I am back in the big state of Texas for the holiday break. Has the change been difficult? In some ways, yes, but in others, no. The jet lag absolutely sucks (there's no escaping it). But, I know I'll adjust soon. I am driving a car again, which seems inefficient and environmentally unfriendly compared to the extensive bus, train, and ferry system in Auckland. I do miss my favorite New Zealand foods (meat pies, fish and chips, and hokey pokey ice cream!). Still, I am so excited to be eating good Tex-Mex and going to my favorite restaurants again.

If you’re going to be studying or visiting Paris, then you’re going to need to learn how to use the metro! The metro is the public transportation system used by everyone. It is the easiest way to get around Paris. Down below will explain everything you need to know in order to take the metro!

1. Locating the metro: In order to find the metro entrance you will see 3 different signs: either a red sign that says Metro, a yellow M in a circle, or the word Metropolitan in a cool font.

After 3 and a half months abroad, my semester has come to an end. As sad as it was to leave Milan where I called home for a little over 3 months, it is nice to be home. I wouldn’t have changed my study abroad experience for the world but to be home and see my friends and family is priceless. Now that I have been back in the states for a few days and have had a little time to digest my semester, I’d like to share my overall experience living in Milan, Italy.

I have found somewhere between 20 and 30 four-leaf clovers in my life. 

It started just before my teenage years. I found seven of them in one summer, and then none for the next seven years. I thought of it as a year of luck for each clover. Then, once the ratio of clovers to years unbalanced itself, I found yet another.

The bulk of my four-leaf clover findings occurred in the last two years. Although many have been scattered across the boroughs of Philadelphia, most have appeared in Gettysburg. 

As I say my goodbyes to Barcelona and look forward to going home, I have been thinking of all of the little things that I wish I had known before my study abroad semester. In this blog post, I have just ten tips and tricks that I recommend after the past three and a half months in Barcelona. Of course, I am extremely sad to leave, but I am getting excited to go home and see my family, friends, dogs, and my bed!

Germany is known for its gorgeous, festive Christmas Markets. Sights and smells flood the senses: mulled wine (Glühwein), Christmas spices, roasted nuts, and warm crepes, families and couples wrapped up in scarves and hats, twinkling lights and log cabin style stalls filled with cookies, jewelry, ornaments, cheeses, sausages, bratwurst, and so many more delicious and cozy snacks.

Over the past few months, I have completely fallen in love with London’s many markets. If I wasn’t traveling Europe on the weekend you could likely find me roaming London’s markets. Some I’ve been to only once, others I’ve been to more times than I can count. I put together a list of my FAVORITE markets in London that I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

It’s December, and even though I’m thousands of miles away from home, I can’t seem to escape the Jackson 5 Christmas album.

Below is an article I wrote for my Chinese class and published on my WeChat moments! My time here in China has led me to do some really interesting research and travel to some amazing places, like Inner Mongolia. Thank you to Providence College and IES Abroad for giving me this opportunity~

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