In the Silence

Song Stuck in My Head: Enchanted by Kings Kaleidoscope

Adjusted to jetlag? Check. Had my first German meal? Check. Saw Angela Merkel? Not yet…

I just hit the three-week mark of surviving Berlin, which according to IES Abroad is significant since the first two weeks is when the worst things happen.

March 7, 2017

Song Stuck in My Head: You Only Live Once-The Strokes

I’m ready. After seeing every single other person from my school make the classic study abroad post with the “traveling to” icon on Facebook, finally my time has arrived. Some people, when seeing me visit friends at school in late February, thought I wasn’t studying abroad anymore and had dropped out of school. This always led to an awkward conversation about the German school calendar. 

Earlier this month, my luxury brand management class and I took a field trip to the tasty champagne region specifically to a small town called Epernay.  At the champagne region we learned all about how champagne is made and the history of the companies  we visited: Moët and Chandon and Charles Mignon.

Having been in Rome for over 3 weeks now, I think I can say I’ve settled in! I’m learning my way around the city, or at least around my neighborhood and the areas near IES Abroad. I feel more comfortable and it’s really hitting me that I’m living in Rome. Before studying abroad, the longest I’d ever been out of the US was around two weeks. So I feel like at this point I’ve stated transitioning out of the “traveler” mindset and into more of a settled resident.

Ah yes, the studying aspect of studying abroad. Despite all the fun I’m having, from time to time I do actually have school. In fact, amidst a sea of deadlines for projects and papers I’m choosing to spend my time reflecting on how culturally enlightening, and at times frustrating, attending a French school can be.

Miyajima Grand Hotel welcome sign

IES Abroad Rabat visited Erg Chebbi, one of two sand seas from the Sahara in Morocco. The neighboring town, Merzouga, is a tourist hub. During the summer, many tourists come to be buried under the sand, as it is believed to be a cure for arthritis. The sand dunes can only be accessed by 4x4, by camel, or by foot. Fun fact: Camels can run at up to 40 miles per hour. (Fortunately our camels only walked. But they are known to be petty animals.) There are two species of camels: Dromedary and Bactrian.