So we’ve finally started classes! You may think “Hey Katie! But you arrived in France over a week ago!?!?” Well yes…the program started with a 2-day orientation for all BIA students about Paris, culture, and our future lives here for the next four months or so. Then we eased into the semester with intensive french classes that prepped us for using a different language in daily life. It was during one of these intensive classes that we discussed something that is often remarked upon when travelling or adapting to a new culture: stereotypes.

One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed between Italy and the United States is the difference in how time is viewed. As I expected, Milan moves at the pace of a metropolis (thrilling for someone who has lived their entire life in the suburbs), with people pushing on and off of public transportation and speeding taxis weaving among the traffic. However, there are certain aspects of life that move at a more leisurely pace; punctuality is not viewed as an integral part of your character.

It’s finally starting to feel real! My plane leaves tomorrow morning, and soon I’ll be in Málaga, Spain on my way to my final destination, Granada. My bags are packed (well, stuffed) with only the essentials… Seventy pounds of “only the essentials.”  I made a final trip to Bowdoin last week, and found it harder than I had anticipated to say goodbye.  Although I’m excited for Spain, I can’t help feeling as though I’m leaving something very special behind. It’s definitely bittersweet, but I can’t wait to explore a new place with new people.

Any Anastasia fans out there?

Anyway. This past weekend I went to Paris with three friends from IES. I love the fact that I can just take casual weekend trips to Paris and talk about it like it’s normal. This is certainly not something I’m used to, but it is one of the many reasons I adore Europe.

I’ve had a severe hard nut allergy (walnuts, almonds, etc.) since I was two years old; it’s always been a part of my life and likely always will be.

It is a beautifully clear day with a thin sheet of snow, the kind that deceives me into believing that it would be warm outside. I am sitting in Albany, NY airport, waiting for my flight to Newark, NJ and then Amsterdam.  I am reflecting on the moments that led up to my goodbyes and begin my hellos.

Take a walk around Barcelona and you’ll find photos of paella outside open-doored restaurants. But the traditional rice dish has its roots in Valencia, a town three hours by train to the south. Inspired by tidbits of information I’d read and photos I’d seen on the internet, I decided Valencia was worth a visit, if only to taste the very best paella in the world.

Before going abroad, I explained Siena to people as “What you think of when you think of Italy;”the quintessential Italian city.

“Do you think you blend in?” a friend of mine asked excitedly. “If people don’t hear you talk, if you’re just walking along, do you think you look Irish?”

I’m starting to notice how hard my roommates and I try to avoid sticking out as American tourists. Irish girls wear mostly neutral colors? We packed mostly neutral colors. Locals scoff at Temple Bar? Guess I need to not go there, ever. It took three days of walking around Trinity’s gorgeous campus before we finally summoned the nerve to snap a few of the photos we desperately wanted.