Everyone told me when I decided to study abroad that it would be amazing — I would develop new skills, learn more about myself, and cultivate a more global perspective. Now facing the end of my semester, I can confidently say that all those things came to fruition, though not in the way I anticipated. Three weeks ago, I had a chance to employ one of the new skills I gained: sleeping on a bus. Apparently, the trick for me involved travel excitement, a gaggle of friends, and the third overnight bus in six days. Since then, I have not struggled at all with sleeping on any form of transportation ..read more

Dear Dublin, I’ve been back in the States for a week and a half. Back in my comfortable life where I spend most of my time at home, petting my dogs and generally doing nothing. Back to being a daughter living with her parents. It’s a strange feeling after living months of complete freedom and independence. It’s as though I don’t feel quite comfortable in my American skin–at least the skin of being home. Sometimes it is stifling. And yes, there is beauty in these moments of simply being known and I will always love spending time at the farm, but, Dublin, I miss you. Oh, how I miss you. In 103 ..read more

My last week in Dublin began like any other with the cry of seagulls, the tolling of bells, and the brilliant sun streaming through my window. Nothing had changed except for the sinking feeling in my stomach, the feeling reminding me that time was running out, that I would be getting on a plane in a week even though all I wanted was to stay. Regardless of this sense of melancholy, I was determined to make the most of my last few days in Dublin. I still had to squeeze in my final assignments but the call of the sun and the breeze was strong, drawing me to places I hadn’t visited in months. Phoe ..read more

Now that I’ve been living abroad for a few months, I started to compile a list of packing tips for those who are thinking about studying abroad for a semester. I did plenty of research before this trip and so many of the recommendations were very helpful (and why my “what I’m glad I brought” category is so extensive)! Before reading my list, it is important to note a few important details. I am studying in Milan, Italy which is a major hub for fashion. It also tends to be around 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months and once April hits temperatures can be closer to the 70s or 80 ..read more

Visiting Amsterdam and the Tulip Fields has been on my bucket list for years. Before I left home, my dad asked me where I would choose to travel outside of Ireland and I told him London, Edinburgh, and Amsterdam. Honestly, I’m still in shock writing this. I never imagined that my dreams really could come true. So, come along with me on my final trip! A Day in Amsterdam In true Ryanair fashion, I woke up at 3 am to get to the airport, etc. As glad as I am that I no longer need to plan such ridiculous travel arrangements, I’m honestly really sad that this era is coming to an end. That said, this ..read more

With the turning of the seasons, I decided it was finally warm enough to adventure into other areas of Eastern Europe and embarked on an independent travel trip to Warsaw, Poland over holy weekend (I’m a little behind in blogging). Aside from the gorgeous 76-degree weather and sunshine, Warsaw offered me a glimpse into deep troughs of history, culture, and resilience. I also experienced personal growth, cultivated travel skills, realized the importance of checking calendars before planning a trip, and learned that I am capable of pulling two all-nighters traveling and coming out the othe ..read more

If you know much about me, you’ll know that I have long held a fascination with St Andrews, Scotland, and have been desperate to visit since 2020 during my freshman year of high school. I am fully aware that this is a strange fixation but here me out. I was bit by the travel bug at a very early age. Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out how to move abroad. Studying abroad is the first step in that goal. Here’s where it gets interesting. When Covid shut the world down, the world moved online. At this point, I had already been researching St Andrews University and considering going abroad f ..read more

I spent the past weekend in Scotland, a trip I had been looking forward to since I booked travel back in January. One thing’s for sure–I will miss cheap Ryanair flights when I am back home. I spent the weekend with one of my roommates, Kalysta, exploring as much of Scotland as possible. Get ready for a crazy ride through rainy Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands! For starters, Kalysta and I “girl-mathed” our way into leaving on Thursday night because the flight was cheaper despite the cost of an extra night in our hostel. Unfortunately for us, our flight was delayed for at least an hour and a ..read more

Bienvenidos! It’s been a minute since my last blog post – these past few weeks have been crazy. Amidst classwork, excursions, and exploring Oaxaca, I haven’t found much time to breathe! My program consists of nine weeks of classes, followed by a short break, and then a month of an internship or an ISP (independent study project). Because of that, the first nine weeks are very academically rigorous. While the classwork itself hasn’t necessarily been more challenging than what I’m used to, the real challenge has been establishing a routine that works for me. Sometimes I feel like I am going thro ..read more

The last month has been filled with a whirlwind of travel, new experiences, and so much good food! All within the last few weeks, I have had the incredible opportunity to visit Switzerland, participate in my first Ramadan, finish my classes, and begin an internship. There has certainly been an abundance of new schedules and routines to get accustomed to in the last month or so, but it has been filled with much beauty and joy, making a lasting impact. Field Visits in Geneva The month began with my program’s long-anticipated international excursion to Geneva, Switzerland. Because of the thematic ..read more