Makayla arrives in Rome for a semester abroad. Learning about a new culture with limited language skills and tired from travel has been an adjustment.

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience. The most common reason students don’t study abroad is finances. Even though SBCC Study Abroad Programs can be more than 50% cheaper than programs offered at 4-year institutions, coming up with the money to pay for the program can still be challenging. The good news is that students can use FAFSA, the CA or SBCC Promise and SBCC scholarships towards paying for the program. There are also many other scholarships available (visi

A few months ago, a friend shared with me his anxiety about moving to another state for school. He was thrilled to attend his dream university but also afraid of not fitting in, of being far from everything familiar and feeling lonely. Since I’ve lived far from home several times, he asked for my advice. My name is Marine. I’m a full-time student at Santa Barbara City College, and I’m from France.

To commemorate their fantastic adventure, SBCC Professor Michael Stinson and student Nicole Montague have been cataloging their experience.