Studying abroad opens up a lot of experiences that wouldn’t usually be available in the average semester at college. One aspect of the program with IES is the chance to apply for a part-time internship. While doing an internship in itself can be done any semester at home, interning abroad provides the opportunity to experience the …
Author Archives: Erin Hoolahan
Happy Birthday, Rome!
On Friday, Rome celebrated it’s 2,770th birthday! The official founding date of Rome is April 21st, 753 B.C. All weekend there were historical re-enactments culminating in a huge parade reminding me that the Roman people truly cherish and take pride in the rich history of the city they call home. The Most Brief History of …
Spring Is Here and So Were My Parents!
I was lucky enough to spend my spring break traveling in Italy with my parents! We started in Rome and toured the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. It’s hard to describe visiting a place that holds such renowned artwork and museums showcasing items that span a longer period of time than Christianity itself. The next …
Rome Versus Home
Wherever you travel, whether it be a new town, a new state, or a new country, there are going to be everyday things that are quite different from where you’re from. Here are a few of the many differences between my home and Rome. Crossing the Street. While there are traffic signals at major intersections, they’re …
Weekend in Switzerland
Sharon Creech is one of my favorite authors. Of all of her books I read in the library growing up, one of my favorites is Bloomability. The novel follows Dinnie as she navigates living with her aunt and uncle in a new country and attending an American boarding school in Lugano, Switzerland. She tackles homesickness, goes on …
Rome: First Impressions
It’s hard to sum up one week of a somewhat overwhelming amount of new things, but I’ll use pictures to make up for a lack of words. After three hours of sitting on the plane waiting for Delta’s computer system to come back online, the flight from Atlanta to Rome went smoothly. Even from the air, Italy …
When (Not Yet) In Rome
While I wait for my semester abroad to begin, I thought I might as well share some of what I love about Hope with you all. When I chose to study abroad there were some things I knew I would miss: my friends, downtown Holland, Hope’s campus, etc. In addition to those things that were …
Ready to Grow
Hope’s campus is back to life with students, classes, and activities as usual, but I am still at home waiting for my semester to begin. This spring I will be studying abroad in Rome, Italy, with IES. Orientation week begins on January 30. It’s weird talking with my friends at Hope, knowing exactly what I’m missing …
10-Day Forecast: Studying With a Chance of Snow
Christmas is just over 2 weeks away, snow is in the forecast for the next week, and final exams begin in a few days. I’m sitting with my housemates as we divide our attention between Hairspray Live and the homework that needs to be done. I have two exams and a research presentation on Monday, …
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’Tis the Season for More Hope Traditions
The annual Christmas Tree Lighting is one of my favorite Hope traditions. Everyone circles around a giant pine tree decorated with ornaments covered in our names. We count down from ten and, like magic, Christmas spirit skyrockets as the tree lights up the clearing. We sing Christmas carols and light candles, quietly laughing as we try …