It’s unbelievable how big and small the world can feel simultaneously. Yesterday, from where I was standing on an Australian beach, I imagined zooming out via Google Maps to the rest of the world. In my imagination, I was a minuscule dot at a single moment in time. Yet everything… read more
Public Relations
Coffee Culture and Enjoying Your Routine
As I walk home from class at University Pompeu Fabra, I pass cafes nestled at every corner. Inside, their tables are filled with consumers of all ages and outside, small tables and chairs are scattered about. At all times of the day, they are full. While it is no shock… read more
Student Culture at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain
I felt like my dreams came true when I received news that I was accepted to a study abroad program in Spain. Once I knew I would go overseas for a semester, I began to research like crazy to feel as prepared as possible. I wanted to know what students… read more
Goodbye, Guatemala…
As my time here in Guatemala draws to a close, I’ve been able to find an extra special appreciation for my experiences and what I’ve learned from them. My program has put me in a position to learn about the history of not only this country but of many other… read more
Learning Through A New Lens
As I sit down to write this blog, I truly cannot believe I have barely been in Guatemala a week. My heart is already swollen with love for the Guatemalan people, culture and beautiful landscape, and it genuinely swells a little more with each passing “buenos dias” or “hola” I… read more
I Studied Abroad … Now What?
After planning my study abroad trip for more than three years (thanks to what I’ve nicknamed “pandemic patience”), my four months in Costa Rica passed in a flash. I’ve been back in the United States for a little over a month now, and my time abroad already feels like a… read more
Falling in Love with Language Learning
Spanish Frustrations Between my mediocre high school Spanish program and the intense 6-hour courses at UT, I had taken 7 years of Spanish classes in the United States before arriving in Costa Rica. Despite my good grades, I had little to show for it in the conversation department. As someone… read more
Host Family Life
First Impressions Within an hour of my arrival in San José, I had been dropped off at a papaya-colored house 75 meters east of the Palí supermarket, which I soon learned was as close to an official address as you can get in Costa Rica. As my host mom, or… read more
Overcoming Barriers to Study Abroad
Three years ago, I was applying to colleges with the hope of spending a portion of my college career abroad. As a first-generation student, being accepted into my first-choice college was an accomplishment in itself, but as soon as I stepped on campus, I began planning for my ultimate goal–a… read more