Before living in Spain, I was worried about the food because I had heard the stereotype that the diet was mostly seafood, which I really don’t like. After arriving here, however, I found out that it’s so much more—and I love it!
In 1814, invading British forces burnt my home city – or more accurately the city that my suburban hometown relies on for survival – to the ground. This summer, I’m going to return the favor. London, get ready.
When I chose to study abroad in Buenos Aires, practicing and improving my Spanish was one of my main reasons why, and yet it was also one of the things I dreaded most.
I have never been one to have a huge group of friends. Throughout college and high school, I maintained close friendships with a handful of people. This never bothered me, although I imagined that going abroad would give me a much larger social circle. I pictured instantly clicking with a lot of people and doing all of my daily activities with them. During these past three weeks in Barcelona, I have felt unexpectedly lonely at times.
Signs reading like the title of this post are the reason why, in my extensive walking around Dublin so far (perhaps excessive, even, but I find it’s the best way to get to know a new city), I have carried in my pocket a little red notebook that I’ve begun to fill with scribblings that might just prove the observation attributed to John Adams about handwriting.
Tonight, I am writing this blog in my room at 12:24 a.m. in Washington D.C. I am writing it this late because I was afraid that I would forget to write this tomorrow and before I leave. I have not started packing at all and I do not know how I will go about it. All I know is that I am going to France. I leave the 13th of June and I will arrive the morning of the 14th at Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris.
Bobbing in the sea off the shore of Howth only five days after arriving is when I first realized, “Oh man, I’m really gonna miss it here when I have to go home." Stella, Jack, Declan, and I had hiked the cliffside and absorbed stunning views: the vibrant blue of the peninsula, screeching puffins perched percariously on the rocks, and a herd of amorous llamas enjoying each other’s company on the rolling green hills. We spontaneously decided to take a dip in the sea, capping off a perfect day.
If you like city walking and talking cheap, fast and convenient trams, buses and subways to go all around an ancient city, then Wien is definitely the right place to come!
Today officially kicks off my journey to London for the UK Today program! I am equal parts thrilled and nervous. I'm sitting at the gate for the first leg of my trip right now, and realized I have approximately 20 minutes until i'm on my way. I may or may not have had to pay $200 to get my checked bag there because it was too heavy (ouch) and had my shampoo confiscated by TSA because I accidentally put it in my carryon and it was too large (double ouch). I hope a very nice TSA agent gets to take my new olaplex shampoo home.
My heart skipped not one but several beats the second I read the email’s subject line in my inbox: “Midterm exam grades”...
I clicked on it.