Program: Summer Australia and Maymester with Fiji add-on
Hometown: Peachtree Corners, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: My favorite Discover Abroad memory happened in Undara. We hiked up to a lookout and went stargazing. We spent hours hanging out, listening to music, and stargazing!
Why Discover Abroad: Discover Abroad is way more than the typical UGA Study Abroad program. We spend most of our time in the field, doing hands-on learning, in the world’s most beautiful locations. Our motto holds true, “Discover Abroad, Discover Yourself”. On the program you will be able to try so many new things, so lean in, have fun, and go Discover Abroad!
Program: Spring Semester Australia, Fiji, Hawai’i, and New Zealand
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: Scuba diving for the first time during our visit to Lady Elliot Island is a stand-out memory that’ll stay with me for the rest of my life. On our first dive, we snaked around a coral formation, and suddenly an octopus swam by before settling on a piece of coral! This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Watching such an otherworldly animal immediately camouflage to its surroundings was mind-blowing. At that point, I was certain I wanted my future to include scuba diving and studying marine ecology.
Why Discover Abroad: you’ll bloom into a more compassionate, adventurous, and curious version of yourself! After staying with a welcoming Fijian family, making 30 new UGA friends, and connecting with Discover Abroad’s knowledgeable, caring staff, you’ll become a more empathetic, selfless person. Furthermore, after hiking through the fern-filled trails in Abel Tasman National Park, seeing the sun set from the summit of Mauna Kea, and snorkeling over swaths of day-glow coral in Fiji, you’ll become a more daring, risk-taking person. After experiencing our natural world on such a remarkable scale, you’ll rethink humans’ role in the world and how we ought to live in balance with nature. These experiences will shape you into an inquisitive lifelong learner. Discover Abroad programs will inspire you to explore your values, learn to appreciate new aspects of our world, and mold your outlook on life from day one!
Program: Winter Break Australia
Hometown: Suwanee, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: One of my favorite memories was going Scuba Diving on Lady Elliot Island and having the chance to sit on the ocean floor with a turtle!
Why Discover Abroad: My semester with Discover Abroad is the most incredible trip I have ever been on. I had so many experiences on this trip that I had always dreamed of and got a chance to cross them off the bucket list! I have made so many good friends, and I have gained a new appreciation for the environment and what it truly means to be sustainable. Out of all the things I have participated in at UGA, I feel like I have grown the most from my study abroad experience. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Program: Maymester Australia and New Zealand with Fiji add-on
Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and hiking a waterfall in New Zealand!
Why Discover Abroad: I think students should choose Discover Abroad because you get to experience so much in such a small amount of time while also making friends, exploring, and learning new cultures and history!
Program: Maymester Australia and New Zealand
Hometown: Marietta, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: My favorite Discover Abroad memory has to be waking up bright and early on Lady Elliot Island to snorkel right at sunrise and seeing a manta ray close up for the first time. It was my first time snorkeling ever, and I loved it so much that I did it 4 more times that day!
Why Discover Abroad: Discover Abroad’s unique hands-on approach to study abroad makes the experience more fulfilling and enjoyable. My classes on my trip were some of my favorites I’ve taken since learning about topics in the field helped me understand our subjects on a deeper level and made learning so much more fun!
Program: Spring Semester Australia, Fiji, Hawai’i, and New Zealand
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: One of my favorite memories is canyoning in Carnarvon Gorge, Australia. We went through a natural obstacle course created by the canyon walls that surrounded us on both sides. We were climbing up rocks and logs, navigating through neck-deep water and even scaling the walls of the canyon. It was such a fun challenge to go through with everyone in our group, and it definitely got my adrenaline going!
Why Discover Abroad: Discover Abroad offers an extremely unique experience that will change your life forever. You have the opportunity to travel to some of the coolest places in the world, meet new friends, and make memories that will last you a lifetime. From snorkeling with wild dolphins in New Zealand, stargazing on the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, to swimming with turtles at the Great Barrier Reef, Discover Abroad offers so many exciting opportunities. The experience is extra special because you are able to learn through these experiences with some of the best field guides and professors around!
Program: Summer England and Scotland
Hometown: Arlington, VA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: My favorite Discover Abroad memory was when we had an afternoon off once we arrived in Ambleside, Lake District and the entire group on my program got together to go on a hike behind our hotel. It was dusk, and we all decided to hike up to the top of the mountain together. This experience was one that brought us all together on an unexpected adventure filled with laughter and discovery.
Why Discover Abroad: I recommend Discover Abroad because it is a hands-on interactive learning study abroad in which you actually get to get out of the classroom and see what you are learning about with your own eyes. This experience truly opened my eyes to the world and the interactions we have with it. I also got to learn so much, while meeting my lifelong best friends.
Program: Winter Break Australia and Summer England and Scotland
Hometown: Dunwoody, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: There are so many to choose from, so I narrowed it down to two. In Australia, my favorite memory was spending New Year’s on Lady Elliot Island! After a long day of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, the island hosted a celebration with great food and live music. We finished the night stargazing in the southern hemisphere and even found a turtle laying eggs. In the UK, my favorite memory was hiking Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England). I was in awe of the beauty of the hills and was surrounded by the best friends, professors, and hiking guides. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, we ate lunch and had a picnic. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life!
Why Discover Abroad: There is no amount of money I could be offered to replace my experience with Discover Abroad! This program gives you such unique opportunities, like scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, with knowledgeable professors such as Michael Tarrant. Every detail of the trip is taken care of, so your only job is to explore, learn, and have fun! This program encourages you to think differently about your role in the environment, and by the end of the trip, you’ll leave with a newfound love and understanding of your responsibility to protect this planet.
Program: Maymester Australia and New Zealand
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: My favorite memory was seeing a dolphin while doing a night dive on Lady Elliot Island in Australia.
Why Discover Abroad: Students should do Discover Abroad because it’s a super fun way to see really unique landscapes and learn applicable skills for the future in any field! My experience taught me independence, and I gained valuable hands-on experience that no other program could have given me.
Program: Maymester Australia and New Zealand
Hometown: Marietta, GA
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: My favorite Discover Abroad memory was kayaking in Noosa, QLD! It was so cool to navigate the waterways of such an amazing town; I also found that this brought our group together as we got to explore a new place in an unconventional way. Discovering new places in new ways with other driven students from UGA is truly unbeatable.
Why Discover Abroad: I encourage everyone to leave their comfort zone and try something completely different! I was definitely in shock of how far away I’d be from home, but as I continued the program, it quickly became the biggest blessing of my time at UGA. Spending time in multiple different locations with UGA faculty and other students from different areas of campus is unmatched, and your future self will be so appreciative of your decision to go abroad!
Program: Maymester Australia and New Zealand
Hometown: Nashville, TN
My Favorite Discover Abroad Memory: One of my favorite memories from my trip abroad was Aoraki/Mount Cook. Not only was it incredibly beautiful, with surrounding mountains and lakes, but the entire cohort all stayed in one big cabin, and we all played games and watched a movie together. I had never experienced something like that before and it was an impactful moment for me.
Why Discover Abroad: Students should do discover abroad because it includes some of the most incredible and unique experiences you will ever have. You learn so much in such a fun and interactive way while also going on so many adventures and gaining so many amazing friends. You definitely won’t regret it.