API’s got Kred ~

API has been listed as a top #studyabroad influencer by Kred - w00t!

Kred is a visual measure of social media influence. Find out more at Kred.com.

Rome if you want to

API is excited to announce two great new incentives to study abroad in Rome at John Cabot University (JCU) - as if you really needed an extra incentive! ;)

Beginning this summer (2013) and for each term (fall, spring, and summer), students who are accepted on an API/JCU program will receive a meal plan good for 20 on-campus meals included in their program fee.

Additionally, students who apply early (February 11 for summer, February 25 for fall, and September 30 for spring) will receive an “Early Bird Scholarship” of up to $350 off of their program fee!

Two great reasons to study abroad with API in Rome. Now, what are you waiting for?  Apply today!

API spring 2013 bloggers

Thank you to all students who applied for our API student blogger positions! We had a large number of qualified candidates and had a very difficult time in selecting students whom we felt were the best overall fit for the role.

With this said, we are very excited to announce the five talented API students who will be featured on the API blog as our official spring API student bloggers!

As we had so many great applicants, we selected an additional group of students to be our featured API student contributors. API student contributors will be featured on the API Tumblr blog during their time abroad. We are excited to follow their journeys

Learning to Learn: A Study Abroad Conclusion

Michael Tolan is an student blogger from Carleton College, studying abroad with API in Rome, Italy.

It’s hard to believe, but my time in Europe has come to an end.

Although it’s cliché to say, the roughly three months I’ve spent here has just absolutely flown by.

That first day when I deliriously walked around Rome in my jet-lagged stupor seems both incredibly distant and remarkably contemporary.

I can clearly envision those first few days when everything seemed so foreign (literally, it was of course, because I was actually in a foreign country), new and exciting—the grocery store which was located in the basement of a clothing store, how there are an incredulous amount of excellent gelato shops everywhere, how this city is so ridiculously old (that actually continues to excite me, the nerdy Classics major that I am)—and it seems like it was all…well, not three months ago at least.

Three weeks, tops.

On the other hand, when I really stop and think about it, I’ve seen so much, tasted so much, been a part of so much, met so many interesting people, and had so many experiences, both profound and simply entertaining and light-spirited.

I’ve also learned so much.  I’m not going to list off every single thing that I’ve learned over the course of these three months—I’m not sure there’s room enough for that, and I’m not sure that I’m worth that much of your reading time.  But I do want to impart what I feel is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned while abroad, and that is (and this is very meta) quite simply to learn.  It sounds weird, I know, but bear with me.

A study abroad experience affords one with an incredible amount of opportunities to experience greatness, to have meaningful interactions with other people from your culture and from another one, to see incredible sights of new and interesting parts of the world.  But far too often, I think, we simply ooh and ahh over a cool site, take our picture with it, and then leave.  Or meet someone really interesting, say “Wow, that was awesome!” before going on our merry way.  I know I’ve done this, and I’m sure others have as well.  When we do this, though, we can let potentially transforming and powerful events simply wash over us, never taking anything more away than a great memory or a sweet picture.  What I suggest is that we take time to stop, reflect and take stock of what’s happened (or still happening, for that matter), because oftentimes we can take something much greater away than memories of pictures.

Now, don’t get me wrong; pictures, memories and souvenirs are all great and important.   And not every experience you have at home or abroad is going to merit all this introspection I’m talking about.  That great gelato you had at Old Bridge by the Vatican might’ve been really, really good (It is.  Seriously.), but it wasn’t exactly “life-changing” (I admit though, it was close).   What I’m saying though is that our experience can be defined by more than just the experience itself or its memory, but what we learned about ourselves or the world around us based on that experience.

I’ll give an example; When I was in Torino over Thanksgiving, I meandered up to this church overlooking the Po River and the large and spacious Piazza Vittorio Veneto, bustling with life on a chilly Thursday evening, unaware of the major American holiday.  It was a beautiful sight to say the least.  But instead of just snapping a picture and moving on, I stayed a bit longer.  I thought about how absolutely ridiculous it was that here I was, in a place as exotic sounding as Torino, Italy on Thanksgiving Night looking at the Po river and life go by.  How much had changed from one year ago, at the Thanksgiving of 2011.  How I would have never expected to be in Torino, let alone Italy, at this time one year ago.  And then I thought about if things have changed this much in one year, who knows where I’ll wind up over the course of the next year?

These are just a few of the questions and thoughts that popped into my head during this one single short moment of reflection, and they were so powerful, so meaningful to me.  And that’s what I think the most valuable lesson I’ve learned here is.  I’ve learned to stop for a moment and learn—learn about yourself, learn about how far you’ve come, learn about the world around you all in these moments of reflection.  They don’t even have to be these big, triumphant experiences—they can happen in mundane times too.  Nor do you have to be abroad to have them.  I’ve just learned all this while abroad, and I plan on applying this lesson throughout my life during my last two weeks here and the rest of my life.  The experiences that ultimately stand the test of time for us are the ones through which we’ve gained something greater and powerful—and I’ve certainly had my fair share of those during my past few whirlwind months here.  And for that, I’m so grateful.

Tour Guide or Tourist?

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

When I decided I wanted to study abroad in Madrid, one of the most exciting aspects of this city was the fact that it held an enormous international airport. I felt like the world was at my fingertips, and just one inexpensive flight away. So many of my friends that have studied in Europe have talked about their exciting travels to other countries. However, as time has passed I found myself wanting to travel less, and wanting to be in “my city” more.

The amazing part about study abroad is you are not just “on vacation” in a different country; you are truly living there. You become completely immersed in the language, food, and every day life of that place you are living. I find such satisfaction in feeling so at home in my daily routines like taking the metro, or doing my homework in a local coffee shop. And don’t even get me started on how excited I get when people ask ME for directions.

For Thanksgiving, my parents came to Madrid to visit me and explore the city. The two weekends before their visit I stayed in Madrid. I began taking long walks and exploring new neighborhoods and places. I was nervous for my parents to come; I wanted to make sure I took them to all the most important and exciting places this city has to offer. I wanted to be a tour guide rather than a tourist.

When they got here, it felt like the ultimate test. My parents don’t speak a word of Spanish, and though parts of Madrid can very touristy, many people do not speak any English. I took on the role of translator, tour guide, and food connoisseur. I felt confident in my speech and happy that I knew exactly where I wanted to take them and what I wanted to show them. One afternoon, I brought them to my host mom’s apartment where she had generously prepared a large traditional Spanish meal. My host mom doesn’t speak a word of English, so I was responsible for relaying what she wanted to say to them and vis versa. Of course there were a couple of times I stumbled on pronunciation or words, but it was amazing to be able to bridge the language gaps of two groups of people from completely different cultural backgrounds. We talked about the differences in our cultures, politics, every day life and about the things we shared in common. It was a great feeling having my family meet my host mom, someone who now feels like an extended part of my family.

I feel like if I had spent almost every weekend traveling, which was my original intention when coming to Europe, the weekend I spent with my family I would have gone very differently. I would have felt like just another tourist, and not a tour guide. It is definitely important to travel and discover new places and cultures when studying abroad, just try not to forget about your “home” country, too. I have a month left in this amazing city, and I wouldn’t trade a second spent in a coffee shop, on the metro, or at local museum for a moment spent in another county. If you are a person who is from Madrid you are deemed a “madrileño” or madrileña, for girls. Though I know I am not technically “from” Madrid, and I’ll always be a Boston girl, Madrid will always feel like home in a way now. I’d like to think part of me has become a madrileña.

La Cocina de Isabel: Isabel’s Kitchen

One of my biggest fears about study abroad was about the food! I was so worried that I wouldn’t like the food my host mom cooked, or that she would force me to eat way too much, as I’ve heard is the cultural custom here in Spain. To my great excitement, my host mom, Isabel, is an AMAZING cook! Almost everything we eat is healthy, and she never gets mad at me for not finishing my plate. She even teaches me how to cook my favorite dishes so I can bring the recipes home to my family :)

Here are a few of the dishes we eat for lunch and dinner every day, which are typical of Spanish cuisine!

Ensalada: A simple salad of greens, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, and salt

Crema de Zanahoria: Cream of carrot soup with hard boiled egg on top

Arroz con Carne: Meat with rice, and fried pork chop

Carne con Patatas Fritas: Meat with homemade French fries

Espaguetis con Huevo: Spaghetti with mushrooms, bacon, and a poached egg

Berenjena Frita: Fried eggplant

Kristie Dickenson is studying abroad with API in Seville, Spain and is a regular contributor to the API Tumblr blog.

A lesson on being where your feet are…

My father is the type of person that used an Atlas map as his primary means for navigation over a GPS until about a year ago. He’s the type of person that keeps that same Atlas map in the backseat of his car in the off chance that the GPS tries to drive us into the Atlantic Ocean. I remember as a child whenever we drove to a new place I would sit in the back with an Atlas map that was bigger than me, shouting out what I thought was the most direct route to our intended destination. I always thought my father to be somewhat old-fashioned. When I first arrived to Spain I laughed at his confusion as he held his iPad up to his nose and rivaled in the fact that we were talking “face-to-face” (or in my case, nose-to-face), while I was on a different continent. However, as the time has passed in Spain, I have begun to realize that perhaps my father is less old-fashioned, and wiser than I realized. Before I left for Spain, I was self-admittedly addicted to technology. I had all the gadgets: iphone, MacBook, iPod; and all the social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pintrest, Gmail. You name it and I probably had it. Being in a foreign country, unless you are willing to spend thousands a month on phone-bills (which I’m not), you have to break this technological addiction, and put down your phone.

I have been pleasantly surprised with how little I have missed mobile technology. Of course there has been a few times where having Google maps would have been immensely helpful. But instead of relying on my phone, I have been forced to have conversations with Spanish people to ask for directions. Sure, there have been a few mishaps; for example: asking where “Tierra” was in Spanish, and later realizing that Tierra is not only a burrito restaurant in Madrid, but also means “earth” in Spanish (which explains why some people pointed to the ground). Despite a little confusion, not having my phone has encouraged me to interact with the world and people around me. When I want to go to a new place, my map of Madrid and Metro map are my best friends. It brings me back to the long car rides with my Dad, trying to find the most direct route and making an adventure of the trip instead of the destination. Being abroad has truly helped me to learn how to “be where my feet are”. By this, I mean I feel like while I am out and about here, I am disconnected from the distractions of technology, and focused on the present and what I am experiencing at the moment. I feel like I can stand in Parque del Retiro in Madrid, and feel content where I am, and enjoy the company I stand with.

Of course I am not completely disconnected, as Internet allows me to keep in contact with my loved ones at home. While I’m in my homestay I have the beautiful ability to Skype my little brother, message my best friends, and share photos with loved ones thousands of miles away. I can already confirm that going abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made to-date. I have learned so much about myself, and one of the most important lessons is in being where my feet are. While I am walking on the beaches of Santander, I am not “liking” a status, or tweeting; I am walking on the beaches of Santander. When I am in the Prado learning about El Greco, I am relishing in the fact that I am standing in front of one of the greatest artist’s works, not re-pinning a post. I am where my feet are today.

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

First Week in Firenze

Hello, folks! I’m not going to lie, I’ve been in Florence for a little over a week now. I decided to wait to write until I finished my first day of classes so I could compare the orientation week to the beginning of class.

The first week in Florence is fun. You’re in a new city with an unlimited amount of things at your disclosure. No work, no school yet, just play. You may not realize it at first, but you are overwhelmed by the amount of things surrounding you. The food, culture, nightlife, language…you name it, you’re overwhelmed by it. 

Being surrounded by a language you don’t know can be very frustrating. I highly recommend attempting to learn the basics of the Italian language before you come here. Try to take things slow. Take in the sites at a slow pace. There’s far too much surrounding you. Squeezing it in as soon as possible does not give the culture the credit it deserves. The buildings and works of art are breathtaking. I know you want to see it all, but save some for your next trip to Florence. You’ll notice as you’re walking down the street, there are a surprising amount of gelato and leather shops. No matter what, if you are female, someone will call after you saying “Ciao, bella!” and say that you’ve dropped their heart. Ignore them. At first it’s flattering, but after a few days, it gets old.

During the first week, you’ll have multiple guided tours. GO ON AS MANY AS YOU CAN! They will help you learn your way around and help avoid getting lost in the future. Chances are, you’ll still get lost a few times, but at least you’ll be able to recognize where you are, thanks to the tours. Unlike the U.S., Florence is not structured like a grid. The streets change names halfway through and they are set up in clusters of triangles. If you get lost, you will most likely always end up back at the Duomo. So make sure you always start your adventures there or at another very recognizable spot, such as the Ponte Vecchio. If you truly can’t find your way, don’t be afraid to ask. “Buon giorno/ Buona sera, non parlo Italiano. Parle Inglese?” If you don’t speak Italian, this is the best way to ask for something. Just recognizing the Italian language will show natives that you’re trying and you’ll gain their respect almost instantly. They will be more receptive to help you find your way if you begin your conversation with their language. Don’t be too proud to ask. If you don’t ask, chances are, you’ll become even more lost than you were before.

You’ll find out that as your classes start up, your night life slows down dramatically. Don’t worry, it’s not going to stop completely, but if your intentions upon arriving here were to party every night, then you’ll quickly find yourself burnt out and broke. Slow your roll. You have three months of weekends to partake in the nightlife and explore. Also, you’ll need an extra boost of energy to keep you going, whether it’s an extra cup of expresso or a midday nap. The nightlife in Florence is very different from in the States. You won’t even realize it, but some nights you’ll walk into your apartment and find out that it’s 4 a.m. The combination of staying up that late, walking everywhere and getting up for a 9 a.m. class will run you down. Don’t burn the candle at both ends. Try to keep a balance between going out, getting your school work done and getting up for early classes.

Remember to do as the Italians do and take things slow. Relax. Enjoy your life and your time in Firenze! 

Ciao,

Liana

Liana Greene is studying abroad with API in Florence, Italy, and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

My study abroad “moment”

It is my opinion that most people that study abroad have a “moment” before they leave. This hypothetical “moment” is the instance where you ask yourself what the heck you were thinking leaving everything and everyone you knew behind, to live in a completely foreign place without the comforts of your home. For some people it might happen when you’re packing your suitcase. (Note: Don’t over-pack! Wearing a shirt more than once is less embarrassing than your suitcase taking you out at baggage claim.) Other people might have the “moment” when they are driving to the airport, or saying goodbye to friends or family. For me, I didn’t think I would have this freak out “moment.” Before my departure date I had remained calm, cool, and collected. Then it happened.

I was about three hours into my flight to Madrid when my flight attendant stopped at my aisle with tray of food. She then asked me “prefieres bistec, o pollo?” (Translation: do you prefer steak or chicken?) My heart started to beat fast, and though I understood the question, I was immediately overwhelmed. “Uh..chicken…I mean, pollo.” I responded frantically. I started anxiously looking around at other people on my plane, expecting them to exchange understanding looks with the seemingly crazy and overtired girl staring at them. But instead I received in return only blank stares, and the soft snoring of the women next to me. How could she sleep at a time like this? I thought to myself bitterly. (Note: If possible get an aisle seat, there is nothing more awkward than trying to sneak past a sleeping person to get to the bathroom.)

Despite the mini panic attack on the plane, it was nothing some emergency chocolate and third eye blind couldn’t fix. Before I knew it, I was in Madrid, meeting my amazing API directors, and the friends I would be spending the next four months with. Everyone was in the same position as I was: nervous as ever and anxious to make friends. Now I sit in my beautiful homestay reminiscing on how ridiculously scared I was that first day, and I can’t help but smile. I have only been in Spain for about two weeks and I have already met some of the most interesting people, and experienced so many new things culturally. (I also might be three or four pounds heavier than two weeks ago; Spanish food is too good!)

I remember how terrified I felt leaving the people I had relied on for so long. While home, if I got lost or needed anything I could always just call my parents or friends. Part of the reason I chose to go abroad through a program and to a place where I didn’t know anyone was because I wanted to gain independence. I wanted to have the confidence and self-assurance to encounter a problem and solve it independently. There are so many things I could say about the people I have met, and the places I have gone. However, the most shocking thing I have noticed about myself is how self-reliant I have become. Going abroad is scary for many people; there isn’t really a way around that. Conquering that fear of the unknown and accepting that your not going to have all the answers has been the key to success for my abroad experience thus far. If you get lost in the metro and don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time, take a walk—explore a new neighborhood. If you have no clue what the food that’s sitting in front of you is, close your eyes and try it—you might just like it. If your worried about how ridiculous your Spanish accent is, keep trying—eventually you’ll be able to roll those r’s. And maybe you will make a few little mistakes, maybe even get lost a time or two; but I have found that in these imperfect situations come some of the most perfect moments.

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

API welcomes new #studyabroad bloggers

Heart Matters: How Long Distance Relationships Prove Beneficial When You Study Abroad

By Tess Pajaron

The general consensus these days seems to be that long distance relationships just don’t work. There are all the usual concerns about leading separate lives, not having anything to talk about anymore, connecting with different people and losing focus on the reason for the distance; your studies or work.

While these are certainly very real concerns, long distance relationships can work, and not only can they work, they can actually be beneficial to your study abroad experience and help you to learn something valuable about yourself.

If you are passing up the opportunity to study abroad just because you are concerned about what it might do to your relationship, you may need to gain some perspective.

First of all, as hard as it may be, ask yourself whether your relationship is worth giving up the opportunity of a lifetime for. If your answer to this question is “no” then you should not be giving up your freedom for it.

On the other hand, if you answered “yes” you can be fairly sure that your relationship is strong enough to survive a long distance period.

Sure, there will be the lonely moments at the end of a busy day; there will be pangs of jealousy when you see your partner enjoying life without you and there will be the emotional times when you wonder why you left home at all.

However, all of these things, as difficult as they may be, will ultimately make you stronger and deepen the relationship you have with your partner. Here are some of the main benefits that a long distance relationship can have while you study abroad:

You learn to be more independent.

A long distance relationship can teach you a lot about yourself. Many people who are in love experience such strong feelings that they think they cannot live without their other half.

Living on your own for a while helps you to realize that you can live on your own, and you can be happy doing it. Of course you love that person and prefer to be with them, but you don’t need them in order to live a fulfilling life.

This realization can actually improve your relationship, because believe it or not, co-dependence and neediness are not healthy for you or your partner and can eventually cause feelings of resentment or jealousy.

When you are on your own, you are forced to do things yourself rather than rely on another person for certain things. This helps you to discover who you are and causes you to think about your own personal values and goals in life.

You have more time to focus on your studies.

Yes, there will be the Skype calls, the lengthy emails and the moments spent thinking about how much you miss your beau. But despite this, not having your significant other around means you have more time to immerse yourself in your studies and embrace the new experience.

The time you would have spent loafing on the sofa together can be put towards your degree. You can go to the library, talk to your professors and discuss new concepts with fellow students, all without ever having to feel guilty that you aren’t spending enough time with your partner.

Your emotional bond will be strengthened.

Many people these days place a lot of importance on the physical aspect of a relationship, and while it is certainly an important part of it, the emotional aspect should not be neglected.

Being far away from your partner gives you a chance to connect on a different level. You have to use your words to communicate rather than your actions, and this can serve to bring you closer together and help you to understand one another much better.

Communication is one of the most important things in a relationship, and distance is one of the best ways to develop better communication skills.

You’ll have to learn to share your feelings as well as take the time to listen to your partner’s feelings and thoughts, and you’ll probably learn a few things about each other that you didn’t even know.

You may also have to deal with different time zones, which makes your contact less frequent, but can help you to appreciate each other more.

To sum this all up, long distance relationships are possible; it just depends on your perspective and whether or not you are willing to give up your preconceived ideas about how a relationship should be in order to make it work.

Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind Open Colleges. She has traveled to many different countries and has her fair share of studying abroad and aims to share her learnings through her experiences.You can follow her on Twitter @tessedel.

Portugal!

What a weekend! We had our international excursion to Porto, Portugal which is about five hours by bus from Salamanca. I realized before we left that the trip would be my first experience in a country where the primary language was not English or Spanish, which was kind of a shock. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that kind of confusion reading signs or hearing conversations in the street. Our program director told us, however, that many Portugese people have some idea of English because English TV shows and movies are subtitled in Portugese instead of dubbed over, as it is in Spain. Even so, it was kind of an awkward guessing game for every interaction with a Portugese person for what language to use. Usually we started in English then tried Spanish or mumbled the only Portugese word we knew which is “Obrigada” (Obrigado if you are a man) and means “Thank you.” I still don’t really understand the pronunciation of written words (a lot of accent marks I’ve never seen before) but it was fun to hear and the Portugese people we interacted with were all very nice and friendly. 

Porto is a city divided by a river and it is on the coast. The first night we were in Porto we walked around the city and down to the river which is breathtaking by night with the buildings, boats, and the impressive “Ponte Luiz I” which is one of the three bridges in town. I’m in love with the buildings and the river and the boats and just everything about Porto.

For dinner we found a restaurant on the river and I had bacalhau, which is cod. It was super salty, but still good as I was starving.

The next day was beach day! It was colder and windier than the other beaches we’ve been too, but still a nice day to enjoy the sun.

For lunch we found the best chicken sandwich ever plus a milkshake and the typical little pastry of Portugal, which is filled with custard and looks like this:

For dinner I had Francesinhas, which is a dish you can only find in Porto, apparently. It’s basically a bunch of meat (3 or 4 kinds, mine had pork, ham, and what looked like hot dog), toast, mucho cheese, and sauce which is like tomato sauce and beer. Basically. Oh and batatas fritas (fries). The triple meat part was a lot for someone who’s usually a vegetarian but it was an experience. 

With our free time we went walking around to pretty much every souvenir shop in Porto (lots of tile, ceramic things, rooster themed things dish towels and table cloths) and crossed the river to look at little stands along the river. The view as the sun set made it extra awesome. 

We also stopped in at the train station which is impressive because the walls are all blue tile and each wall is a different significant event in Portugal’s history. We went by ourselves, so we weren’t really sure what we were looking at, but it was pretty anyway:

On Sunday we went to El Palacio de la Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) in Porto and had a quick tour which was beautiful but no pictures were allowed. We then went to the Sandeman Winery. Porto is of course famous for it’s Port Wine, which we learned is wine that’s interrupted in the fermentation process essentially, and pure, tasteless, odorless brandy alcohol is added instead. We had a tour of the Sandeman building (tons of Port everywhere), then got to try it! Some of the vintage wines have been there since 1904! We learned a lot and it was exciting to see what is a big part of Porto’s history. We learned that the traditional boats on the river (in the picture above) are now basically just used for tourists but were once used to transport the wine from where it’s harvested in the Douro Valley to Porto where it is aged. Now the wine gets to Porto by truck. 

On the tour: If you look on the left (sorry it’s dark) you can see our tour guide dressed in the hat and cape as in seen in the logo. Pretty sweet. 

Trying Port!

It was a great weekend and there will be lots of pictures of Porto to come. I’d definitely like to return to Portugal in the future.

Emma Lieuwen is from Western Washington University and studying with API in Salamanca Spain. She is a regular contributor to the API Tumblr Blog.

7 things to make room for while packing for study abroad

From my traveling experiences, I have compiled a list of 7 things that were the most important and useful things that I had the pleasure to travel with.

7) A good rolling carry-on bag

Originally, I stuck to using my backpack to travel with. It worked just fine and had plenty of room (with careful packing of course) but then I discovered the rolling carry-on. There is more room, less back pain, and more ease. Gals, just pack a purse inside and once you get to your destination, use the purse to hold your things to get around. Another plus? It’s easier to secure with a little lock to protect your things while you’re in a hostel.

6) A sturdy water bottle

Staying hydrated is very important especially when you’re traveling. Your body probably isn’t ingesting the healthiest of foods nor are you probably getting enough sleep. My personal favorite is the Nalgene wide-mouthed water bottle. You can drop those things all over the place and they’ll never crack. They also hold a hefty 32 ounces of water. Along with the water bottle, I’d recommend a splashguard. There were countless times that my body got a drink of water before my mouth did. Spend the extra 6 bucks and save yourself the unexpected shower.

5) Lightweight underwear that dries quickly

Many homes don’t have dryers so you shouldn’t count on them while you travel either. You can re-wear the same 2 shirts and pair of jeans for days but clean underwear is a must. Pack a little container of Woolite or any type of detergent and you can wash up a pair or two in a sink, hang them to dry, and they’ll be ready by the next day!

4) A pair of ear plugs

You never know. All those trains, planes, and automobiles that you’re using to travel can get noisy and it’s amplified especially if you’re tired, cranky and trying to get some shut eye. You also never know who is a snorer in any given hostel. They’re cheap and tiny, so grab a pair and bring them along just in case.

3) A good pair of walking sandals

Yes, you can do with a good pair of walking sneakers too but sandals, in my opinion, are far more versatile. Get a good pair of sandals that can be worn with shorts, dresses, jeans, during day and night and packing will be much easier. My recommendation is the Gizeh sandal from Birkenstock. These go with almost any style of dress. They have great arch support and walking around all day in them doesn’t put too much of a toll on your body. Sorry guys, these are ladies shoes but any type of Birkenstock is highly recommended! Mine are in Antique Lace, though the color isn’t the important thing ( I loved them because they went with everything and you couldn’t tell if they got a little dirty). 

2) An inflatable pillow

This one I also really have to insist on (trust me on this… this will be the best $20 you’ll spend). Think about all those trains, planes, and automobiles that you’ll be using to get to and fro. Now think about the discomfort of trying to sleep on them as well as airport floors. Waking up in a beautiful new location feeling like my neck muscles just went through a brutal WWE fighting match is a major travel buzz kill. My personal recommendation is one by REI. I preferred simply pressing the air out to make it flat like a pancake instead of trying to roll it up (the former took up a lot less space).

1) A Kindle (or any E-readerfor that matter) preferably with 3G

This is number one for a reason. Traveling and getting to see these beautiful sites has a price to pay: sitting for long periods of time in lines, unsightly airports, and various modes of transportation. Really anywhere. Travelers don’t have the luxury of being able to carry around heavy, chunky books. The Kindle charge holds for a long amount of time (about 30 days) and you can pass the time very quickly by going through a book or two. It’s also great when you want to read on a beach or other odd locations. I recommend the 3G specifically because when I traveled outside of Spain, my phone did not work. Through the Kindle, you can access e-mail, Facebook—the entire world wide web—so I was able to contact friends from other countries who I was meeting up with without stressing about having to find a computer with WIFI. (I think my parents also appreciated it too when I got to shoot them an e-mail after landing safely in whichever city I was off to that weekend). The 3G is also great when you’re in the middle of nowhere and have suddenly finished your book. Hop on your 3G, browse the selection and get a brand new book delivered to the palm of your hand in mere seconds!

My luxury item: A journal
Now this one isn’t officially on the list because it’s not something that is absolutely positively necessary in my eyes but it’s a personal recommendation. I was gifted a journal before I left by a dear friend and I used it throughout my trip to record thoughts, feelings, drawings, everything! Even if you aren’t a huge journal writer, it’s really cool to look back after traveling at different entries from different trips. Huge long essays aren’t necessary—no word count, size 12 font, or double-spaced requirements whatsoever. Like I mentioned before, draw a picture or simply jot down a few words that summed up that trip or day. If you have the spare room, I’d bring one along.

Katie McMullen studied abroad with API in Granada, Spain.

What to do in Dingle?

I’ve come to find that every place I visit in Ireland turns out to be even more beautiful than the last. The most recent place to take my breath away was Dingle. It’s a little peninsula in the southern part of the country that sure packs a wallop as far as charm and enjoyment are concerned. API planned the best possible weekend for all of us to go because it was the best weather we’ve had since I’ve been here. (Hardly any rain!) We pretty much had a free run of the town while we were there which gave us time to explore the downtown shops, pubs, restaurants, and attractions that give Dingle so much appeal.

I must say, though, that the best part of the weekend was seeing Fungie. Before we left for the trip, we were being briefed on the itinerary by one of our professors and I remember him mentioning something about a dolphin that lives in the Dingle Bay. I brushed this off as some tourist attraction gimmick so I really didn’t think anything of it until we got to town. Turns out, the place is covered with dolphin memorabilia! There’s everything from rings to scarves to paperweights in the shapes of dolphins. I asked one of the local gals if she’s ever seen Fungie for herself or if this was all just blasphemy. She said that she had and in fact, they have a ferry that goes out to the bay every day and for 15 euro you can pay to go out there to see Fungie in all his glory. Even better, if the trip turns out to be a bust and you don’t sight him, you get your money back.

At this point I decided to give this whole thing a go. Since we’re all pretty much on a budget, we decided to skip the guided tour and walk out to the point ourselves. It turned out to be a fantastic walk on top of it all and…WE SAW FUNGIE! It was definitely one of the most amazing sites that I’ve ever seen. The moment we all spotted him jumping out of the waves we all started screaming and then just went silent, all kind of in awe of what we were seeing. I mean, how many people can say that they’ve seen a wild dolphin jumping in the waves? We proceeded to sit out at the point for another 2 hours in a sort of foggy revere. It’s hard to believe that a few short weeks ago our lives were completely separate and now I can’t picture mine without all of this. Truly one of the most inspiring moments of the trip thus far.

Possibly the only thing that could have made that weekend any better was a celebrity sighting. On our last night in Dingle, a bunch of us went out to one of the local pubs. As I was walking back outside I saw a face out of the corner of my eye that I immediately recognized. Will Forte, former cast member of Saturday Night Live and all-around hilarious man, was over in the corner having a pint and chatting. I begged one of my friends to go over with me so we could get a picture. Turns out, he’s in the area filming a movie and decided to step out that night. He talked to everyone, took pictures, answered questions and remained totally down to earth about everything. It was absolutely amazing! If by this point I haven’t convinced you to visit Dingle, reread the post again; you may have missed something.

Kara Verlaney is studying abroad with API in Galway, Ireland and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.