Being born and raised in Southern California has its perks: sun kisses, the beach only a bus ride away, being part of a vibrant and resilient Latinx community, In-n-Out, and tacos. I grew up a five-minute walk from In-n-Out, so I know I’m home once I see those red and yellow neon lights. However, besides a nice, long sleep in my bed, I’m never truly home until my family and I eat at our favorite taco truck in the city.

At just three weeks in, I have decided to compile my favorite things so far about studying in Nice, France. In retrospect, it truly hasn’t been very long, but I think it’s important to take a step back and appreciate the little things.

1. The rocks by the sea

I must admit, I felt a bit cliché when deciding to study abroad in Europe. 

My second "vlog" is up !

I have a detailed run down of my first (and a half) week in Freiburg,Germany. I had orientation, classes, and some free time to explore the city and get to know the people in my program. As well as the oppurtunity to go on a very beatiful hiking trip to the Black Forest. Finished with a traditional German "Kaffee und Kuchen." If you want to see how my first week in Freiburg was then watch the video down below.

The moment you open your closet and begin to start packing can be extremely overwhelming. Especially if you've never been to the country you are about to spend 4 months in such as my self.

I have come up with a list of items that I wish someone had told me to pack in order to save myself a few trips to the store as well as a little money when first arriving. If you have the extra room in your suitcase, I would definitely recommend throwing in these items:

I’ve never left North America. This lack of worldliness might have to do with the fact that my mother hasn’t left the continent either. To her, the thought of a ten-hour plane ride is scary, and the concept of living in another country is simply unthinkable. My grandma holds similar views.