Cartago, Costa Rica: A hidden gem

Ridden with volcanoes, lush rain forests, high mountains and beautiful beaches, Costa Rica is a hub for tourists — and in my case studying abroad!

I am counting down the days (nine to be exact) to when I will be sitting on the beach, drinking a lemonade with the sun on my face. I will be living in the 3rd largest city in Costa Rica called Cartago. Cartago has a population of around 160,000 and sits at the base of the famous Irazu Volcano. I am excited to explore this city and all it has to offer. During my 5 months abroad I plan to travel around and experience the beautiful country as a whole and I can’t wait to share all of my unique experiences.

Egypt, Shukran!

Shukran means thank you in Arabic 🙂

My soul is so grateful for my time spent in Egypt. I’ve transformed in the hands of my ancestors… This year my sankofa manifested and my perspective grew in reflection of that. One of the most important things I learned about myself and the world this year is that I have so much to learn.

Wee Thoughts to End the Semester

I just took my last final of the semester this morning and while it lifted some weight off of my shoulders, it also feels very bittersweet. A part of me is ready to head home and see my family, but I’m also not ready to leave quite yet. My time here in Scotland has taught me a lot and brought along some great friends and memories.

I Cannot Believe it is Almost Over!

Greetings —or szia — and welcome to my last blog entry from Hungary.

WOW. It is now starting to hit me that I just studied abroad for a full semester. As I sit here contemplating what to write about, I recall all the great memories I have had here in Pécs, Hungary and abroad.

Planes, Trains and New Terrains

As I write this, I am on a plane flying from Prague to Barcelona. A gaze out the window shows an epic view of what I am assuming must be the Swiss Alps among a fringe of clouds. In this moment I feel so much gratitude for the experiences I have had this semester —  and for the fact that I somehow scored an entire row of seats to myself.

The last few weeks have been quite busy with traveling for me. Last weekend was Bologna and Rome in Italy, and the week before was London. The back-to-back traveling has left me a little weary, but my brain usually finds everything funnier when I’m tired, so it’s a fair trade off.

Great Memories of Studying Abroad

My time studying abroad in Scotland is rapidly coming to an end, and personally it has gone by way too fast. I still have about a month left before it is time to return to the U.S., however it is going to go by incredibly quickly with everything there is to do.

Finals are approaching. I have to find time to say goodbye to some friends who, come January will be thousands of miles away. And then I have my last trip to Europe to finish off the year.

Before it is time to leave, I would like to share some photos that made my study abroad experience great!

Prague, Party of 30

After traveling all this way to Germany, I have just had my first trip out of the country. Along with a group of about 30 other exchange students from all over the world; I traveled to Prague (Praha) for an absolutely wonderful weekend.

Prague is absolutely stunning. The way the dark cobblestone roads wind around the Gothic buildings makes it feel like a whole different world.

Ready, Set, Go!

Sometimes, the scary things in life are the most rewarding. The thought of studying abroad, for example, can seem frightening. Further, actually studying abroad is down right terrifying at times, and traveling alone has the power to turn you into a statue if you let it.

However, making the decision to study abroad, actually following through with it and embarking on travels alone are some of the best decisions that I have ever made — no matter how terrifying they seemed or even were.

The Camaraderie I’ve Found Abroad

Many things have come to mind as I’ve considered the differences between traveling and going to school in Europe, versus back home in the United States. What I have found to be one of the best parts is the sense of community you find when you meet other international students or like-minded travelers. Something about the shared experience of being in another country brings people together in a humbling way.

At my university in Prague, I take classes with students from so many different backgrounds. I have flatmates from France. I have classmates from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Turkey, India, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, to name a few. The class discussions are fascinating to me because there are so many more opinions and interpretations that come from having such a culturally diverse representation of students.

My UK Adventures

Glasgow, where I’m studying abroad, is an amazing city and I think it is the best place to stay in Scotland. But I’d like to share some of my adventures from outside of the city.

The first trip I made outside of Glasgow was to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. I went on a tour that’s tailored for international students who want to see the sights of Scotland. Edinburgh is the more “touristy” of the two bigger cities of Scotland, first off because it is the capital and secondly because it’s the birthplace of Harry Potter!