When one thinks about studying abroad, the image of nonstop travel and adventure can come to mind. While yes, I have been on LOTS of amazing adventures in my two months abroad so far, I have also, well, had to focus on the study part of study abroad. There are usually at least two days each week that I don’t spend much time (if any) outdoors, and if that continues for longer than that, I know I need to reconnect with nature and breathe some fresh air. Here are some of my favorite places in Dublin to walk, lounge, or just have a nice time touching grass for a change. 

Without a question, one of the most valuable elements of my time abroad has been the adventures I’ve embarked on alone. Amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy workload, it can be easy to become socially overwhelmed. To remedy this, however, I have always found it essential to revitalize my social battery through alone time, but while in Rome I’ve found myself worried about losing critical time by staying in when I need to be on my own. As such, I have learned to make the most of the limited time we receive abroad by doing self-care adventures into the new parts of the city.

In a country that has claimed fame for its cuisine, it is no surprise that Rome is home to a slew of restaurants that offer the most incredible dishes. In today’s post, I will aim to share a few restaurants at which I have become a frequent diner, whether it be for the pasta, pizza, or wider menu offerings!

Cambio: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner!

One of my favorite weekend trips so far was to Paris with my roommate from the U.S., Reece! I flew in Friday afternoon and had the best weekend. I’ve spoken on here before about how traveling and seeing my friends from home has been a highlight of my abroad experience and this weekend was no different. We had a weekend full of girl time and giggles and here are three tips and tricks if you ever find yourself in Paris:

Andalusia beholds the most fundamental expression of the cultural clash between the al-Andalus Islamic kingdoms of Iberia and the Catholic kingdom of Spain. From 711 to 1492, the overwhelming majority of Spain was ruled not by Catholic kings, but by the Islamic Empires. In Andalusia, the culture and history of that period is most present. Moreover, the region is littered with the history of Spain's global empire, as well as the ancient history of the Romans and Phonecians.

Anybody who has been to music school is likely familiar with the term “concert black”. It’s a term used to describe all black formal dress used for a cultivated music concert. Students in classical or jazz music are likely forced to wear concert black for concerts in an academic setting. As a music student at Ithaca College, I have always loathed concerts black. I think it is very uninspiring and makes the visual aspect of a concert dull. In Seoul however, performers have been able to get away with wearing almost anything on stage.

Oh, November in Vienna! As the weather descends in temperature, Christmas market stands pop up around all the districts. The districts are vastly different and are little microcosms of their own subcultural tendencies within Vienna. I think that it would be fair to speculate that on some level, the atmosphere of each market seems to reflect something about the districts' character. 

When I initially arrived in Spain, some cultural aspects were shocking at first. Let me go through my top 5 list that shocked me the most!