How to Become Fluent in the Language of Your Host Country There are so many reasons to study abroad. Maybe you want to explore a place you have always dreamed of visiting, or maybe you want to travel somewhere completely new to you. Whatever the reason behind your decision, chances are that once you arrive, […]
Everyone says going abroad changes your life, and to some degree, it does for everyone in one way or another. Whether your worldview is challenged, you fall in love, you learn a new language, or you experience something out of your comfort zone, you really don’t know how much a place has changed you until […]
Guide to Packing for Living in Europe… or Anywhere with Seasons… You’re down to the one-week mark before your adventure abroad begins and you find yourself in a packing panic. How in the world can you fit my entire LIFE into one or two suitcases? How will you squeeze in five months and three seasons […]
The World’s Worst Cup of Coffee- And What It Taught Me About Pride There I was, dropped off at a tiny home for the first of what would become many nights in the big city of San Jose, Costa Rica. I sat down at the table with my Spanish-speaking host mother, trying to muster up […]
The Pomada is the signature drink of Menorca. On the surface, it’s just gin and lemon soda splashed on ice. But, if you dig a little deeper, it’s a perfect symbol for the island itself. The gin used in the cocktail is from an 18th Century recipe and concocted with a curious addition: wine alcohol. […]
6 weeks before trip: Let me preface this story by telling you that I live in Madrid, Spain, and my travel partner, Megan, lives in Seville. We had to apply for a visa to visit Russia so Megan planned a weekend visit to Madrid so we could go together to the Russian Embassy and apply. […]
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked somebody why they haven’t been to Paris, or taken that dream vacation to Bali, or even that religiously-inspired journey to Israel they’ve been yearning for their whole life and they tell me, as if being alone was the most terrible thing in the whole world, that they […]
When I was accepted into Indiana University (IU), I immediately knew that I wanted to study abroad. I hadn’t ever left America and had a deep desire to live in another country. After being in college for a month, I began to research IU’s study abroad programs. They had quite a few destinations throughout Europe […]
It seemed like it took an eternity to reach the border of Chile and Argentina that surprisingly hot January day. The weight of the backpack seemed to add a surprising amount of heat to that of the sun. We were on the first leg of our excursion to the breathtaking Patagonia region of Argentina, trying […]
Growing up in San Diego, my family and I would travel to Mexico fairly regularly. Albeit Americanized, Baja California had so many sounds, tastes, and people that were different from our own. My sister and I both grew up with an appreciation of the Mexican culture, especially because of my mother’s fondness of Cesar Chavez […]
