Coffee and headphones are just some of the essential items one must always have during midterm exams.  I recently completed my midterms, and it was my first time studying for hours at a time outside of the United States.  I find it extremely difficult to study in my room, so I had to hunt for the best café to call home.  There was only one issue: cafes with reliable Wi-Fi in Paris are extremely hard to come by.

If you have read any of my blog posts, you know that I am a food snob. And I have been fairly surprised that Dublin has sated many of my cravings and created new ones. First of all, Dublin, obviously, cannot compete with L.A. Asian or Mexican cuisine, but thankfully I came to this city with no such expectations in that regard. But what they lack in these two critical areas, they make up for with other cuisines such as café-fare, Irish food, Mediterranean food, and Candy (now a food group after two months here).

It might seem like an over exaggeration, but this past weekend may have be the best one of my life. Mt fellow writer’s program students and I were treated to a weekend Writer’s Retreat, which our teacher promised would give us time to read, write, unwind, and live a weekend that was beautifully devoid of obligations or the need to rush around.

This past weekend, IES Abroad took the other students in the program and I on a field trip to Normandy.  Like with all IES Abroad trips, it started with a taking a bus early on a Saturday morning.  We drove to the city of Caen, which is near the D-Day beaches.  I had visited Caen last summer when I was in France with my family for vacation.  The city was heavily bombed during the second world war, and the only major buildings that were left untouched were the churches, a once-formidable castle near the center of town, and two stu

Today I ate lunch in a homeless shelter.

Before my family starts frantically calling me, let me explain: I was given lunch there because it’s where I volunteer as part of the Health Practice and Policy program.

Living abroad comes with a lot of "first times" and this weekend was yet another first time for me. On Sunday I participated in the Stramilano, my first half-marathon! Although I wouldn't say it was the most fun time I've ever had, it was definitely a rewarding experience. Running through the streets of a city I love was motivating and gave me a new appreciation for the place I've made my home.

This past weekend I got to visit Barcelona, Spain for the second time in less than a month. It is an absolutely beautiful city, with wonderful food and culture. In many ways, Spain is uniquely different from any other country I have visited. Not only because of the significantly warmer weather, but also in the mentality of the people and the ambiance of the city.

“What they saw-eastward, beyond the sun-was a range of mountains. It was so high that either they never saw the top of it or they forgot it. And the mountains must really have been outside the world.” – C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

A wide smile formed on our tour guide’s face as he answered my question. “Basically,” he said, running a hand through his thick, jet black hair, “this is the end of the world.”

I’m about two months, the half waypoint, and hit a rough patch/feel like I’m at low point of my study abroad experience. I have had an unbelievable time here so far with lots of highs but now it’s time for me to face the lows. I’m at a tough middle spot where I’m so excited to continue my incredible experiences here but at the same time wouldn’t mind being home. I think the homesickness is really starting to kick in with the realization I have two months down but two to go.