As I count down the days until I leave London (currently 8 days left, help), I figured it may be a good idea to compile some of my favorite things that I've done so far into a list to share with people who are thinking about visiting or studying in London. I also just want to procrastinate on writing my papers. So here you go! A very brief guide to London through my eyes. A couple of classic touristy things because I really enjoyed them with a few personal favorites tossed in. 

I have always been a big fan of the TV show “Modern Family.” It gives a voice to many generations and many different walks of life. It’s funny while vulnerable, honest and very human. The writers and actors make it very easy to relate to the characters. However, there are a few characters that I have found it harder to relate to, one of which is Gloria. I have always had a deep appreciation for her part on the show. For those that are unfamiliar, Gloria is a young Colombian woman married to the grandfather of the show.

I had a nice, relaxing time in Amsterdam for Easter weekend. My friends and I went with the mindset of having an easy-going holiday. So instead of planning an itinerary for all the things we wanted to do, we just went with the flow and immersed ourselves in the city. It felt good to spend the day walking around, admiring the buildings and canals, and not worry about staying on a schedule to make sure we see everything. And I think Amsterdam was the perfect place to do this.

I can victoriously proclaim that I no longer feel like a total tourist! It took a few months, plenty of wrong turns, one temporarily lost Oyster card, and more credit card bills than I would care to think about, but I feel settled.

Greetings from March! This month has flown. I’m having a hard time remembering the date, constantly thinking that I’m living a month in the past. What do you mean, there is less than a month of the program left? What do you mean, my precious time here in Dublin is running out? I’m living in a state of denial.

I spend a lot of time staring at ceilings.  No, I’m probably not crazy.  But I’ve noticed that many people don’t look to see what’s above them, missing an extraordinary world of art and design.  In Spain and the rest of Europe, I’ve noticed artists pay particular attention to the design and decoration of higher spaces, which makes sense given the prominence of Catholicism in Europe.  The idea of ceilings being metaphorically closer to God has inspired artists to create exquisite works of art and complex geometric designs.  F

In my previous posts, I have tried hard to suggest, but not state outright, my struggles with anxiety and depression. Even in person, I write them off as being shy or awkward, when in reality mental illness informs everything I do, and study abroad is no exception. In fact, it's why I wanted to blog in the first place, to try to illuminate the study abroad experience from a non-typical perspective. But, with anxiety, being totally honest about my experience is, well, scary.

First of all, I'll explain why France is in quotation marks in a little. Anyways, I am enrolled in a cultural/social/politics class at IES Abroad, called French Overseas Territories: A Model of Diversity Management. The first half of the semester was spent talking about the history of colonization/decolonization and other various aspects, but recently, we've dived into actually discussing French territories and their cultures and customs.