In the second week of our program, IES Abroad took us to Potsdam, a city next to Berlin and the home of Sanssouci, the palace of the king of Prussia. While touring Sanssouci, we came upon a green room where our guide paused to tell us the historical significance of the couches and the fireplace, completely ignoring the red paint on the wall. It looked like someone had haphazardly scrawled with a paint brush, a lazy tag, right on the silk covered wall of the palace.

Hello all!

It's officially halfway through my time here in Barcelona and although I have had the time of my life, I am sad to say that it is almost over. Being halfway through the program and I’ve been noticing some things that I should/shouldn’t have packed so I decided to make a list of some packing tips.

I have also posted more photos! They are of places around Barcelona that I have been to and recommend!

Enjoy!

Packing tips for studying abroad in Barcelona

Time seems to be flying by here in Salamanca. Between classes, homework, and trips, it is sometimes hard to take time to write everything down. I am currently enrolled in 5 courses at IES Abroad Center and one Psychology course at a local university here called Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, or UPSA for short (pronounced “oops-uhh”). At the IES Abroad Center, I am enrolled in a religion class, an art class, a literature class, a theatre course, and a daily Spanish grammar classes.

As someone who has been attending one of the largest universities in the States for the past 2 years, I thought that I had gotten used to walking long distances. Little did I know that navigating London on foot can be an exhausting and challenging feat. In fact, I have been doing so much walking in the city that my boots started to fall apart! Sure, there's always the Tube and the classic London double decker bright red buses to take me around the city, but I truly think that the best way to see any city is on foot.

Artjamming (photos 1-3)

The Dreamer (Señor Sandman) - lyrics

[Intro]

Wake up...

[Verse 1] Dreams

Ma and Pa used to lullaby me with Jackson’s I’ll Be There

5 to 10 five years later I’d be dreamin' 'bout Jess Alba’s hair

In one of my earlier posts I briefly mentioned buying a plane ticket on a whim to Milan, Italy. Well, that actually happened! Last weekend, five of us took advantage of our youth, spontaneity, and the Islamic New Year Holiday to travel to the land of pizza and pasta. But of course, Italy is so much more than the food and for four days we visited Milano, Venezia, and Firenze, discovering what that exactly means.

This upcoming weekend is my favorite American holiday--Halloween. In my hometown, it has always been a big deal. My next-door neighbors throw a BBQ-style feast, a family down the street converts their garage into a haunted house and people of all ages really get into their costumes. Though it isn't the most traditional of holidays, Halloween has always been a night I associate with family, friends and good times. It's the first year I won't be in town for it, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel like I was missing out.