Student Spotlight: Zoe Touray in Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus was explained to me as a unitarian government with a president as the seat of power. Much like the US, they have a house of representatives as a sovereign and independent republic. The centre-right Democratic Rally (DISY) is the largest and leading political party in Cyprus, currently holding 17 of the 56 seats in the House of Representatives.
Student Spotlight: Temilade Onile in Greece
I would say that Greeks take a more natural approach to food as fresh fruit, produce, meats etc are very accessible. They have a very Mediterranean diet with plenty red onions, tomatoes, seafood and fresh ingredients. I haven't noticed anything yet pertaining to traditions around digestion but I know that they eat a lot of acidic food like tomatoes, lemons, yogurt etc which are good for gut health.
Student Spotlight: Laila Barnes in Scotland
“In Mississippi, we don’t really use public transportation. Here in Edinburgh, Scotland, public transport is the main transportation to any destination. Learning how to navigate it by making sure I catch the bus on time or catch the right bus was a struggle at first. I decided to take a day to ride three main buses just to see where they would take me, and so I could become very familiar with them. I am now a public transportation pro!”
Student Spotlight: Sidney Eramil in Denmark
“I have found it challenging to make friends as I found that many people in my program are attending with groups of friends from their schools which makes it challenging to get to know people. Additionally, it can be quite frustrating knowing that 80% of my study abroad program is white people from the US making it hard to identify and relate to many of them.”
Student Spotlight: Hadija Primus in South Korea
“One challenge that I've encountered is not allowing myself to be okay with not knowing. I've been beating myself up about not being fluent in Korean or freezing up too much when someone starts to speak to me in Korean. I expect myself to be good at navigating through Korea, but that's impossible because this is my first time here. So, I'm having a hard with giving myself a break.”
Student Spotlight: Adriana Sneed in France
“One challenge I have encountered is communicating properly within the language. I have had issues at grocery stores where I struggled to explain an issue. I am navigating it by using translate to figure out a word then still talking to them. This is helping me consistently learn new phrases and words everyday. I practice and write down these phrases so I can return to them later. This has made connecting with locals a little harder, but I remain committed to making these connections.”
Student Spotlight: Dana Deloney in Germany
“Upon settling in, I have been challenged by not knowing the language of the country I am studying in. Now, most people in Germany actually do know English, but there are a plethora of things that are NOT in English: every grocery store item, signs, train station names, and a lot more. Unfortunately, Google Translate is not always helpful.”
Student Spotlight: Brooklyn Washington in Ghana
“During my internship in Ghana, a challenge I encountered was overcoming my fear of asking questions to the hospital's doctors and staff. I addressed this by preparing thoughtful questions in advance, which helped me become more confident in my interactions. It also helped me gain deeper insights on the healthcare systems and procedures.”
Student Spotlight: Zaria Samuel in Colombia
“One challenge I’ve encountered so far is adjusting to the language and giving myself grace as I continue to learn Spanish. All of my classes, most of my friends, and my roommates speak only Spanish, which is both an incredible gift and an exciting stretch for me. While it can be mentally exhausting at times to understand and express myself fully, I’m embracing it as part of the journey.”
Student Spotlight: Dominique Gooden in Australia
“The best way I can describe family life in my host country is casual and intentional. Many couples have kids and are intentional with protecting their time to be present with their families outside of work and during holidays. Many employers also recognize that employees are deeply involved in family life and may be juggling work and raising children. So there is not much pressure for employees to engage in work when they are not 'on the clock'.”
Student Spotlight: Aricka Coriolan in Spain
“During my time studying abroad in Barcelona, I noticed how family life is very family-oriented, much like what I’m used to back home in the U.S. Families in Spain prioritize spending time together, whether it’s sharing meals, celebrating traditions, or simply enjoying each other’s company. I often saw multiple generations living under one roof or regularly gathering, and there’s a deep sense of respect and care for elders that really reminded me of my own family dynamic.”
Student Spotlight: Nicholas Carter in Japan
“In Japan, family life is often characterized by deep respect for elders, strong intergenerational bonds, and clearly defined roles within the household. I've noticed that many families prioritize communal activities like shared meals, even if members have busy work or school schedules. It's also common to see multi-generational households, especially in rural areas, where grandparents help raise children.”
Joy Worldwide Inc. Photo Contest Finalists 2025
We’re excited to announce the Joy Worldwide Inc. Study Abroad Photo Contest, where our students can showcase their incredible moments abroad! Whether they’re capturing stunning landscapes, sharing a piece of culture, or snapping themselves in unique destinations, we love seeing the world through their lens. Here are our top 3 finalists in each category:
Student Spotlight: Dominique Gooden in Australia
“Australian cuisine is very meat centric. I'm still learning about Australia's national dishes, but I've enjoyed most of what I've gotten to try so far. For example, meat patties and sausage rolls are very common and are to my liking. I've also enjoyed local snacks and "fairy bread", which is white bread with butter and sprinkles. Vegemite is very popular here and accompanies bread rolls, but I personally am not a fan of it.”
Student Spotlight: Kaelen Baly in England
“In terms of food trends that I’ve noticed, sausage is a big one. Whether it’s in a pastry or a pie, or a sandwich, there’s generally a choice of sausage with most meals. Similarly, I sensed a theme when it came to desserts. In my time here, I’ve come to learn that here in England, there is a cultural propensity to combine chocolate and orange flavoring. Snacks, cookies, candies, you name it.”
Student Spotlight: Olivia Shaffer in Spain
“I've found that in Spain, especially in Madrid, meals are about more than just eating—they're a time to slow down and connect with others. People really use meals to catch up with loved ones, and it's totally normal for them to sit around the table long after the food is gone just talking and enjoying each other’s company. Because I live with a Spanish host mom, I’ve been lucky enough to try a lot of authentic home-cooked dishes like paella, tortilla española, and lentejas (lentils).”
Student Spotlight: Adriana Morgan in Brazil
“In Brazil, food is more than just food it’s like a social experience. Meals are commonly shared with family, coworkers, or classmates, making eating together a key part of daily life. While it’s not unheard of to eat alone, it’s definitely more common to share a meal with others. Compared to the U.S., Brazilians tend to eat earlier. Breakfast and lunch happen relatively early in the day, and dinner is usually finished by 7 PM or so.”
Student Spotlight: Kaelen Baly in England
“During my first month in London, my main challenge was figuring out how to navigate public transportation. Having grown up in suburban Texas, I came to this country with little to no experience involving public transportation, much less with foreign public transit. This was a challenge I anticipated and even embraced early on. However, after time, as I continued to struggle to find my way around, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with things. I was only able to truly begin to make my way past this barrier when I allowed myself to seem like a foreigner.”
Student Spotlight: Ashley Nelson in Argentina
“During my first month in Buenos Aires I was scared to explore the city on my own and truly immerse myself. I didn’t know the language well, I was completely unfamiliar with the environment, and I didn’t want to stand out more than I already did. I started venturing out around the block of my homestay and slowly traveling further away from home than I did the previous time. I’d celebrate the small victories until they became normal occurrences and then give myself another challenge to conquer.”
Student Spotlight: Angelle Nash in England
“The biggest challenge that I didn’t expect when coming abroad was dealing with how to be a foriegner. I did not realize the persceptions that non-Americans had about American politics, culture, and news until I got here. Being American, everyone I have met has wanted to talk about our politics and current events that I thought most “foreigners” would not know about. Seeing how informed the people I have met are on world events and their effects worldwide really showed me how sheltered I am as an American and how much I can grow in my knowledge of global events.”