Unfortunately I wasn't able to get you your top study abroad news last month (school was getting the best of me), although I hope everyone's Turkey Day went just as well as mine! That being said, I've decided to take articles from both November and December for a super Holiday Edition of The Top 10 Study Abroad Articles! Enjoy!

What's new in the world of Study Abroad on The Study Abroad Blog:
A Weekend Out West: CET In Xi’an

November 17, 2011

This past weekend was our last CET organized excursion, the Xi’an Historical Trip. In Chinese, the characters “西安” in Xi’an literally mean “Western Peace”. I’ll admit I was a bad traveler, and neglected to do any research beforehand. I associate any place in Western China with the desert, comparatively spicy food, Islam, and rock cut cave dwellings. Needless to say I was a little surprised when we arrived in a place that had a pretty strong resemblance to Beijing (bad traffic, polluted air, high rises built next to ancient architecture, family run butcher shops next to McDonald’s, all of which can be called the best attempt at preserving culture while promoting modernity).

The Study Abroad Student’s 2011 Christmas List

December 9, 2011

After the success of last years’ “The Study Abroader’s Post-Christmas List“, I decided I’m going to make it a yearly thing. I did realize that it’s more beneficial to publish it before Christmas, so that’s one big improvement over last year’s list. It’s basically going to be a compilation of things I used, thought might be useful, or wish I had bought before I went abroad all together in one easy-to-email to friends and relatives list. While some things will remain on the list from year to year, I’ll do my best to keep it as up to date as possible. So here’s this year’s, The Study Abroad Student’s 2011 Christmas List.

China Decided To Give Me A Little Graduation Gift

December 22, 2011

CET is officially over (and actually has been since last Friday). The Spring semester at Beijing University doesn’t start until February 10th, which means I have almost 2 months before I have to step inside a classroom again. I genuinely miss studying a chapters’ worth of grammar and 50 new vocab words everyday, but catching up on 3 months of lost sleep has been a great consolation. As great as it is, though, I’m not exactly on vacation seeing as I’ve still yet to find my own apartment or a paying job. Good times.

So This Is Christmas…In China

December 28, 2011

This is the first time in my life I haven’t been in the United States for Christmas and New Years. While I obviously miss all my friends and family back home, I don’t regret my decision to stay in Beijing at all. I’m slowly getting adjusted to “real world” life here, but I’m still searching for my own place to live and flying back and forth between opposite ends of the globe in the span of a week just wouldn’t have been the most logical choice. And while it’s definitely not America, Beijing has it own unique spin on Christmas to offer us foreigners and I genuinely had a lot of fun over the holiday weekend.

Happenings on the Indiana University "From:I To:U" Blog:

Sad to say goodbye

December 8, 2011

I had a hard time picking out a blog topic for my last blog for this month of November, which has seemingly flown by without me even knowing it. Right now I am making Christmas plans to go to Korea while at the same time having to study for finals and do my research project. This is a much faster pace than the relaxed Nanjing lifestyle that I have gotten used to the past three months.

Home [redefined]

December 6, 2011

The concept of ‘home’ has been brought up quite a bit the past few weeks. My best friend is currently studying in Madrid and she recently made the trip out to Ireland so we could do some sightseeing together. Her parents had visited her in Spain and we talked about how exciting it is to have someone from home, family or friend, to see your new home. To have the opportunity to show them the streets you walk down each day, the shop you buy your groceries, the friends you have made along the way. The fact that we have our own set of keys to our very own apartment in a completely foreign country boggles our mind.

GoAbroad.com's GoAbroad Blog:

Technology and Study Abroad: Good, Bad or Evil?

December 29, 2011

Today on GoAbroad, we feature a post from GoAbroad Founder, Troy Peden, where he explores the changes in technology and how they’ve affected study abroad. From program accessibility to the ways technology has altered communication, this analysis raises the question of whether technology in study abroad is a tool to be embraced or used with caution! What are YOUR thoughts on technology and study abroad?

Blog of the Week: University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad Blog

December 23, 2011

This week's featured blog comes from The University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad and is written so that University of Arkansas students who travel abroad can share their experiences with other students who are also interested in international education. While the stories and travel advice may be aimed specifically at University of Arkansas students, the shared experiences of study abroad and international education make it an ideal resource for any student interested in study abroad!

Study Abroad 101 from the Abroad101.com Blog:

Celebrating Thanksgiving When You’re Studying Abroad

November 24, 2011

One of my favorite memories of being in Korea last year was convincing 13 of my brave students to head to a western style restaurant with me to celebrate and enjoy the delicious comforts of a typical American Thanksgiving. I’m still not sure if they were more nervous about being around so many foreigners, or trying turkey for the first time, which was the case for several of them.

5 Things to do After Returning from Abroad

December 2, 2011

For those of you whose semester abroad has gone by in the blink of an eye, we know that you’re probably dreading the idea of leaving that new, amazing place you’ve been calling home for 4-6 months. We want to prevent you from being diagnosed with SAOD upon your return home, so we have some more tips for you to help with your re-entry adjustment! After reading Matador’s article about the 5 things NOT to do after returning from abroad (and completely agreeing with everything they mentioned), I couldn’t help but think about the things students CAN and SHOULD do to make their transition home smoother.

Nate Nault is the Study Abroad Editor for Wandering Educators