While Abroad

When I arrived in El Escorial, Spain for my study abroad program, I was extremely overwhelmed and jet lagged. I was nervous and afraid of making new friends, speaking to the locals, and classes. Still, I couldn’t stop looking at the breathtaking views of the...

Finishing my Travels

7/1/17: My final week and a half of traveling abroad in Spain was bittersweet. For the past four weeks, I had come to love my new country and I was sad that I had to leave it. I had made tremendous friends on this trip and I was very disappointed that I had to leave...

Greece Abroad

First Impressions My first impression of Greece was “Wow, this looks like home.” The airport in Santorini is up on a cliff and looks a lot like the Sonoran Desert at home in Arizona, except with an ocean view. It was so funny that I had to take a picture....

Host Locations

Participating in two sessions this summer in Spain means that I get to have the experience of staying in two different host locations: one in the peaceful town of San Lorenzo and one in Spain’s bustling capital, Madrid.  These two locations could not be more different...

Madrid to Home: Final Days

Eleven days and counting. The time is approaching where I have to think about packing and going home, but I don’t want to. Spain has become my home base in Europe and it breaks my heart even thinking about leaving this wonderful place and not knowing when, or if, I am...

Summer in San Lorenzo

Getting off the plane from Atlanta to Madrid was one of the most exciting and nerve racking things I have ever done. What will the school be like? Will I meet friends? Will I even be able to communicate with these people for a month? Questions like these and many...

Getting to Know the Locals

After having spent some time here in Spain, I have realized that every interaction I have is an opportunity to improve my Spanish. While speaking with my fellow students has definitely improved my Spanish, my conversations with native speakers have been the most...

Travels before Copenhagen

Before my class in Copenhagen began, I got the chance to spend a little bit of time touring Europe with my family. My brother, sister, and grandparents met me in Copenhagen to begin our trip. From Copenhagen we flew down to Rome and continued with a trip through Italy...

Barefoot in Barcelona

I had no idea my Study Abroad experience would be this meaningful. The people, places, and events I have been able to experience have been incredible. Living in Pamplona has been a wonderful time with a fantastic group of students and professors for the University of...

Akwaaba from Ghana!

My time here in Ghana has been such an amazing experience. The country is very peaceful and I would love to come back one day. As soon as I stepped off the plane in Ghana everything was different. The weather is very humid. My first impression of Ghana was not what I...