airport after a grueling flight of stiff legs and a sore back. The time has finally come for the best semester of your life. But first things first; you have to go through Arcadia orientation. Here are 5 things that I wish I knew going into orientation:

WhatsApp is your best friend
Prior to your arrival in Australia, the primary means of communication is through WhatsApp. Sure, your Arcadia points of contact preach exactly that, but let me tell you as a student who has gone through it that I 100% agree. Through WhatsApp, Arcadia team members will give you information about where to meet at the airport, and it will continue to serve as everyone’s way of communication throughout orientation.
Orientation is straight from the airport
There is no break from landing to orientation. Essentially, you wait in the airport meeting location until everyone arrives, so be prepared to wait for several hours, depending on when your flight arrives. Once everyone…

Adjusting and Making the Most of Your Time Abroad

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 EDT

I knew when I started college that studying abroad was something I wanted to take advantage of. When it came time to plan and prepare, I found myself more nervous than excited.

I knew that exploring another country for the first time was more important than how scared I was to leave my friends and family for so long, so I followed through with my application and finally made it to Edinburgh!

The first 72 hours were rough. After a full 24 hours of travel, I spent the next 14 hours awake and making my way through Arcadia's orientation. I was nervous, tired, and struggling to keep up as I made my way to different buildings and navigated the city. I missed home much sooner than I anticipated.

I had made it up three flights of stairs with 60 pounds of luggage and unpacked. The first few days were spent exploring with new friends, eating good food, and splurging on souvenirs (which I cherish sooo much). After a few weeks, however, classes started, and I had fewer distractions to keep me from…

A Winter Weekend in Italy

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 EDT

When I first pictured studying abroad in Italy, I envisioned warm weather, relaxing on gorgeous beaches, and spending weekends exploring the sun-drenched countryside. While I knew this would not be true for all of my time abroad, I did not consider just how magical winter in Italy would be. The streets of Perugia were strung with dazzling lights that glittered. The fog gave the city a mysterious, whimsical feeling while holiday music played throughout the main piazza. Christmas markets sprung up in Perugia and the nearby towns. On one of our final weeks in Perugia, my friends and I decided to make the most of the weather with a perfect winter weekend.

On Thursday after finishing classes for the week, I headed home to my apartment to bake sugar cookies for my roommates. I listened to Christmas music in our cozy kitchen while the house filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies. After munching on some cookies, we met up with a few other friends in the city center of Perugia and headed…

Three Lessons I’ve Learned in Nearly Four Months Abroad in London

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

Always have a backup plan!
Traveling around London is very easy….most of the time. Coming from a small rural town with zero public transport to a massive system that has overground trains, subways, and buses was quite the welcome change for me. At first, it was a little overwhelming but it becomes intuitive after a while, trust. The first week I was here, there was a tube strike, and I had to take the bus instead, adding nearly 40 minutes to my commute. Rather inconvenient, but knowing a backup route was a good lesson to learn early on. Bus stops can be closed, the tube WILL get delayed, and the overground runs on a much more spaced out schedule. Absolutely, keep it in mind.
Have a list of easy meals/groceries
Sometimes cooking is exhausting after a long day of classes, but it's unsustainable to get dinner out every night, especially at London prices. A stable list of ingredients for simple meals is something I found that really helped me. My friends and I made sure to have backup easy…

Systematic Differences: Educational Experiences in the US vs. Australia

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

How is education abroad different than at home? What has studying abroad taught you about yourself and others?

In the United States, I attend Colgate University, a liberal arts college with about 3,200 undergraduate students, located in a very rural area. Studying at the University of Sydney has introduced me to a completely different lifestyle and academic environment. While there are clear contrasts between Colgate and USyd, including the size of the student body, the urban setting, the structure of lectures and classes, and the overall workload, I have felt surprisingly comfortable during my transition. My exposure to new people, new courses, and a new city has sparked my curiosity and excitement to explore, rather than feeling overwhelmed or nervous.

I have learned a lot about Australian culture and the Australian education system through conversations with my Australian classmates. For example, I recently learned that most Australian students commute to university from home, rather…

What's On Near You? April Happenings

sutcliffec@arcadia.edu — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

We’re still a little early for cherry blossoms, keep an eye out for them later on in the month. Here’s some happenings to put some spring in your step until then.

APRIL

Edinburgh!

Live music venues:
Sandy Bells
Captain’s Bar
Stramash
Jazz Bar
Sneaky Pete’s
Bannerman’s Bar
Usher Hall
O2 Academy (Formerly the Corn Exchange)

Queer Spaces:
Paradise Palms-queer cabaret and poetry nights.
Drag nights at Subway, CC Blooms, The Street, Planet Bar.
HOT MESS at Sneaky Pete’s.
Lighthouse Bookshop

Music

Terminal V Electronic Festival, Royal Highland Showground, 18-19 April.

Echo and the Bunnyman, Usher Hall, 3 April.

Various concerts Candlelight, St Giles Cathedral, various dates.

Theatre and Comedy

Matthew’s Borne’s The Red Shoes, Festival Theatre, 14-18 April.

The High Life, King’s Theatre, 7-11 Mar.

Markets

Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace every Sat.

Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat.

Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat.

Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal…

6 Things I Learned in Scotland

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

You can taste the rainbow. In the US you sometimes hear people argue over which skittle tastes the best, but I think they all taste the same. In Scotland I could actually taste the difference between each skittle in a regular bag of skittles.
Aldi is great when you are on a college student’s budget! It was a longer walk for me compared to Tesco or Sansbury, but the prices made it worth it.
The academic accommodations for learning disabilities are not as great compared to what I am used to in the states. Normally I am able to go to a different room, with a smaller group, and have extra time on all of my exams and quizzes. At St. Andrews I only had extra time on my exams, except for my finals where I was in a smaller group.
Get pub food from a pub. Pub food is good, but when I ordered pub food from a normal restaurant it was not as good. Of course, this is just my opinion.
When picking a mode of travel I had to think about what I valued more, comfort or money. The train was normally…

Across the Universe: As a Beatles Fan

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

John, George, Ringo, and (my personal favorite) Paul. It is without a doubt that the Fab Four put Liverpool, UK, on the map. These witty and talented young men went from singing in sweaty clubs to not being able to perform live without crowd screams drowning out their music. The Beatles revolutionized music, launching the “British Invasion” in the U.S. Famous for blending genres and experimenting with the recording studio, they had accomplished what no other band had before: a revolution. Although I didn’t quite know all this growing up. I simply sat in my elementary school chorus singing “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, thinking it seemed like a warped version of Alice in Wonderland. Essentially, I arrived late to the Beatlemania craze, but as soon as I was set for a semester abroad in England, I knew where I had to go.

Here was my Beatles weekend in London & Liverpool (accompanied by my trooper of a friend Alyssa)!

First stop: Abbey Road
Starting in London, we took the Northern…

Munro Bagging in Scotland this Spring

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

With the welcome arrival of longer days and better weather, Spring is the ideal time to explore Scotland’s great outdoors. Hillwalking (or hiking as you say in the US) is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Scotland, with an estimated 40% of visitors completing a hill walk during their visit. Edinburgh-based students will already be familiar with Arthur’s Seat, whilst a semester in Stirling would not be complete without conquering Dumyat, but what if you’re looking for a bigger challenge?

‘Munro Bagging’ is the feat of climbing all 282 mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet. The popularity of ‘Munro Bagging’ is partially due to the accessibility of many of Scotland’s mountains. Only a few require actual rock climbing, and many can be completed in only a few hours. Nonetheless, climbing a Munro is a serious undertaking and you should consider a few things before you go.

What’s in the name?

The Munros are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet of Lindertis, an aristocrat, traveller…

A Mid-Semester Check in at ISI Perugia

fallonj@arcadia.edu — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

The following is a repost from The Ohio State University Buckeye's Abroad page, which shares a mid-semester reflection from Addi Obermeyer, a current ISI Perugia - the Umbra Institute Student:

“Studying abroad while I am young is very important to me because it allows me to see the world and immerse myself in different cultures. I hope to create meaningful, lifelong memories while challenging myself beyond my comfort zone. Through this experience, I cannot only explore new places but also develop valuable personal and academic skills,” reflected Addi Obermeyer, a speech and hearing science major who is currently studying abroad on the ISI Perugia - The Umbra Institute program.

Obermeyer is spending the semester in Perugia, a historic town in central Italy known for its college population, art scene, architecture and historical significance.

“This experience will support my future career as a speech-language pathologist by strengthening my cultural competence, patience and communication…

Explore Scotland Through our Summer 2026 Events!

sutcliffec@arcadia.edu — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

We hope you are getting excited about your time in Scotland this Summer! We have put together a range of events for you that will get you properly immersed into Scottish culture and maybe trying some new experiences! There is something for everyone and we encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. Below is a first look at what you've got in store!

Event registration opens SOON in your Arcadia Portal.

Don’t forget, if an event is full you can add yourself to the waitlist to be notified automatically if more space becomes available. Remember, check that your program dates allow you to attend an in-country event!

Summer Ceilidh

June 23 2026

Come celebrate midsummer with traditional Scottish dancing! Cèilidhs comprise of partnered or social dances from the 18th and 19th centuries - you can think of a cèilidh as a grandparent of American square dancing. This excursion is hosted by the Edinburgh Cèilidh Club which has a live band and experienced callers who can help…

'The Importance of Being Earnest' Review

arcadiaglenside@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

When I first learned my Theatre class was going to see Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre, I had doubts as to whether I would actually enjoy the two hour and forty five minute production. Once the show began, though, it was clear to me that what I was witnessing was something fresh and original. The play first premiered in 1895, one hundred and thirty years ago, and it is remarkable that a show so old, for lack of a better term, has stood the test of time. There are many reasons why the show still clicks with audiences today, including its exploration of identity, class, and societal expectations.

There was no platform for out gay actors to thrive when the show first premiered. Casting openly queer actors in the original production, like the stars of the current production at the Noël Coward Theatre, was unfathomable. Luckily, performances by lead actors such as Olly Alexander, Stephen Fry, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett bring to life the queer and camp potential…

Why You Should Solo Travel While Studying Abroad

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EDT

When I finalized my decision to study abroad, the first thing I knew I definitely wanted to do was
to go on a solo trip. Living in a new country is one hurdle, but I wanted to give myself the experience of traveling fully on my own, without program coordinators or friends to rely on. Not to prove anything to anyone other than myself, I wanted to push my own boundaries. And now that I have finished my study abroad experience having done four solo trips, I can say that they were some of the best experiences of my study abroad.

I started small. I studied abroad in Perugia, Italy which is a pretty small city compared to most places people decide to study in. For my first solo trip I took a train to Rome and spent a day wandering and seeing the sights. It was definitely overwhelming being alone in such a popular city, but it was a great start. I found my way around Roma Termini, went to the Colosseum, tried fun gelato flavors, and did some shopping. It was a great day and a perfect way to test…

Going Abroad as a Student-Athlete

arcadiaglenside@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 EST

I am a student-athlete playing lacrosse at Tufts University, and studying abroad has always been something I dreamed of doing. However, after finishing the spring season just before the fall I had planned on going abroad, my team competed in the National Championship and earned second place. With being so close to winning, I knew I wanted to come back harder and put in the work, but my dream of studying abroad didn’t seem compatible with how I felt, it became unrealistic.

Although I was hesitant to have that conversation with my coaches, I am incredibly grateful that I did. I was fortunate to receive overwhelming support from my coaches, which ultimately made studying abroad possible, and realized that I could keep up my fitness while abroad to be able to return to my team in good shape. Even better, I had seven out of eight of my teammates in my grade and other athlete friends from different schools go abroad as well. While we were not all in the same location, knowing that others were…

Advice from my Semester in Perugia

mendezj@arcadia.edu — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 EST

My name is Ava DeLaurentiis and I am a senior who just finished studying abroad in Perugia, Italy this past fall. With that, I wanted to share my favorite things I learned from this experience with the hope that it may help others who are looking to study abroad.

You are probably thinking that, “in order to get the most out of studying abroad”, you will need to travel every weekend—but that’s not true. A big part of living abroad is understanding, exploring, and connecting with your home country/city and the other students in your program. Take walks, go out together, explore new restaurants and clothing stores! Now don’t get me wrong, traveling is great and you should definitely take advantage of it while you can, but for me, volunteering at a solidarity purchasing group in Perugia, where I conversed with the locals and many staff members from my school who purchased their groceries here, was just as rewarding and exciting.

I also learned early on that making a junk journal would be…