Category: Europe
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Won a writing contest with guide to Spain!
Excited to share I published my fourth travel essay with the magazine Transitions Abroad. You can read my guide to working with the Language and Culture Assistants Program in Spain on their website. It will give you an overview of the program, the basics of applying and information on the 17 regions of Spain as …
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Best Spanish cities: Granada!
It’s difficult to pick just one favorite place in Spain, but the Andalusian city of Granada is probably the closest I’ll come to a definitive choice. I’ve been twice — another indication as I don’t always visit places multiple times when traveling — and would hands down go again. With a mix of Arabic, traditional…
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Iceland: Still the best layover ever
It’s been three years since LaV and I stopped over for 12 hours in Iceland and fell in love with the small island country. It’s high literacy rate, welcoming attitude toward refugees and feminist prime minister were all reasons to recommend this country of just over 300,000 inhabitants. Due to its small size, we were…
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Regions of Spain: My Murcia
I’m at the end of my time in Murcia, the region in southern Spain I’ve called home for the past nine months. When it comes to tourism and language, Murcia often gets a bad rap. I’ve had various conversations with Murcianos about how they “don’t speak real Spanish” or “there’s nothing to do here, you…
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Moving to Northern Spain!!
After five months of waiting, I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted a position with my program for another nine months in Asturias, a northern region of Spain. It will be a change from my life in sunny Murcia, but I’m eager to explore more of the country I’ve called home for the past eight months.…
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Barcelona!!
I was excited to visit the Spanish region of Catalunya (Catalonia) in order to interview Michelle and Matt Norman and explore the city I’ve dreamed of visiting since I was small and saw the Cheetah Girls singing in Park Güell. Also, “L’Auberge Espagnole” is one of my favorite films, so it was surreal to walk…
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Holiday trip: Catalunya and Aragón
During the holiday break, I took a trip to the regions of Catalunya (Catalonia) and Aragón to interview Michelle and Matt Norman, and meet up with my Austrian friend and overall hero, Stefanie. Stef and I have only been together on the same continent three times in our lives, so it was especially good to…
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U.K. trip to Newcastle upon Tyne!!
After being obsessed with British music, TV series and The Queen, LaVonna and I finally fulfilled our lifelong dream of just hanging ’round England together. I took advantage of a puente (long weekend,) we had at my school and flew to Newcastle upon Tyne where LaV is studying linguistics. We nerded out over accents, grad…
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Day hikes around Murcia, Spain
Murcia is an underrated region with some of the most beautiful views I’ve seen in Spain. I recommend visiting for a day hike or longer backpacking trip along the coast. Algezares: La Fuensanta Murcia has 19 natural areas and seven regional parks, including Carrascoy y El Valle. The park is large and has lots of…
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On turning 25
I remember reading the Brazilian novel, “The Alchemist,” in high school and being struck by finding depth in simplicity: how fables and children’s stories can still be for adults. Later, when I studied in Costa Rica, I tried to read the book in Spanish and a professor laughed at me and called the book “cheesy.”…
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Regions of Spain: Madrid!!
In honor of Hispanic Day (Día de la Hispanidad) or National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España), my school was given a long weekend with Thursday and Friday off. In Spain, they call these puentes (bridges.) After work on Wednesday, I took a blablacar and drove the 3.5-4 hours to Madrid to see my friend Amanda. Amanda and…
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Lessons from Spain: helping new neighbors
Moving to Spain has been different from when I stayed in Costa Rica or Slovakia. During those visits (which were two to four months), I had a specific program and personnel who helped me understand the rules of how to live in another country. In Spain, I am largely on my own, being helped along…