Europe
Germany: Arrival: “Cultural Immersion” by Elizabeth Moorhead
Cultural Immersion
With only 5 more weeks in the program, it’s high time to reflect on the experience thus far. Although there are not many posts here, I am writing consistently in a travel journal, and will post entries from there after the program is over. There is a balance between writing about things so you can remember them, and experiencing new things so you can write about them later. Writing in a paper journal gives me the time to make more memories, as writing about experiences twice takes twice as long.
France: Post Program Reflection: “The Continuation of Something Great” by Sebastian Zgirski
The Continuation of Something Great
I remember clearly, the feeling of waking up at 4am getting ready and calling a cab to pick me up from the Kraków hostel I was staying at, of how drowsy and half asleep, yet serious I felt. I remember walking into the cold morning air, into darkness, and feeling a light breeze. I remember the ride to the airport which seemed like it lasted forever. I remember eating not one but two Paczki (Polish donuts) as I was waiting for my flight, savoring the last taste of my culture and homeland.
Ireland: Post Program Reflection: “Planning my Next Adventure” by Mikayla Monroe
Post-Program: Planning my Next Adventure
My mom, my sister, and I have a tradition whenever we leave somewhere we love. Regardless of the temperature, we go into the body of water we stayed near and dunk. Then, when we depart later that day, we go home with the lake or seawater in our hair. It’s our cheaper—and chillier—version of souvenirs. We did it last week when we left Lake Chelan, I did it the week before on a road trip to La Jolla, and I most certainly did in Ireland, thanks to going cliff jumping in Howth the day before my flight. Other souvenirs of my study abroad program in Ireland are much more long-lived, like the tiny black sheep on my desk from the Sheep and Wool Centre in Connemara, my Claddagh ring, or the bags of Tayto microwavable popcorn (which I should probably eat soon). Heck, even msn still provides me with Maynooth weather forecasts instead of Bellingham.
Spain: Pre-Departure: “Are You Ready Yet?!” by Liza Alter
France: Arrival: “Home Sweet Home in Grenoble” by Libby Babb
France: Pre-Departure: “Up, Up, and Away…Almost.” by Libby Babb
Germany & England: Post Program Reflection: “An Ending and a Beginning” by Joyia Squires
Poland: End of Program: “SebiOnTheWorld” by Sebastian Zgirski
Poland
So I’m in my ancestral home of Poland, visiting friends and family, and experiencing my own culture, and even a bit of history! After I had finished my study abroad in Lyon, one of the program coordinators asked me what I was doing after the program, and when I told her that I was going to Poland, her response was that my trip to Poland was going to be another amazing experience. Now I’ve been in Poland for about 3 weeks, and let me say she was right.
Ireland: End of Program: “Farewell, Ireland” by Mikayla Monroe
Greece: Pre-Departure: “The One Where I Anxiously Wait My Departure” by Nicole Wright
Germany: “Berlin and Hostels” by Sebastian Zgirski
As I’m writing this post I’m sitting on my friend’s couch in Wrocław, Poland, trying to process everything that has occurred in the last week. Exactly a week ago I was 1365 km southwest, in Lyon, France, packing up my belongings, and getting yelled at by a French landlord ( my apartment wasn’t clean enough). I then had a little wine and pizza dinner in the courtyard of my apartment with some of the amazing friends I had the chance to make during my program and said my bittersweet farewells.
Germany: End of Program: “Ich Vermisse Euch Schon” by Joyia Squires
Germany: Pre Departure: “Goals” by Elizabeth Moorhead
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” –Marcus Annaeus Seneca
The eve of our departure is quickly approaching, and as always, there is just one more thing to be finished before we leave. Preparing months in advance sounds like a better idea with each day that passes. Our hotels have been booked, almost all of the gifts for our relatives have been gathered, and I’m giving the cats extra attention to try to make up for my upcoming four months leave of absence.
Ireland: Mid Program: “A Day in the Life at Maynooth University” by Mikayla Monroe
A Day in the Life at Maynooth University
The past two days we were lucky enough to have 80-degree weather in Maynooth! My International Marketing teacher even taught our afternoon session outside. As I basked in the sun while running errands and hitting up local bakeries for custom birthday cakes for my new friends, I realized that I only have 9 days left until I’m back home in America! My schedule has been hectic since I’ve arrived and I think I’ll take a moment to savor the last of Ireland while I can, starting today with buying one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had from a bakery in town. Seriously, this cupcake from Elite Confectionary was AH-MAZING. Here’s a quick insight to how my “typical” day goes:
Germany: “Fine Arts & Frankfurt” by Joyia Squires
France: Mid Program: “A Day in the Life of a European” by Sebastian Zgirski
A Day in the Life of a European
As I’m writing this blog post, I’m currently in the middle of my fourth week in France, finishing up my finals, and nearing the end of my program. It’s not a mid-program post, so to speak, as it’s way past the middle of my program (life here has literally been non-stop, and I have not had any time to work on my blogs sadly), but even though I am leaving France right after, I will still be in Europe for 4 weeks in Germany and Poland, and so in that way it’s a mid-time in Europe post.
Denmark: Post Program Reflection: “June in Copenhagen” by Megan Dale
Ireland: Arrival: “Maynooth: Home Sweet Home” by Mikayla Monroe
I am having such as amazing time in Ireland, I honestly don’t know what to talk about first! Maynooth, where I’m based at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, is such a cute college and commuter town. Two-thirds of the city’s population are students during the school year. The rest of the people range from babies to retired couples and plenty of dogs! The locals are friendly and happy to help with directions or have a conversation with us students. Downtown Maynooth is a couple of streets of delicious restaurants, bakeries, shopping, Maynooth Castle, and sightseeing opportunities. Dublin is a quick train ride East and the train is only a half mile from campus. That’s one of the great things about Maynooth: everything is conveniently within 10 minutes of walking distance. There’s also a great running or walking trail along The Royal Canal that passes fields of sheep. Heck, I can even hear sheep “baaa”-ing from my dorm room while I do homework! I love walking to the store or to class and casually passing by an ancient castle; it’s just an everyday sight here in Ireland.