I have reached the halfway point of my study abroad experience in Spain! Midterms this week weren’t too difficult, so this weekend I took a few day trips with both my program as a whole and with friends! First, the entire program took a day trip to Segovia. This is a medieval town with a…
Category: Martinson Elevate Award
Recipients of a Martinson Elevate Award
Three Weeks in Oxford
After three weeks at Lady Margaret Hall College, Oxford University, I’ve completed my first course, which was about the history of fantasy literature. It was truly excellent, some of the best teaching I’ve ever had, and I was also delighted by the passion and curiosity of my classmates. It was really exciting to be in…
Reflecting on My Time in Paris
As I begin my eight hour flight back to America, I decided that there was no better way to kill time than to complete my final blog post entry! With all of this time ahead of me, I have had the chance to reflect on my time abroad and everything that I have experienced in…
From Cities to Ridges!
Unfortunately, my time in Switzerland has been slowly winding down. Now that I have a bit over a week left, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how much I have gained from this experience. From the people I’ve met to the sights I’ve seen, it’s humbling to know that I have been so lucky to…
Learning to Hike Again in The Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains
At home, I always liked walks. Small hikes into the woods, maybe a couple of miles or so (usually under 5) to just enjoy my surroundings, usually with my father. Given here, in Wyoming, things like getting food and my current state of shelter are rather similar to home (we’re quite literally in a dorm),…
Stromatolites in the Snowy Range
On July 14, our group visited the Snowy Range in Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Mountains, and the hike we ventured on was an immense success. A majority of the hike was focused on learning more about stromatolites, which to the average human will look like a basic brown rock but to a geologist, is one of,…
Classes and Castles
It is the end of week one in Alcalá de Henares, Spain! I am having a blast so far, though the start of classes has kept me very busy. I am taking two classes this summer on Spanish film, and a culture and civilization class that is required for my minor. I was pleasantly surprised…
Traversing Rome without a Phone
Phones have become a ubiquitous part of nearly everyone’s lives. They allow for instant communication, quick photography, and simple navigation which are almost always essential tools for study abroad experiences. A phone’s versatility and omnipresence often makes it difficult to live without. While I walked along streets in Rome, I would find myself drawn back…
Thinking and living like a Parisian
Coucou, hello! I have been in Paris for a bit over a month now. Though I have experienced so much, it feels like time has went by incredibly fast. I’ve grown quite a bit from the first day I landed in Paris and felt somewhat clumsy using the metro or weighing produce for groceries. I…
Lessons Learned in Belfast: Inside the Classroom
I got home from my study abroad program a little over a week ago and have had ample time to sit with what I have learned during my time in Belfast. In my first blog post, I touched on some of the reasons why I thought this program would be beneficial to me. However, there…