It wasn’t until a couple of months into my study abroad journey that I went somewhere else than my host country. It was a long wait, but spring break had finally come upon us, and it was time to finally explore some other country in Europe. Every little thing was giving me a new experience. I had never really had to plan a trip before or buy plane tickets and…
When the time came for winter break, I made the decision that I was tired of being cold, since being from South Carolina where our winters are at a 50-degree minimum, I didn’t have experience with France cold. I had to buy a scarf and gloves for the first time in my life. Me and my friends decided to go to the south of France to the city of Nice.…
It is crazy to think that it has already been 3 weeks since we all have been in Trujillo. It has been one of the most life-changing things I have ever had the pleasure to experience. Just about every evening, we collectively sit together in the grass on the side of the castle and journal, listen to music, or just talk as we watch the sun go down over the…
Hello, my name is Tessa Wells, and I am currently studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. My stay here has already been very exciting, but a day that stands out to me was my trip to Osaka Castle and the city of Osaka. I visited the Castle with two RA’s and other students who live on my same dorm floor. At first glance, I was stunned by…
While on my study abroad journey two countries that I have visited with some of the best/worst/& overall most interesting experiences of my life would have to be the two Hellenic countries of the world, Greece and Cyprus. While in these two countries I was able to experience so much in terms of international culture and cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean world. My two most favorite foods I was able to try…
Trujillo is a small town in the Extremadura region of Spain near Portugal known for its Medieval architecture, picturesque nature, and traditional food. Although I have only been here for a little over a month, I have fallen in love with this city, its way of life, and its people. I am currently living with a host family and have so far enjoyed an immersive experience that has allowed me…
Even though I am studying abroad and probably wouldn’t have known about this event, visiting Japan during the month of February offers a unique opportunity to witness the Plum Blossom Festival, held every year on February 25th. Although cherry blossoms are more well-known, plum blossoms are equally beautiful and offer their own unique charm. I had the opportunity to experience the festival at the Kitano Tenmangū shrine, which is a…
One thing that I have loved about studying abroad with other students is being able to celebrate holidays together! All of the students in Trujillo (along with our wonderful Professor, Devon Hanahan) got together to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Every student brought a dish to share, and we all cooked together as well! Professor Hanahan showed us how to make two traditional Spanish dishes, salmorejo (a cold soup made with tomatoes,…
There were many things to draw me in to choosing the Sant’Anna Institute as my home for the next four months- and the housing was one of them. Located in a restored convent, the Institute offers a historic, remodeled school building that has three floors of classrooms and two floors of student dorms right above. The dorms offer a safe places for students to live inside of their learning environment,…
Hello! My name is Keith Silver, I am a CITA major with a concentration in studio art. I am currently a senior at the College of Charleston! My current program is an Asian Studies exchange with Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. The university is about an hour away from downtown Osaka, and Kyoto. It is in a little college town, Hirakata. It is surrounded by mountains and beautiful architecture.…
