The Struggles of Studying Abroad

I think it’s beneficial to express how amazing studying abroad is, but also bring up the struggles that everyone faces at one point or another. It’s a large change as you are away from family and friends and in a different country. It’s so easy to get lost in the fun portions of studying abroad, …

A Quick Trip to the Peloponnese

This past week was almost a dream as it was one of the last program trips of the semester. For this adventure, we packed a week’s worth of items and traveled from the bustling city of Athens to the Peloponnese Region. Let me just say, this was one of my favorite trips while being in …

Putting the “study” in “study abroad”

At Hope, I have a few places on campus that I have designated as top-study locations.  If you know me, or have routinely seen an over-stuffed blue and maroon backpack in the same places, you would know that my favorite study spots are: the Bultman Student Center, Phelps Dining Hall, Ferris Coffee, and, of course, …

Foreign Travel and Study Abroad: What’s the catch?

Switzerland is conveniently located in the center of Europe, allowing access to a multitude of sub-regions within the European continent….and I may or may not have taken advantage of this characteristic already. Let’s recap:  Where I have traveled to, since the beginning of the semester? Bern, Switzerland Munich, Germany Paris, France Brussels, Belgium Grindelwald, Switzerland …

Post-Finals Activity: Commencing the Independent Study Project

(Bonus, my go-to study tunes are included below!) Alas, my final exams are finished!  But, what does that mean for the rest of the semester? If you think that the answer is that I have four free weeks to hang out with Swiss cows (though, I wish I could)… it’s actually quite the opposite.  While …

Sabbath Solo Trip to Grindelwald

As I have mentioned in some of my other posts, I enjoy taking solo trips. Inspired by my successful outing to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, I decided to take the Sabbath to rest and recuperate (from the full week of classes and an academic trip that were now behind me).  But what did this …

The Everyday Life in Athens

Being in a new place, let alone a new country, is a big change. A lot of things are different, such as the culture, but also what you see. One of the things that still surprises me even after being here for so long are the amazing sites I see almost every day. Seeing things …

A Weekend in Paris

Friday: Friday was my first fully-free day in Paris. During the summer of 2021, I participated in an immersive French program in Vermont, where I fully carried out day-to-day interactions in French and developed deep friendships with other students. One of my friends from that program is currently living and teaching in Paris… so of …

What was Seine and done in Paris: SIT Study Trip (Part 2)

Day 4: On Wednesday, my cohort hopped on the train and made the short – yet beautiful – journey from Brussels to Paris. At this point, I hadn’t been to Paris (well…outside of a 4-hour stop on a cruise when I was 6).  But needless to say, I was excited to spend some time in …

Bruxelles, je t’aime: SIT Study Trip (Part 1)

This past week, my cohort went to Paris and Brussels as a part of a formal study trip. Here are some of the highlights from Brussels! Day 1: Sunday On Sunday, my cohort made the 6-hour train journey from Geneva to Brussels (with a brief stop in Paris along the way). One of the advantages …