What you need to know before Traveling: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on July 17, 2017 by mjpaga01

So you finally bit the bullet and decided to look at various study abroad programs…that’s great! Studying abroad will truly change your life, and that of course, is coming from someone who spent a summer month in Europe. It can be both exciting and overwhelming, browsing through all of the available programs via the business school’s studying abroad website. There are beautiful programs in London, Australia, and of course, Italy. Those were places that I was looking for a program, almost strictly because of my comfort level. 2 out of those 3 places speak English, while the other…well, come on, it’s ITALY! My first piece of advice, look outside of your comfort zone. I ended up in Austria, of all places. I decided to look past country boarders, and look into what the specific program provided. Mine, for instance, allowed and encouraged students to travel on the weekends. Because of this, I was able to visit Munich, Paris, Rome, and Venice. I also got to stay in a homestay with a woman who spoke only German. This can seem like a turn off, but it allowed for complete submersion into the culture, something I craved.

When you are abroad, you will have good days and bad days. Some days can seem really great: the sun is shining, the temperature is great, the locals are friendly, and the meal is correct. However, not every day is like this, and that is perfectly okay. You’ll get caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella, the language barrier will cause a fight with a store owner, or what you thought was schnitzel is actually chicken liver soup. Things happen. But it’s up to you to deal with how you react to it. Some days, I just needed to go home after dinner rather than try to stay out later with the group, or I needed to separate from everyone, get my own gelato, and soak in the country by myself. Turn a bad situation into a better one (and chicken liver soup really isn’t that bad…it tastes like a meatball!).

My last piece of advice is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. If you do select a program that allows independent travel (highly recommended), then you will need to get used to navigating the extensive train system through Europe. You will be knees-to-knees with strangers, passive aggressively fighting for luggage room, and have to do the occasional sprint to the connecting train. The best part? All train-traveling Europeans experience these same issues, so you’re not alone! Try the local food, check out new restaurants, and treat yourself to gelato. For some, it could be your first and only trip abroad, so you will want to make the most of it. For others who plan on visiting again, make this your opportunity to trial-test the train system, ordering at a foreign restaurant, and behaving as a local to make your future trips even more successful. Have a great time, you will love every second.

-Mandy Paganetto, ’17

B.S. in Marketing and Sport Administration

A Survival Guide to Paris Public Transit

Posted on October 18, 2016 by asweih01

Hey there! Before I start with this post, my first in a series of survival guides for life here in France, I thought I’d introduce myself. I’m Ariel, a junior marketing major studying at ESSEC, a business university in Cergy, a suburb about 40 minutes north of Paris.

That being said, I take public transport all the time. I use it to get to and from class, get down into Paris, and travel around France. I’ve used probably every form of transport available here, from buses to the RER to the Metro. I’ve also had the *lovely* opportunity to get to deal with maintenance being done on the train tracks, resulting in a partial shutdown of the RER, which is how I get home.

So yeah, I consider myself a bit of an expert on navigating Paris’s public transit system. Since Louisville doesn’t really have public transport, the system in Paris can be a bit confusing at first, especially if you don’t speak French. I thought I’d help clear up a few things. Here are my top 5 tips when riding Paris public transport.

1. Vianavigo is your BFF

Vianavigo is an app that helps you navigate the Paris public transit system. You put in your destination and the app uses your location to figure out the best route for you to get from Point A to Point B. There’s also a map of the entire train system and timetables, both of which have proved quite useful for me.

My favorite thing about it is that it lets you know if there’s any kind of issues with the transit you’re going to be taking. That’s how I found out about the work being done on the RER.

2. Follow the crowd

If you don’t know what you’re supposed to do, watch everybody else first. For example, when coming home from Paris one night, the train I was on suddenly stopped and everyone got off. I had no idea what was going on, but I followed the crowd to a group of buses that were apparently set up to get us to various train stops. I use the “monkey see, monkey do” rule a lot when I’m traveling, especially if I don’t speak the language of that country.

Note: you’ll see a lot of people jumping over turnstiles or sneaking in behind people. This is because they don’t have tickets. This is illegal and you will be punished if caught. Always have a valid ticket or Metro pass.

3. Know how to pronounce the name of your stop or have it written down

If you need help, go to the ticket window or look for someone wearing an SNCF uniform. However, they won’t be able to help you if you can’t tell them were you need to go. If you’re afraid of butchering the name, have it written down or pull up your handy Vianavigo app and show that to them. They’ll quickly be able to tell that you don’t speak French, so they’ll use hand gestures and, in some cases, a bit of English to get the point across.

4. There will be armed police/soldiers and baggage check points everywhere

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice, the country has been in a state of emergency. This means that at major train stations and tourist attractions, there will be mandatory bag checks. Just have your bag open, don’t act suspicious, and you’ll be fine.

You’ll also see armed soldiers a lot, at train stations, tourist attractions, and even just in the street. I would freak out if I saw this at home, but here in Paris, it’s totally normal. I’ve even walked to the train station near my apartment and found soldiers randomly walking around. The only time I ever get bothered by the heightened security is when “suspicious bags” are found and the trains are halted until the police have checked it out. Aside from that, I’ve actually grown to like it. It makes me feel safe, especially when I’m walking by myself at night, after class or down in Paris.

5. Public transit is easy to use

When there’s not work being done on the rails and workers aren’t on strike, the public transit system here in Paris is very user-friendly. There’s maps in all the Metro stations, so you can easily find out what train you need (if you haven’t downloaded Vianavigo). There are plenty of signs. And to figure out if the train coming up to the platform is yours, just look at the helpful screens on the platform. You’ll either see the terminus station for your direction or, at some of the larger Metro stations, your stop will be lit up. Easy peasy.

There you have it. My top 5 tips for surviving the Paris public transit system. It might seem unfamiliar, but as long as you have a valid ticket, you observe the people around you, and you know how to read a sign, you’re good to go. Just don’t freak out when you see a bunch of armed soldiers strolling by.

Adventure in Ireland

Posted on September 2, 2016 by ksbeav01

The other day I saw a post on LinkedIn by a CEO and it asked what advice you would give him in five words or less, I thought about it for less than a minute and settled on the words “have an adventure.” It doesn’t seem like the first choice and it probably wouldn’t have been 2 short months ago before I got to experience a great adventure in Ireland.

Sure the idea of an adventure appeals to everyone but the real adventure is when you dive into the unknown, you actually do something about the idea and act on it. I have never seen myself as the type of person that takes a lot of risks sure I have plenty of ideas but I never seem to act on them but that has changed. I now carry a little more experience and I have a little piece of Ireland close to my heart that I hope inspires me against all odds or reason to continue having adventures. In my time abroad I visited 3 countries, quintupled the number of times I have flown (it was 5 flights this time, including 2 that were 7hrs, my previous experience just one that lasted about 2hrs—and that was nearly a decade ago.) I have set foot in 6 castles, heard the tales of Irish folklore, met some great new friends, talked to some of the nicest locals, and it all went by so fast.

I have been back in the states for two weeks and I have been putting off writing this blog, not because I’m not exactly sure what I want to say but because this feels like an end to an amazing experience and I’m not ready for that. This was one of those things that you don’t want to end, it was hard enough leaving all the friends I had met a short month ago which seemed like only days. And now Ireland stands out in all the little details I have heard more about Ireland in my everyday life now than I ever have in any year before. Don’t get me wrong it’s great to be home, but an experience like that is something you don’t just take for granted. I will always remember my time in Ireland, and hope I can return some day.

Memorable moments

Posted on August 15, 2016 by jmwand01

Two of my favorite memories from my study abroad trip to Torino, Italy happened on the first evening I was there and one of the last evenings.

I arrived alone on a Saturday, one day early to the program start date, and decided to enjoy pizza for dinner and some much needed gelato after. I took my Canon camera to capture some memories and when I was handed the most perfect looking cone of gelato- I HAD to get a picture of me with it. There was a younger, Italian man sitting in the gelato shop who I asked to take a picture of me. He did and then proceeded to ask me if I would be willing to help him practice his English. I weighed out my options- it was still light out at 8:27 PM and sunset was not until 9:18 PM, he was about my size so if I needed to defend myself then I absolutely could, and finally we were in a pretty populated area- and I was able to deduce that if I stood around speaking with the guy it would be a harmless and memorable experience. Our conversation ranged from what kind of pet he had to what his hobbies were. The funniest part of the whole thing was that when I brought up the word “laundry” he mistakenly took it as “lingerie” and I quickly corrected that by whipping out the Google Translate app!!! Whew- what a close call, right?!

Flash forward to the last Aperitivo (if you are going to study abroad in Italy and do not know what this is yet… look it up… you are welcome) of the trip. We walked down to Piazza Vittorio Veneto and found a table at Blanco. Our waiter spoke fairly decent English and when one of the individuals at our table asked about where he learned to speak English, his answer made me almost spit out my drink! He admitted he learned English from watching MTV! A direct quote from this man, “Tupac was my teacher”. This story gets funnier and funnier every time I tell it!

In essence, studying abroad provides unique experiences and gives you the most memorable stories!

Gromm Gelato- Torino, Italy

Around Europe in 11 Months…

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Dzenita Bektic

July 1st marked 11 months since I arrived in the beautiful country that we all know as Germany. With my first exam approaching soon, the time I have left in Germany is drawing to an end. I have been more than fortunate enough to spend two semesters in Germany, that simply the mere thought of leaving makes me disappointed. The city of Heilbronn, where I have spent the past 11 months, has become my second home. I have met so many interesting people, experienced so many different things and embraced the German culture with welcoming arms. I have even managed to pick up some German skills, which, if you would have asked me if I would be able to do 9 months ago, I would have told you absolutely not! However, while I plan on making a separate post to talk about my experience in Deutschland, this post will be a follow up on the rankings of countries I have visited. I managed to visit 17 countries while studying abroad and, naturally, I will tell you my opinion of them. I hope you enjoy! 🙂

Definite Rating of the Countries I Visited

18. Slovakia (Bratislava) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

17. Luxembourg (Luxembourg City)

Why did I rank Luxembourg City so low? Probably because the city is very tiny… in fact, the country itself is very tiny. You can see absolutely everything there is to see here in one weekend. However, I am here to tell you why you should definitely visit Luxembourg despite all this. First of all, if you feel a little homesick, then you should definitely go to Luxembourg City because there are literally so many Americans here I almost cried. It was so beautiful to listen to clear English after 8 months… But joking aside, Luxembourg City is actually something like 40% immigrants and another fun fact is that there are 3 official languages here and they are: French, German and Luxembourgish, and the people also speak great English. Another thing to know about Luxembourg City is that it is the second richest city in the world and that is probably because of the opportunities and businesses located here. However, aside from the facts, when it comes to things to see, there are not that many monuments or palaces, etc… Which is another reason I ranked the city so low. However, my recommendation is to talk to someone at the hotel you are staying at or at a tourist information center because they will recommend you with really cool and nice things to see and do while you are here.

16. Spain (Madrid) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

15. Switzerland (Lucerne, Rhine Falls, Zurich) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

14. Austria (Vienna) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

13. Russia (St. Petersburg)

I know it is surprising, you are wondering how does an American get into Russia without a visa? Well, I will tell you how… you go on a cruise of the Baltic Sea and you take a Russian cruise ship, that is how! I think one of my favorite trips so far has definitely been the cruise through the Baltic Sea and I, along with the many other Americans that were on the trip joined mostly for the sake of visiting Russia. We were allowed 72 hours in Russia without a visa because we had arrival and departure cards prepared for us by the cruise ship and the nice part was that the cruise ship also provided free shuttles that hit certain points throughout the city, all we had to do was present our boarding cards. I will be honest though, I was petrified going through security and even speaking English in Russia. I did not know how the people would react, so I did my best to not draw too much attention to myself. However, with that aside, St. Petersburg is what you expect, I guess, from all of Russia. The ride over from the cruise ship to the central part of town, all the buildings were demolished and destroyed. There was Russian propaganda everywhere as well, especially mocking the United States. Nonetheless, once you get past all of that, the things to see in St. Petersburg will blow you away. I would see Google it and you will see what I mean. My two absolute favorite things in St. Petersburg were definitely “Winter Palace” and the “Church of the Savior on Blood.” You will get Instagram worthy shots here! 🙂

12. France (Paris, Strasbourg) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

11. Estonia (Tallinn)

Well Tallinn was definitely, without a doubt, the biggest surprise for me. Every expectation I had of this city was destroyed once I visited, particularly because of how insanely nice it was compared to what I was expecting. The coolest thing about Tallinn for me was how I felt like I was living in the medieval times. The people of Estonia really embrace the theme, especially in the “Old Town.” You can find men and women dressed in medieval costumes and there are even restaurants that once inside, you really feel like you are having a feast during the medieval times. I absolutely loved it. The well preserved “Medieval Fortress” located here is also one of the many reasons the people keep up with the theme in the old town. There is also a medieval prison that you can check out. Also, the secret passages, located underneath the old town, are basically a labyrinth of 17^th century tunnels, and a fun fact about them is that they were used during WWII. Really, I was absolutely amazed by all Tallinn had to offer and I would certainly recommend the city to anyone, especially since it is also so insanely cheap, you simply cannot resist.

10. Finland (Helsinki)

Yes, I visited the home of Santa Claus, well the country… unfortunately I did not get to visit the amusement park “Santa Claus Village” in Rovaniemi, Finland, but believe me Helsinki sufficed my desires. I visited Finland partially because I loved all the Scandinavian countries so much, I wanted to see Finland and complete my list of visiting all the Nordic countries. Also, a friend from Finland who studied in Germany the previous semester was my personal tour guide and for that I was very grateful because I got to see sides of Helsinki a typical tourist would not get to see. However, do not fret, Helsinki is so easy to navigate because it was built on a grid-based format and the transportation is amazing here. Not that you need it, walking is also great because the city is very pedestrian friendly. The only time I would recommend transportation is if you plan on visiting one of the islands that also comprise the city of Helsinki. My favorite part about Helsinki was definitely the neo-classical buildings including the senate square, government palace and cathedral. Also, there are many marvelous structures such as glass palace, swimming stadium, tennis and Olympic stadiums. The last point I want to make is that Helsinki had insane shopping, there were, I believe four shopping malls laid out throughout the city and they were all four floors. I wanted to stay shopping forever here. Helsinki was truly a joy and I undeniably recommend visiting if you find yourself in Finland.

9. Czech Republic (Prague) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

8. Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Well, you can definitely prepare yourself and say hello to an overwhelming number of tourists in Amsterdam… you have been warned. However, I do not want to take anything away from the Netherlands and especially not Amsterdam. I really enjoyed my time here. There really was so much to see that you can easily spend a week in this city and enjoy yourself. So here are my recommendations. First, I would say definitely rent a bike because that is literally one of the things Amsterdam is known for. There are so many bikes everywhere and bike lanes all throughout the city make it very convenient to have a bike. My tip also is, stay out of these bike lanes. While the Dutch may be extremely friendly, they become a totally different person when they get on their bike. You may get run over if you are in the bike lane so stay on the sidewalk. Another tip, there are a ton of really cool museums here. The two I picked to visit are the Rijksmuseum, which was pricy, but so worth it and the Dutch Resistance Museum. Also, if you plan on going to the Anne Frank House, I definitely recommend getting tickets ahead of time because that is the only way to get in. Unless you plan on standing in line for hours. My last recommendation is to not spend all of your time in the Red Light District. Although, it seems appealing, there really is so much more to Amsterdam than just the Red Light District and of course, weed.

7. Poland (Kraków and Oswiecim –> Auschwitz Concentration Camp)

Poland was the one country I absolutely refused to leave Europe without seeing, and as odd as it seems, I had a motive for wanting to visit. I spent a great deal of time learning about the Holocaust in high school, so finally getting the opportunity to visit Auschwitz was a very overwhelming experience and although, difficult to put into words, the best way to sum it up is that I did cry. I do not know any person that can visit such a place and not get emotional. Moving on to Kraków, all I can say is what a beautiful city. I am just going to go ahead and brag about how cheap Kraków was, especially when it comes to food. I would definitely recommend any soup because there are so tasty. Also, I had the best steak of my life in Kraków, and I think I paid like the equivalent of maybe 12 euros for a full meal. In addition to that, the castles, cathedrals and various monuments are definitely enough to keep you busy. I would also recommend visiting the Kraków Ghetto and getting a little more history, especially if you combine the visit to the ghetto with your experiences at Auschwitz.

6. Norway (Oslo)

The first thing to mention about Oslo is that this city will cost you an arm and a leg basically, Oslo is the most expensive city in all of Scandinavian and Europe. Literally, they could charge 13 euros for a Coke and that would be absolutely acceptable for them. With that aside, Oslo is stunning. Really, you will feel like royalty here and be treated like it as well. Oslo, in addition, is very large and actually a lot of the city is comprised of forests, but not many people know that. Oslo is popular in many regards, but here are some of my favorite because they are also the reason Oslo is very prevalent among tourists. The first thing, Oslo is actually the city that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize every year. Second, you can see “The Scream” by Edvard Munch because it is held by one of the museums here (National Gallery). Also, there is the Viking Ship Museum and the Opera House is absolutely insane. In fact, I have never seen an opera house as stunning as the one in Oslo. The last thing I want to mention about Oslo, that is definitely a must see, is the Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, which is filled with 212 Bronze and granite sculptures, all designed by one man.

5. Hungary (Budapest) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

4. Denmark (Copenhagen)

Saying that Copenhagen is as beautiful as a fairytale would not do the city justice. The magnificence surrounding this tiny place is absolutely unreal. I fell in love instantly and in my opinion Copenhagen is the most beautiful capital city of all the Scandinavian countries. There is no way you will be able to see everything in one weekend. I learned the hard way when it came time to leave because I knew there was so much more to see. From the museums, to palaces, to castles and galleries, there is enough to look at for the whole weekend. However, Copenhagen offers so much more than that. The Tivoli Gardens were my favorite, also I spent a great deal of time trying to get the perfect shot at Nyhavn Harbor and also of the Little Mermaid. Støget, the longest pedestrian street filled with many shops was amazing, even if everything was pricy… but hey, welcome to Scandinavia.

3. Sweden (Gothenburg, Stockholm)

I do not even know where to begin with Sweden. Or should I call it land of IKEA and H&M… but in my honest opinion Sweden should also be known as the land of manbuns because every third man I saw had one. So if you are a person that is into that look, then you will surely enjoy the Swedish people. Not to mention that the Swedish are naturally perfect, tall, blonde and stylish. The Swedes also had the best English out of any people I have met during my travels, and believe me, I have met many. However, enough about the people, let us talk about the cities. I personally did not like Gothenburg as much as I loved Stockholm. Both are, respectively, the second and first largest cities in Sweden. The reason I did not really enjoy Gothenburg is because the city was very industrial for me. Which is great, I guess, but I like pretty buildings and nice monuments. That is why Stockholm was absolutely perfect. I mean the city is outrageously beautiful. Even the part of the city they refer to as “Old Town” did not even look like what you expect. I really enjoyed my time in Stockholm and Sweden in general. In fact, if Sweden was not so cold and expensive, I definitely would have liked to study here.

2. Italy (Florence, Milan, Pisa, Venice) *SEE PREVIOUS RANKING*

1. Germany (Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Munich, Nürnberg, Stuttgart, Ulm) *SEE PREVIOUS POST*

Living without mobile technology

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Leah S.

June 2, 2016

Before I left for France I had decided not to purchase an international cell phone plan and to just live off of the free wifi when available. I never thought of myself as the kind of person who has her phone attached to her hand permanently so I really didn’t think it would be a problem.

When I arrived in Lille I couldn’t have been more excited to explore the city and meet new people. As the day progressed and the jet lag really set in I started to panic thinking that this trip would not go as well as planned.

I was in the Brussels airport waiting for the shuttle and had no way to communicate with anyone at home. All I wanted to do was text my parents and let them know that I had landed safe and sound and, it being my first time abroad, my anxiety started to climb.

Once I finally arrived at my apartment, I was sad to realize that there was no wifi available in my apartment either. At this point, I was becoming nervous that I would not be able to contact anyone for the entire time I was abroad. After what seemed like forever I was told that there was wifi available in the lobby of the apartment building. Glad that I had finally found a way to contact my friends and family, things started looking a lot better.

I developed a system where I only get on my phone once in the morning and once in the evening. It took some getting used to, not talking to my family or friends all day, but I have come to realize that it is a blessing not having wifi and not being able to be on my phone. I am forced to truly interact and bond with the other students who came abroad with me and because of this I am realizing that there is so much more time in the day to spend exploring and having fun.

I am very glad and thankful that I can experience as much as I can and not have my eyes glued to my phone screen. The fact that there is no service has actually inspired me to make better friends and explore/get lost in the city. I’m even more excited for this month ahead.

Home Sweet…What Now??

Posted on May 9, 2016 by lakmet01

I am writing this blog post in the comfort of my own home in Louisville, Kentucky after returning from Barcelona a little over a week ago. I have had time to reflect on my semester abroad and all I can say is “what now?”. I was “go go go” for four months straight and now I am unemployed and living at home! That’s reverse culture shock for ya! BUT, as a I think back to the 20 plane rides, 30 trips, too many nights out and the constant feeling of not knowing what’s next, I can’t help but be thankful to be home. I look forward to returning to the University of Louisville for my senior year, as a cultured, more independent woman and I have the amazing Study Abroad Program to thank for that.

Since I have had so much time to reflect on my semester abroad in the past week, I have compiled a list of “lessons,” that will be helpful to me in my future travels and everyday life, as well as, to all the readers out there.

1. Enjoy the Little Things: I say this because, when spending your weekends traveling Europe, you think that you must visit every museum, landmark and cathedral in just 3 days. But, I have to tell you, that is impossible and extremely draining. My advice is to allow yourself to enjoy a long lunch or sit in a park and people watch if you want to; the museum will probably be like the one you saw in Paris last week and the cathedral will never live up to La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (; By taking time to enjoy the little things, you will create better relationships with your travel partners, get a better grasp of the culture of that country and probably save some money along the way.

walking

2. Walk Everywhere: This is the best way to acquaint yourself with the city and the most healthy option if you are like me and ate a croissant everyday. Comfy shoes will be your #1 travel companion with the app, Citymapper, or just maps on your iPhone taking close second. I walked up to 13 miles a day on every weekend trip and close to 6 miles on a daily basis in Barcelona. It sounds exhausting but you will miss the option once you return to the states where everything is spread out.

3. Don’t Just Visit the Biggest Cities: One of my regrets was not traveling to enough small, quant places. I didn’t realize this “mistake” until I came home and was asked “what was your favorite place you traveled?” My answers all had a reoccurring theme; they are all small cities, unaffected my massive amounts of tourism. The list includes Interlaken, Switzerland, San Sebastian, Spain and Lagos, Portugal. I love these trips because I allowed myself to absorb the beauty and simplicity of the cities as well as take advantage of the nature that surrounded me. Also, go skiing in the Swiss Alps. Just do it.

4. Money is a Factor But Not an Ultimatum: In my first couple weeks abroad I was extremely stressed out about money. I wasn’t used to spending so much everyday, plus I was planning all my weekend trips and my bank account was quickly dwindling. With that being said, my mom gave me the best advice and I will relay that to you. Now is the time to spend your money. You have the rest of your life to make up for any money lost while you were abroad. Not to mention, it is only four months of increased spending. You and your bank account will recover. So if you can’t decide if you should treat yourself to the infamous steak in San Sebastian, spend the extra 10 euro to go to the top of the Eiffel tower or go to an over priced Barca game, JUST DO IT. Those memories are worth a thousand more euros and you may not get the chance to do it again.

5. Be Thankful: Not many people get to say they spent a whole semester abroad. Throughout my time in Barcelona I had to remind myself of how rare of an opportunity this is and that missing a flight, bad weather or being crammed onto a metro is nothing to complain about. I became much more laid back because in the grand scheme of things, I was abroad and nothing could ruin that for me. So all in all, go abroad with an open mind. Embrace the culture, embrace your roommates, embrace the course load because you are abroad and you are lucky.

I have many more lessons but I will end it there. While I have a mixture of feelings about being home, these important lessons remain constant and will be with me for life. My “home sweet home” in Kentucky is now shared with my home in Barcelona and I am looking forward to finding out what my “what now” has in store for me.

Money, money, money…

Posted on April 12, 2016 by kddear04

The best advice I received before leaving for my study abroad came from my mother, of course. She had told me to travel as much as possible and don’t worry about the money because you have your whole life to make money. I am a very frugal person… yet a very adventurous and travel hungry person so this advice may have been very hard to swallow from my standpoint.

Oh how I wish I would have listened to her in the beginning… now I am wanting to go so many places but I do not have as much time to do it, my time here is coming to an end and there are so many places untouched. I want to make it to Portugal, Sweden, Israel, Morocco, Poland, Greece, Ireland, and London. Well I had many chances to go to most of these places but I was too frugal wanting to save up my money for another adventure. My adventures have been my favorite time here! Skyscanner is now my best friend and the price of American flights are now even more astonishing and quite frankly ridiculous, why does it cost so much to fly within our own country?

I have however made it to France! That is a huge step in itself (achieving study abroad and making it here at all.) While in France I have traveled to Arcachon (holding the biggest sand dune in Europe), Bordeaux (where I live <3), Saint-Emilion (Wine, wine, wine), Toulouse (home of cassoulet), Bayonne (DA BEACH), Paris (you should know this one), Nice (beautiful beaches, tons of brand names), Aix-en-Provence (famous for parfume), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Bergamo (home of stracciatella), and Milano (Italia)!!

All in all this semester has been a success and Italy is my favorite place so far, if you ever get a chance, GO TO ITALY!! Before leaving I will get to go to Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Spain. I am definitely not disappointed but I am convinced that the best way to come to Europe is on a backpacking trip just taking trains everywhere ! That is the best way to get the best prices and the best experiences!

Have fun, don’t be afraid to spend money because experiences are priceless! Listen to the wise words of your mother, or in this case my mother.

Grüße aus Deutschland!

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Dzenita Bektic

In case your German skills are a bit rusty, or nonexistent like mine were, the title translates to “Greetings from Germany!” I have been fortunate enough to spend six months in beautiful Deutschland and I have enjoyed every second of my time here so far. This post I am dedicating to my travels. So prepare yourself, this might get a bit lengthy. 😉

Definite Rating of the Countries I Have Visited (So Far)

9. Slovakia (Bratislava)

I think I am being unfair to Slovakia, but there has to be a shortcoming. So I will say this, Bratislava was beautiful, however, a little small. The city is notorious for vine yards and the Danube River, which runs through it. In fact, there is the “Altitude Restaurant” which you MUST visit. Nowhere else will you get a view or experience like the one you will get eating here. I happened to have some of the best tasting food in Bratislava as well. I regret ranking the city last because it is not crowded with tourists and you will get a true authentic experience visiting it. There are plenty of things to see here like the castles, and Bratislava has some really interesting statues throughout the city. I guarantee you will enjoy yourself for a weekend.

8. Spain (Madrid)

Madrid absolutely broke my heart. Back story, I have never been to Spain and I have had a huge fascination with the country, Madrid in particular, for a very long time. However, once I finally visited, I was so disappointed. Dare I say, Madrid was a little ghetto for me. I guess I had such high expectations for Madrid and in the end the city did not live up to the beauty. However, Spanish people are absolutely amazing and super friendly. The highlight of my trip was definitely the shopping and visiting estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid’s soccer stadium). The plus side is that Madrid is so big you have plenty to do. My best friend also studied here and she says the night scene is amazing.

7. Switzerland (Lucerne, Rhine Falls, Zurich)

Beautiful country, but a little too calm for me. That about sums up how I felt about Switzerland. I got to visit Switzerland at the beginning of my studies when it was still relatively warm and I really enjoyed my time here. There is a lot to see and experience. The cities and the Rhine Falls were, again, very beautiful. However, like I mentioned, it is a little too peaceful for me here. Also, Switzerland is very expensive and that is something to keep in mind. I will throw this one last bit out there, if you are into skiing, I had a few friends go ski in Switzerland over the holidays and they had a great time. Just something to consider.

6. Austria (Vienna)

Austria is like the sister of Germany. If you have visited Germany and you then go to Vienna, you will feel like you are in back in Germany. Vienna is one of the most artistic cities. There are so many museums you can visit here. My favorite would be any displaying modern art or music. Also, I particular enjoyed the opera house. All and all, there is plenty to see in Vienna if you are into arts and culture.

5. France (Paris)

I went to Paris during Valentine’s Day weekend and all I can say is that the city was truly magical, even if it rained all weekend (it almost always rains in Paris btw). However, Paris is Paris and everything you expect to be true about it most definitely is. The city is crowded with tourists so do not expect too much of an authentic French experience in Paris. However, the city has pretty cool clubs and plenty of monuments you can pose next to. I recommend buying an all-day metro ticket to save money AND because it is nearly impossible to see the whole city and all the touristic sites without the metro.

4. Czech Republic (Prague)

Prague is oftentimes referred to as the Paris of central Europe, and rightly so. Prague is absolutely beautiful and there is so much to see in the city. From churches and cathedrals, to castles and museums, and walking along the Charles’s Bridge, I promise you will need more than a weekend to see everything Prague has to offer. I particularly enjoyed Old Town Square and visiting the Jewish Museum. However, I do have a few tips. First, it is nearly impossible to find a place to eat if you are trying to do so directly in the city center. Most places are fully booked. Also, regardless what others might inform you of, Prague is not that cheap and if you are in the city center, you will definitely be running to the ATM machine if you do not have enough Czech Crowns exchanged. Also, be wary of the service in restaurants. The Czech people are not necessarily the nicest. My last recommendation, you must visit the largest club in central Europe, Karlovy lázn?.

3. Hungary (Budapest)

You need a week to see this city. Plain and simple. Actually, you probably need more than a week. Budapest is unlike any other place you will visit in central Europe. If you are like me and love to take tons of pictures of really cool buildings, architecture and amazing monuments, then this is the city for you. Hungary is known for its word famous thermal baths so if you visit, I would recommend checking them out. Also, if that is not enough to convince you to go to Hungary, then the fact that this is probably the cheapest country in the European Union should be. I am not exaggerating when I say this, especially for a capital city, Budapest was very cheap. At the end of my stay I had to think of creative ways to spend my money because I did not want to take so many Hungarian forints to Germany and exchange them back into euros.

2. Italy (Venice, Florence, Milan, Pisa)

I do not even know where to begin with Italy. In fact, the country is just as magical as it is made out to be. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is so much to see and do here you will never want to leave. The same is true for Florence. In fact, if Florence was a country, it would be my favorite. You could spend hours walking the streets of Florence and not get tired of the beauty around you. Also, if you love beautiful architecture and art, then you must say hello to the home of the Italian Renaissance. In regards to Milan, there is not as much to see here as there is in Florence and Venice, however, if you like fashion and shopping then there is no other place more fitting. Milan after all, is one of the fashion capitals of the world and you will need more than a day to hit all the stores. Pisa is a bit more different and in fact not what you would expect of Italy. There is hardly anything to see here besides the Leaning Tower and two more monuments which are located in the same location as the tower. I would not recommend getting lost at night in Pisa. It can be very scary.

1. Germany

I could not resist making Germany my number one because it truly is my favorite place in Europe. There is so much to do here. From festivals, to markets, to sporting events and music festivals, Deutschland is always buzzing with activity. Need I mention that Germans love to party and are amongst the best drinkers in the world? Bars in Germany are superb and open all the time for anyone looking for a good drink with great company, especially during a fußball (soccer) match. German history, the ancient castles and beautiful scenery, the beer, their amazing food and sports, and the big cities are enough to convince anyone to visit Deutschland, but I recommend visiting the smaller, less known places as well because that is where German magic lies. Ever heard of Heidelberg?

Bonus: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia is the hidden treasure of the Balkans… It is also my birth country. I would never shy away from recommending it as a place to visit. For those who do not know much about the country’s history, Bosnia was almost destroyed by a war that occurred not that long ago. However, despite the tragedy, today the country flourishes and is a very popular country to visit for those who want to learn about it. Tuzla, Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar are great cities to go to if you want to experience Bosnia’s history and be greeted by beautiful scenery and warm hospitality. I would, however, recommend visiting Bosnia in the summer. Unless you like lots of snow, then by all means Bosnia is the place for in the winter.

That’s all for now! Enjoy 🙂

– Dzenita

You’re Only Here Once

Posted on February 18, 2016 by kddear04

Make the most of your time if you don’t travel while you are already in Europe, the prices are going to go way up. Remember that skyscanner is your best friend and plan in advance always.
I am spending my semester in Bordeaux France and though I have no been here long I have been able to explore the region a bit through bus lines, train lines (SNCF mostly) and soon by air!
If you are in France I would advise you to travel the region you are in first and then when you want to go to Germany or some land that seems close but is quite expensive, take on the challenge and find small towns to stop at on the way and break up the trip. I promise it will be less expensive.
Another little travel tip, try to travel with people who have the same budget as you and also same values in general. it is hard to travel when everyone wants to go to different places and you have a very small amount of time to get all these places covered.
Most of all have fun and don’t be scared to travel by yourself! BUT if you travel by yourself be very careful and triple check where you are staying to make sure it is in a safe area!
Have fun travel buddies and keep sharing your stories!
Kariana Dear ( a wonderluster on a budget)

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