It’s been three weeks now that I’m here in Buenos Aires. It’s a gorgeous city with so much personality. I have only been to a small portion of the city, but everywhere I go has a different character and a vibe.

I live right between Palermo and Recoleta, in a very safe and nice area in the city. Everyone in my program lives relatively close to each other, which makes it easy for people to meet up and do things together.

First Off, Sorry for not posting a video in so long! 

Since the semester has been in full swing I haven't really had the time to edit videos the way that I wanted. No worries though, midterms are now over. So stay on the look out for a Paris Video, a housing video, and a really exciting one I'm working on: Being a Miniority in Germany!

In the mean time, here is a short video of an IES Abroad EU day trip to Strasbourg, France.

Before I begin this discussion of international travel, I just want to recognize how incredible Nantes has been, and the immense amount of learning, growth, and adventure that is possible here. It has been such a privilege and a joy to be able to travel abroad to France, and while I had a great time exploring other European cities, I think there's a lot to be said for staying put and getting to know the place one is in, especially if trying to be cost-conscious.

So it has been a week since I arrived in Shanghai for my study abroad. Yesterday was the first time all week where I didn't have any plans so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to go practice my street photography and shoot some video.

Now that’s a word you don’t often see in a blog about traveling internationally: normalcy. But as I’ve settled into my classes and my homestay, I’ve begun to feel exactly that. Should I be concerned? Well, not exactly.

“Excuse me, could you please tell me how to get to the Alhambra?”

I must get asked this at least five times a day.

Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but it happens all the time. When I’m walking to class, sitting alone at a cafe, or even jogging with my headphones in, people seem to go out of their way to ask me for directions (often instead of asking a Spaniard nearby).

Millions of people visit Rome every year, and for good reason! It’s a crazy, metropolitan city with tons of sights to see, tours to take, and food to eat. Rome is great place to study abroad because there is so much to see! I firmly believe that you can’t do Rome in a weekend, too much history is trapped in the city beyond the museums and tourist attractions. Spending weekends in town has been a fantastic move for me because it seems as though new things pop up every day for me to explore.

The buddy system is the golden rule when exploring a new city, but sometimes you will find yourself traveling alone when studying abroad. A few weeks ago I traveled alone to meet a friend in Paris, and this past weekend I explored Edinburgh for a few hours while my friends were in class. Traveling solo brings a whole new level of responsibility and independence, but also allows you to explore a city on your own terms.

It’s been more than a few years since I’d been on a bike.  So when I began my semester in Amsterdam, it was beyond intimidating to have to swing my leg over a bike, hop on, and somehow navigate my way through this city. But I’ve done it, I’ve succeeded in winding through the crevasses and canals of the Amsterdam streets, and you can too. Even if you’re someone who’s more comfortable purchasing a monthly tram pass, I want to encourage you to get on a bike at least once.

It seems like taking a trip to Italy is on every travel junkie’s bucket list. I mean, for being world renown for exquisite wine, high-end fashion, rich history, and stunning natural beauty, there really is no wonder why Italy seems to have a charismatic and addicting charm. And let's not get started on the food… just thinking about the ever abundant gelato, pizza, and pasta will get my mouth watering at the thought.