My first few weeks in this unbelievably welcoming country have been a whirlwind.  From getting adjusted to the time zone, to sight-seeing, to narrowly avoiding being hit by cars driving on the opposite sides of the road, to taking tours, to having tea, tea, and more tea, Dublin has so much to offer.  Being in a new country for the first time has a way of making time fly by, yet at the same time be totally action-packed, rich with experiences and adventures. 

I will never get used to saying goodbye to these sublime cities. They tease me, drawing me into their splendor, seducing me to come back. Yet each one has her own unique character, and Rome has been quite the temptress. I was resistant to accept her charm at first, coming from the lovely Paris, but it wasn’t long before her authentic ancient earth and vibrant energy snuck into my heart. Who else could have a sanctuary for cats literally on the remains of temples from the fourth century BC?

There are a lot of ways life in Barcelona is different from life in America. For one thing, the mealtimes are very late. I don’t eat lunch until 2pm everyday, and dinner isn’t until 9pm or later. The Spanish also like taking their time at meals. I once walked past a family eating outside at a restaurant, and they were still there when I walked back three hours later. This is maybe the biggest difference I’ve seen between Spain and America (except the obvious ones, like universal health care).

Let me just say first off, the term “concrete jungle” is far more applicable to Shanghai than NYC. There’s ivy growing up the overpasses and public parks are bountiful, which was a nice surprise considering I thought there would be nothing but high rises and asphalt (there’s plenty of that too of course). There’s so much similarity to what I’m familiar with, but even common things like malls seem foreign to me. Speaking of malls, holy cow, there are SOOO many malls here, and they’re huge.

Visiting Amsterdam this past weekend was a privelege that I will never forget.  Amsterdam is a wonderful city that boasts historic highs and lows, mixed with the young, liberal town that it is today.

The thin, tall, leaning houses lining Amsterdam's canals gave it a feel that is distinctly Amsterdam.  While the city center is full of people and lights from store signs, just walking out a couple of blocks reveals quiet streets with parks all around (if you don't get into a biker's way, that is!). 

Over Pentecost Break, I had the opportunity to travel to Croatia. We spent time in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Split and had a wonderful time.

Coming abroad, Croatia was not even on my radar of places to visit. While I had heard it was beautiful, I hadn't considered it a spot to go for Pentecost Break. When someone in my program suggested it, I did some research and saw just how beautiful it looked. None of us had ever been and it was an exciting opportunity to step outside of our comfort zone.

I have been in Barcelona for about a week and a half now and I feel like I have eaten so many different things already! My favorite thing so far about Spain is "Menu del Dia". For 10-12 euros in many restaurants you can get three courses plus a drink. In the United States just having one course is around 10 dollars. The menu del dia allows you to try many different types of food on a budget while studying abroad or vacationing in Barcelona.

Yesterday I was sitting on my sofa at my house here in the U.S., with my phone on my hands I decided to navigate my Facebook timeline as the majority of us does when we are bored. One of the friends I made while studying abroad in Barcelona had posted a picture with his family. The picture was beautiful, but it's curious how seeing that picture made me reflect on the time we were abroad.