It Is Easy To Feel At Home If You Try

I came to Spain with a heart that was only partially open to the world. I was afraid of the huge cultural adjustment, of being homesick for the first time. I wasn’t 100% confident in my Spanish, either – but I still came. I took a huge leap of faith when I got on the plane to Madrid, and I trusted my instincts – I trusted that everything would be OK in the end. I marked the date May 24^th in my planner, circling it in red and writing, “When I go home.”

And now that it really is the end, I know that I was right to take that chance – but also very, very wrong about just about everything else. Each moment I’m here, I gain a bit more faith, a bit more trust, that everything has worked out how it was meant to. I’ve grown as a person more than I thought I could in only four months. But the biggest thing I was wrong about is this: May 24^th is not the day I go home. It’s the day I leave it.

Every place that I have visited has taken a piece of my heart, changed me in new, exciting and unexpected ways.

Morocco taught me about the importance of perceptions, the ease of making new friends and ignited my now-insatiable craving for travel.

Rome’s magnificence was stunning even through the rain, and I learned how to seek loveliness in everything I do, no matter what.

Greece opened my soul to emotion that I haven’t felt since I was very young, and I felt like that was the point that my heart was reborn, open and pure and ready to take on the world.

The Canary Islands gave me the gift of relaxation shuffled with the joy of spending time with some of my best friends in a place where stress and worries about the future didn’t exist.

Lagos showed me that when life gets you down, all you really need is a gorgeous beach or two, a drink in your hand and a little bit of faith that things will work out exactly how they ought to.

London’s grandeur, lovely grassy parks and fairytale sights captured my imagination and made me realize how easy it is to feel at home if you try.

And interspersed throughout the incredible international scene is Spain – always Spain – my home, the only place I’ve ever felt like I belonged. Granada is my home city, Sevilla my heart city. I learned how to fall in love in this city. Sevilla’s breathtaking beauty and history, the indescribable Fería de Abril and the man with a smile that’s like rain in the desert – both he and that city will have my heart forever. Of all the places I’ve travelled, Sevilla changed me the most.

 But yet… the awe I feel when I walk the streets of Granada has never been matched. The hikes through the Alpujarras with API, the thundering beauty of the waterfalls in Monachil, the warm, sandy beaches just a few hours away, the nights spent at El Camborio and Granada 10 – these experiences are part of me now. Getting the paper 20 Minutos every morning, dodging puddles during the March monsoon (never rains in Granada, huh? 45 days later we see the sun), laughing over crepes in teterías, savoring churros con chocolate at Café Futbol, haggling over gypsy pants in the Moorish quarters, watching the sun set over the Alhambra – these are moments I could never forget. The Sevillano to whom I gave my heart, the amazing connections with granadinos and, of course, the wonderful people I’ve met from all over the world, from every walk of life, have changed me into the best version of myself that I have ever been. Mi alma esta llena de este lugar – my soul is full of this place – and I finally feel at home.

If I hadn’t gone to Granada, I would be lost. If I hadn’t taken that leap of faith, I would be stuck in Utah, with a closed mind and a complacent – but not happy – heart, and a soul that had no home. If I hadn’t given everything, I would not have gotten everything in return.

I cannot imagine leaving this city that has become my home, but I know that the time is drawing near when I will have to. Granada is my home, my heart, my soul. And I know that someday, someday, I will return. I will always find my way back home. Hasta pronto, Spain. Te quiero.

Niki Harris is a student at the University of Utah and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Niki is studying abroad with API in Granada, Spain. 

Thank You, Seville

The weather is warm, the nights are cool. The city is abuzz with spring fever and the flowers are blooming throughout the many parks. As I walk through the streets, I have this tranquil feeling of being in peace, in the moment and in a truly beautiful place that I call home now, Sevilla. But because not all good things can last forever, before I know it, my time in Sevilla will come to an end. The days are dwindling as I try to spend as much time during my day catching the last fleeting memories with my friends.

During my semester I have found a home in Seville, Spain. I have made a new family within my host family and my friends that are all different but united by their love for this city. In true reflection, it has been the most unbelievable semester. I have lived in the moment for four and a half months, experiencing a new adventure every day. I, of course knew this day would come, but I did not think it would come so soon. My API director warned me that the first month seems long, but after that, it flies by. Fly by it has.

The feeling of having to say goodbye to my new friends and family is heartbreaking. It’s a bittersweet feeling mixed with the excitement of returning home and the sadness of turning the page in this chapter of my life. As I pack my bags, grab a few more tapas with friends and soak up the sun, I can’t help but wonder what the next part of my journey holds for me. I am not the same person that left in January; I have seen so many things and been to so many places that there is no way I will ever be the same.

The best advice I can give to those who will study abroad and someday find themselves in my shoes is that this is part of the journey you take when you decide to study abroad. It is a heartbreaking part, but in retrospect if you think about all the things you have learned, the people that you have met and the ways you have changed, it is all worth it. These moments will be some of the best times of my life and I will never forget the feeling of living my dream. Everyone has a different study abroad experience; mine was far beyond anything I could’ve hoped for. I can honestly say words and pictures cannot do justice in representing the person I have become or the things I have seen along the way.

I will leave Seville with the happiest of memories close to my heart. I will forever be attached to this city and it will be in my heart. As I begin the next part of my journey, I feel prepared to see things with a new perspective, to grow into the person I’ve always wanted to be and to know I will be visiting Seville again someday soon. I couldn’t have chosen a better program and have found a family in the people I met through API; I have seen more of my host country then I could have imagined and learned about myself along the way.

The city’s symbol is NoDo which stands for “No me ha dejado” which, in English, translates to “It has not abandoned me,” and Seville never will. So, thank you Seville for everything you have given, I will miss you dearly but we will see each other soon.

Ariel Stickles is a student at UMass Amherst and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Ariel is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain. 

You Don’t Understand.

It’s hard to find the courage to press pause on life at home to go and spend a semester abroad—I think everyone can understand that.  But what I find even harder is to press pause on life abroad.

I now realize something I wish someone had told me before this semester started: Studying abroad is a time to be selfish. They should have said, “This is YOUR time. This is YOUR time and you deserve it. Your time to travel and find yourself. Your time to meet new people and be alone, both at once. It’s your time, Christine. I’ll be here when you get back. Do what you want with YOUR time, don’t worry about keeping up with life at home.”

Why didn’t anyone say that to me? Or why didn’t I say that to myself?  Maybe because I was scared pre-departure, and because a semester abroad sounds like a long time. Well, in reality, it’s not even close to enough. When you fall in love with a city so deeply, there’s really no amount of time that would be “enough.”

Before I arrived, I couldn’t even imagine what Sevilla looked like. I just heard it was beautiful, and that’s all I kept hoping it would be. Then I got here and in hours time, I knew that the following months would be some of the best in my life. And they were even better.

Now, I notice every lamp post and every tree on the sidewalk because I can’t imagine having to imagine this place in my mind when this is over. I don’t want to think about what it looks like. I don’t want to remember. I just want to hold on to it forever. It needs to be stamped onto the backs of my eyelids. I’m not leaving.

…At least that’s how I wish it could be.  But since I know that the inevitable end is approaching, I have to be selfish about the time that’s left.  I need to avoid Wi-Fi everywhere I go. Facebook can wait.  I need to be out of the house. I need to wake up early and be grateful when the sun is out.  I need to stop feeling badly that I haven’t responded to my friends’ e-mails. This is MY time, and now I know that.  

Christine O’Dea is a student at Hofstra University and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Christine is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain. 

My Foreign Exchange Student Family

My family has hosted two exchange students. Sina lives near Zurich, Switzerland. Nicole lives outside of Rome, Italy. I was lucky to reconnect with my good friends during my time abroad.  

Sina lived with my family while I was a junior in high school. I spent spring break with her family and traveled all over Switzerland. We went to Basel, Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, and the Rhine Falls. Her family was extremely kind to me and made sure I never went hungry.  

Sina and I also traveled to Venice together one weekend in April. We stayed with my mom’s co-worker’s brother who lives in Sacile. The distant connection made for an interesting and exciting time. We ate American food that both Sina and I missed.  Italian food is fantastic, but there is only so much pizza and pasta you can eat during a semester.  

Nicole lived with my family while I was away at college for my freshman year. Nicole showed me around Rome, invited me to a traditional meal with her family, and took me to the beach. Nicole forced me to speak Italian, which was great practice. 

It was nice to see Sina and Nicole. It was great to see familiar faces that I don’t usually have the opportunity to see. I will miss both of them when I am back in the United States.  

Sina and I in Murano (a Venice island):

Nicole and I on the beach in Terracina: 

Travis Mack is a student at North Dakota State University and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Travis is studying abroad with API in Rome, Italy. 

Ole ole ole!

Feria de Abril in Sevilla was a week full of adventure, culture, laughter, rebujitos, and the time of my life.  I loved it so much that I cancelled my weekend trip to Valencia so that I could stay the entire week.

Feria officially starts at midnight on Monday with the alumbrada (lighting) of the portada (the Feria arch).  The energy that night was so high and the smiles on everyone’s faces couldn’t have been greater.  Everyone was ecstatic and well dressed, and on my own I discovered why this week is so important in this city. 

I think the best way I can describe it is the way it felt. 

The mood was contagious.  Every night and day I would look back on the last few hours of my experience at feria and it took my breath away.  When I remembered to breathe, I would forget how to wipe the smile off of my face. 

The colors were alive, and everywhere I looked, all there was to find was perfection.  Perfect feria dresses on every Spanish female, and perfect suits on every male. We kept saying how the feria dresses were kind of like the pair of jeans in the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—they magically fit everyone perfectly!  From toddlers to elderly people and even foreigners, every person I saw wearing typical feria clothing looked flawless. 

The music was loud.  Everyone danced.  Everyone clapped.  It was as if we rehearsed it all one million times before.  It felt as good as it sounded.

The food was, dare I say, addictive.  I was invited into a friend’s friend’s ‘caseta’ (tents where people gather and celebrate), and I had the best tapa I’ve had so far in Spain.  It was fried ham, cheese, and shrimp.  I’ve been searching for something similar ever since.  Nothing has come close.  But the gofres (waffles), churros and chocolate, and other sweets that were sold at feria made up for it.

The carnival rides were worth the fear and lack of gravity.  There were crazy-mouse rides that gave us whiplash, ship rides that swung side to side, bumper cars, pony rides, ferris wheels, haunted houses, and every fair or festival attraction imaginable.

Out of all of the feelings I felt, my favorite was the vibe that I got from the people.  Every person at Feria was genuinely carefree.  Just watching from the outside of a caseta or walking down the street and seeing strangers having the time of their lives was enough to have the time of my life.  Everyone shared and laughed.  Everyone was a friend.  Everyone worked together unknowingly to generate this atmosphere of pure harmony and elated bliss.

This is how life was for seven days.  No work and no school and yet we learned with our own selves about this city and its history.  We saw customs with our own eyes as we witnessed generations of Spanish families passing on the tradition of Feria to anyone who wanted any small part of it.  We got countless offers to learn how to dance Sevillana, invitations into private casetas, and suggestions for more Spanish intercambios to practice the language with.  If people were on that level of generosity on a regular basis, the world would be happier.

On the last and final day of Feria, at midnight on Sunday, there was a firework show.  Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people gathered on the bridges, on rooftops, along the river Guadalquivir, and throughout the city to watch the week’s grand finale.  I spent this time looking back on my experiences during Feria, and in Spain in general.  I was overjoyed and feeling more and more lucky by the second.  So as they say at the end of every important segment in the Sevillana dance, “Ole!” Viva Sevilla!

 Christine O’Dea is a student at Hofstra University and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Christine is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain. 

Learning From the Tourist Flood

In Florence, February and March showers stopped abruptly, seemingly the second April hit. The abrupt change also triggered some other changes, too.

Firstly, the weather turned gorgeous, usually sunny and increasingly warmer. Secondly, after Easter, the tourist season really hit. When I first moved to Florence, I remember thinking that what I heard was right: it was a pretty touristy city, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Come Easter, though, a tidal wave of tourists from all over the globe surged into Florence, flooding the streets; people walking slowly to take in all the sights or enjoying a gelato with scoops perched precariously on cones. Left and right, people come to abrupt stops to take a picture or whip out a map to find their way.

Of the changes I’ve noticed, the most pronounced one is the fact that I cannot walk in a straight line for more than five meters unless it is either a) extremely early in the morning, b) later in the evening, or c) I am on a small side street, even one directly off of a main street. From above, I probably look like a lunatic when I actually can’t avoid going down the main streets: I bob and weave in between people taking pictures on their iPads, circumnavigate an adorable family here and an elderly couple there, speed up and slow down in the places where I cannot get through the throng of people enjoying the city of Florence. I never knew pedestrian rage could exist before I had a long day of classes and a walk home that used to take me five minutes, took over 15 minutes, during which I’m sure I could’ve been granted a patent for a silly walk from John Cleese himself.

Don’t get me wrong, though; I do not mean to sound ungrateful or anti-touristic. In fact, I’m grateful for their presence, now that I reflect back on it. This tourist flood, while frustrating at times, has really forced me to get to know my city, has really put my navigational skills to the test, and at times made me regret being too stubborn to take a map with me. By the time my mom came to visit me in late April, I could take her through a myriad of side streets without worrying about where I’d end up, or if I’d be able to find my way from there because I had getting from point A to point B using primarily smaller side streets down to a science.

My new favorite activity involves three of April’s gifts put together: enjoying the beautiful weather and unabashed people watching while sitting on the Santa Trinita bridge. Better still is adding gelato to the equation, which is where the third April gift comes into the equation: strawberry season is in full swing now, and the gelateria a block down from my apartment happens to have the best strawberry gelato in the city. Conveniently, said gelato place is located right next to the prime people watching bridge where I have now spent many hours basking in the sun, eating gelato, and hanging out with friends.

The influx of tourists has shown me how far I’ve come since I started living here. They’re like looking back at my during my first few weeks here and seeing the mistakes I made and the ways I stuck out (and some ways in which I still stick out). I’ve certainly adapted and learned to fit in better, despite my tallness and blonde-ness, and it made me proud to come to that realization. By no means am I Italian or fluent in Italian, but I can certainly make my way a lot better now without raising quite as much suspicion as when I first arrived.

Kerstin Becker is a student at the University of New Hampshire and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Kerstin is studying abroad with API in Florence, Italy.

Italy, the land of pasta, pizza, and pomodori (tomatoes)

The food in Italy has been written about, dreamed about, copied with the intent of reproduction, and drawn travelers looking for that perfect plate of spaghetti. The pasta is fresh and the pizza is perfect, but they are not the only culinary wonders this boot-shaped country has to offer.

Poplo, piri piri, quaglia, cavallo, all words that I did not want translated. Octopus, piri piri (no translation), quail, and horse. Anthony Bourdain, a legend of wild eating, once said “Good food and good eating are about risk.” Studying abroad is all about trying new things and the food should be no exception. 

Sausage, egg, polenta, and artichoke stem, the second course to the mystery meat pasta.

It has always been a dream of mine to eat octopus, I don’t know why, or where it stemmed from. I stumbled upon a street cart in Padova that just so happened to be serving whole, lightly steamed octopus, with a light spritz of lemon over the top. The rubbery legs were appetizing, the molted yellow brain not so much. 

Gnocchi piri piri, gnocchi is a potato pasta used in many dishes, it is somewhere between a dumpling and a pasta. Piri piri has no translation, but the dish I ordered ended up coming with various Mediterranean sea life with their heads, and eyeballs still attached. 

The moral of the story is: try new things. You never know what your new favorite food from your adopted culture could be. 

Lauren Kremer is a student at the University of Cincinnati and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Lauren is studying abroad with API in Florence, Italy. 

Finding the Dress!

My journey with my friends was to find a flamenco dress this week for Feria. We were told dresses are very expensive, averaging 300 euros. So, we found a place to rent dresses instead for one day. The shop entrance was weird, like a garage or something. I would have never found it on my own. Anyhow, this is what we found…

Finally found something that fits. ;)

It was soooo much fun trying on all these different old dresses. Felt like I was Jane in 27 dresses ;)

But what I didn’t know that Feria was like walking on the red carpet. The best most expensive, beautiful and fashionable dresses you can find in Feria. Each and every girl was wearing a different colorful dress with a cute hair style and accessory. 

We still walked head held high. ;) 

Maysa Bourham is a student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a guest contributor to the API Blog. Maysa is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain. 

Final Reflections On Saying Goodbye

As the semester draws to a close here, I can’t help but notice the wide spectrum of emotions felt among the students. Their views on going home can generally be sorted into three different categories: those who can’t bear the thought of leaving, others that don’t quite feel ready now but expect to feel so at the end of the month and the rest that have been counting down for quite some time now.

As for me, I’ve been counting down for a while now. Spain has been an interesting experience for me this time around. When I visited in high school, I fell in love with everything: the people, the culture, the location — and I couldn’t wait to be a part of it again. I placed it on a pedestal far above that of my views of the U.S. Upon returning to the country this time, I expected these experiences to follow suit with my previous ones. Somehow, however, I am leaving feeling differently.

While I’ve had wonderful opportunities and awesome memories this semester, coming back has sort of taken the glamour away from the country. Living here for four months I have seen the day-to-day not so appealing aspects that I wouldn’t have noticed in a short vacation – but it hasn’t been a bad thing. It has helped me realize that Spain is not too far off from that of the U.S. Yes, it has a different culture, a different language and numerous other aspects that differ, however it’s just another country in the world that contains good things and bad things, like everywhere.

I know that I had to come back to Spain to explore what else was a part of it and now I’ve sort of had my closure with the country. I’ve learned a lot about it and have grown to further appreciate many aspects, and in an unexpected way I have also learned to appreciate far more aspects of life in the United States.

So for my closing statements for this semester I have to say I’ve achieved a greater understanding of the world (and Spanish thankfully!) and now I can move on and keep exploring other parts of the world as well. Until next time, Spain.

Malea Ritz is a student at UMass Amherst and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Malea is studying abroad with API in Granada, Spain. 

The Best Four Months of My Life

I never thought there was anything worse than having to study for finals, but then I realized that I’d have to do this in another country. And the only other thing that’s worse than studying for finals in Italy is realizing that once my finals are over, I’m boarding a plane to fly back to America. I change my mind everyday over whether I’m excited or not to go home. One thing is for sure; I cannot wait to see my family, my boyfriend, my friends, my dog, my university… I could keep this list going. Like how I also can’t wait to eat pancakes that aren’t crepes and to dry my clothes with an actual drying machine.

There are many things that I’ve missed about America during my time here, but the list of things that I’ll miss in Italy is longer (the majority of which are food related of course):

1. The amazing people that I’ve met here.

2. Hanging out and having so many memorable dinners with these great people.

3. Pizza at my two favorite pizza restaurants (Dar Poeta and Pizza Nerone in Trastevere for all of you API students who are travelling to Rome!)

4. Cappuccinos every morning before class with my roommate.

5. Being able to go on runs to Vatican City and the Colosseum.

6. Bruschetta and Tiramisu (I told you most of these would be food related)

7. GELATO. No ice cream will every compare.

8. The Italian lifestyle: leisurely dinners, speaking as much of the language that I possibly can, saying “buonasera” to the same waiter that I pass on my walk to school every day.

There are no words to describe how unforgettable these past four months have been. I’ve been able to travel to places that I’ve only dreamed about by pinning them on my “Travel” board on Pinterest, I’ve prayed with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, I’ve jumped off a 50-foot cliff into the island waters of Greece, I’ve played in the snow in the Swiss Alps, but most of all, I’ve learned so much about myself.

Everyone says that studying abroad is a chance to discover not only the world, but yourself as well. I read all of these API Rome blogs before I came to Italy because I was nervous about what the future had in store. For any student reading this and contemplating whether to go abroad or not, just do it! I promise you, you will not regret a single second of your trip.

These have been the best four months of my life and I still can’t believe I only have ten days left in my favorite city. For now, it’s arrivederci Roma, because I know that out of all of the coins that I’ve thrown in the Trevi Fountain, I will be back in this beautiful Eternal City someday.

Genevieve DiMonda is a student at UMass Amherst and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Genevieve is studying abroad with API in Rome, Italy.

Don’t Let the Stress of Exams Get You Down

Exam time hit my university like lightning. One day it was Easter break, the next I had four papers due in two days. It doesn’t matter if you need perfect grades or if you just need to pass – final papers and exams make even the best student stressed. 

The key to managing the whole thing is to remember where you are. You’re abroad! You should be celebrating! If you’re not careful, even if you are managing the workload, your days could turn into this:

Friday April 12: Worked on research for paper but didn’t get much done.

Saturday April 13: Worked on essay but didn’t really want to.

Sunday April 14: Didn’t do much.

Boring! You could be ‘not doing much’ back home.

So if you’re stressed by studying, remember to get outside every day. Go for a walk. Eat at a different restaurant. Talk to a stranger. 

In a month, you might be glad you did.

Carolyn McKenna is a student at The College of William and Mary and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Carolyn is studying abroad with API in Galway, Ireland. 

7 Little Things

Visiting Paris seems to be on most people’s bucket lists, but there are aspects of the city that usually go unacknowledged most of the time because they’re (understandably) overshadowed by the awe-inspiring landmarks scattered around the city. I decided to compile a mini list of my favorite little things: things that I’ve grown to love during my time here.

1) The Metro: Yes, contrary to popular opinion, I do actually like the metro (but I do have to clarify that this doesn’t necessarily encompass the RER). If you walk up the stairs to the platform at the precise time one train is leaving, you will almost never have to wait more than 5 minutes for another. I can get from my dorm room to my classroom in less than 15 minutes if all goes well. The artistic distinctions between each metro station are also extremely interesting (ie. Cluny La Sorbonne or Concorde).

2) Being able to exit the metro, walk up the stairs, and have an incredible view of Paris’ most famous attractions: This will never get old. Getting off the metro at Charles de Gaulle – Etoile and immediately staring directly at the Arc de Triomphe. Or ascending the stairs at Luxembourg and standing to the right of the Luxembourg Gardens. Or exiting at Denfert-Rochereau and standing across from the Catacombs. Even better is the amount of metro stops that host a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower (I still freak out a little bit every time I see it unexpectedly, especially on line 6 between Passy and Bir-Hakeim).

3) Café Culture: Probably the most quintessential Parisian activity involves coffee, a friend or two, and sitting at a café for hours on end. I’m definitely a fan of a culture that encourages people watching and taking your time; if you don’t ask for the check, you could literally sit there all day and you wouldn’t be pestered.

4) Sundays: I already touched upon this in a previous blog post, but I absolutely adore Sundays in Paris, when the city retreats into its secret corners. My dorm room is located on the fifth floor (fourth in America), but on most days, I can still hear the soft rumble of the tram, the thunderous vibrations of the mopeds, and the commuters in their cars honking their horns at pedestrians. But on Sundays, it is noticeably more quiet in my room. Walking aimlessly through parks is a major activity for Parisians on Sundays. To me, it feels like an aura of relaxation encircles the city on these mornings.

5) The Marais: Not only is Le Marais filled with historical points of interest (such as Hotel de Sully, a former royal residence, remnants of a medieval fortress, and Place des Vosges, a royal square), it also hosts some of THE best falafel sandwiches (Lenny Kravitz even recommends one of them so you know they’re good) and affordable but quality shopping spots.

6) Bakeries: It is physically impossible to walk more than one block and not see a boulangerie-patisserie. I’ve eaten at many of these and have never been disappointed; you literally cannot go wrong with any bakeries in this city because they’re all delicious. Try a chaussure des pommes (apple), pain au chocolat, macaroons of any flavor, or a tartellete aux poires (pear).

7) Beautiful Architecture: No matter where you are in this city, you’ll probably stumble into an elaborately designed building, whether it be an apartment building or a church.

Lauren Montano is a student at the Stonehill College and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Lauren is studying abroad with API in Paris, France.

Maratona di Roma

Rome’s 42.195 km race was something I was looking forward to for months.  I signed up for the race in December and began training immediately.  I wanted a unique experience during my time abroad. 

Running has been a large part of my life ever since age 13.  I feel free when I run.  I am a firm believer in that exercise is the best stress reliever known to man.  Being able to jog all around Rome was something I could hardly wait for. 

About three weeks into my time in Rome, I experienced a sharp pain in my left knee after one of my long training runs.  I have been hurt before, but the pain always goes away by the next day.  When I headed out for a shorter run the next day at the Circus Maximus, the pain was still there, and it had only intensified. 

I played it safe and took a week off with absolutely no running.  Optimistically, I was ready for a jog along the Tiber River.  Unfortunately the pain in my left knee accompanied me on the run.  I started exercising indoors on stationary bikes and ellipticals only.  The feeling of being trapped inside with the wonders of Rome right outside was a tough adjustment. 

The pain began to be inconsistent.  I would feel fine one day, and the next it would be back.  The race was getting closer and the injury wouldn’t go away.  It’s important to note that the pain is nothing extremely serious, but after 42.195 km in one day, it would quickly turn into something serious. 

It was a difficult decision, but deep down I knew I could not run in the Maratona di Roma.  I couldn’t get my money back, so I decided to jog the first two kilometers so I could take some pictures of the event. 

It was incredible to see a community as large as Rome come together for the race.  The major streets were closed, spectators lined the entire course, and the cheers echoed throughout the city. 

I wish I could have ran in the marathon, but now I am even more excited for the day when I finally am able to complete my first marathon.  I know I made a smart decision by not running the race.  Maybe I’ll even come back to Rome one day to finish the 42.195 kilometers.   

Travis Mack is a student at North Dakota State University and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Travis is studying abroad with API in Rome, Italy. 

Packing Advice From A Study Abroad Student

I am currently at the halfway mark of my study abroad journey, and I am quite sad about it. There are many perks of studying abroad. For example, I am writing this blog post while on a train in London (I am studying in Florence, Italy). How cool is that? I was inspired to write this post by my clunky, bright pink, suitcase. It hates the stairs and catches on just about everything and everyone. 

Must Pack:

- A duffle bag or backpacking backpack that holds a fairly large amount. It will take you from a weekend trip to spring break, and everywhere in between. 

Hint: Many students fly budget airlines while abroad. Who can resist a 10 euro plane ticket that promises to whisk you away someplace brand new and marvelous! The downside is baggage restrictions. On many of the budget airlines, it is a smaller than average and only one bag total is allowed. When your bag is just a little bit over, you can be forced to check it to the tune of 50 euros and up. My recommendation is to check the baggage restrictions before you go.

- A winter coat. The average temperature in Italy generally does not call for a winter coat, but I would have been one happy girl to have had a big puffy coat –just like all of the Florentines and their dogs. Even if you do not need a coat in your host city, weekend trips to countries covered in snow can be miserable in thin summery layers.

- Warm socks and gloves of the thickest wool variety (if you want to be less picky, any type, wool or not, will work). Standing in line to see, The Anne Frank Museumin Amsterdam was well worth it, but I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes by the time I inched my way inside. (I wish I could say this was an exaggeration). On top of being outside, the apartments and homes tend to be tile and sparsely heated in Florence.

-An extra pair of shoes and an extra jacket. Sometimes the rain soaks through everything you are wearing and it just won’t dry. Other times you may feel daring and end up in the Venetian Lagoon.

Hint: If you make your way to Venice avoid the slimy steps leading to the Lagoon, it is very easy to slip into the water. I know from a very cold and wet experience!

- A sling across bag. Something big enough to hold everything, without being obnoxious. It is easy to keep in front of you (to deter pickpockets) and keeps you hands free. As in, one hand free for gelato the other free snap the perfect shot.

- A camera and batteries. They can be quite pricy in Europe if you forget or break yours. (Sometimes an iPhone is the best and smallest camera. Remember the photos you are sure to take, whatever the destination, will take up a lot of memory)

- A journal. To record all of the wonderful memories you will surely be making, starting on the plane.

- A multi-subject notebook. The notebooks in Florence can be quite expensive and they are mostly graph paper. I’m a notebook snob and had to shell out more euros that I normally would just for a school notebook.

Things that I found particularly helpful: 

- Envelopes. Sending all of your postcards in bulk is the cheapest way to do it. I was sending an average of six postcards from each city that I visited. That totals 12 euros for stamps on top of the charge of the post cards. Now I put them all in an envelope. It takes my 12 euros down to three euros worth of stamps to send all six.

- A hat. When a hostel has a particularly raunchy shower, or it’s cold out, something to cover your head is a great option. (Also I love hats!)

- Dark colors. I did not follow this advice. But I quickly changed my wardrobe choices when I realized that the advice was to help me avoid being, “that American.” The one that complains about the foam on their cappuccino and only eats at McDonalds. There are days when I don’t mind being marked as American, but it makes it a lot harder to practice the language when you stick out. I have found that when I wear dark colors Italians tend to speak to me in Italian (people usually speak in English when I choose to stand out). My blonde hair and pale skin are about as far from the typical Italian as it gets, but when I dress the right way, I blend in. 

- iPhone or other smartphone. Many people turn off the data plan with their iPhone, or leave it on airplane mode. It is a way to avoid the high data charges while abroad.  FaceTime and iMessage can be a really convenient and cheap/free way to talk to those at home. 

-The Google maps app. When lost, it comes in handy. All you have to do is find a place with Wi-Fi and route your destination. When you leave Wi-Fi, the app will still trace where you are. Also helpful, the app will pull up your location when the app is opened, thus you have your whereabouts in the form of a blinking blue dot. This app has saved me more than once. 

- A reusable bag (or two) that folds up. There is a charge for plastic bags at the grocery store, and they don’t always give you a bag at the markets. My reusable bag is always handy whenever I leave my apartment. It also doubles as a bag for my dirty clothes when traveling. 

- A big, old, warm, comfy, sweatshirt. The apartments can be really cold and the only thing to fix it is a big warm sweatshirt. (big, old, warm, and comfy, are personal preferences – pick and choose as you please)

- Space bags. From getting things home to packing for a trip, they help immensely. 

- At least 10 pounds of extra room or 10 pounds of things that you are willing to donate. You will buy things. Like that dirndl in Germany, sometimes you just have to have it (I know I do).  

- A small towel. Most hostels, apartments, and dorms, do not provide a towel. A scarf works in a pinch, but nothing works like a nice absorbent towel.

- That one thing from home. For me it was my pillow and comforter, (I put it in a space bag). Any one object from home will bring you comfort on a day, that you are sure to have, when you miss home (even if the only thing you miss is your big comfy bed!)

I wouldn’t recommend packing:

- Photos in frames. They take up a lot of room and are heavy. However, just plain photos are useful for brightening up a sterile room. 

- A closed mind. Things can be different - not better or worse - just different. Studying abroad is a great way to grow and learn. You must set inhibitions aside…only then can you gain all that the world has to offer. 

Lauren Kremer is a student at the University of Cincinnati and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Lauren is studying abroad with API in Florence, Italy. 

Semana Santa: The Busiest Week Of The Year

“The busiest week of the year!” is how my host mom (along with every other Spaniard I’ve met) has described Semana Santa since I arrived.  The phrase “muy importante” was repeated more times than I could count whenever Holy Week came up in conversation.

It was throughout the last few days that I have felt the most cultural so far this semester. Not just because I was able to experience this week in Sevilla, but also because I felt like a local, not a tourist. Sevilla is my “home,” and with that in mind, I felt more connected to the culture in general and to this annual tradition as a whole.

In Christianity, Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter and one of the most important religious holidays. This week in Sevilla has been the most crowded and alive as I have seen it so far. It’s almost impossible to find availability in any hostel or hotel, and unquestionably impossible to even walk down Avenida de la Constitucion in the middle of the day. 

The areas around the Catedral were lined with rows of seats, and in the windows hung beautiful red flags, many with “NO8DO” sewn into them. There were food stands selling candy, waffles, peanuts, and toys. A general aura of happiness and faith was present, even at 3 am when people were lining the streets to see processions.

During processions, it was loud and overflowing with families, tourists, and visitors from all over the world. Processions are similar to parades and organized by religious brotherhoods and churches. They are organized with similar orders, with up to 2,500 people marching (Nazarenos).  

A large cross opens the ceremony, followed by a marching band. Then, in pairs, the Nazarenos walk side-by-side wearing uniform attire: white robes, a pointed hood with the colors differing amongst brotherhoods, and carrying a tall candle. Nazarenos range in age from young children with their parents walking alongside them, to older people who have participated in processions for decades. 

The Paso is next. Pasos are enormous, very heavy floats with life-size, carved and painted religious images. They are carried by costaleros (up to 50 depending on its weight!), and in my opinion the most impressive part of the processions.  Pasos are marched in this order: a religious scene, Jesus Christ, and finally the Virgin Mary.

On Thursday night (Holy Thursday) began the most important part of Semana, La Madrúga.  I went to a procession that took almost four hours to watch, while the entire procession itself was 14 hours.

The dedication of some of the Nazarenos was extraordinary to say the least. I can hardly imagine staying awake for 14 hours, and yet many of them do not wear shoes or drink water throughout these routes. They walk in silence, pray the rosary, and concentrate on this very traditional religious ceremony.

My favorite part of watching the processions was seeing the traditions that have developed throughout the years. Children made up the front rows of the parade viewers, which I thought was unusual the first time I saw a procession—I don’t think that I could sit still for 4 hour parades at the age of five. Then, I saw the children going up to the Nazarenos and patting them on the shoulder and putting their hands out. Many of the Nazarenos were handing out small candies to the children! The man next to me told me that in order to quench their thirst during long processions, Nazarenos carry “dulces” (candies) with them, and that the kids often ask for them during processions. Nazarenos also hand out small cards with religious images and the names of their brotherhoods/churches, but I think the kids were after nothing but the candy.

 The other fun tradition I saw was children making balls of wax. In the same way they asked for candy, they would hold their hands out to have candle wax poured, with which they would form small, colorful balls of wax.If I wasn’t trying so hard to fit in as a local, I think I would have made one myself.

On Holy Saturday, I attended mass at 11 pm until 1 am.  Although it was in Spanish, it was beautiful to see so many people come together and take this holiday so seriously.All week, people were dressed in their best clothes—which might be hard to imagine since everyone already dresses so nicely on an average day. Women wore all black with La Mantilla—similar to a veil—while men wore suits and slicked their hair back neatly.  Children were even cuter than usual, with their tights and dresses, and most siblings with matching red outfits—I would come to Sevilla for Semana Santa just to see the beautifully dressed children.

After a long week full of activities, processions, and a very crowded Sevilla, I ended the week spending time with my host family—as did many of the locals on Easter. Before this week, I wasn’t sure what to expect of this holiday, but after experiencing it myself, I would certainly recommend it for anyone abroad during this time. And maybe I’m biased, but I would also suggest coming to Sevilla…

Christine O’Dea is a student at Hofstra University and a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog. Christine is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain.