I seriously cannot believe I am writing this from my couch all the way in Massachusetts! After my wonderful road trip with my dad, we spent a few days in Australia and then jumped on the plan for the 20-hour trip home.

I can’t believe the semester is already over, but I can’t say I was sad to be done with finals (full disclosure: I’m already in my comfy clothes and on my very comfy couch back in Massachusetts). My last days in Christchurch were spent with my IES Abroad group and full of some very sad goodbyes which I will not get into now just in case I happen to get something in my eye and get a little teary (it’s fine, everything is fine, not going to miss these people every single day).

The Alhambra. Gushing streams of tangled etches cascade down curling arches. Firm, blocked pillars hoist up a labyrinth across the ceiling. Smooth marble, sets of twin trees, and gentle rays of sun all coalesce around a resplendent circle where a brave pride of jungle kings guard the bubbling fountain in the center of the palace that has drawn so many so near. Scrupulous eyes are drawn to a poem inscribed on the basin of the font: 

“Hard and soft are so close,

that it would be hard to distinguish

They say that studying abroad changes you, and even while I am still currently studying abroad, I have noticed that I have changed, and it is all due to my daily sunrise run along the Promenade des Anglais. Before studying abroad, I was somewhat active, I played soccer and went to Zumba classes with my friends, but being physically active was just a consequence of being social for me. However, this past summer I took up running and so I decided to bring my running shoes with me to Nice.

If you have ever used public transportation before, then the public transportation system in Nice will seem familiar. However, if you have never experienced or simply aren’t good at navigating public transport, this guide is just the thing for you.

In so many European cities, one feels the history while walking down the narrow streets, climbing up stone steps - worn by hundreds of years of treading feet, or admiring the architecture that took generations to complete. It’s easy to imagine thousands of women in corsets and bustles and men in coattails and top hats crowded into the parks beneath the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. After bicycling through Prague, one can imagine the carts and carriages that once rattled down those same steep, cobblestone streets.

"You show the lights that stop me turn to stone/You shine them when I’m alone.” - Ellie Goulding, Lights.

It’s dark. There’s a crowd. The air tastes like Heineken.

All of a sudden, I have five weeks left in Amsterdam.

Let's face it: food is central to everything we do. 

It's a social activity that brings us joy and nourishment, and is often the best way for us to learn about other cultures and traditions. I grew up as an adventurous foodie and have always loved trying different types of cuisines. All kinds of delicious scents wafted through my childhood home, and whether it was Indian or Puerto Rican food for dinner, I always looked forward to trying a new cuisine every couple of days.

Studying abroad can be an extremely rewarding and fun time in one’s life. You are independent and alone across the world, are immersed in a completely different culture, are exposed to many different foods and views, and can make lifelong friends in a short amount of time. Although the first few weeks can be a fun joyride for many, a crash of realization can hit afterward. You are going to be abroad for not a few weeks or a month, BUT you are abroad for an entire semester.