Week two in Seville

I’ve now been in Seville, Spain, for two weeks, and I can say it’s very different than what I expected. The culture here is rich and deep, and the history goes all the way back to the 15th century. The city itself is beautiful, with so many monuments to see. I’ve...

End of My Journey in Seville

I finished my classes 3 days ago, and now I’m preparing to take my very long flight back home. Right now, I feel extremely excited to be heading back because I really miss being able to communicate easily and naturally with everyone around me. Living in Seville has...
First Day in France

First Day in France

I landed at the airport around noon in Paris, France and took a bus to Tours, France to meet my host family after landing. I was tired and super nervous to meet them. Meeting them eased some of my worries a bit, and the country is so beautiful. I cant wait to go see...
Fighting Jet Lag

Fighting Jet Lag

My study abroad opportunity was not only my first study abroad, but also my first time ever leaving the United States. I had so many questions about what to bring and what to prepare for, but it is very easy to remember what the best piece of advice I received was....
Chatty Americans

Chatty Americans

“Americans are so talkative and friendly—people here don’t just chat with everyone they meet”. This was a comment I got on the train to London at 4 a.m., after spending the past hour talking to someone from the area about everything from economics to music. It was a...
Tips from an Overpacker

Tips from an Overpacker

I am a chronic overpacker. There’s no getting around it. I always find myself leaving home with a bag bursting at the seams, hoping desperately I don’t have to open it and somehow manage to achieve the miracle of zipping it shut a second time. Unfortunately, this is a...
Political Encounters

Political Encounters

If you have been on the Internet for any length of time, you have no doubt experienced a sharp divide between European and American users. One can often find the two groups arguing about food, stereotypes, tourism, and most often and most divisively; politics. No...
My Summer in Europe

My Summer in Europe

As my fall semester comes to an end, all I can think about is my unforgettable trip to Europe—a month-long adventure that I now realize I took for granted. The people I met, the food I tasted, and the countless memories I made linger in my mind. I often reflect on the...
The Best of Times

The Best of Times

I will never forget the nerves and anxiety I felt the day I flew from Newark to Barcelona. There was so much unknown and it scared me that it wasn’t a quick trip, but a three month experience. I know now that all of the good and bad emotions that filled me...