Tag: abroad
-
Frenchified Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving is one of the most American holidays you can possibly think of, so being in another country can make it feel strange and even a bit difficult to celebrate. This isn’t the first time I have spent Thanksgiving in France, of course, as I also enjoyed Thanksgiving in Paris in 2018. This year, however,…
-
First 4 Weeks of TAPIF

I have been living in Paris for nearly three months now, so naturally, my first four weeks of TAPIF, the Teaching Assistant Program in France, have just come to an end. Technically, my work contract began on October 1, but I spent some time doing orientation and class observations, and then I had a two…
-
Escape to the Château de Versailles

Just a short train ride away from Paris is one of the true crown jewels of the region, the Château de Versailles. Also known as the Palace of Versailles, this structure holds a rich cultural and historical significance. Plus, it’s absolutely gorgeous! During a simple afternoon or day trip from Paris to the Château de…
-
Madrid, Spain

After Amsterdam, Sevilla, and Córdoba, the next stop on our great Spanish adventure was Madrid! While I know many people who have studied abroad or worked here and have great things to say about the city, I didn’t know much of what to expect for my own visit. Thankfully, we had tons of recommendations that…
-
Sevilla, Spain

Every six weeks, the French school system gives students (and teachers!) two full weeks of vacation. For the my first vacation, the Vacances de Toussaint, I wanted to check out some new parts of Spain with friends and practice the Spanish I learned in my last couple of years of college. The adventure began in…
-
Day trip to Córdoba, Spain

Since studying it in my Cross-Cultural Analysis class during my sophomore year at Tulane University, I have dreamed of exploring the city of Córdoba, Spain, and specifically, the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba. While spending a few days in Sevilla, I found that taking a day trip to Córdoba was the perfect way to make it happen…
-
17 Hours in Amsterdam

I almost always try to avoid layovers, as long as the locations (and, of course, the price) are right. When we looked into the flights from Paris to Sevilla for the Vacances de Toussaint, however, this didn’t seem to be an option. The best flights for our situation all included a layover of at least…
-
Parisian Café Culture

Block after block, no matter what part of the city you stumble upon, quintessential Parisian cafés are ready to welcome you with open arms and your choice of caffeine or a cocktail. A significant piece of Parisian culture is taking a seat on a terrace, facing the haussmanien buildings across the street, sipping on some…
-
Weekend in Ireland

So I may have arrived in France one day before my visa began, which, according to French bureaucracy, messes everything up when activating and confirming the visa… Time to take a trip outside the Schengen Zone and get a new entry stamp! Two weeks ago, I did my first-ever international solo backpacking trip! I’ll be…

