El Salvador is not Santa Fe, I found myself thinking as I sat on the bus from my Santiago homestay on my way to the IES Abroad Center. El Salvador is the name of the main street that I travel to school on in Santiago, a switch from the street, Santa Fe, that I traveled on in Buenos Aires. I have traded the tall buildings on Sante Fe for the short houses that line El Salvador, swapped the many fashion shops for a few corner convenience stores.

One of the adventures that has been on my bucket list for YEARS is to visit the Amazon Rainforest. Just one week ago, on April 26th, I fulfilled that dream—I'll spend the next 1,000 words trying to describe the incredible awe I felt throughout the experience, but truthfully, I cannot find any words that successfully express this one-of-a-kind adventure.

Months into the spring semester, I began to wonder when spring would actually arrive. Around me were subtle changes; the grass was slowly becoming greener and the day was lasting a little bit longer, but that was not enough for me. With the season's change, I was inspired to look back on how much or how little I have changed since the start of the program.

If you’ve kept up with my blog posts this semester, you might have picked up on how often I mention taking the subway or train. Berlin is a sprawling city, and I live about 45 minutes from the neighborhoods I spend the majority of my time in. Because of this long commute, it sometimes feels like I live on the subway. I grew up in a city with a single-line subway, which I normally only utilized when going downtown. Moving to Berlin has taught me how convenient it is to have a complex public transportation system at your fingertips.

For spring break, it seemed like everyone in the IES Abroad Milan program had the same idea, which was to go to Greece. A big portion of our program traveled to the country for the week. Some of us were in Athens, others in Mykonos, and some even went to both! I was lucky enough to spend the week in Mykonos with 11 of my friends from IES Abroad. We rented a villa that had more than enough space for all of us and two pools! We were beyond excited to be spending our week there and even more excited to explore the island.

After visits from my parents, older sister, and one of my best friends from home, I’ve transformed from tourist to tour guide in a matter of months. Despite the initial pressure of fitting everything I love about Granada into just a few short days, I’ve come up with a list of things I think should be on everyone’s Granada checklist.

The optimal location of Nice allows discovery of other cities and sites in the area. While I stress the importance of getting to know Nice, there are some unmissable places to explore along the coast. 

Saint Paul de Vence

About an hour bus ride from Nice, this medieval town with a rich history is perfect for a quick trip. We visited this quaint village during orientation and enjoyed its cobblestone streets, protective fortifications, and amazing views.