As the semester comes to a close, the Harding study abroad groups prepare to return home. A total of 104 students studied abroad this semester at Harding’s campuses in Paris, France (HIP), Florence, Italy (HUF), Athens, Greece (HUG) or Latin America (HULA).

As the students return, they bring with them new tips on how to get the best experience out of studying abroad.

Sophomore Erin Davis studied in Latin America. She said she learned getting lost in the city you live in could actually be one of the most excited and eventful things that can happen.

“On one of our free days, me and two other friends jumped on a bus and got off about 30 minutes later,” Davis said. “We really had no idea where we were so we just hiked down to the coast and walked along it, coming across all sorts of shops and restaurants all with an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean. Five hours later, we finally found our way back home, but getting lost is all a part of the adventure.”

Sophomore Jordan Jones from the Florence group said the best part of traveling abroad is seeing such a wide variety of places.

“Going with the Harding program allows you to see more cities than others do in a lifetime,” Jones said.

Jones and Davis said one of the best parts of their study abroad experience has been making new friends and deepening friendships they already had.

“I have made more new friends on this trip than I ever thought I would,” Jones said. “Living in such close quarters and experiencing the world together causes you to make new friendships, and it greatly affected my experience for the better. I know I will have these friends to come back to and reminisce about HUF with.”

Davis said while she was at HULA, she realized she can see beauty in anything. She said she learned to seek out beauty not only in nature, but also in her relationships and memories.

“Our group is really great,” Davis said. “I have gotten to know the girls in my apartment so well, and it really feels like we are family. I am with these girls almost 24/7, and it has been awesome getting to see all these new places, figure out how to cook meals every night, go to class and just experience this semester with them. I feel like I have made friendships that will carry on after this semester, and it will really be hard parting ways next month.”

Davis said this semester has greatly exceeded her expectations.

“I think I can speak for my group when I say this program is completely underrated,” Davis said. “I’ve been to so many places that most people will never go and that I will probably never get to go to again. HULA is a trip full of adventure and incredible experiences. From hiking mountains and volcanoes, to biking through the desert to see glaciers, to scuba diving, to zip lining, and the list could go on. I look back at this experience so far and cannot believe the things I have done.”

HUG students returned April 29; HUF returns May 3; HIP returns May 7; and HULA returns May 31.