https://www.facebook.com/168937403147082/

AKPsi Abroad, Champaign, IL (2026)

11/15/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about what Aashay has been doing in Germany!

Brothers,

Hallo from Germany! I hope everyone is having a great semester! I've been enjoying myself here in Vallendar, Germany along with the other places I've been traveling to.

My time here in Germany has been really special to me. The university I go to is a small private university with less than 2,000 people and the town I live in is around 10,000 people. Therefore, I have really been able to learn a lot about and experience typical German culture from this small-town setting. For someone who barely knew anything about the country before getting here, I have had such great opportunities to immerse in this culture and I love it! Here are some keen and very deep observations I have made about Germans/Germany:
1. They all think their English sucks (they will apologize at least twice about their English during any conversation) but it's usually completely fine
2. Contrary to popular belief, Germans are actually very funny people
3. It is just fact that the German National soccer team is the best team in the world. Conversations about this topic do not even make sense to Germans.
4. They LOVE their cars
5. We should really be thanking them for bringing us things like ALDI and H&M

I have also had the privilege to travel a lot while being abroad. I've had the chance to check out some cool scenes like Munich during Oktoberfest as well as getting to the top of the Swiss Alps (train of course, did not hike a foot). A lot of the sites you see around Europe have so much culture and history within them, and I think that really helps you appreciate them.

Overall though, I have truly enjoyed my time here in Europe and am glad to have met all the interesting people that I have. I'm excited for my final month in Germany and can't wait to see these cities during Christmas time.

In U&I interested to see how many new Cubs fans there are when I get back,
Aashay

10/14/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about AJ's adventures in Milan!

Hey Brothers,

Hola from Italy! I am currently studying abroad at Bocconi University in Milan. The classes here have been so difficult. I have been hitting the books 24/7 and working harder than ever before. Just kidding.

My time here in Italy has been amazing so far. I have gotten to meet so many people from all over the world. The people here are really friendly, and often will strike up conversations with me since they can (somehow) tell I'm not Italian.

The dorm I'm staying in is about a 20 minute tram-ride away from school and the city center, which is annoying the one day I have class at 8:45, but has also allowed me to explore a lot of the city. Traveling is super easy here, and I have had the opportunity to travel several places around Italy. My only foray out of Italy so far has been visiting Scotland, but I'm looking forward to trips to Spain, Iceland, Greece, London, back to Scotland, and hopefully a few more over the rest of my time here.

Some highlights of my trip include about every meal I've eaten here so far, whether home-cooked, out at a restaurant, or at the school cafeterias (which put the Ike to shame). I also got to fulfill a dream of mine and play golf at the Old Course in St. Andrews (with a birdie-birdie finish, ). Another highlight (lowlight?) was getting to spend 10 hours in the Frankfurt airport on the way over here. This weekend, I am heading to Venice with my parents, who are visiting to celebrate their anniversary and the fact that they have such an internationally-minded child.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in a few months and getting to talk more about my experiences, as well as getting to know all the pledges. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their semester!

In U&I can't wait to eat a burrito because there's no Chipotle over here,

A.J.

09/30/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about Eric's time in Germany!

Greetings from Vallendar, Germany!

Brothers, I hope everyone is enjoying their semester and classes aren’t too brutal. I sincerely miss everyone and especially the home we call Champaign, IL minus the cold! Pledges: I’m so excited to meet all of you. Definitely enjoy this semester with your family because all of the attention is on you right now! Trust me you’re going to miss it!

Here in the Deutsches Eck, or German Corner I live right on two rivers, the Rhein and the Mosel, that join together in the mid-size town of Koblenz. I don’t know what that means, but it’s an INCREDIBLE view! For the first few days, all I ate was German food which consists of potatoes, beef and some type of vegetable including sauerkraut (which tastes as bad as it sounds) or red cabbage. Now, I never want to see a potato again. I could go for some DP Dough, Maize, and Black Dog right now! There are a few places here that claim to have American BBQ but don’t even come close. Their form of a grill is a small charcoal one that uses a hair dryer to get the fire going.

I suppose I’m here to study abroad, but I’m only taking 2 classes through WHU School of Management here which meets only once a week for 3 hours at a time. This leaves a ton of time for me. Since the classes meet different days and times each week it’s frustrating when making travel plans. So I spend most of my time making plans and hanging out with other students either from Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Australia, Amsterdam, Canada, or the US. We keep finding incredible places to hang out and watch the sunset like beer gardens and restaurants either right on the river or a few hundred feet up on the top of hills with a gorgeous view of the city. And yes you have to walk or should I say climb up those hills, but we like to think of it as though we get to earn our beverage at the top.

Travelling in Europe is way cheaper than in the US, so I’ve been taking over-night buses mostly. So far, I’ve been to Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland; Berlin, Germany; and Prague, Czech Republic. And right now I have plans to go to Oktoberfest this weekend where I will hopefully wear my lederhosen, Amsterdam, the weekend after and then I have a two-week break. During the two week break I’m going to Santorini, Greece for 4 days then Athens for 2 days, to Cairo, Egypt for 2 days and up to Italy for 6 days then back home. I’m extremely excited for this trip especially because I turn 21 during the trip. I have a few more adventures planned out like in November to go to Dubrovnik, Croatia where I will be taking Game of Thrones and Star Wars VIII tours! In early December I’m taking a trip to see the Northern Lights in northern Sweden where I will have to take a snowmobile and dog sled to get to the viewing tower as well as see the Ice Hotel, a hotel made entirely out of ice. I’ve been blessed with being able to pursue so many adventures in the future and I feel like I’m just getting started, but the weekends fill up very fast!

I’m so excited to get back and share my experiences with all my brothers and pass on my advice for travelling to other countries. During your time abroad you’ll figure out more about yourself and I cannot recommend it enough to everyone! I have international texting so please don’t be afraid to reach out to me by texting or video chatting with me on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts! Feel free to follow my adventures on my website at ericnoelke.com/studyabroad.html.

In U&I can’t wait to see your beautiful faces,
Eric

04/20/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about Alaina's time in Singapore!

I can't believe I only have a few weeks left abroad! This semester has been better than I could of possibly imagined. Singapore is an international hub with incredible clubs, great shopping, and lots of trendy restaurants. NTU's campus is beautiful and covered in palm trees. Thank goodness classes are pass/fail since we spend most of our time exploring Southeast Asia! Southeast Asia is so great because there is such a variety of things to do. I've seen so much culture and history in mosques, temples, and one museum. The beaches are white and the oceans are clear blue. I've loved swimming, sailing, cliff jumping, and hiking through many different countries. These countries have exposed me to an incredibly different lifestyle than my own, and it makes me appreciate home. I miss everyone!

In U&I,
Alaina

04/13/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about Emi's adventure in Milan!

Hey there brothers! I cannot believe it has been over 3 months since I have seen most of you. I miss you all so much!

I am currently studying at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Taking 2 classes online classes through U of I and 2 in class at Bocconi. This has given me the time to travel throughout Italy, practice my Italian, and see different parts of Europe. By living across the 'pond' for this semester, I have begun to think about what it would be like to permanently live in Europe - England or Italy specifically. For those of you who have studied abroad I'm sure you would agree that the pace of life and outlook is vastly different than America or Chicago. But enough on that rant, more about Milan...

Unfortunately (or fortunately) my dorm is outside of the city in a district called Gratosoglio, which makes getting into the city center or to school a bit of an extended trip. However, living out here has given me the opportunity to make new friendships with students from Italy, Canada, all over the US, and of course U of I. Life in Milan is relaxed and there is always something to do. Currently, I am making my way down a list of the top 12 cafes to try in the city and it has been quite the experience. On the average day you can find my friends and me eating ayce (all you can eat) sushi, walking past the Duomo, or cooking family dinners before a night of city exploring. The city is split into many districts all surrounding the Duomo area, but my favourite would have to be Navigli. Here is where you can find most of the youth, restaurants, cafes, some shops, and night life. Milan (although it is a younger Italian city) has a lot to offer, and I find myself discovering new things everyday!

So far I have been able to visit many cities around Italy, Paris, Dublin, and Switzerland. While I am enjoying my time out here and loving the experience, I truly miss chapter and catching up with you all. That being said, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time via text, Facebook, or Skype! I'm not writing a study abroad blog, but you can follow my travels through the pictures of the food I am eating and places I am seeing at emieats.com.

In U&I can't wait to reunite this Fall!
Emi

04/08/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
See what Ryan is doing in Sweden!

Greetings from Sweden!

I hope you’re all enjoying a pleasant spring semester down in the lovely Champaign, Illinois. I don’t miss the cold, because I’m living it! I wouldn’t have it any other way because I can still get my hockey fix over here. Did you know that Stockholm has been dubbed the “Venice of the North” because it is built on 12 islands with 42 bridges connect them? Pretty neat, huh. But I digress. The traditional food here in Sweden is meatballs and cinnamon buns… and that’s it. While both those are fantastic food items, I could really go for a solid Papa D’s pizza right now or some Papa Del’s fried chicken. I’m also not a big fan of how expensive everything is here! However, the BEST thing about Sweden is how BEAUTIFUL everyone is here! Nevertheless, Stockholm has been great to me, and it’ll be sad when the day comes where I have to leave…

So I’m technically “studying” abroad. Call it what you want, my main focus is traveling and making friends. Luckily, the schooling here is set up where I only take one class a month. Imagine only having class an average of 2-3 times a week, and the days where I do have class, it’s a two, maybe three hour lecture. It’s pretty dope. It leaves lots of room for travel!

Unfortunately, less than an hour after arriving in Stockholm for the semester, I lost my passport, so I was stuck in Sweden for a month until I got a new one. Since then, I’ve travelled to Copenhagen three times, Dublin for Unofficial, Gothenburg (second biggest city in Sweden), Berlin, Barcelona, and Bergen (Norway). During Unofficial, I met up with other AKPsi legends such as Kylee, Burke, Emi, Arpita, and I’m not sure who else because that weekend was PRETTY crazy.

Another AKPsi Great, Josh Seiter, came and visited me one weekend during Illinois’ SB 2k16 which was rad. However, our Red Lion trio was incomplete since we were missing Alaina Gallwas. Next time. Up next on the travel docket is Prague, Amsterdam, Krakow, Vienna, and Munich, with other trips likely possible.

Have a great rest of the semester everyone!

Skål!

03/20/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Find out what Kylee is up to in Milan!

Hi Brothers! I miss you all a ridiculous amount, and have been trying my hardest to keep up with all the Champaign shenanigans while I am on my various travels. To the pledges: I can't wait to meet you! Please soak in every minute of pledge semester, it is my favorite semester from my college career thus far.

I am currently "studying" at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. I'm taking 2 classes at the university and 2 online, making it ideal for travel! Milan is an wonderful city to call home. My dorm is on the outskirts of town, giving it a homey and safe vibe. It's nice because I am a 20-30 minute tram ride from almost anywhere in Milan so the possibilities of what to do each day are endless. The best things to do, however, obviously involve anything with food. Please excuse if I come back a little thicker than when I left. But with gelato, pastries, pizza, pasta, and bread on every corner, can you blame me? It is just starting to warm up here, so I'm hoping to walk a lot while I am out adventuring. The main sights in Milan are the Duomo, Castle, Arch, Last Supper Painting, and so much more.

So far I have been to London, Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and all around Italy. Honestly it just feels like I am on an extended vacation here! I have seen and done things that I never could have imagined, the travel bug is definitely real. While I have burned through a hefty amount of my bank account, I don't regret spending a single cent! I have so many exciting stories and memories to share with you all when I get back. My phone was pick pocketed from me earlier this week so communication is a little difficult. But please feel free to reach out and message me any time on Facebook or follow my travels on my blog at: thelifeofky.com

In U&I can't wait to see you all in the Fall!
Kylee

03/09/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Check out what Arpita is up to in England!

My lovely brothers!

Hope everyone has been doing well this semester, can't wait to see you all in the fall! My time here in England has been amazing thus far. British history runs deep and this is clear to see around every corner-- the old architecture, paired with the many galleries and museums create a truly unparalleled learning experience. I was also not aware that the UK is a huge cultural mesh-pot! There are so many different types of cuisines to taste (I characterize Nando's is its own cuisine) and I have yet to eat the same type of food twice.

That being said, I've taken the free time I've had abroad to properly learn how to cook. Upon arriving, I noticed that my flatmates cook every single day, and I've learned many different cooking techniques from them-- hoping I can keep this up when I'm back in America! If I'm not cooking, I'm having a pint at the local pub... this makes me sound like an old man. My time abroad has made me realize I'm basically a grandpa.

This trip has been incredibly introspective, and I count myself lucky to have gotten the opportunity to spend time away from the little bubble I've created back in Champaign. It's such an eye-opening experience, and no one is exaggerating when they say that staying in a foreign country allows for you to understand cultures and people on an entirely different level. It really does change your perspective on the vastness of the world. See how cultured I just sounded? England doing it's work.

I hope to continue traveling and making friends for the next couple of months. Keep up with my escapades here on Facebook-- I miss you all and am looking forward to sharing my stories of confusion and amusement!

Cheers,
Arpita

02/21/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Read about Helen's adventure in Singapore!

Hey everyone! I hope you're all having a great semester and staying warm in the chilly weather! I'm currently studying abroad in Singapore where 70 degrees is considered sweater weather, imagine that! I've been here for just over a month now and I don't know if I've ever been so happy in one place. The people I've met, the food I've eaten and the places I've gotten to explore are all incredible.

I attend Nanyang Technological University and only have class 3 days a week making it easy for me to take trips around SE Asia. For the first 3 weeks, while waiting for student visa approval, I spent time exploring the different areas of Singapore. From rural islands to the modern city life there's a bit of everything here! One of my favorite parts about Singapore is the food. They have everything from Korean, Malay, Japanese, Thai, and many of their own specialties all for usually under $4 per meal!

Outside of Singapore, I've gotten to visit Malaysia where I wandered around Kuala Lumpur and later toured a tea plantation in the Cameron highlands. I also spent this last week for the Chinese New year in Bangkok exploring everything from temples to floating markets and even got a tattoo! I've attached a photo of me hanging out with the sweetest elephant, Wendy, in River Kwai, a smaller village about 4 hours outside of Bangkok. I've really enjoyed my trips so far and am looking forward to visiting Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam throughout this semester. Each day I spend here I realize how lucky I am to have such an incredible opportunity, I can't wait to share some more of my experiences when I get back!

If any of you are curious about some of my adventures, I've started a blog, so far I've only written 2 posts but I'll slowly be adding on to it. http://heleninsingapore.blogspot.sg/

02/07/2016

"A Day in the Life..."
Hear what Alex is up to in Spain!

Hola!

I hope that rush went well and that everyone's start to the semester has been good! These next few months I am so lucky to be studying Spanish in the beautiful Granada, Spain.

So far, my days have been spent hiking, skiing, exploring the city, eating tons of yummy food (ahem... tapas), experimenting with olive oil, (almost) daily visits to the pastry lady, resisting the touristy urge to take 10 billion pictures, and slowly getting less stumbly with my Spanish. I am living with a host family, and they are the sweetest people. My host parents are originally from Argentina, so it's been a complete mix of cultures at home. They have two adorable and crazy dogs as well.

I absolutely love exploring the city, trying new things, and talking with the locals. It's interesting to see all of the different ways that Granada has been influenced by the Arab and Mediterranean cultures. I never really realized until now just how young the US is... everywhere you look there is evidence of Granada's long, beautiful, and captivating history. It's truly a magical place. So much has happened already, and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the semester takes me.

That being said, I miss you all SO much!! Have the most amazing semester. And pledges - have fun and I can't wait to meet you!

Alex

05/07/2015

"A Day in The Life.."
Read about Laura's time in Paris!

C'est la vie here in Paris and I wouldn't have it any other way. My life is filled with Nutella crepes, fine wine, and pasteries galore. When I'm not intensely learning French in my classes I enjoy long walks down the Seine river with a bottle of wine in hand (no I do not have a problem). I often spend my weekends traveling to exotic lands like Dublin and Prague. These past two weeks I ventured to Australia to ride a kangaroo. Just kidding. I have some pretty cool stories from my little world tour, and I can't wait to share them when I get back!

04/30/2015

"A Day in The Life.."
Check out what Jasmine is up to in Spain!

Hola AKPsi! I hope everyone is having a great semester and enjoying reading about some of our brother’s experiences abroad. I’m currently in Barcelona, Spain studying at ESADE School of Business. It has truly been an amazing experience thus far! The people I have met in my program have played a large part in making my experience abroad so unique.

This past semester I have been fortunate enough to travel to cities I would have never dreamed I could visit including London, Dublin, Prague, Munich, Berlin, Morocco, Paris, Budapest, and Venice. Each city has unique characteristics and a different charm to them!

Barcelona itself is a city that always has something new to explore and even a semester is not enough. From climbing up to the top of Montserrat, trying to find the best paella in town, attending at Barça game, or simply walking through the town to see Gaudí’s beautiful architecture, Barcelona has so much to offer. In the next few weeks I’m excited to explore more of the city I now call home and one that I know I will one day return back to!

I am extremely thankful for such a unique opportunity and having the ability to learn from the experiences I have had. This is more than I could have ever expected and am enjoying every moment I have left! The picture below is from my recent trip to Prague in front of the John Lennon Wall!

AKPsi Abroad