Last week, right before Semana Santa, I purchased yet another journal here in Spain

If, at any time in the six months before I left to study abroad, someone asked me if I was nervous, I replied, yes, of course (because hello, everything about this is anxiety-producing, but not always bad nerves). And then, when they inevitably asked, “What’re you most nervous about?”, nine out of ten times I probably said, “Money.”

In light of my last post about the effects of mental illness while studying abroad, which I admit was not exactly uplifting, I want to offer the second half of the same narrative--how does one recover from bouts of depression/anxiety/etc. while in a foreign country? Enter self care, a practice I find absolutely essential for my wellbeing and recommend for everyone, no matter the state of your health.

This past week was full of great things, so I don’t even know where to start. First of all, my sister is visiting! Having her around was awesome to begin with, but having her here for Easter made being away from home a little easier. Secondly, I’m fairly certain I found my future home. I may be a Jersey girl at heart, but I think I might just have to move to Edinburgh. Spending Easter weekend there was definitely one of my favorite parts of my time abroad.

A hop, skip, and a jump later, and we are in Venice! We take a water taxi to the stop nearest our AirB&B, a nauseating experience I would like not to repeat. A lovely woman named Miss Desirée is sent to bring us to our apartment, and we wearily carry our luggage up five flights of stairs, through a locked gate and three locked doors. Oh boy.

"I don't want to set the world on fire. I just want to start a flame in your heart."

Three out of four final shows performed. One diploma from The Gaiety School of Acting received. It reads: "This certifies that Shannon Sotomayor has successfully completed IES Abroad Spring Semester 2016." Completed. I'm not a fan of that word currently. Not at all. But I will admit there are many things I'm happy to report experiencing. 

My Spring Break adventure starts in Prague, or Praha. My friend Emily and I take a four hour train; a non-stressful form of transportation I highly recommend. We take a brisk walk to Ahoy! Hostel which from the outside looks a little rundown. We enter through the door and see construction everywhere, but we are not deterred. Walking up two flights of stairs we get to reception, get taken to our lovely twin room, and settle down.

The month of March flew. January gave us a gradual ease into the new year, a new city, and many of those first few days felt like weeks, the constant influx of new information making the hours stretch. February picked up a bit, as routine and familiarity started to settle, but then the travel started - first a weekend in London, then a ten day midterm break in Amsterdam, Paris, and Northern Ireland.