Each year, nearly 700 Northwestern students study abroad in 45 countries across the globe. We’d like to introduce you to six students who will be blogging about their experiences abroad during Fall Quarter. Follow them as they get over jet lag, master foreign languages, travel everywhere and generally experience studying (or, realistically, not studying) abroad.

Jenny An | London, England
Class of 2011, Journalism and History
All right? I’m Jenny. I like puns, eggs in a hole and Slate’s Audio Book Club podcast. For the fall, I’m enrolled at Queen Mary, University of London, just outside of the city proper. I’ll be studying history, English and the mysterious workings of my liver. Stay tuned as I have awkward encounters over the phrase “blow off” (it apparently means fart in British), start wearing Oxfords and become best friends with Kate Moss.

Julie Beck | Paris, France
Class of 2011, Journalism, French minor
For someone who’s only been to nine states (mostly in the Midwest) and Canada (Niagara Falls, 3 days, 11th grade, woohoo), trying to grasp the concept of living in Paris for three months is somewhat akin to watching one of those avant-garde, “artistic” films — my eyes start to glaze over and my mind wanders to something more comprehensible, like what I’m eating for dinner tonight. Then I start to get a headache. Luckily though, once my flight (business class! Yeah for Northwest Airlines buddy pass!) lands in Paris on September 7, I will have a cultural safety net in the form of my good friend Kathryn. We will be sharing a homestay together in Neuilly-sur-Seine, about four blocks from the Seine River and a short Metro ride from downtown Paris. Having her there is alleviating a lot of my nervousness about studying abroad, and as the date of my departure grows nearer, I’m getting more and more excited for fancy cheeses, museums and of course, the two-week-long language orientation waiting for me in the city of lights. Change is on the horizon, dear readers, mark my words. And I’m ready. It’s Adventure Time!
Read Julie’s first post.

Zoe Fox | Jerusalem, Israel
Class of 2011, Journalism and Middle Eastern Studies
Hey everyone! Right now my bags are mostly packed to leave for Jerusalem, Israel in about a week. Only problem — classes started a week ago. First lesson about Israeli society — no one has noticed the fact that I’m showing up two weeks late. Does this obvious administrative disorganization make me nervous? Not really. I’m excited to return to the laid-back, unsystematic culture that ignores rules whenever possible, if only as a distraction from the constant presence of regional conflict and war. My goal in this blog is to show you the human side of the country — it’s not all guns, army and bombings. The city teems with nightlife, history and local charm. And hopefully, I’ll have some ridiculous run-ins with the some stereotypically rude and opinionated Israelis to share with you.
Read Zoe’s first post.

Staci Gold | Barcelona, Spain
Class of 2011, Linguistics
Hola! My name is Staci and I’m living in Barcelona, Spain for my junior year of college. As a linguistics major, I’m kind of a weird nerd — I’m almost more excited to be doing bilingual research abroad and learning Catalan than to take advantage of the awesome nightlife. I’m gone for the whole year, so while you’re enjoying football games, I’ll be enjoying fútbol games, and while you’re suffering another Chicago winter, I’ll be on the beach, tanning. I sure hope there’s a Spanish equivalent to Dillo Day, though. I can’t wait to share my pictures and experiences with you, because I’m sure both will be plentiful. ¡Hasta luego!
Read Staci’s first post.

Kari Rayner | Florence, Italy
Class of 2011, Art History, Art Theory and Practice, Chemistry minor
Buon giorno! My name is Kari, and rather than returning to Northwestern this fall, I’ll be living with a host family in Florence, Italy. As a total art history buff, visiting Italy has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I can hardly believe I’ll be located in the city that was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance, viewing works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. I’ll also be soaking up Italian culture and attempting to copy the local fashion (and eating as much pasta and tiramisu as possible). Of course I’m looking forward to the balmy Mediterranean climate as well. And while I’m traveling throughout Italy and the rest of Europe, I’ll be sharing my adventures with you!
Read Kari’s first post.

Taylor Soppe | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Class of 2011, Journalism, Film and Media Studies minor
Hey all! I’m Taylor, and I’m reporting to you from the bustling city of Buenos Aires. Here to perfect my Spanish, travel to Argentina’s pristine landscapes, and integrate myself into the Porteño culture, I can’t wait to share my adventures with you. I’m studying through IES and living with a host mother in rather nice part of town. Having been here a little over a week, I’ve already learned a lot about the “Paris of the South”:

1. The lunch specials can be particularly dangerous if they include wine and you have to go straight to class.
2. Be wary when accepting change. Yes, I behaved like a typical, unsuspecting tourist and accepted a counterfeit bill.
3. Don’t be insulted when they tell you shoes don’t come in your size—flats often only come very small.
4. Only dance with Argentinean males if you are prepared to make out with them during the first song.

Check back to hear more about my exploration of the city, how many leather products I acquire and how I fare at the tango!
Read Taylor’s first post.