I’ve always been somewhat of an introvert. Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging out with friends and socializing, but I tend to value my alone time and feel the most comfortable when by myself. Sometimes that can be a negative thing though, and I end up regretting not putting myself out there a bit […]
Barcelona: Heaven and Hell, Demons and Angels
~Prologue This is the honest truth. As I write this, I am replaying in my head what occurred over those seventy-two hours. I can’t quite tell if it was a fever dream or a glimpse of paradise, but I seem to recall that I visited Barcelona. There is no time for artistry; I must simply […]
Ireland: My First Two Months in the Emerald Isle
The first two months of my study abroad experience in Cork, Ireland, have been a whirlwind to say the least. While I’m having trouble coming to terms with the fact that my semester abroad is halfway over, I’m using this time to reflect on some of the things I’ve learned not only about Ireland but […]
Me llamo Vergelia
One of the best parts of any intranational or international travel in Europe is that it is exceedingly easy. Public transportation is affordable, clean, and reliable; never in Europe have I worried about getting from place to place as I normally do in the United States. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a program that will […]
Deep in the Heart of Castile
It doesn’t take long for a foreigner to realize that there are many Spains. From the outside, we may see a monolith; we refer to its primary language as Spanish, we imagine a dry land of guitar music and olives, and we think of a people attached to the Mediterranean south of Europe. On the […]
The three magics of the city: history, community, and landscape
After a fabulous spring break in Santorini, it was time to come back to my new home, Salzburg. The second block of the semester began with a visit to Schloss Leopold, the castle used in “The Sound of Music”. The castle featured large marble halls that resembled the ones at Salve Regina; rooms filled with […]
Navigating London Fashion Week: A not-so Fashion Queen’s Perspective
London Fashion Week is surprisingly welcoming to newcomers. As long as you say you’re someone important, people will fall all over themselves to befriend you. The key is to blend in. Don’t smile or pose for the press, they’ll flash you a dirty look and photograph someone else. Don’t look too excited. However, do give […]
Home away from home, how it all began…
Everyone always says it…. but you do not believe it until you do it yourself. Studying abroad really does change your life. Even though I was utterly exhausted after the 8-hour flight and 6-hour time difference, Salzburg did not fail to give me a magical welcome. I stepped out of the taxi and it was […]
First Impressions: Oxford, England
My days studying abroad in Oxford, England are all over the place but in the best possible way. Most days I’ll go out to lunch with a friend or eat oatmeal back at the room. A favorite of mine has been a crepe café with creamy coffee and addicting deserts. I tell myself I’ll only go […]
Things to Do in Oxford, England
While I didn’t have as much time in Oxford as I would have liked due to the coronavirus pandemic, I certainly squeezed as many activities as possible into my time at St. Clare’s. I was fortunate enough to meet someone from my college who studied in Oxford a year before I did, and gave me […]