With my IES Abroad semester in Cape Town coming to an end, I’ve thought back on what I was able to “check off” my bucket list this fall. Was I able to do everything I wanted to do in "The Mother City"?? The truth: definitely not. So how do you plan a bucket list that isn’t impossible but isn’t too vague? While I don't have one clear answer to this, I’ve compiled a list of five important bucket list tips for a student studying abroad.

As many things are involving study abroad, the concept of a fall break was entirely foreign to me before this trip. For weeks people in the program were buzzing with ideas about where to go for break. Many were concerned about resetting their Moroccan visas and opted to travel towards Europe. I was one of them.

Hi all! I've been doing a lot of reflecting and lately, I’ve been thinking about what it truly means to be studying and working abroad in Barcelona. I’m so far away even though I don’t feel like it all. I feel like I fit in even though I am odd one out based on my looks. We are living in a time of increasing globalization. With phones, technology, social media, anything is possible. You don’t have to feel far away from anyone. I’m wondering if that’s good.

In the last week of my semester, I'm trying to balance my desire be with my friends before they all head to the States with the cruel reality of the mountain of work I need to complete for finals. Being the only person in my program staying in Buenos Aires the entire summer break until next semester is a bit strange, and the realization that all of the friends I've made here will be going home is only beginning to set in.

In Europe, it's easy to travel to different countries. The cost is inexpensive and you can go to so many different places within a weekend. In the United States, it seems like it costs a fortune just to travel to the West Coast and vice versa. So when in Europe for a semester, might as well travel to all the countries you can. 

After being here for a week, I was feeling confident with myself in navigating the public transportation system. I mean, all I needed was my phone just to double check that I was headed towards the right way. But sometimes random events happen that prevent you from being the confident traveler that you are. 

Sometimes people have a hard time finding the difference between being alone and feeling loneliness. Being an introverted person, being alone often has not made me feel lonely, but makes me feel rejuvenated, happy, and calm. Because of my tendency to crave solitude, I knew when coming to New Zealand, I wanted to take advantage of my love for aloneness, and travel solo at least once.