If you had asked me a year and a half ago if I would be going to France with a boyfriend back in the States, my answer would have been a hard no. When I was planning to go abroad for a second time, I told myself I would not date so that I would not have to learn how to navigate the trials and tribulations of long-distance while abroad.

Well, fate took a turn last January when I met Francis. He was kind, smart, incredibly funny, and very good-looking as well. How could I say no to going on a date with him?

For this blog post, I thought that I would give an overview of how fun and easy it is to travel around Italy. While I love being in my home city, there is so much to see in this gorgeous country! With the help of our Italian student companions and the IES Abroad staff, my friends and I have learned the ins and outs of getting around quickly. 

I sometimes forget that I have other friends studying abroad in other parts of Europe. That is why I was pleasantly surprised when one of my friends messaged me saying that she was going to be stopping by Amsterdam during her spring break from University of Leeds. Despite her arrival occurring in the middle of study-week, I made time in my schedule to show her the best parts of the city. 

Embarking on a study abroad journey is a similar experience to starting a new book; you're never quite sure where the story will take you, whether you will like it or not, but you're eager to dive into its pages. Last semester, I decided to study abroad in Argentina with IES Abroad, a decision that transformed not just my academic perspective but my entire outlook on life. As I stepped into my second semester here, I found myself in an unexpected scenario: starting over in the same place.

This semester, my midterms were spread out over the course of three weeks, which was great because I could divide up my studying much more easily than usual, but it also meant the midterm season felt really long. And as is usually the case with spring break, the last week before Semana Santa was especially busy in terms of schoolwork. While I usually do most of my homework in my room or at the IES Abroad center, this three-week stretch of midterms pushed me to find other places around the city to study so I can be productive without feeling too cooped up.

The day that everyone studying abroad in Ireland has been waiting for was finally here: Saint Patrick’s Day. This was probably one of the most surreal days of my life, just because I couldn’t believe I was here on March 17^th, but also because my teacher considered us locals who happen to be studying here during all the chaos surrounding the holiday.