[Agur: The equivalent of goodbye in Euskara]
Growing up isn’t easy. There’s never a right time to do it, it just kind of happens, whether you want it to or not. These past three months studying abroad have taught me so much. I’ve felt the growth within me and there were even times where I felt growing pains in my heart — if that’s even a real thing.
Ever wonder what it’s like to spend your birthday in another country on a different continent?
This past weekend I celebrated my 22nd birthday in Barcelona, Spain and it was absolutely amazing. There’s something about traveling to different places that makes you a little bit more whole. This weekend I’ve realized many things but, most importantly, I think I grew up a little more.
What are weekends for? When you’re in Europe, the best way to spend a weekend is in another country! This past weekend we took a flight to Italy and visited the city of Florence. It was an absolutely incredible experience and worth every minute. For the next four weekends I will be packing my bags and visiting a different country each weekend. With that in mind I thought I’d share some insights and tips I have gained to help anyone who is planning on studying abroad.
It’s been a month since I first packed up the necessities of my life and traveled across the country to live in an unfamiliar place. To me, college has made me realize that home really isn’t about the place I grew up or the feeling of familiarity I get when I walk into my room. To me, home is more the feeling of comfort I get when I am with the people who are part of my life. So when I first arrived in Spain, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find that here.
It has been a little over a week since I arrived to start my four month study abroad adventure. Here’s the lowdown of my first week in a new country!
I’ve been traveling internationally for the past 10 years and one question that I’m consistently asked is “how can you afford it?” As a full time student and restaurant server paying her own way in life, most people cannot understand how I could whisk off on an extended vacation every summer. Well, the answer lies in the bag of tricks I’ve accumulated along the way and below are a few of my best tips!
Continue reading “How to Afford Traveling (Working Student Edition)”
Ahhhhh … inner city transport. Most people describe this means of transportation as: crowded, loud, smelly and at least once a week a drug addict will be itching to explain the ways of the universe to you. But I adore my underground journeys for two reasons.
When I first sat down to write about my experience touring the world’s largest Nazi concentration camp, I was seriously lost. My mind was panicking to write something meaningful but not too graphic, yet also sensitive … and I suppose, entertaining? But honestly, Auschwitz is not a story that can be condensed into a 1,000 word blog post. It is a completely unique experience that is a hybrid of confusing, heart-breaking and heavy emotions.
Interning abroad is a completely different experience than studying abroad, obviously. You can’t hide in the back of the lecture hall because you’re bored or slightly hung over. You will be constantly kicking yourself for not having paid more attention in second year German. You will be giving your best efforts to produce quality work by another culture’s standards (most likely for free). You’re handed tasks that range from doing dishes to doing things beyond your job title, often resulting in confusion and anxiety. However, if the first week jitters subside and your internship is falling short of your expectations, it helps to know how to turn the tables in your favor.
An incredible mix of beautiful modern architecture along with a storied past makes the sunny coastal city of Valencia a great escape from the chilly Spanish winter. After having spent a few months exploring and getting used to Spain’s capital city, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Valencia for a long weekend.
The global experience, as told by SDSU students 