During our Spring Break, my friend group and I headed to a place I have been dreaming of for a long time: Sorrento, Italy. During our stay, we actually lived in a villa located in Termini—a small town 30 minutes away from the city. Because it was out of season, there were not many tourists. We were really able to get to know all the locals in the area, especially a waiter named Alessio from a restaurant called Salvatore and Mafalda. Long story short, Alessio taught us how to make gnocchi using his grandmother's recipe.

I have had a rough past few days, so naturally I picked myself up, walked around my neighborhood Les Corts, and started taking random footage to get my mind off of things. Once I got back to my apartment, I challenged myself to make a short little video and this was the result. Les Corts is located right by Camp Nou. Videos simply don't do the area justice.

In Morocco, the big dipper is upside-down. Like it might spill soup all over the night sky. I've been here now for three months, but occasionally, I notice new differences like that—quiet, sudden reminders that I am far from home. It slips my mind, sometimes.

STORYTIME! The semester is coming to a close and countless events have occurred. Among these are the good and the bad; however, every moment was an opportunity for growth and change. 

Hi everyone,

While I’m sure people would much rather hear about my weekend escapades, I would like to provide more information about how my Japanese class is structured. When I thought about what I would have liked to know when researching programs, I thought I’d like to know a little more about how Japanese classes were conducted.

When we talk about culture shock, we talk a lot about food. And the more time I spend in Argentina, the more this makes sense to me. Food can be one of the main signifiers of a change to your environment—not just the type, but also the quantity and the timing of meals.

It is officially my last week in Milan, and I am reluctant to accept May 10th as a definitive conclusion to this amazing experience. Prior to leaving for Milan, I wasn’t sure of what to expect of my time abroad. My entire life I had grown up with the belief that someday, sometime, I would spend part of my college years in a different country, but I never thought of what that would concretely entail.

Ciao, belli! Come stai? Bene? Si, tutti bene. Sorry, I had my Italian final today and everything is still so fresh! I do hope that everyone is well. Now, I want to tell everyone why homestays are the way to go. I’ve had the best time at my homestay. Just because you are going abroad doesn’t mean you should be without a home. Granted, I know no one would be actually homeless on a study abroad program, but I believe homestays have so much to offer!

My departure date has officially arrived. As I write this second to last blog post in the airport, I am feeling a mixture of emotions. I am excited to see my family and friends after five months but sad that I will be leaving behind the place that I came to know and enjoy during these months. I will also miss my amazing group of friends that made my study abroad experience valuable.