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!
London was my first solo trip as a traveler. I went alone, but I met friends that were studying in London. It is nice to have friends studying abroad in other cities so that you can visit them and they can show you around. One of my favorite things we did was take free tours. This helped me get to know the city. Also, if you get tired of walking, renting bikes is a fun and quick way to get around and see a lot!
Dear Host Family,
If you ask someone what a typical Spanish dessert is, they might recommend you churros, especially those from the famous San Gines. However, if you guys love a tasty cold treat as much as I do, then listen up chicos. Madrid’s also home to some amazing ice cream shops, and I’ve had the pleasure of going to these two spots a few times.
A Ferris wheel that seemed to be going just a hair too fast, mountains of cotton candy wherever you turned your head, and a fireworks display for the ages. What the heck am I on about? All will be explained in this brief snapshot of my time at Las Fiestas de San Isidro.
Reality has hit. The semester has come to a close. We must return to our lives back home. It feels so weird to think that I will no longer be a 15-minute bus ride away from the Colosseum and Roman Forum. This particular week was particularly surreal as my roommates and I packed all our belongings and emptied out the apartment. We all said our goodbyes to our friends and professors. A couple of tears were shed. Not a lot. Just a couple.
Hey everyone!
I attended a Latinx festival in Nagoya! I was so surprised that this was the festival’s 10th anniversary! It is held in Sakae which is about a thirty-minute train ride from Nanzan University. This year it was held on May 11th and 12th. It would start at 11 a.m. and end around 8:30 p.m. It is a rather small festival, but it did fill up as the day progressed.
There are so many different types of activities to do in Berlin. For instance, the botanical garden is only three euros if you bring your student ID. Each district in Berlin is unique and is definitely worth exploring. In Mitte, there is a place called museum island where most of the museums in Berlin are located. However, there are also museums in the different districts such as a GDR museum in Prenzlaur Berg. My favorite foods in Berlin have been döner and falafel and can be found everywhere around Berlin!
Although I don’t consider myself particularly religious, Judaism was a large component of my upbringing. Ever since I can remember, Shabbat dinners brought my family together on Friday nights and Saturday brunches and holidays were spent with our network of Jewish family friends. For me, Judaism has always meant community, laughter, and of course good food.
As the semester comes to a close, it’s sadder to say goodbye than I had previously thought! During this final week, I wanted everyone to be happy and focus on that, rather than wallowing in the sadness of leaving. This semester has taught me so much about myself, the world, and so much more. I am so grateful to IES Abroad for giving me this experience in such a lovely city in an incredible country.
Before I first left for Ecuador, quite a few people I talked to hadn’t realized that humans lived in the Galápagos Islands. It is supposed to be a land of mystical wonder, filled with dragons that swim and shelled beasts that skulk around inch by inch. However, it is estimated that nearly 35,000 people call these islands home.