Since I got to Spain, I’ve realized that it can be hard to make time for the “study” part of study abroad. There’s so much to do and see in Granada that I have trouble finding the motivation to sit down and do schoolwork. I’d much rather be out exploring the city, grabbing ice cream with my friends, or looking for souvenirs in one of the many shops along Granada’s narrow streets. But as we head into a week filled with midterms, I’m faced with the hard reality that it’s time to refocus on schoolwork.

Midterms. I cannot believe the time has come where I am preparing for midterms. Why does it feel like time is going so fast? Oh, wait...because time is going so fast. It is already the middle of October, so students know what that means, midterms. 

Ironically, I spent the first weekend after midterms— the very, very middle of my study abroad program in Berlin—in Amsterdam, capital of an entirely different country with a somewhat different language. It was actually a welcome change of pace. While I might live only a five minute walk away from the river in Berlin, I was missing the proximity of the ocean that I had back in Manhattan—something Amsterdam more than provided.

Bonjour people, I’m back. And if it isn’t obvious by the number of blogs I’ve posted, I’ve been quite busy. Between my courses, my homework, weekend trips to surrounding cities, spending time with my host family, enjoying Nantes with my friends, contacting family and friends at home, and giving myself alone time to recharge, I’ve been a bit swamped (in the very best way).

When you go to study abroad, everyone tells you how amazing of an experience it will be. The many friends you’ll make, the places you’ll see, the perspectives you’ll gain. While this is all true, I think it's also important to talk about the not-so-good things about studying abroad. After all, young adults moving to the other side of the world on their own isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. 

I’m finding my confidence in places I didn’t know I would find them in Madrid.

Today I went on a solo adventure around the city to explore and get in a nice long walk.

In order to go on this adventure, I had to do things I hadn’t done alone before. I had the afternoon free because my classes ended at noon, and the rest of the day was completely up to me. I allowed myself to take full advantage of this and explore.

There’s a known fact at my college that everyone gets sick the third week of classes. I’m not exactly sure why three weeks exactly, but either way, being in a new environment with all sorts of new germs—especially for freshmen moving into their dorms for the first time—your immune system is bound to struggle to fight them off. Put 35 students who have had minimal contact with germs in two years in a foreign country, and you have the same issue.

Bestie, we gotta talk. *clap* I will be completely honest. Ever since arriving in France, it’s been a whirlwind. It definitely takes time to adjust, and I’m not completely sure you ever can get fully adjusted. Things change, crazy things happen, and the days pass.