These photos a short summary so far here in Barcelona. I started off my first week with a trip to Tarragona with the IES Abroad class, and we learned a lot about the history of Spain and the Catalan culture. I also have a picture of me at work because a lot of my time is spent there as well. I work twice a week for about eight hours. I'm really glad I have that job at Talent Garden because not only does it keep me busy, but I’m learning so much Spanish and Italian given the people I work with.

My schedule tends to be a little busier than most other students’. I am taking 15 credits, working 18 hours a week and I live in a homestay that requires a 30-45 minute commute to almost anywhere in the city. Here is an outline of a typical Tuesday for me (one of my busier days).

7:00 I wake up, shower, get ready for my day and have breakfast

The other day, I received my absentee ballot in my email inbox.  It was a surprising feeling to look at the names on the ballot and feel so out of tune with the political situation in the U.S.  I study politics at my home university and like to keep up to date with the news, but while abroad, it’s been more difficult to tune in (understandably) than it is when I’m on my campus in Baltimore.

Taylor was jogging toward W hotel, past Barceloneta Beach, thinking “Wow, that’s my daily run, that’s how I work out here, by the Mediterranean Sea.” Making her way through the crowds of tourists and trying to enjoy the sunset, Taylor was unconsciously comparing her Barceloneta run to her New York runs.

I am always up for a good game, and I’ve been really pleased to find a ton of opportunities to play while in Nantes! Here are some of my recommendations:

With friends right at IES Abroad

IES Abroad has a number of games in the library and the salon, including cards, EsQUIssé (like Telestrations), chess, and even a poker set. Also, there’s a piano and acoustic guitar in the IES Abroad salon, and I love playing piano and jamming with other students.

    One of the most amazing parts of Occidental is its healthy pressure on students to study abroad - to get out of their comfort zones and take a break from the wonderful bubble of a campus we have in Southern California. One fantastic byproduct of this emphasis is that while I am out here studying in Madrid, I have friends in Beijing, Nepal, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Chile, Texas (campaign semester), France, and many other countries with an even larger assortment of cities.

As I leave the Metro station and begin the long trek up the hill towards the piso after a long day of classes and commuting, I look forward to my return to the wonderful company of my host parents and an amazing meal. Living with a host family is definitely one of the highlights of my experience so far, and I recommend it to everyone who is interested in studying abroad! I always knew I wanted to stay with a host family, because I wanted a chance to practice speaking Spanish and to experience and witness the daily life in Madrid.

Out of the 2015 “Refugee Crisis” grew a polarization and divide in politics seen in states across the European continent.  From such an environment has grown radical ideology as evidenced in the rhetoric of parties such as the AFD in Germany and the National Front in France.  These extreme thoughts and opinions have been elevated to the front of many minds with the vast press coverage that has been dedicated to such topics in recent months.

Everyone has a unique story to tell. I’m sharing a series of those from people who chose to leave their home universities and explore Barcelona for a semester. What are their ways of adjusting to a new culture and environment? I interviewed students who came to Spain from different backgrounds and even countries. I asked them about their epiphany moment, when they realized they were not simply tourists in Barcelona, they actually lived there. Here’s one of the stories: