Just as our study abroad program started off with a group trip to Granada in Southern Spain, it ended with a group trip to Galicia in Northwest Spain. Our university always does this trip at the end, because our program director Ramiro is from Galicia. It was the trip I’d been looking forward to the most, for several reasons. First,… Read more →
Belfast: My Return to Ireland
My number one most listened to song of all time is “Can’t Take It In” by Imogen Heap. It’s track #14 on the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack. I know this because when I was in Ireland nine years ago, I brought the CD and it became the soundtrack to our trip. To this day, it makes my heart beat a… Read more →
Lisbon: My First Solo Trip
Pretty much since I knew what a bucket list was, traveling somewhere completely alone has been on it. Cheryl Strayed did it in Wild and even before that Elizabeth Gilbert did it in Eat Pray Love. I’m continuously fascinated by strong single women who don’t just travel but seem to journey, for a trip alone is not a vacation it… Read more →
Spain: Semana Santa
It’s been a while I know. If you must know what I’ve been doing since I haven’t been writing. I got a cold and spent two days in bed, then thinking I was better went to Lisbon, only to get the stomach flu the following week and spend the next three days in bed. The last thing I wanted to… Read more →
Prague: The Importance of History When Traveling
I know the hipsters are going to disagree with me about this, but I’ll say it anyways. I think if possible everyone should take a guided tour when visiting a new city, because it connects what you’re seeing with history, literature, and culture. Instead of seeing just a castle, you see the years it took to gather the materials and… Read more →
Vienna: Rain & Concert Scams
I’ve never been diagnosed with SADD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or anything, but I recognize that at times my mood can almost be dictated by the weather. So if you’re like me, rain is not something that you want when you’re on your spring break. Well, it was raining when we arrived in Vienna, and it was raining when we left.… Read more →
Budapest Baths: Is Everyone As Confused As We Are?
For our Semana Santa week-long break, which is the week leading up to Easter in Spain, we are going on a mega tour of Central Europe. We’re starting with Budapest, then taking a train north to Vienna, then Prague, and finally Berlin. Because I wanted to get back to Spain to witness the Semana Santa processions and over-the-top celebration, I… Read more →
Amsterdam: Hazel Grace Lancaster Was Here!
I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing about The Fault in Our Stars after last summer’s obsession with it, so here let me talk about it some more. If you know anything about The Fault in Our Stars you know that part of the movie, arguably the best part, takes place in Amsterdam. Whenever I told people that I was… Read more →
The Obligatory Food Blog
Even though I consider myself a “foodie,” I’ve never been someone who takes pictures of my food and probably never will be. I don’t know if that’s because I don’t take many pictures in general or because I just don’t understand what I’ll do with a picture of French toast a month down the road. I don’t have Instagram, so… Read more →
Top 5 Spanish Cultural Differences I’ve Noticed
1. Handwashing People don’t always wash their hands here after leaving the bathroom, but I don’t think this is necessarily a choice. Of all the dozens I’ve been to, only a few have had hand soap and of those only a couple have had both hand soap and a way to dry your hands. I asked my host mom about… Read more →