A few weeks ago two of the other New Paltz girls and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Nice. I really must say one of the best parts of study abroad is convenient travel! In Europe the world is quite literally in your back yard with so many opportunities to travel to other countries in such a short time.

Though Nice is still a part of France, the climate and the atmosphere are so different I actually thought I was somewhere in the Caribbean. Where my program is located in Besançon, the climate is pretty chilly most of the time so in just an eight hour train ride (it seems like a lot, but take into account the layovers and waiting time) seeing palm trees and startlingly blue water was a little bit of a shock. We arrived late on Friday evening and enjoyed a nice dinner of pizza (very traditionally French, I know).

Being the beach lover I am, I vowed to spend all of Saturday on the ocean since we were leaving late morning on Sunday. We arrived bright and early at eight AM just in time to see all of the morning joggers and swimmers. But we were all a little surprised to find a sand less beach. The area we were staying had a beach almost solely of rocks which had its ups and downs. No sandy towels (yay!) but lying on your back and basking in the sun took a little adjusting. After an hour or so we realized we were actually next to a water sports kiosk. The parasailing and jet skiing were a little too high priced for our budget so my friend Lemon and I ended up renting paddle boards for an hour. This gave us a GORGEOUS view of the shore and the surrounding area. Even though the waves knocked me over more than I would care to admit it was still an incredible experience for me. My friends left about an hour earlier than me so I could enjoy my last little bits of water and sea glass searching before I finally admitted my summer was over.

Our beautiful weekend in Nice came to a bit of an interesting end (though a happy one) with more of our classic travel blunders. It was nobody’s fault in particular, as we hadn’t all thoroughly checked our train number but the lesson learned there was TRIPLE CHECK EVERYTHING!! We ended up missing our train and having to pay forty euros to catch another one, adding over two more hours of travel time and two extra layovers on the return. Considering how expensive reservation changes for the trains are, that was a lucky break. Overall this weekend was one for the books and made me appreciate this beautifully diverse country even more. I can honestly say I will definitely be planning another weekend in Nice for the future!

It’s hard to believe that I have been living in Madrid for more than a month already, and as cliche as it is to say it, time really does fly when you are having fun. In the small amount of time that I’ve been here, my expectations for this experience have been exceeded more than I could have possibly imagined. Having lived in New York City all of my life, it was hard for me to imagine any other city coming close to the grandness of New York. Yet the time that I have spent here has shown me what a vibrant, lively, and culturally rich city Madrid is. I can admit that before I arrived here, while I was excited for the cultural adjustments I would have to undertake, I was also nervous that doing so wouldn’t be easy or quick. I was also blinded by stereotypes and false beliefs that people had of the Spanish. The only culture shock that I’ve had to face since I’ve been here, is how unbelievably kind and welcoming everyone has been.

Gran Via, the 42nd Street of Madrid

In my last post, I talked a bit about my very stressful experience with my first accommodation, which in reality was just a result of my mistake in not looking at the place before I decided to commit to it. But now that stressful time is long in the past, and my new accommodation is better than I could have ever expected. I now live in a cozy apartment with every modern house appliance you could hope for. With the great help of both the housing coordinators here and in New Paltz, I am more than happy of how well accommodation for my stay has worked out.  My landlords are the most adorable old couple I’ve ever met, my neighbors are very friendly and helpful, and the area and street that I live on is really safe and has an amazing European style to it, which I love. These feelings of safety and comfort are some that I tend feel throughout almost all of Madrid, no matter what time of day it is.

Mi Casa!

A really interesting part of my experience so far has been taking in all that Madrid has to offer me, and discovering firsthand whether or not the myths and stereotypes of Spain were true. Here go the myths and realities that I’ve dissevered thus far in Madrid, Spain:

Myth: Spanish people love food and love to eat Paella just about every day.

Reality: This is half true and half wrong. It goes without saying that food in Madrid is both plentiful and absolutely delicious. Restaurants are just about in every street you walk down, with many offering traditional Spanish cuisine, but many others also offering more international selections, some even offering “American-style cuisines” that help if you get homesick. For breakfast, you can get a delicious churro con chocolate that consist of a warm sugared churro with a cup of hot and fresh chocolate, go to any cafe or fast food spot for your typical bacon and egg sandwich, or just have a delicious a cup of cafe con leche which is the popular choice for locals. Coffee is extremely popular here, and if you aren’t a fan a strong-tasting coffee, make sure to order it “con leche” and not “corto” or “solo.”

Churros con Chocolate: A Delicious and Sweet Breakfast, or a very late night/ early morning snack.

Lunchtime does follow the popular belief, in that it is easily the biggest and best meal of the day. It’s usually eaten between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon, and most restaurants offer a first and second plate, both of which are huge and delicious dishes, bread, a drink, and a dessert, all for about 10 euros. As for dinner, many people usually small sandwiches or tapas, which are small appetizer-like dishes that you can find almost anywhere in the city.

Just an example of a lunch in Spain. This is also just the first course.

The half wrong part goes to people in Madrid eating paella everyday. Although you can find paella in some restaurants around the city, Paella is mainly a traditional dish in Valencia, Spain, which I was lucky enough to visit for a weekend. It was undoubtedly one of the greatest dishes I’ve ever had, in a city that had a very different feel from Madrid, yet was very fun and beautiful nonetheless. If there is any kind of traditional dish in Spain, it would probably be the Spanish tortilla, which is composed of egg, onion, and potato.

At Plaza de la Virgen at Valencia. Literally the greatest paella on this planet.

On a side note, a highly recommend having a bocadillo de calamari, which I have probably already had around 50 of since I’ve been here. They are inexpensive and impossibly delicious.

This is bae.

Myth: Spanish people love to party drink and there are bars and clubs everywhere.

Reality: This is probably 95% true. It took a little bit of getting used to seeing beers available at Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonalds, but the bars in Madrid are plentiful and a lot of fun. Yet Madrid is also a city full of hard-working and/or non-drinking individuals who go about their business and fun in other ways. As for the nightlife, the time to start going out begins around 12 am or later, and with the Metro stations shutting down at 1:30 am, many tend to party up until 5 am or later, on an average night. The nightlife in the city is incredible, very safe if you are careful enough, and full of friendly people. Wine bottles take up multiple aisles and shelves in every market there is, and it is easy to identify and embrace the very festive atmosphere of Madrid.

I wasn’t kidding, there’s beer everywhere.

Good times at one of the many clubs in the city.

(I am in no way endorsing the consumption of excessive alcohol consumption while on a study abroad experience. Everything is better in moderation, and please make sure to focus on your studies if you happen to study abroad one day.)

Myth: Everyone is Spain dances flamenco and loves bull-fighting.

Reality: Very inaccurate. It wasn’t until I arrived here that I discovered that flamenco is actually a dance native to the south of Spain. While I have come across some flamenco lounges and restaurants throughout the city, they aren’t as easily accessible, or as inexpensive, as you would think. This city offers a huge abundance of recreational activities and beautiful parks for you to occupy your free time. The Prado Museum for example, is an amazing place to visit and it houses some of the most magnificent and important artworks in history. By just walking down Gran Via, one could catch a comedy show, watch a play, enjoy a marathon or other kind of weekend sporting event, do some shopping at their favorite store, or simply catch up with a friend at an outdoor cafe. And as for the music and dancing, one visit to any club or bar will show you Madrid’s love for all kinds of music and dance.

Instead of visiting a bar, you can go for a row at the beautiful Parque de El Retiro.

A better view of the lake.

I mentioned it briefly in my last post, but bullfighting here is nowhere near as popular as one would assume. In fact, it has become a highly controversial issue, with many animal-rights activist groups and anti-bullfighting associations that are currently protesting against the practice. I will admit that there various cringe-worthy and controversial aspects of the sport, and I personally felt like one visit was enough to have the experience and get the idea of what it’s about. It’s a completely optional visit to anyone who visits.

There are so many more myths and realities I would love to share, but I’m realizing now that this post is getting really wordy. Overall, my cultural adjustment into this city and my study abroad experience has gone more than well. There have been some lessons I’ve learned the hard way, and some lessons that I learned with ease and convenience, but so far this has been an experience that I could never forget. One of my biggest fears of studying abroad was that I would arrive in a country where no one would understand or help me, which would result in be getting lost or into danger. But I strongly encourage anyone who has that similar fear to get over it immediately, since there are tons of people both in your home university and new university abroad that are ready, willing and able to help you out. Be ready to meet so many new and awesome people, and make some of the greatest memories you could ever make in your life.

Hasta Luego,

Aaron Marrero

It was 6:45 am, 7 hours and 45 minutes when the plane landed in Paris, France on Wednesday September 2, 2015. My heart was pounding with excitement that I had finally made it to France. The long flight was worth the wait to see the beautiful country I had always dreamed of visiting and that I now have the opportunity to explore for four months!  As soon as I exited the plane, my ears were filled with the beautiful sound of people speaking French.

The first pic I took when I got out the plane!

First meal off the plane! It’s called Croque Madame.

And with a blink of an eye, it’s been a week that I have arrived in Besancon, France. Where did the time go? This past week has been filled with lots of adventures and food. One of the first things I did was to explore the city of Besancon and try some of the popular foods in the area. Some of my favorite parts of Besancon that I am obsessed with already are: the public transportation system (it’s so cheap and reliable!!), their baguette sandwiches (especially from the Big Ban; a sandwich stand), and the center of town (which has lots of shops and restaurants to indulge in!).

The CLA: the university I am studying at

The Tram; one of the many buses in Besancon!

A sandwich from Big Ban, and a view of one of the oldest buildings in Besancon!

So many delicious pastries!

I can honestly say that my first week has been great! Although, I am still getting used to the buses, paying for laundry and cooking more on my own, I am grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself.  I am still in shock that I am fulfilling one of my goals and that I have the priviledge to study in another country. I am in my “study abroad high” according to one of my good friends.  And of course, I cannot forget the wonderful women that are making this journey for me more enjoyable! Without them I would not have been able to get around town, have lots of laughs and overall make this trip very memorable.

My first home cooked meal!

The 4 Muskeeters on a voyage!

Stay tuned for more awesome stories!

I can finally post my second story on my blog with great rejoice, happiness, and great relief. This first week and few days in Madrid has taught me so many lessons, many of which I learned the hard way. My goal is to share all of the beautiful pictures, videos, and experiences I have on this trip, but I wouldn’t be an honest blogger if I didn’t at least briefly describe the rocky start to my study abroad experience. Luckily, my amazing girlfriend Alexa, who thankfully also knows Spanish far better than I do, was able to help me out as we worked together to get through every challenge we faced.

It started off with every traveler’s worst nightmare. After missing our connection flight from London to Madrid, and after finally arriving to Madrid as jet-lagged as possible, I discovered that my luggage had been lost during the transfer of flights. It was upsetting to say the least, since it completely took away the pure joy and excitement that I should have had after arriving in this beautiful city. After filling out a bunch of forms, Alexa and I decided to head to our housing accommodation and hope for the best with my luggage. Yet when we arrived at our accommodation, we encountered a very disappointing and unexpected living location. The place was filthy, messy and nothing at all like the landlord had promised us and showed us pictures of. Not only did we feel very uncomfortable with the place, but our “landlord” gave us very bad vibes and gave us a lot of insecurity with the fact that he was in control of our money. Once we both rapidly decided that we could not possibly live there, we took immediate action in visiting our study abroad counselors at our host university. They were so kind and were able to help us out incredibly. Before we knew it, the next day we were moved into a beautiful apartment just a few streets away from Puerta del Sol, which I can best describe as the Times Square and heart of Madrid. Oh, and the day we moved in I got a call from the airport that my luggage was found safe and sound. Lessons learned? ALWAYS check out a place in person before agreeing and paying to live there, ALWAYS be aware of the area of your accommodation, and HOPE that your luggage follows you wherever you go.

Besides the unforgettable and honestly overwhelming first few days that I had in Madrid, it is virtually impossible to be in a bad mood while in this city. It’s size is enormous and every single street has the name of a person or a place with a rich and interesting history. Madrid is full of beautiful and grand landmarks, beautiful parks, delicious food in amazing restaurants, and some of the friendliest people you can meet. And yes, there is a lot of wine, a lot of beer, a lot of olives, and a lot of paella. Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, the university I am attending here, is located on three different campuses throughout Madrid, and each of them are stunning. The staff is so kind and helpful, and all of the local Spanish students and fellow international students are very welcoming and friendly. The nightlife here is intense, very encouraged, and overall a blast. Public transportation is super easy to use, and actually more affordable than public transportation in NYC. Although you must absolutely experience the amazing restaurants that Madrid has to offer, I have learned that grocery shopping at the many supermarkets here is the most economical (and very tasty) way to go. Don’t worry, I know I have been brief with the tips and advice for studying abroad so far, but I promise to share a lot more useful advice for all of you future study-abroaders in my upcoming posts.

In only a week, I have seen so much, and I now can fully understand what an amazing experience I am in for. I am so excited to reflect on the awesome things I have seen thus far, take in the beauty of the moment and present, and look forward to the absolutely incredible places I have yet to visit. The best part is, that I don’t have to experience all of it alone. If you ever get the opportunity to visit and experience a brand new country with someone you love, do it. It just might change your life.

I am currently writing this post in the library of my school, and class is starting soon, meaning that this is all for now. Enjoy the pictures, which I hope for now provide a good sense of the beauty of Madrid.

Hasta Luego,

Aaron Marrero

Puerta del Sol, just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.

King Phillip III Statue and beautiful and very historic Plaza Mayor.

Watching a Corrida de Toro (bull-fighting) at Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. I’ll just provide you with the beautiful arena, since the videos I have of the actual bullfights are pretty graphic.

Standing in front of the Catedral de la Almudena. Oh, and sunsets in Madrid are ridiculous.

I’m serious, the sunsets here are amazing.

I’ve been home only for a little while and I don’t feel adjusted to life back in the USA. What happened in Spain seems surreal. However, my eyes have finally adjusted from the hazy symptoms I experienced in Spain. I’m not lying to you. The experience I had over there was really that fantastic that my eyes felt hazy almost all of the time. Now, my eyes are clear and I’m back into reality.

My peers seem to be adjusting better than I am. As I mentioned before, they were so eager to get home. Don’t get me wrong, I missed my family like crazy but for me, Spain was a dream. It was a break from the stress and responsibilities I have here. Also, I left people I really love over there too. I find myself, and my family has noticed, trying to re-create my lifestyle from Spain.

Thankfully, I have mastered my host Dad’s special sauce and my kids LOVE it, of course. I make coffee and leave it out all day like my host family did. I eat breakfast like they did, with toasted bread and jam. I constantly am looking in supermarkets for the peanut snacks and cookie treats for coffee that many Spanish supermarkets had. I am always on the lookout for the Spanish melon! Oh how I miss it! It just doesn’t exist here, I must face the fact at some point. It’s funny now that I think of it, when I first got to Spain I was always searching their markets for the treats I loved from the USA and now it’s completely flipped!!! I also try to walk and walk for miles everyday to keep up with all the walking I was doing before (my legs got super toned). I am trying to enjoy life much more than before. The Spanish taught me more than ever how much each day and moment is a blessing. I take pictures more of all the beauty around me here at home. I am cooking meals with fresher foods and less spices. I am really trying my best to preserve the lifestyle I was living. I’ll tell you, it’s not exactly working very well due to the fact that the USA is not Spain. Obviously, I get attached to things too quickly.

My opinion of current events hasn’t changed much. The only thing I consider more is what my host mom spoke about. She was upset during our political discussion one day when I said I think it important to take care of everyone, never mind whether or not they are a citizen or immigrant, everyone needs help sometimes, or, always but I think human beings should help one another. She told me she understands that but when an immigrant comes to her country where she has been working hard all her life to raise her son and now put him through college, and to afford her home and feed her family (etc. etc.) and then an immigrant comes from anywhere and starts getting free handouts that she has alwatys been working for, where is the justice in that? She expressed how hard her life has been and how it isn’t right that an immigrant will get, for example, a free education when she still works very hard to pay for her son’s college. On top of the fact that she works hard everyday and doesn’t think she should have to pay (in taxes) for an immigrant to get things free. Why should she work for them? Needless to say, I still feel we should help one another always but I am more aware of those who hold her point of view. This is a frequent topic here in the states. After speaking with her, I understand better how it must feel really unfair to her that immigrants have so many benefits that even she doesn’t receive. I, however, think many immigrants come from lives that were much, much harder than hers (probably worked hard too) and many, if not most are leaving their home countries looking for a much better life. I don’t think that the immigrant is undeserving but rather, there needs to be significant reforms in the country that will address these inequalities. Not to necessarily take away from the immigrants but to allow actual citizens the same benefits, if not better. Easier said than done but this is what I retained from a political perspective.

I know I have much left to learn and I am eagerly planning a return trip already. Nothing concrete but it’s going to happen.

I had a garage sale at home today and held a lengthy conversation with Spanish speakers today, I was proud of myself and they laughed at my accent of course. Also, I was looking for milk like the milk that my host family used to buy (in a box) and went on a search to the nearest Mexican stores today. Can I just say, I wasn’t thinking about it when it happened but, when I entered into the store and the man at the front said “Buenas!” it was like music to my ears!!! I ran over to him to ask about the milk and oh the joy I had! I love to speak Spanish. I will make it a point now to go into Mexican shops or any Spanish speaking shop from now on just to hear the beautiful sound of day-to-day Spanish being spoken.

Hasta luego…

. 

Upon returning to the States, I was picked up by my favorite person who I had missed so much, my girlfriend Kelsey, and whisked off to the beach. After 14 hours of travelling from London to Manchester to NYC, I surprisingly still had the energy to drive us 6 more hours to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. We spent a magical three days there with her amazing family.

Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and facing fears, which seems to be a theme of 2015, continued even in Rehoboth. I did something that I was always afraid to do, something that I never believed I could do: I ran a 5K! I had worked out a lot while in Prague with my friend Cole, I lost 5 pounds, ate healthy, and made healthy choices… but I would not say that I was 5K ready. This proved to be true both physically and mentally when I began the race and struggled the whole time. I began with a steady jog close to the front. Then, a sharp pain in my foot, which had been bothering me all summer, came in full force. This pain shot up my leg into my thigh. Then, ultimately all this pain caused told my brain, “stop, you can’t do this… nice try though.” I then began to walk, watching the sweaty backs run by. When I finally caught my breath and the pain dulled, my body wanted to run again but my mind told me I couldn’t. Tears welled in my eyes as my negative thoughts got louder and louder, harsher and harsher and the distance between me and everyone was farther and farther. It felt never ending.

Finally, I reached the midway point and had to turn and go back the way I came. I was shocked at the positivity and smiles on the people’s faces who were behind me… what they were experiencing was nothing like what I was experiencing. I had told myself that I was failing, but they told me that I was doing great. These conflicting messages made the tears fall and my chest heave. I didn’t know what to believe or how to feel or what to do.

Finish! That is all I had to do. Just get it over with. I continued to walk, but I picked up the pace. Kelsey had finished a good ten minutes before I did, but she still came back to meet me toward the end. She didn’t speak because I asked her not to say anything (because I knew I’d cry) and she just jogged with me to the finish. I finished in 46 minutes, which beat my goal of 50 minutes, but I wasn’t happy. That was one of the hardest things I had done, mentally more than anything else, and I didn’t like it. But as I reflected, I didn’t like it because it wasn’t easy, because I wasn’t comfortable. That was the point of doing it on the first place! So after sulking for about 10 minutes, I finally admitted to myself that I had just done something big, huge even. I did something that most people are too afraid to do, I completed a 5K, and I faced myself. And then 30 minutes after that, I told myself something I rarely say, if ever: “I am proud of myself” (which is when I decided to take this picture, haha.)

As a treat for being so active during the weekend, Kelsey and I went jet skiing. The summer prior Kels and I had rented a vespa scooter and drove it around, so we figured jet skiing would be our next luxury excursion. It was so much fun! I was able to drive for a majority of the time because Kelsey couldn’t get the hang of it, haha, but she’s too proud to admit that. There is something about driving on water that is so exhilarating though. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity.

After what felt like a vacation after a vacation after a vacation, I finally returned home. I spent a few days there before heading to NYC and Long Island for my birthday weekend. It was unbelievably refreshing to see some of my closest friends after the long summer away. My birthday became rather secondary to everything else that was happening, especially when RA training began two days after.

My Wonderful Scudder Hall Staff

Being back at New Paltz, the place where I became my true self, for my last semester leaves me speechless. It is hard to put into words how immense this place and the opportunities that it offered to me were. The support system I have created here, the skills I developed… literally everything about it was important and necessary. As residents move in, I look forward to taking all that I’ve learned about myself and applying it to life here at New Paltz and to life ever after.

It has been about week at home, and it feels like the longest week ever! I miss Italy and Spain more and more by the day. I constantly find myself scrolling through pictures, watching videos, and calling up my new friends. I am experiencing the very common post study abroad sadness, and this feeling is too real. Now i am just looking forward to starting my second to last semester in New Paltz.

I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity to go abroad. It was the best experience of my life and I have learned so much about, not only other cultures, but about myself. I grew a certain type of confidence I would not have been able to find elsewhere. I was constantly taken out of my comfort zone and I loved every second of it. This program has also led me to build strong friendships and so many connections. I have seen some of the most beautiful places in Europe and walked through streets full of history. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it has been a crazy journey. Everything felt so surreal, and now I am back to reality.

All ready and packed for Madrid!

Well this is it. After months of intense preparation, which mostly consisted of extreme over-panicking, excessive worrying, severe over-exaggeration, and unnecessary concern, I am finally packed, and, contrary to my initial beliefs, I am still in one piece. This first blog post of many is definitely long overdue, but I can assure whoever is reading this that I am gaining massive amounts of excitement for my upcoming study abroad experience by the second. As cliche as it may sound, it truly feels like just yesterday that I decided to commit to studying abroad at Universidad Pontificia Commilas in Madrid. From that point on, every stage of the process rapidly flew by, and as soon as I would realize how quickly one stage went by, I was already midway through completing the next stage. Yet overall, submitting my application documents, figuring out every single aspect of my study abroad experience, and more, ended up being much easier to accomplish than expected. My weeks of overthinking and overestimating are all behind me, and are now replaced by nothing but pure excitement, wonder, and enthusiasm for my upcoming experience.

As many would assume, the preparation and process of getting ready to leave home just days before you leave is not easy. As each day passes, I have been experiencing a surmounting level of emotions. I gladly admit that I will deeply miss my parents and the comfort and support they show me every day. Yet they have been even more supportive of me and my study abroad experience, and for that I am very grateful. Besides that, I have also developed the typical “going away feelings” of missing my awesome little sister Alyana, my friends, my comfortable home, my two amazing dogs Mylee and Dino, the familiarity of my neighborhood, and SUNY New Paltz and everything the school and town has to offer. Yet the main thing that has been pressing my mind the most is something that I didn’t think of much at all when initially thinking of what would affect me the most if I left home to study abroad. This is the very strong and intense feeling of curiosity and wonder. I have never stepped foot in Europe, and I literally have no idea what to expect. I am sure that not even the massive amount of research I have done on Europe and Spain will provide me with a proper and full depiction of what my experience will be like. I have nothing but questions for what to expect when I arrive, questions for the months I will be there, questions on where to go, how to spend, who to meet, how to pass my courses, what to do when I come back and so much more. Yet today, as I am finally able to relax in relief that I am done with all of my packing and preparations, I have come to my first significant revelation of my study abroad experience, which has two parts to it:

1)Things are ultimately not as difficult or complicated as I make them out to be.

2) This will be the experience of a lifetime, that will teach me so many things and that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Therefore, I will stop asking so many questions, and instead focus on creating my journey of a lifetime, one day at a time.

I hope that whoever is reading this can look forward to the many posts I have to come. I’m so excited to share with you all of the places I visit, the things I learn, the people I meet, and the memories I make. My hopes are that from now until the very last post I put up, I will encourage at least someone to take the leap of faith, overcome your fears and negative assumptions, and STUDY ABROAD! If you enjoy reading my blog, please, tell a friend to follow too.

Hasta Luego,

Aaron Marrero

So, instead of heading back to the U.S, a couple of my friends and decided to explore Spain. We decided to go from Madrid to Ibiza to Barcelona, spending about four to five days in each city. I fell more and more in love with Spain by the day. We decided to use AirBnb instead of hostels and hotels since we needed to accommodate for five to eight people in each city, also it was the cheapest choice. Barcelona has been my most favorite city I visited, the people and atmosphere was beyond amazing. Spain was very welcoming and I felt right at home. I have to visit again in the near future.

This whole trip was surreal, I could not believe I had to return to the U.S. I did not want to come back to reality. I had to soak up everything this country had to offer and go hard with shopping and pictures. I dreaded packing and entering the airport. Saying goodbye to my new friends was the hardest. Some unexpected tears shed. This whole trip has been nothing short of amazing and it is not something you can simply tell others, you must live through it to truly understand the perks of traveling. I am eternally grateful for my family for supporting me to go on this trip and the professors and friends I have met on this journey.