Holiday Availability: All IES Abroad offices will be closed on Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 31, and Jan 1 as we take some time to celebrate. During the weeks of 12/22 and 12/29, our team will be smaller, so responses may take longer than usual. Thanks for your understanding—and happy holidays!
After over a month of being abroad, I’ve begun to reflect on the things about Italy that I love and will miss when I leave in a month or so, versus the things that I miss about home that I can’t wait to return to. Family and friends are the obvious answers, so while yes, I miss them, I have not included them in my list. Many of these things I love or I miss are unexpected—I didn’t anticipate these things having such a big impact on my life one way or another.
(Credit to John Muir for the title quote, which is worth reading in its full length.)
Many people who have been to France know about the Château de Versailles, an expansive 17th-century palace just outside of Paris. It is a beautiful place to spend the day and one of my favorite destinations in and around Paris. However, it begs the question: Where did all of the French kings live before Louis XIV commissioned Versailles? Some of them lived in the centrally-located Louvre or the barren Château de Vincennes, but their countryside getaway of choice was the Château de Fontainebleau.
We just got back from our week-long February break. A few friends and I decided to squeeze in as many locations as we could during this trip (without getting too exhausted). We went to Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, and Colmar. All of these are locations in France, but I’m going to focus on the two places we visited that are part of the Alsace region of France. Strasbourg and Colmar are both towns/cities in Alsace, which is a very historical region in northeastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland.
Everytime my program takes us on an excursion, the energy is electric. Everyone is so excited because we get to spend the day exploring a new place in France that we may otherwise never get to visit. This weekend, we spent Saturday (March 19th) traveling on a coach bus to Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint Malo. If you look up pictures of Le Mont Saint Michel, I’m sure you have seen or heard of it at some point. It is this huge, magical island in Normandy with a breathtaking abbey at the top.
I’m still shocked this week marks the start of the second half of my summer internship abroad! I know you’ve probably heard it before from other study abroaders, but it truly feels like the past four weeks flew by. I remember wandering the streets the first week trying to figure out where to buy Tupperware. I remember the stress and chaos of figuring out the transportation system—it definitely took a few times hopping on a bus going in the wrong direction to figure that one out.
One of the most difficult parts of studying abroad is trying not to compare it to home.
My life in Rome, Italy is different from the U.S. for a million reasons and it’s nearly impossible to not miss some aspects of home. But each time I think of complaining, I’m reminded of how limited my time is.
Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad semester, academic year or J-Term program.
Eligibility:
The Vera Isaacs Schwartz Endowed Stipend has been established by Alan and Ronnie Schwartz in loving tribute to Alan’s mother. Vera valued learning in the classroom, but also recognized that there is an education to be had in museums, cafés and pastry shops around the world. Alan is a current member of the IES Abroad Board of Directors and he has established this stipend to honor his mother Vera and her commitment to providing her grandchildren funds to expand their college education outside of the classroom.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must: