The term Diwali is a literal translation of a row of lights; it’s no wonder this holiday has such a strong emphasis on the power of light overcoming darkness. The official holiday, which originated in India, encourages people to seek out the good — no matter how faint — in the midst of the bad, and encourages an optimistic view of the world through the practice of positive belief. This celebration reflects a common theme across many historical narratives — believing our current struggle will ultimately lead toward triumph.

I got to experience this holiday and everything it represents at UNH’s very own Diwali, which kicked off International Education Week here on campus. The Indian Subcontinent Students’ Association (ISSA) offered performances throughout the night, while the event featured authentic Indian cuisine for its guests.

What caught my attention the most was the women’s traditional Indian clothing. Draped in silk, chiffon, embellished ornaments and beading, their garments were woven together with lustrous gold and silver threads. It may be overwhelming to some, but in traditional Indian culture it’s a symbolic representation of the self. Up close, I noticed the traditional bindi worn by Hindu women at the center of the forehead. Some were more extravagant than others, but all signified the meaning of clarity and the opportunity for enlightenment.   

In some cultures, bowing is a common custom used to show respect for each other. We could all show each other more respect. Whether it be with a bow, a handshake or simply a smile, make an effort to show someone that you respect them.

Want to experience more? Check Wildcat Link for more events scheduled during International Education Week.

It’s never too early or too late to start volunteering. These organizations are always happy to have you! Dedicate however much time you have — not only are you making the community and world a better place, you’ll also make new friends and expand your worldview. Isn’t that what college is all about?

For those who want to make a tangible difference in the community…

SHARPP: SHARPP (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program) volunteers dedicate time in two areas, either peer advocacy or community education. Through advocating for victims, engaging in educational dialogue, participating in the annual Anti-Violence Rally and Walk and more, SHARPP volunteers help spread the important message of ending sexual violence.

Wildcat Friends: Wildcat Friends pairs up developmentally disabled adults from the community with UNH students to meet once a week. Students take part in various activities around campus with the friends, helping introduce them to the spirit of the university.

Waysmeet Center and Cornucopia Food Pantry: UNH’s Waysmeet Center is a community for students and non-students alike. Students can volunteer their time at the Cornucopia Food Pantry, which offers food to those in need on a weekly basis.

Hall Council: Every residence hall has a council — made up of students, RAs and the hall director — that convenes to plan events for residents. Many of these events are community service-oriented, so joining Hall Council or just participating in their volunteer events is a great way to spend your time.

Best Buddies UNH: Best Buddies provides friendship and leadership opportunities for community members who have intellectual and developmental disabilities by including them in UNH student-run activities and events.

Circle K: Circle K is an all-encompassing volunteer organization. The student branch at UNH is dedicated to a variety of service projects in the local, regional and international communities.

Woods Cleanup Crew: For those who crave hands-on work and want to be in nature, the Woods Cleanup Crew is the student organization for you. The crew has weekly trail cleanups around the area, giving participants a chance to enjoy the fresh air while making a positive impact in our community’s environment.

American Red Cross UNH Club (ARCC): This student-run branch of the American Red Cross aims to connect volunteers with community service projects in the area. Being involved with the Red Cross provides valuable networking and skill-building opportunities.

For those who want to make a difference in kids’ lives…

Aspiring Hands: Students who volunteer with Aspiring Hands go to the Somersworth Early Learning Center once a week to provide emotional support and companionship to kids of various ages who attend the center.

Dance Marathon: Members of UNH Dance Marathon spend the year hosting events to fundraise for the Children’s Miracle Network, meeting child patients and their parents and planning for the year-end dance marathon. The multi-hour marathon entails participants staying on their feet as long as they can to celebrate the total amount of funds raised that year.

Friends of Jaclyn: Friends of Jaclyn matches UNH athletic teams with children living with pediatric cancer, aiming to create lasting bonds and friendships and give the children and their families a source of joy and support.

Project Sunshine: Project Sunshine volunteers visit local hospitals to spend time with children. The group meets weekly to plan hospital trips, make arts and crafts for local hospitals and organize fundraisers.

Students for St. Jude: This student organization aims to raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides no-cost care to children with cancer.

BRING IT (Bring Refugees, Immigrants and Neighbors Gently Into Tomorrow): BRING IT aims to make an impact on the lives of New Hampshire’s refugees, immigrants and other kids in need by providing academic, social and emotional support.

For those who want to change the world…

Students Without Borders: This group of student engineers and non-engineers take part in creating engineering solutions for disadvantaged communities around the world and in the region. SWB implements environmentally and economically sustainable technical projects in local and international communities, while developing globally responsible and knowledgeable students.

Oxfam UNH: Oxfam UNH has a multifaceted goal to educate the campus and community about the issues of hunger, poverty, homelessness, inequality and discrimination, health and education, women’s rights, conflict and disasters, aid and development, citizens’ rights and climate change.

Relay for Life: The Relay for Life organization raises funds for and awareness about the Relay for Life event, an 18-hour relay that benefits the American Cancer Society and recognizes and celebrates cancer survivors.

Fraternity and Sorority Life: Fraternities and sororities have specific philanthropic causes that they fundraise and campaign for throughout the year, from autism to heart disease. In addition to traditional fraternities and sororities, UNH offers a coed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, specifically dedicated to community service.

Gift of Life: Students in Gift of Life work towards finding a match for every blood cancer patient in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant by holding and organizing donor drives on campus.

Alternative Break Challenge: Want to spend your spring break dedicating time to a meaningful cause? The Alternative Break Challenge is perfect for you. A variety of service trips are offered, from nature cleanup to volunteering at an inner-city kids’ program.

Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA): Volunteering with Animal Welfare Alliance would be a perfect fit if you’re passionate about educating the public about animal welfare movements and working to make change. The group distributes petitions, holds fundraisers and volunteers as part of their campaign for the better treatment of animals.

The Freedom Café: Some students choose to volunteer at The Freedom Café, a local coffeehouse in Durham that serves beverages and baked goods in addition to hosting popular open mic nights. But it’s not just a regular café — the Freedom Café aims to end human trafficking in the world by providing a space for discussion, education and fundraising.

Found something of interest? Learn more about getting involved here.

Savoie and other students hike past a cieba, or kapok tree, lone evidence of a long gone tropical forest.

From June 5-16, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Cuba to study the island’s history, marine life and coastal ecology. My words can’t do the country’s beauty and struggles justice. My 1,018 photos only begin to capture the charm, hardships and artistry that I saw and felt while there.

During my short trip, I was lucky to visit many places, including New Habana, Plaza de Armas, Parque Central and Parqueo de Obispo in La Habana Vieja, Artemisa Province, Castillo del Morro, Pinar del Río, Viñales Valley, Isla de la Juventud and Guanabacoa — not to mention snorkeling in the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Each day, as I traveled with the other students in the class to new places and learned of the history and ecology that surrounded us, I found myself comparing Cuba to other places I had visited around the world. I did this until I realized that this was one country — with its stately but crumbling architecture, 1950s-era automobiles and unspoiled natural beauty — that defied any comparison.

These photographs are from our seven-hour hike through Viñales Valley, my favorite day of the trip.

Our first stop was at a little shack that was selling drinks and cigars. There we saw a raccoon/rat-like animal known as a houtia. Houtia are an endangered species that can be domesticated and kept as pets. They are friendly enough to pat only on their heads. Despite being endangered, they are eaten as food in some areas.

Savoie pets a friendly goat.

Mountains in the Viñales Valley are known as mogotes. After leaving the shack and the houtia, we climbed stairs that had been carved into one of the mogotes to a cave, then we climbed farther up rocks to see wild mountain goats. I was even able to pet one. I was secretly nervous the goat was going to ram me with its head, but here I am writing this, so it all worked out.

After climbing down and hiking through another cave, we reached an opening to what seemed like a prehistoric world, like something out of a real-life “Jurassic World.”

The caves we visited have historical importance. When the Cuban rebels were attacking the Batista government in the 1950s, they hid weapons in the caves. Later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Castro’s troops used the caves to hide water and supplies during bomb threats from the U.S.

We hiked down the other side of the mogote into the valley where we saw lots of cattle and private farms. An old man smoking a cigar by his farm explained that the plow sitting outside his hut had been passed down for 170 years through generations.

We stopped at a very famous tree called a cieba, or kapok. The enormous tree is all that remains of a tropical forest, and the height of its uppermost branches indicate a long-disappeared canopy.

Our next stop was a small tobacco farm. This farm was far less modern than the larger tobacco farm that supplies leaves for the renowned Robaina cigars, which we had visited a day earlier. The larger farm had better materials to help regulate temperature and humidity. This farm did not have access to the same type of materials and resources.

The group enters the second cave.

From there we walked to an underground lake in another larger cave. The second cave was much longer than the first. There were lots of small pools. Toward the end we reached the “lake” and went swimming. It was fairly shallow, only getting up to shoulder height in the deepest places. We were able to walk pretty far into the lake, until we got too creeped out to go any further.

Swimming in the underground lake

After going back to our houses to shower and prepare for dinner, we stopped at a restaurant called Balcon del Valle (translation: Balcony of the Valley) for refreshments and a beautiful view of the valley before going to a celebratory goodbye pig roast in advance of our departure for Isle of Youth, or Isla de la Juventud.

Although short, my visit to Cuba was a trip of a lifetime. During my past three years of college, I have met some of my dearest friends and have become close with a few professors along the way. But this trip was unlike anything I’ve experienced. In a very short time, friends became family and professors became not only mentors but also friends. I saw dilapidated buildings and ramshackle homes set against a backdrop of almost unfathomable natural beauty. In everyone and everything, I saw an island on the brink of change. I feel fortunate to have seen Cuba as it is now and to have felt as if I’d almost time travelled back into the 1950s. I am almost jealous of those who have not yet gone, but are soon to go, because they have the opportunity to see with fresh eyes such an incredible place.

After two years of studying Japanese at UNH, I’ve decided to test my skills in a high stakes environment — a homestay in Tokyo where I’ll be living with a Japanese family and speaking only Japanese for a month. While relishing the excitement of this new adventure, I realized that despite Japanese being offered at four levels, an Asian Studies minor program, study abroad options in several Asian countries and amazing faculty, I am in a small pool of students studying Japanese at UNH.

Many native English speakers perceive Japanese as too difficult to attempt, or they give up soon after beginning. The intimidation of three alphabets, stacking verb conjugations, various forms of politeness and a culture vastly different from the United States keeps many people from reaching their potential.

The thing is, anyone and everyone can learn it, and it can even be enjoyable. I want to share the ways my classmates and I have stayed motivated enough to soon enter a third year of Japanese and the kinds of things that lead people like me to fly 13 hours to the home of one of the world’s most difficult languages.

Learn About and Appreciate Japanese Culture

Studying a language without learning about at least one of its cultures is like studying medicine without looking at the human body. It’s not the enriching experience it could be, and it doesn’t work in practice.

Many aspects of the Japanese language come from the culture’s traditions and heritage, and this makes it easier to comprehend. For example, various politeness conjugations take root in beliefs of social hierarchy and respect. You wouldn’t know why you have to add an honorific suffix to the word for older sister or why speaking to your boss requires a different verb conjugation than speaking to your best friend without understanding this. You also wouldn’t understand why there are more than five conjugations used to apologize to someone based on their relationship to you.

Appreciate the Art and Achievements of the Japanese

“Seven Samurai,” “Spirited Away,” “The Wind-up Bird Chronicle,” “The Tale of Genji,” “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” — Japanese film, music, literature and art are endless and rich.

And it’s not just in Japan: Quentin Tarantino and George Lucas have taken elements from Japanese films (“Star Wars” is basically samurai in space), and Japanese video games dominate markets around the world. Japanese art influenced Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, James Tissot and many other painters, and Japanese animation is internationally renowned. “The Hunger Games” is closely linked to Kashoun Takami’s “Battle Royale” and both Pokémon and Hello Kitty are from Japan.

Japanese art and achievements are everywhere in the U.S. For example, karaoke parties and CD players are both Japanese creations.

Learning about your interests and using them to motivate your studies makes learning Japanese fun and rewarding. This can lead to research opportunities, adventures and increased knowledge about the things you’ve always loved.

Quizlet, Mnemonic Devices and Conjugation Charts

They are your best friends. Create them. Use them. Worship them. Love them.

Connect With Other Learners

Tofugu, GaijinPot and Japanese Stack Exchange are excellent resources for hearing from other native English speakers about tricks, tips and other methods for learning Japanese. Connecting with people in your class and setting up study groups or bonding time is a great way to feel supported through the journey. They may even help you with your weaknesses and show you new ways to approach the material, which will save you time, energy and stress.

It’s Not Easy. It’s Rewarding.

After more than 230 hours of class, I sometimes still forget how to say “cat.” About 40 flashcards, around 12 kanji and anywhere from three to five grammar points every two weeks can make it frustrating to remember something you learned more than a year ago. Reading katakana and realizing it’s derived from a French word you’ve never heard before or trying to figure out how many verb conjugations are in one sentence ending can be a deterrent.

Studying Japanese requires ambition, dedication, pacing and being kind to yourself. It teaches you more about who you are as a person and what you value in education. You will ask more of yourself and learn when to ask for help. New possibilities, friends and more understanding of the world will be available. Your strengths and weaknesses will become obvious and allow you to become a better student.

Attempting one of the world’s most difficult languages is an accomplishment in itself and something to be proud of, whether or not you choose to continue.

I’ve been studying Spanish for almost 6 years now and, although it can be frustrating and I’m still far from being fluent, I’m so glad I’ve stuck with it. Learning a new language is one of the most challenging undertakings in life, but it is also incredibly rewarding. There will be many moments when you will feel incredibly stupid: struggling through forming even the most basic of sentences, not being able to remember the vocabulary terms you studied for hours, being totally confused by conjugating all those tricky verb tenses.

But then there are the times where you realize how cool it is to know a different language… How much wider your world is, how much broader your opportunities are.

I’ve been studying abroad since January, and it’s been an incredible experience to feel my language skills growing stronger. There’s simply no other way to progress rapidly than to immerse yourself in the country where the language is spoken. Since being here, I’ve picked up countless new vocabulary words, discerned speaking trends among native speakers, and gotten more comfortable in speaking and understanding Spanish.

I have learned invaluable lessons, and now I’m more convinced than ever of the importance of knowing a foreign language. Here are some of the rewards of such an undertaking:

1. You can truly experience new cultures.

Knowing the language of a country allows you to experience that culture in a much deeper and more profound way. I’ve found that the intricacies of a culture emerge through how people express themselves more than anything else. There’s no better way to learn about a foreign culture than engaging in conversation with locals.

2. You have more of an opportunity to get to know new people.

This is probably the best part of learning a new language! All of a sudden, your range of potential acquaintances and friends opens up immeasurably. How cool is it to be able to get to know people that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to communicate with? I feel like my world has widened in so many ways now that I know Spanish, especially because I have Spanish friends and can communicate with so many different people. I truly feel a global sense of community.

3. You communicate better in general.

I’ve found that I can express my ideas better since learning Spanish. I often struggle to find the exact words to express a concept in Spanish and have to find a way to explain it using different phrasing. This has been useful in teaching me how to communicate better in general. That said, it has been interesting to feel my grip on English loosening slightly while being here since all of my classes are in Spanish and I speak in Spanish for most of the day!

4. You are exposed to new ideas.

As Americans and English-speakers, we sometimes forget that not every great thinker and writer speaks our language. There are so many intelligent people in the world that have fascinating ideas to share, but, obviously, not everyone speaks English. Think of all the incredible literature that is available in other languages, or loses some of its beauty when translated. Knowing a different language opens up the world in so many ways, especially in allowing for increased exposure to new ideas.

5. You don’t fear people who are not like you.

I repeatedly tell people that if studying abroad has taught me anything, it’s that this world is so small. One way in which I feel like my world has become smaller is realizing all humans have things in common. Whether it was wandering through the streets of Morocco or sharing conversations with Spaniards, I came to see that we’re not so different after all. Language acquisition allows for international experiences of richness and depth. And engaging those who might seem different from you will help you realize that kindness exists all over the world, and there is no reason to fear those who don’t share your culture.

Inspired to start learning a language or pick up where you left off? Check out the many courses offered by UNH’s Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department or find a study abroad experience through the Center for International Education.

We recently had a week off from classes here in Granada. Some of our group stayed in the city, exploring and viewing Easter week (Semana Santa) festivities, while others set out on adventures all around Europe. I had plans to visit Budapest and Prague, but a strike among French air traffic controllers meant that my flight was cancelled. Since I was already in Barcelona to catch my flight, I decided to just stay there for the week instead.

Obviously, the change in plans was a bit of a disappointment, but Barcelona quickly made up for it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I ended up falling in love with the city. The most compelling aspect of Barcelona has to be the varied styles of architecture all over the city. There are Baroque buildings, an entire Gothic quarter, and, of course, the incredible works of modernist Antoni Gaudí.

Strolling around Barcelona’s Gothic quarter, found within the Ciutat Vella (“Old City,” in Catalan) feels like a walk back in time. You can’t miss the incredible Gothic cathedral, which was constructed over the course of two centuries — from the 1200s to the 1400s.

The cathedral contains many characteristics of ornate Gothic architecture, including intricate detailing, pointed archways, and even gargoyles. The cathedral also incorporates other architectural periods, including a neo-Gothic façade constructed in the 19th century and several Baroque chapels.

The other main architectural influence is the modernism movement, active around the turn of the 20th century. Barcelona is in a region of northeast Spain known as Catalonia, which has an especially distinct history and identity. Around the start of the 1900s, Catalonia underwent a renaissance of sorts, or Renaixença as they say in the native Catalan language. Antoni Gaudí was one of the principal architects of this movement, and arguably, the most famous. His iconic buildings have come to characterize modern-day Barcelona. Pictured above is Casa Batlló, a private residence designed by Gaudí.

Barcelona’s most iconic landmark is La Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s masterpiece. The construction of this basilica began in 1882, with Gaudí taking over the design and direction one year later. In fact, the basilica is still in the process of construction. It is projected to be completed in 2026, with final ornamental decorations finished by 2032. His vision combined Gothic principles with Art Nouveau styles.

Catalonian modernisme shares many artistic principles with the Art Nouveau movement that occurred throughout Europe at the same time. The movement favored curves over straight lines, drew heavy inspiration from nature, used ornamentation and bright colors, disregarded principles of symmetry, and included many examples of symbolism.

The intricate ceiling inside La Sagrada Familia.

It is easy to see these elements at work within the Sagrada Familia, but it is equally evident that Gaudí’s vision transcends any specific classification and can only be fully appreciated by acknowledging his incredible creativity and innovation.

Colorful stained glass windows of La Sagrada Familia.

Gaudí’s other significant architectural undertaking in Barcelona, Parc Güell, comprises gardens and interesting architectural elements. It opened as a public park in 1926.

The park includes several unique homes designed in Gaudí’s eccentric modernist style, as well as architectural elements such as a mosaic patio and stone archways.

The park is situated on a hill, from which you can look out on all of Barcelona.

The electric spirit of Barcelona is palpable even from this isolated spot among the trees. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to experience the unique architecture and vibrant character of this city.

Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Morocco. Being in Spain, I knew that Africa was about as accessible as it was ever going to be, and I had to take advantage of this. I had an amazing time in Morocco and left truly enchanted by the colorful cities, delicious food, beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture.

Here are some of my favorite things about Morocco…

The kind people.

One of the first things that stood out to me was how nice the people were. We were greeted by genuine smiles everywhere we went, despite being a large group of young Americans. The Moroccan people were pleased to have us there and seemed excited to share their culture.

The beautiful landscape.

As we drove from city to city, our bus wound through hills and lush, green landscapes supported by Northern Morocco’s Mediterranean climate. Beautiful lakes and mountains are not something you might associate with Africa, but there were plenty to be found in Morocco.

The distinct culture.

Morocco’s culture is very different from American or European culture. This is reflected in the style of dress, the way of life, the local food and drink, and the religion, in particular. One of my favorite cultural moments of the weekend was hearing the Islamic call to prayer ring out over the rooftops of the city.

The delicious food.

I loved the food of Morocco! It featured fresh vegetables, warm couscous, meats in sweet brown sauces, and doughy round loaves of bread. As we were wandering through the medina (old city) of Chefchaoeun, we followed the scent of baking bread into the house of a local who was cooking some loaves in an earthen oven. The fresh, warm bread practically dissolved in our mouths as we devoured it. My other favorite aspect of Moroccan cuisine was the delicious, traditional mint tea.

The languages.

Every sign in Morocco is written in Arabic and French (due to a long-standing French presence in the country), but most Moroccans we encountered spoke Spanish and English too! I was so impressed by the multilingual locals.

The colorful cities.

The first city we visited in Morocco was Chefchaoeun, which is known as “The Blue Pearl” because of the vibrant blue color of its buildings. All of the homes and buildings in the medina are painted in varying shades of blue. There are several theories about this: Our Moroccan tour guide told us that the paint keeps the insects away, but it’s also thought that blue signified heaven to the Jewish refugees who settled here in the 1930s. The other city we visited, Assilah, also had buildings with colorful façades and vibrant murals.

The practice of bartering.

In Morocco, no item is priced at a set amount — everything is up for a little negotiation. This unique aspect of Moroccan culture was fun to try out. The many eager street vendors were more than willing to spend a few minutes bartering with you.

The incredible new experiences.

My weekend in Morocco was filled with one memorable moment after another. I was exposed to many new things I could never have imagined. I left with a huge appreciation for the Moroccan people and their culture, and with thankfulness for all the new experiences that studying abroad has enabled me to have.

Today, I’m continuing my “Exploring Granada” series in which I highlight historic sites and neighborhoods throughout the city of Granada…

Today I’ll guide you through one of my favorite neighborhoods in Granada, the Albaicín (alternatively spelled Albayzín). The Albaicín is the Arab quarter of Granada, founded by the Moors that ruled Granada during Medieval times.

Between the whitewashed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and bright, geometric doorways, it’s easy to see the Arab influence in this eccentric neighborhood.

It’s hard to turn a corner in the Albaicín without happening upon an intricate doorway or pretty view. Because the Albaicín is situated on a hill opposite the incredible Alhambra palace, the scenic views are frequent.

Along with the Alhambra, the Albaicín was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, bringing global attention (and subsequent tourists) to this area of the city.

The Albaicín is always buzzing with people, whether they are shopping for unique goods and textiles at the Arab markets, drinking tea at the teterías, or taking in the incredible views from the many miradors (look-out spots). It is easy to get away from the crowds, however, in one of the many tiny, winding streets of the Albaicín.

One of the most incredible things about the Albaicín is the feeling of authenticity. Although there are tourists, there are also locals bustling about their neighborhood, mopeds speeding by, overgrown gardens spilling over the walls, and paint peeling from the aging houses.

One of the defining characteristics of the Albaicín is the abundance of carmenes, homes that are separated from the street by a high wall and contain outdoor spaces with gardens, small fountains or ponds, and fruit trees. You can easily spot these beautiful carmenes by their tall walls covered in ivy or grapevines, and oftentimes there is a sign stating the name of the carmen. Many of them have been converted into restaurants or event spaces, so you are able to wander around and get a sense of the tranquility that these unique homes provide their residents.

One of the larger streets of the Albaicín runs along the River Darro and has great views of the Alhambra, which sits atop the hill right across the river. After a few blocks, the Carrera del Darro turns into the Paseo del Padre Manjón, which was named in honor of a monk from Granada who founded a school for the marginalized gypsy children of the Sacromonte neighborhood.

The Albaicín has served as an eccentric backdrop to centuries of fascinating history, making it an incredible cultural asset to Granada and an amazing place to explore.

Missed my post about the Alhambra? Catch up here and read my other posts from Spain here. The next installment in “Exploring Granada” will take you through the fascinating Sacromonte neighborhood, so stay tuned!

Today, I’m starting a series in which I highlight historic sites and neighborhoods throughout the city of Granada…

Beautiful and steeped in history, Granada is a mid-sized city located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Spain’s picturesque Andalucía region. If not for the iconic Alhambra, what many call the city’s “crown jewel,” Granada might never have become as well-known as it is today.

The Alhambra is a compound of several different palaces and gardens originally built during the Arab Nazrid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. The province of Granada was the last remaining stronghold of the Muslims before Queen Isabel I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (known as the Reyes Católicos, or “Catholic Monarchs”) completed the Reconquista of Spain in 1492. Due to the long-standing Arab reign, there is a strong Moorish (the name given to the Muslim inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula) influence in the architecture and culture of Granada. The Moorish fortresses and palaces of the Alhambra are the most significant example of this.

Court of the Myrtles, or Patio de los Arrayanes, in one of the Nasrid palaces of the Alhambra.

There is also a Catholic palace within the Alhambra, built by Charles V of Spain a century after Granada came under Catholic rule.

The courtyard of the Palacio de Charles V, a later addition to the Alhambra.

The Alhambra is one of the most visited places in Spain and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the ancient buildings and tranquil gardens feels like a step back in time.

The Palace of the Lions, or Palacio de Los Leones, in one of the Nasrid palaces.

In the architecture, the attention to detail is truly incredible. The walls are covered in tiny, intricate designs.

It is hard to fathom how much time and work went into the construction of these buildings!

The Alhambra fell into a state of disuse and subsequent disrepair for several centuries until writers and scholars from all over the world began to visit the site during the 19th century. These scholars, such as the American diplomat and author Washington Irving, encouraged the restoration of the palaces and brought the Alhambra back into the public consciousness.

In addition to the main palaces, the Alhambra includes a summer palace and the surrounding Generalife gardens.

The Alhambra palaces sit on a hill above the city and therefore have amazing views of Granada.

While touring the Alhambra, I was again reminded how amazing the opportunity to study abroad is. It’s so important to get to know the rich cultural history of a different place.

For more on my adventures in Granada, check out this video of a recent Takeover Tuesday on the UNHStudents Snapchat! You can read all of my blog posts from Spain here.

As you may know, UNH provides several different options for students looking to study abroad. You can select one of the 500+ programs offered by outside institutions that UNH has approved. You can participate in a UNH exchange program in which you enroll individually at a partner university. You can find a study abroad program that suits you and petition to have it approved by UNH’s Center for International Education. Or you can choose to join a group of classmates and a UNH professor in a UNH-managed program, like I did.

What’s it like to study abroad in a UNH-managed program? I will do my best to describe it here.

1. You have a UNH professor to turn to.

Studying abroad entails living in a new culture in a foreign country, and this can be a scary thought. Luckily, with UNH-managed programs, you have a familiar  figure who is there for you whenever you need help. The UNH professor who accompanies you on the program will become one of your most trusted advisors. It is comforting to have a knowledgeable, experienced professor in your group while studying abroad.

2. You will bond with other UNH students.

I personally love this aspect of UNH-managed programs. It’s hard to see a downside in meeting 25 or so fellow Wildcats and exploring a new country and culture with them. Studying abroad together is a surefire way to form bonds that continue even after the program ends.

3. You will get to see the sights.

In Spain, so far we have taken a day trip to the Mediterranean coast and a weekend excursion to Madrid. Although there are plenty of free weekends where you can plan your own trips, I have enjoyed the structure that the UNH-managed program provides with scheduled trips. Not only do we take trips as a group but we also share experiences together, such as concerts, shows, soccer games and more.

4. You will be immersed in the culture.

One of the utmost priorities of UNH-managed programs is to give students true cultural immersion. Typically, you live with a host family, which offers a maximum opportunity to practice the language and learn the culture. If you don’t live with a host family, your UNH professor will make available to you as many cultural experiences as possible.

5. Your courses will transfer seamlessly.

Since UNH has essentially designed the program, you leave knowing that the courses you take while abroad will match up with your courses back at UNH. You don’t need to worry about whether they will meet the requirements of your major or minor or whether UNH will accept the credits. This means a lot less work on your part!

These are some of the benefits of taking part in a UNH-managed study abroad program. Remember that each study abroad experience is different. If you are considering study abroad, you should seek the program that most closely aligns with your interests and priorities. There is an option for everyone, and the incredible resources of the CIE and your college’s study abroad office will surely help you find the right fit!

Check out my previous blog post from Granada here.

As of February 13, I have officially been in Spain for one month. At this point, it’s starting to feel “real” that I’m living here and not just on a long vacation! The first month abroad has brought many adjustments, a few challenges, and plenty of incredible experiences. There is something to be said for the immense growth that studying abroad forces you to endure. In just a month, I have learned so much.

There are definitely some attitudes you have to adopt in order to survive when you’re thrown into such a drastically new and different situation. Here are my five tips for getting through your first month abroad:

1. Be flexible.

Almost always, things don’t turn out how you think they will (this holds true for life in general!). A situation might exceed your expectations … or it might not, but, either way, be prepared for things not to turn out exactly how you expect. It’s natural to have ideas about how things might go, but don’t get too hung up on whether things are exactly how you thought they would be. The study abroad experience comes with many presupposed ideas about societal and cultural experiences. Some things I’ve found to be better than expected, while others have been simply different! Either way, it’s been important for me to be flexible.

2. Be able to laugh at yourself.

There will be times when you absolutely cannot understand a single word that someone says (in the language that you’ve been studying for five years), and there will be times when you and your friends humiliate yourselves by stuttering your way through ordering coffee. The most important thing is to be able to laugh it off and not take yourself too seriously! In general, the people here in Spain are very nice and are just happy that you are attempting to speak their language. I think this holds true in every foreign country.

3. Say “yes” as much as possible.

Even if you got barely any sleep the night before or just want a lazy morning in bed, the adventures that await you during the day will most likely be worth pushing through the sleepiness. I’ve forced myself out of bed a few different times to set off on outings with my host family, and, although I was reluctant at the time, it always turned out to be worth it. Whether they took me on a hike with beautiful views or showed me around a nearby coastal beach town, I never regretted forgoing a lazy day around the house for a new adventure.

4. But don’t forget to take care of yourself!

Despite the fact that you should turn down as few adventures as possible, it is equally as important to prioritize your health. This means getting enough sleep and remembering to rest during the day. A lot of people in our group have become run down and ill, so there is definitely a danger of getting sick when you don’t get enough sleep and are constantly on the go. You have to work to find a balance between taking care of yourself and getting out and doing things.

5. Don’t compare.

Everyone’s study abroad experience is going to be different. It is easy to fall into a habit of comparing your experiences to those of others, whether it’s friends who are abroad at the same time as you, friends who have studied abroad in the past or even others within your group. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re having a bad day and everyone else seems to be having the time of their lives — everyone has their moments!

If you’re studying abroad currently, these tips might resonate with you. I think they are good things to keep in mind for life in general! The first month studying abroad is kind of like being a freshman in college again — you’re thrown into an entirely new situation and you need to adapt and make friends quickly. In any case, but especially during a new and different life experience, these practices are good to keep in mind.

One of the bigger adjustments I had to make since arriving in Spain two weeks ago is adapting to the Spanish daily schedule. The mealtimes, routines, and customs of the Spanish culture are very different from those of America. It has been particularly interesting for me to think about my daily life back in Durham compared to my daily life here. Although I haven’t quite gotten into a routine yet here in Granada, I have a pretty good idea of the standard rhythm of life here and how it varies from the typical student routine back at UNH.

Here are some differences between daily life in Durham and Granada.

Breakfast

Durham, New Hampshire:

In Durham, I would say the students usually wake up between 7:30 a.m. — if you’re one of the unlucky that has 8 a.m. classes — and 10 a.m. Those who have time head to the dining halls for a big breakfast. Whether you fill up your plate with eggs and pancakes at HoCo or wait patiently for a breakfast sandwich at Philly, you won’t start the day on an empty stomach.

Granada, Spain:

Here in Granada, the city streets are full from about 8 a.m. on with kids heading to school, professionals heading to work and students heading to class. Breakfast is a small meal in Spain. You might have a piece of a toasted baguette with some juice or a yogurt. Heaping servings of eggs, pancakes and the like are nowhere to be found.

Getting Coffee

Durham, New Hampshire

Walking around the UNH campus on any given morning, you’re bound to see students hurrying to class with a coffee in hand or see long lines forming at Dunkin Donuts, Aroma Joe’s or Zeke’s. When it comes to coffee, it’s the bigger the better, as large quantities of caffeine are considered a must for most Wildcats. And even if the temperature has dipped to the single digits, don’t be surprised to see students sipping down iced coffee!

Granada, Spain

Getting coffee is more of a social ritual here in Spain. Coffee is to be slowly sipped and enjoyed while sitting with friends. Some cafeterías (cafés) don’t even offer coffee to go! The portions of coffee here are also drastically different. A café con leche (coffee with milk, similar to a latté) comes only in one size, usually a small six- or eight-ounce mug. Additionally, iced coffee isn’t served in Spanish coffee shops.

Lunch

Durham, New Hampshire

After morning classes, UNH students typically head to the dining hall starting at about noon, with crowds thinning out around 2pm. You might have a sandwich, a slice of pizza or some salad, but usually nothing too heavy or big. You might even skip the dining hall and opt for a quicker option, like a salad from Union Court or a to-go meal from a café around campus. Lunch falls in the middle of students’  busy days, and therefore is usually eaten quickly before rushing off to class.

Granada, Spain

On the contrary, lunch is the biggest meal of the day here in Spain. Additionally, it is eaten mid-afternoon, any time from 2-4 p.m. Students leave school and adults leave work to enjoy lunch together at home. Even most stores close so that the employees can go home for the meal! Lunch is seen as a time to relax and catch up with the family. The home-cooked meals are served in large portions. You might eat seafood paella (a famous Spanish rice dish), enjoy a hearty fish or meat dish or have a big helping of tortilla española (the Spanish version of an omelette), along with several side dishes.

Afternoon

Durham, New Hampshire

In Durham, the afternoon is usually a busy time for students. Unless you’ve gotten all of your classes out of the way in the morning or have nighttime lectures, you probably have classes in the afternoon. Even if you don’t, students are still busy, trying to catch a professor during office hours or chipping away at their studies in the library.

Granada, Spain

Following the mid-afternoon lunch, Spaniards take time to rest during the siesta. Most take an hour or two to sleep or simply relax in the home. Most stores are closed during this time as well. The city collectively slows down and takes a break. Around 5pm, most people return to work for a few more hours.

Dinner

Durham, New Hampshire

Dinner is the biggest meal of the day in the United States. For college students, it is not to be missed. The dining halls fill up starting around 5 p.m. with groups of friends reuniting after a day of classes. Students usually help themselves to large portions of combinations including pasta, meat, pizza, and potatoes. And there’s always a variety of cookies and cake for dessert!

Granada, Spain

At about the time when UNH students are eating dinner, 5-8 p.m., people in Spain are meeting up with friends for tapas (small plates of food) at restaurants around the city. That’s because dinner isn’t served until late at night. Families usually eat a light meal (think soup and salad) anywhere from 9:30pm to 11pm! It was hard to get used to eating so late at first, but I have come to like it. I see dinner as the end to the evening now rather than the beginning.

It’s so interesting to me to see the differences in daily routines between my life at UNH and my life here in Granada. Being immersed in a different culture is such an important and valuable experience, and I’m so thankful to UNH for providing the opportunity! Check back soon for more on life here in Spain.

Study Abroad

The obvious choice is to study abroad. UNH’s Center for International Education does an amazing job of curating study abroad opportunities for students. There are several UNH-managed programs to choose from, meaning that the programs are directed and administered by UNH faculty members and are closely aligned with coursework you would have on campus. In addition, UNH has approved a number of programs that are developed, managed, and administered by professional third-party providers or universities but meet UNH’s criteria. There are around 500 UNH-approved programs, so you’re bound to find something that interests you! You can also participate in a UNH Exchange program with select universities abroad that have directly partnered with UNH to provide students of both universities a unique educational opportunity.

National Student Exchange

If you want to experience a new part of the world but feel more comfortable staying in the United States, the National Student Exchange (NSE) is a great option. UNH is one of 170 accredited colleges and universities across the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories that participate in NSE. NSE allows you to continue making progress on your UNH degree while studying at a different university in a different area of the country.

The Washington Center

UNH’s affiliation with The Washington Center allows students to attend internships and seminars in Washington, D.C. The city is home to hundreds of government agencies, major corporations, non-profit organizations, think tanks, advocacy groups, law firms, and more. This makes it a perfect fit for students of many different departments and majors. Living in D.C. allows students to be immersed in the capital culture and make important networking connections.

Semester in the City

The Semester in the City program is a new opportunity for UNH students through the Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise. Beginning in fall 2016, students will have the chance to complete an internship with a leading social change organization in the city of Boston. This program is perfect for students passionate about community development, social justice, health, education, environment, and other areas dedicated to the public good. Through the internship and additional evening seminars and leadership workshops, students earn 16 credits.

Iwan Effendi and Maria (“Ria”) Tri Sulistyani of The Papermoon Puppet Theatre came to UNH all the way from Indonesia, as a part of Cultural Stages: The Woodward International Drama and Dance Initiative. The initiative is funded by Ellis Woodward, UNH Class of ’74, and is intended to connect the UNH to other cultures through theater.

Iwan and Maria brought with them puppets and a concept. They wanted to create a show to honor the victims of a genocide that occurred in Indonesia fifty years ago. They cast their student actors, and got to work devising a show with puppets, masks, no speaking, and a heavy meaning. If you’re wondering how this is possible, student stage manager Emma Perkins was, too, when they first embarked on this journey. Her reservations, though, were soon alleviated. She says, “Ria and Iwan were able to take a tragic event, and a group of people, and make it into a masterpiece.”

Ria and Iwan built this piece from the ground up; they were behind the direction, the costumes, the puppets, the set, as well as the inspiration for all of the “love and passion” that went into it, according to student actor Isabelle Beagen. The students involved, though, were also an integral part of the show’s development. One of the student performers, Sarah Hurley, shares: “The entire process was an exploration. We we’re given a framework and some history and from there we created a world built around a community being eaten away at by secrets and fear. This was contrasted by how close we grew to be as a cast – puppets and all.”

Photo from papermoonpuppet.com

Presenting such a tragic story in a medium that was brand new to them, presented many challenges to this team of students. Rachel Noland, who appeared in the show both as a puppeteer and masked villager, says “Genocide is not easy to talk about, and not easy to feel. But it needs to be talked about and felt. I think our story, presented in this way, touches everyone.” The students also had to learn how to communicate through the puppets and through movement. Another student actor, Jake Compagna says he’s gained “an appreciation for the artistic value of silent theatre, and a better fundamental understanding of how the human form can convey messages without a single word”.

The team of students all have plenty to say about what they’re taking away from this process, and what they’ve loved about working on it. The common theme in all of their comments, though, is clear. “Working on Sematakaki was truly a one-of-a-kind experience that I will always remember. Ria and Iwan are amazing directors and fantastic people to work with,” says student actor Ina Nakuci. The couple from the Papermoon Puppet Theatre are at the soul of this production. The hard work and dedication of everyone involved is palpable from every seat in the audience. If you have the opportunity to experience it, I highly recommend it!

SEMATAKAKI has performances December 2nd through December 5th at 7pm, and on December 6th at 2pm. Get your tickets online, or from the PCAC Box Office.

Online Courses

Want to learn how to market yourself as a Liberal Arts major? Interested in the story of human evolution though DNA and fossils? How about dystopian and apocalyptic fiction? You could earn up to 4 credits from the comfort of your home with UNH’s online course offerings. This is a great way to get a Discovery requirement out of the way or get ahead on your major or minor. There are courses available from almost every college on campus, so you’re sure to find something of interest. Here’s a list of the online offerings for J-term 2016 and some cool featured courses.

On-Campus Courses

If you live near Durham or are staying around for winter break, you can consider a traditional classroom experience for a J-term course. There are plenty of course offerings right here on campus, including the fundamentals of real estate, rope ice climbing, general chemistry, and more! See all the course offerings here.

Photo taken by a UNH student studying abroad.

Study Abroad

The J-term study abroad programs are great for those who want an international experience but don’t have time in their schedules to do a whole semester abroad. There are some awesome UNH-managed study abroad programs during J-term. Want to learn archaeological mapping in Belize, travel writing in London, or cruise ship management while on an Atlantic cruise? Those are just a few of the opportunities for J-term study abroad! See them all here.

Now that you’ve seen your options, are you considering taking advantage of your J-term? Find out more information here!

Unfortunately, I also found children with protruding, malnourished stomachs. I met grown men and women who had never been to school. I saw wives with more children than they could care for. And I heard children following behind me, asking for nothing but a pen for school.

It never really hit me until I got back home that those children following me only asked for a pen. Not money, not food… they just wanted a pen. Because school in Ethiopia is not a promise for children, as it is here in the United States. Because without a pen, you can’t go to class or do work or get an education. Something so small, that to me was trivial, could change those children’s lives. That’s when I decided to do something.
Two years, three months, and one week ago I brought together nine friends and siblings to start a nonprofit that would support education in developing countries. The group was formed because we all had one thing in common: we wanted to find a way to impact the lives of young people just like us, but who did not have access to an adequate education. We wanted to make a difference.

Now, I could get into the story of our charity Your Eyes Wide Open, how we started it, what we’ve accomplished and why and how we do what we do. Instead, I’ll let you learn that on your own so I can go ahead and share the impact that Paul College, and specifically the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, has had on my organization. So check out youreyeswideopen.org for more information on the work that we do.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in running my nonprofit is that I have no experience in founding and running a company, and neither do any of my siblings and friends.

Paul College has changed that for me. Since starting this semester, I have learned how to market a company, how to create the brand for a company, how to manage a business, and much more. The FIRE program has made me aware of ways in which I can put those skills to use, and reach out to professionals who can help me take Your Eyes Wide Open to the next level.

I have learned about pitch competitions that I can enter. I have learned the importance of networking with UNH alum. I have learned how to put together a stand-out presentation that is both professional and personable. The University of New Hampshire Paul College of Business and Economics, and its FIRE program, has given me more than just one semester’s worth of knowledge. It has provided me with the skills and resources necessary to benefit my nonprofit and the lives of students from around the world. And for that, I am very grateful.

One semester in, and I’ve gained more than I ever imagined I would. With the base that the FIRE program is providing me with, the sky really is the limit, and I’m excited to see where it helps me get to down the road.

About Devin McMahon:

Devin McMahon is the oldest of five children, and a driven first year Business Administration student at the University of New Hampshire. She graduated from Pinkerton Academy as Student Council President and Future Business Leaders of America Community Service Coordinator. McMahon was chosen to represent the state of New Hampshire as a delegate for the United States Senate Youth Program March 2015, and placed fourth at the national FBLA conference June 2015.

McMahon is currently the founder of Your Eyes Wide Open, and attributes her success to her work with Student Council and FBLA, her family, and the opportunities that she has had to travel and understand different cultures.

The board members of the International Food Luncheon 2015.

Throughout the week of November 2 – 8, CIE and numerous other sponsors put on a variety of events that exposed the UNH community to all of the different cultures represented on campus. They kicked off the week with the opening celebration in Union Court and finished the week with Diwali– the Indian Festival of Light. A favorite among the UNH community during this week is the International Food Luncheon (IFL).

Hosted by the international dorm on campus for the last sixty years, traditional and international students in Fairchild Hall came together to put on this amazing event. On Friday, those who went to Huddleston Hall for IFL were treated to twenty different dishes from around the world and performances by Fia Chait (the Irish dance club) and a preview performance from Diwali performed by the Indian Subcontinent Students’ Association.

Unlike most who attend the International Food Luncheon, I know first hand how much time, love, and energy goes into this event. For the 2014 International Food Luncheon, I served as co-chair of the event alongside this year’s chairman, Morgan Lynch ‘17.

In the days leading up to the event, I was lucky enough to snag some time with the 2015 board to talk about IFL. While many were preparing dishes to be served on Friday, a few of the board members filled me in on how this year’s preparation was going and their experience working on such a large and complex event.

Sitting in the Fairchild Hall lounge, I chatted with Gillian Adiwinata ‘19, Morgan Lynch ‘17, Abigail St. Pierre ‘18,

Students prep one of the twenty dishes to be served at the event.

Mackenzie Meier ‘19, Amanda Morris ‘18, Nicky Ripaldi ‘18, Sam Both ‘18, Tori Lorvig ‘18, and Jonathan Mills-Anderson ‘17. While a few of them could only stay for a few minutes, having to return to their work in the kitchen, the whole board seemed ecstatic about the upcoming event.

Much as it has been in past years, the board and volunteers were a mix of returning students and new students hoping to share their cultures with the UNH community. “This is my third year working with, and being lucky enough, to work with the people I have– this is all volunteer run,” said Morgan Lynch, chairman of the event for the last two years. “This is the product of a lot of hard student work, a lot of commitment, and a lot of fun and love and care.”

I couldn’t agree more, Morgan.

The board members continued to talk about their experiences from the previous year in comparison to this year and share what they are the most excited about for the 2015 event.

You can listen to the whole interview on the UNH Soundcloud.

A few days later it was the day of the event. Current “Fairchildren” and alumni were working hard to get everything ready for the first 11:30 seating for lunch. Trays of delicious Lemongrass beef skewers, momos, and nineteen other dishes were brought out for serving. Being an alum of the hall myself, I was more than happy to help fill barbecue fish lettuce wraps before taking a seat and being served some truly amazing, home cooked food. Sorry HoCo, but this luncheon is always my top choice when I eat on campus!

As a part of the event, the Irish Dance group performed for the 11:30 seating and the Indian Subcontinent Student Association performed a dance for Diwali, which could be seen in whole that Sunday, performed for the 12:30 seating.

As always, this event was a great way to get the UNH community involved and trying new things. While not as busy as previous years, all who attended the event left full and happy to have been a part of the International Food Luncheon.

Missed it this year? Check it out at next year’s International Education Week!

Check your Passport

Look at your passport to make sure you know where it is. A good rule of thumb is that if the passport expires within 6 months of  your departure date, get it renewed before you plan to go abroad. Also make sure that it has the required number of pages in order to travel from country to country while abroad (including day trips). Always make a copy of your passport before you go abroad in case you lose it on the trip. For more information on United States Passports, click here.

Get a New Debit Card (with Chip)

Before going abroad call your bank(s). Countries throughout the world are changing the way that the credit cards are being processed. Now cards are embedded with microprocessor chips to meet the EMV (EuroPay, MasterCard and Visa) standard. This protects cards from fraud by using chip and pin technology. If you don’t resolve this before you leave, the card could be rejected or your  accounts could be frozen- stranding you with no money in a foreign nation.

Apply for your Visas

If you plan to travel outside the U.S. make sure you apply for the student visa of the country you plan to visit. Do you plan to visit other local countries as well? Make sure you won’t need a tourist visa to visit or you’ll be sent back. As visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the trip, the sooner you apply the better.  Keep extra photocopies of these documents (with you and with your parents) for your own safety and security while you study abroad as well. For U.S. Visas you may be required to have an interview, in addition to submitting all of the paperwork, a photo (with specific dimensions), and the associated fees to get the visa.

Check your Phone, Laptop and other Devices

While abroad don’t forget your family and friends. Going abroad can be a stressful and nerve-wracking time not just for you but your family and friends too. Before you leave make sure you have all of the appropriate cables for your devices. While abroad there are two standard options for phones. Either you can contact your local service provider to talk about international calling, SIM cards and cellular data, or you can try to get a student phone from a provider in the country where you’re studying as a temporary phone. Some other options you have for communication tools are: Skype, FaceTime, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and e-mail.

Some students even decide to vlog their experience like Alex Modligliani ’17, a UNH Student currently in Ascoli Piceno, Italy!

Make a Budget

One of the hardest things to do in college is stick to a budget, but nowhere is it more important than when you’re studying abroad. If you plan to travel during your time abroad make sure you pay attention to travel fees (that can include entrance and exit fees and other miscellaneous charges). If you want to save money, travel to fewer countries or travel within them for longer periods of time. Similarly be conscientious about how much you’re spending daily and pay attention to your bank accounts. While in another country it can be cool to buy items for friends and family, but think first. Don’t just buy things to give to people, buy things they will like. Another way to save is to check online for events in the area. Check the websites of any events or places you want to go. If the location/event has online tickets, you may even be able to save money by purchasing ahead of time.

Looking for more information and resources regarding study abroad options? Make sure to visit the UNH Center for International Education.

Business Administration and International Affairs

What were you doing one year out of college?

Anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property fraud investigation at a law firm in Santiago de Chile. Ambitious, yes, but not my calling.

What were you doing five years out of college?

Trying to break even after breaking out on my own and forming a brokerage company in specialty foods: www.chaskiintl.com

What are you doing now?

Growing the business the old fashioned way — with blood, sweat and tears. Nothing comes easy and I learn that more every day . I value the people who went out of their way to help me, or anybody, when they didn’t have to. Right now, I’m doing my best to be one of those people.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

While I was a student, my professors at the Whittemore School (now Paul College) showed that they cared. The first was my study abroad experience that CIE and my counselor, Cari Moorhead, afforded me during junior year. Finding out after graduation that they were still interested in me and what I was doing made the second biggest impact on me.

Business Administration

What were you doing one year out of college?

At the start of my final year at UNH, I knew business administration wasn’t for me so I begged my way into every senior level film class that the school offered. After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter.

What were you doing five years out of college?

Five years after arriving in Los Angeles, after selling a few scripts that never got produced, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. So, we traded the crazy smog-gang-madness of L.A. for a chance to raise a family in Maine. I was still writing but waiting tables to pay the bills.

What were you doing 10 years out of college?

Ten years out I started working in the TV business. Nothing big at first. I was doing short comedy bits for the evening news and hosting a local kids show. It would eventually lead to bigger things, but you have to start somewhere

What are you doing now?

I was the creative services director at several Maine TV stations for years before I sold my first book. It’s a memoir called “Wide-Open World” and it’s being published by Random House, Feb. 2015. It’s about the world trip I took with my wife and two teenage kids where we volunteered our way from country to country. I’m also launching an organization called New Orphanage that seeks to find and fund the best orphan projects worldwide. For anyone interested, you can learn more at johnmarshall.com.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

I worked hard at UNH. It taught me both what I wanted and what I did not want for my life. Honesty, I wish I could go back and have a bit more fun…but we all make our choices. I stayed in my dorm during Spring Break my senior year writing a novel that was total crap. But I loved the process and have never looked back. UNH was where it all began.

Since I missed out on the Juno snowstorm that covered UNH last week, the Finnish snow was the most amount of snow I’ve seen since being abroad. We stayed at an inn about 30 minutes from Helsinki, next to a frozen lake and many snow-covered hills and forests.

On day one, we participated in a wide variety of snowy activities! We began simply by playing around–building snowmen and making snow angels. Then we had the opportunity to try kick sledding — a cross between ice skating and riding on a scooter. Afterwards, we practiced curling on the ice. Although I probably would never qualify for an Olympic-level team, it was still fun trying out something new! We then proceeded farther down the lake to a series of holes to practice ice fishing. Only one person caught a small fish, while I managed to hook myself on my snow pants and gloves! To warm up from all the snow in the afternoon, we then made campfires in a nearby cabin. Once warmed up, we went back outside to play some games in the snow. The daytime activities ended with a quick round of snowshoeing and sledding.

Since the theme of the trip was snow and sauna, we had the opportunity to try a traditional Finnish sauna after a long day in the cold! The idea was that we had to earn our sauna privilege by going into the freezing cold lake water first! I went first to get it over with but we all stayed in the sauna until our skin was dry and red to compensate for our numbness.

Day two was shorter since we had to catch a flight back to Copenhagen in the afternoon. We went on a snowshoe hike into an open field blanketed with more powdered snowfall from the night before. Our last activities were sledding races and a relay race before  packing up our belongings for a tiring, but short journey back home.

I am very happy I participated in this trip. I have never been to Finland before, nor have I done most of the activities we did on the trip before! Although it doesn’t compare to the amount of snow my friends and family back home have been experiencing, it was still fun going to a new country with new people to do things I would probably not get to do at home too often!

Spanish, theatre

What were you doing one year out of college?

One year out of college I was working as an associate producer on a variety of television programs at MTV, the Cooking Channel and CBS.

What are you doing now?

I have taken my media skills to a position as a project manager at a social media advertising agency in New York City. I volunteer in several organizations in the city related to both social media and education, and I run a shop on Etsy.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

UNH took me to many places, most of all on an IROP trip that took me to Spain. That summer and the education I received while abroad enriched my current work experiences and has made me more valuable in my career.

Why do you believe in UNH?

I believe in UNH because it is a unique community of individuals who are dedicated to learning and changing the world, and also to enjoying and living life to the fullest.

English

What were you doing one year out of college?

I was honored to be the first Teach For America Corps member accepted from UNH and was exciting to serve as an ambassador for all Wildcats. Placed in Los Angeles, I was in my first year of my MA program at Loyola Marymount University and teaching 7th and 8th grade English in one of the most notorious middle schools in LA. It was the most challenging and wonderful experience to be part of such a great movement for change and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my UNH family who were cheering me on the whole time.

What were you doing five years out of college?

After leaving the middle school classroom, I continued my work with Teach For America by supporting first-year K-12 teachers in California’s Bay Area. I also was teaching graduate courses for Loyola Marymount University’s School of Education.

What are you doing now?

When I’m not enjoying all San Francisco has to offer and planning my wedding to UNH alum, Taylor Tracy ’07, I’m one of the co-presidents of the UNH Northern California Alumni Network and have transitioned (thanks to a UNH alumni connection) from K-12 education to corporate education and consulting with CEB.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

UNH inspired my love for learning and played a huge role in the leader I’ve become today. The UNH network, coupled with the invaluable experiences that I gained in my four years through opportunities like the Cambridge Program, study abroad and Chi Omega all not only set me up for success after UNH, but still drive me today.

Business administration

What were you doing one year out of college?

My first job was working as a product development manager at the New Balance Athletic Shoe Co. factory in Lawrence, MA. Within a year I had traveled twice to Asia to develop shoes in Korean and Taiwanese shoe factories. That experience set the course for my entire professional career and life.

What were you doing five years out of college?

In 1988 I was director of marketing for Reebok, responsible for a $130 million business unit. This was an exciting time when Reebok and Nike were neck and neck for leadership of the sport shoe category. In the face of tough competition from Nike’s new cross-training shoes, I grew the Reebok fitness business to $230 million in two years, helping to keep Nike at bay, temporarily.

What were you doing 10 years out of college?

In 1993 I was vice president of marketing for L.A. Gear, part of a turnaround effort by Roy Disney’s Shamrock Investments. I oversaw product creation and marketing for the children’s shoe division, including the enormously successful L.A. Lights collection of flashing light shoes.

What are you doing now?

I am now vice president of sourcing for R.G. Barry Corp., a marketer of indoor slippers and bags. I live in southern China and oversee a staff of 38 Chinese managers. I’ve lived in Asia for 21 of the last 25 years and will most certainly finish out my career as an “expat.” There are a lot of sacrifices involved with living overseas, but it is also tremendously rewarding and enriching.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

After flunking out of a very famous engineering university and taking some time off to grow up, UNH gave me the opportunity to get back on track and graduate with honors. Despite my initial belief that UNH wasn’t “good enough”, I managed to use it as a springboard to admission to an accelerated MBA program at a top-five business school.

Why do you believe in UNH?

UNH offers something that is truly in rare supply nowadays: a quality education at an affordable price. The residents of New Hampshire are very privileged to have access to such a great educational institution.

Tourism and Hospitality

What were you doing one year out of college?

It’s only been a little more than eight months out of college but thanks to my collegiate experiences and Megan Hales, assistant director of student engagement and recent graduate programs), I landed my current job at the historic Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston as a PBX operator.

What are you doing now?

At the Omni Parker House, in addition to working as a PBX Operator, I am training to work in Concierge. I have gained an great amount of knowledge from UNH and this hotel and it has reflected in my work capabilities.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

If I were not a member and former president of the Advancement Student Ambassador Program with Megan Hales as our leader, I would not be where I am today. ASAP is a group of driven UNH students working together to help strengthen post-graduate careers. We traveled to the Omni Parker House for the Executive Forum, where I met general manager and UNH alum John Murtha.  He offered his business card and suggested to apply for a job at the hotel. Thanks to this networking experience, I was happily employed at a full-time job before even graduating!

Political Science and International Affairs

What were you doing 1 year out of college?

I was working for a non-profit called Bottom Line as a college counselor. I worked with first generation and/or low income students in Boston public schools, helping them with the college application process.

What are you doing now?

I am currently working at UNH at the University Advising and Career Center. I  am an academic adviser for first-  and second-year undeclared students in the College of Liberal Arts.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

While at UNH I worked as a peer academic adviser for three years. This experience helped me realize that I enjoyed working with students and it has led to what I do today.

International Education Week is a nationally recognized event celebrating our connections to people all around the world. The United States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is encouraging schools, businesses, and communities to host events during this week to educate us about other cultures, and even inspire us to learn more. No matter how far you are from another part of the world, learning about it will always bring you closer.

There will be tons of cool events happening in the Memorial Union Building from Saturday, Nov 15 through Saturday, Nov 22 that will showcase the cultural diversity present within our own university, and in our outside communities! The week kicks off with Diwali in the Granite State Room on Saturday Nov 15.  There will be demonstrations of martial arts, and other exercise activities from around the world on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There will also be musical performances on Tuesday and Thursday. Many other presentations, speakers and activities will be happening in the MUB as well so be sure to check out the calendar to find the one that interests you!

UNH Center for International Education

If you’re planning on, or even just curious about studying abroad, this week is a can’t miss! A couple of highlights for you will be the interning and volunteering abroad seminar put on by the UNH Center for International Education, on Wednesday from 3:30-4 p.m. and the Study Abroad Mini Fair on Wednesday from 4:30-6 p.m. These events would be the perfect time to find a good program match for you, learn more about one you’re already interested in and ask questions of students who have studied abroad. If you are still on the fence about studying abroad, check out these quotes from students who did, and loved it!

“You really don’t know a country and its culture until you actually live in it for an extended period of time. Studying abroad pushes you out of your comfort zone in more ways than you could imagine, but the challenges that living in a different country bring can be conquered, and it is so rewarding each time you do conquer one.” – Laurianne Posch, Class of 2016

“Studying abroad has completely changed my life. It affected me so much that I now live here, attending postgraduate school.” – Alexa Wynschenk, Class of 2014

“I broke out of my comfort zone by speaking another language, travelling alone, and doing things where I would say, ‘Sure! I can’t do/eat/experience this in the USA, so let’s go for it!’” – Nolan Russell, Class of 2013

If you need any more convincing than that or if you just want to learn a little and have some fun, this week is the perfect opportunity! Don’t forget to check out the times and room numbers of the events, and don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate our differences, find our common ground, and bring yourself a little closer to the rest of the global community.

Will you be attending any International Education Week Events? Don’t forget to use #UNHIEW14 in your tweets and instagrams, and follow @UNHStudents and @UNHMUB for coverage of the events!

English/Journalism, but really I majored in the student newspaper, TNH (I was editor my senior year).

What were you doing 1 year out of college?

Working three jobs: nannying, retail and dogwalking. I’d just moved to California and the economy was awful, but I learned a lot from the experience.

What were you doing 5 years out of college?

Teaching English in China!

What are you doing now?

Working for a small marketing firm in D.C.

How do you feel your time at UNH has had an impact on where you are today?

UNH helped me develop a strong foundation in traditional marketing techniques and the knowledge of current trends in social media/online advertising.

Mostly, however, I learned a lot about myself. I made new friends, studied hard, and lived fully on my own. I gained a whole new sense of independence, and a taste of the “real world.” I will never forget the people I met, the places I visited, or the memories I made. I’m not the same person I was a year ago. I feel much more confident about myself and my abilities. While I’m not trying to navigate the tube or fight traffic in Picadilly Circus anymore, I’m still facing challenges that test my newly developed skills. I now know that I can handle anything life throws at me.

So how does that relate to being back at UNH? Well, I’m not going to lie to you; it’s a struggle. Ask any student who has returned from studying abroad, and they will tell you that “reverse culture shock” is in fact real. Everyone tells you how studying abroad will change your life. No one tells you how coming home will be a change too. Nothing seems the same as when you left, and in a sense, that’s very true. Downtown Durham traffic patterns have changed three times, there is suddenly a Subway next to Aroma Joes, and many buildings on campus are completely redone. As scary as it may seem, life went on without you. During my “reentry” phase, that has been the biggest challenge: learning to readjust to a world that I once knew so well.

But whomever said you can’t go home again clearly didn’t go to UNH (or have ever heard that Bon Jovi song). I have been welcomed back with open arms, and I am truly lucky to be able to return to a school that does feel like home. My friends and professors have been excited to see me and hear my stories, allowing me to keep my experiences alive. I also have friends from UNH that I got to spend time with in London, and I love to reminisce on our international adventures together. Plus, keeping in touch with the people I met, the ones who were there for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences, makes me feel that much closer to London.

I know I’m not the only one returning from study abroad this semester, so here is the best advice I can offer to those of you who are sharing in my struggle. When you come back, it’s okay to be upset about it (I still get teary eyed when I hear “God Save the Queen”). It’s okay to go through your old Facebook photos and read every Buzzfeed listicle there is on travelling (or at least, that’s what I tell myself). It’s like a bad break-up. Sometimes I just want to watch Notting Hill while eating Ben and Jerry’s and cry my eyes out. However, living in the moment is equally as important. I have so much to look forward to, and a whole new chapter of my life to start. I miss London terribly, but I’ll be back. Until then, there are plenty of hockey games to attend, iced coffees to drink, and HoCo cupcakes to consume. I am going to make the best of my time left here at UNH, and remind myself of all the people and places I didn’t want to leave in the first place.

Galina Kinsella ’15 is a biomedical science: medical and veterinary science major who just happens to know a thing or two about koalas. Galina received a SURF Abroad Grant from the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research to conduct her own research. Her research is based on koala behavior and the frequency and intensity of their responses to human disturbances, and how this in turn affects their survival as a species.

She is conducting this research in the land down under, Australia. Here is what we learned of her journey so far:

Where in Australia exactly are you conducting research? 

I had one research site in the outback of southeast Queensland, called Mount Byron (where the radio receiver picture was taken), and my other site was out at St. Bee’s Island, where the beach pictures were taken. Mount Byron is an area that is fairly populated and has traffic, while St. Bee’s has no human population. These two sites served to show the differences, if any, in koala behavior in populated versus non-populated environments. The koala is an iconic animal of Australia and is progressively becoming more endangered, and behavioral studies such as these can offer insight as to why the population is declining.

What is the instrument in your hand when you’re out in the field measuring?

The antenna I’m using is a radio receiver. In order to find koalas to observe, I had to use radio-tracking equipment to locate koalas that had been previously radio-collared. Each koala transmits on a single frequency, so I was able to assign those frequencies to individual channels on the receiver. I could then search through the channels, and find and identify specific animals. The red/black device that I was holding while sitting takes weather readings

We noticed some other animals featured in your pictures, are you studying other animals as well? 

I’m studying koalas! The other animals are just ones I’ve encountered. I live on the residential college at Central Queensland University and there are kangaroos on campus! I’ve been trying to experience other wildlife out here and I certainly have! While on fieldwork I’ve seen wallabies, kangaroos, emus, snakes (including the second most deadly in the world, the Eastern Brown Snake), spiders, parrots, whales, stingrays, sharks, and more. I will be going scuba diving (I got certified at UNH last year) next week before I leave!

How long are you in Australia?

I have been here since mid-May but I am actually heading back to the states August 20th so I can be back in time to start my senior year at UNH!

A reoccurring motto of this semester was “no ragrets” (yes, not even 1 letter-if you don’t get the reference please watch “We’re the Millers” a.s.a.p.).   This truly was the best motto to have because I honestly considered it every time I made a decision to go somewhere, do something, or buy that special (most of the time overpriced) item.  And I don’t regret one of those things.  Looking back on the semester it is honestly impossible for me to think of one thing that I truly regretted doing.  It was totally worth missing that one meeting for a weekend in Paris, buying that beautiful leather jacket, having not one, but two desserts after dinner, staying up to watch the sunrise at Michelangelo, staying in on that Saturday night to have a movie night with the girls, swimming through the beautiful caves in the very choppy ocean in Almafi Coast, riding ATVs all throughout Corfu, staying at the club long enough to catch the 5am metro in Barcelona, insisting on racing my tour guide on the original Olympic stadium (regardless that I was barefoot and wearing  my brand new maxi skirt), and so many more memories.

Sunrise in Florence

the best roommates <3

Florence allowed me to meet the most incredible people and form life long friendships.  I will forever love my Via Dei Benci girls and cherish the countless moments that we shared in our beautiful Italian apartment.  I’ll miss the many homemade dinners that we shared where you could barely get a word in from all the laughing and stories that were shared.  I’ve truly loved exploring the world with you girls.

If you have the opportunity to go abroad, please, PLEASE do it! I can’t even put into words all of the feelings that I have about my experience, other than the fact that it was the greatest decision of my life.  I’m so happy that I was able to share this journey with you all.  I will return to Florence one day and I am counting down until that happens.

<3

They arrived on Monday night and we headed straight to one of my favorite restaurants in the area, Trattoria Anita.  If you are ever in Florence you seriously need to try this place-some of the best pasta carbonara of my life!  The next day was filled with classic Florence activities.  We started off at the Galleria dell’Accademia and saw the incredible David statue.  I then showed them the Central Market and they were amazed at all of the fresh and delicious food.  I sometimes forget what a privilege this is to have as my casual grocery market.  We of course had to check out the leather market which my sister was thrilled to buy not 1 but 2 leather bags that she couldn’t stop talking about (or singing actually) all week.  After exploring a bit more of my favorite areas and Piazzas we headed back to get ready for the beautiful night ahead of us.  It was a gorgeous day so we grabbed a bottle of wine and headed up to the Piazza Michelangelo to watch the sunset over Florence.  This is definitely a place that I am going to miss and I am so happy I got to share it with my family.  We ended our night with the best truffle mac and cheese gnocchi (yes, that is a real thing) and some gelato (of course).

places like this really do exist #vernazza #sibs

The next day we explored more of Florence and even had the chance to climb the Duomo.  I waited until my family was here to do it and I must say it was worth the wait! On Thursday we had an early morning train to Cinque Terre.  Cinque Terre is an area with five towns along the coast and quite possibly the most gorgeous place in the world.  We lucked out with some gorgeous weather and spent our day tanning and shopping around the biggest town, Monterosso.  We took a train to the third town and had the most delicious seafood dinner with a view of the best sunset I have ever seen in my life (sorry Piazza Michelangelo).  The next day we decided to get back to our walking trend and we hiked for over two hours to a nearby town.  It was certainly worth the views and beautiful town of Vernazza when we arrived.  Cinque Terre seemed almost like a vacation from their vacation to Florence.  It was so nice to have down time just to catch up and spend time together.  We spent the entire time laughing and sharing stories of all of our recent endeavors.  This past year, my brother, my sister, and I have all settled in different places around the world.  My sister moved to San Francisco, my brother moved to Brooklyn and I of course am in Florence.  I couldn’t be happier to be reunited again and it certainly helped that we were in such an incredibly gorgeous place.  It was also a plus that we got to enjoy some of the best food and wine in the world together!

hanging with the chef #family

We ended our week together on Easter Sunday, which is quite the event in Florence.  We were lucky enough to get into the Duomo for morning mass and that turned out to be one of the coolest things that we did all week.  At the Easter mass each year, the Duomo has a special tradition where they have a fiery dove fly down from the alter, out the front doors and into a cart that sets off fireworks.  I know-sounds crazy and I did not believe it until I saw it.  Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTNLEZw0hu0 . It was the perfect ending to our perfect week together in Italy.  It was definitely hard to see them all go but it also made me realize how soon I will be home.  I only have three more short weeks here.  I cannot believe how fast this amazing semester has flown by but I will be sure to make the most of the rest of my time here.

Ciao!

After my parent’s visit (which you can read all about here, if you haven’t already), my friends and I jet setted off on a vacation of our own. Our first stop was the island of Crete off the coast of Greece. In the city of Chania in which we stayed, it was just at the beginning of their tourist season. It was the perfect time of year to visit: all of the shops and restaurants were just starting to open, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, and all the tourist had yet to arrive! Everywhere you look, there are beautiful mountains and gorgeous beaches. One day we even travelled to Elafonisi, home of the pink sand beaches. It was easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. My goal for this leg of the trip was to eat as much feta cheese and baklava as possible. This mission was very much a success: with all of the food being so incredibly fresh and delicious, every meal was better than the next. There is simply nothing like Greek hospitality. At every restaurant we went to, we were greeted with such overwhelming kindness and generosity. Even though we were only there for five days, it instantly felt like home.

Russell Crowe was here

The next leg of our trip brought us to Rome, Italy. There is such a sense of history in this modern city. Between the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain alone, there is so much to see and experience. My personal favorite was the Spanish Steps (which were prominently featured in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, a classic). Pictures do not do the Sistine Chapel justice; it was simply breathtaking.  My friends and I also made it a goal of ours to eat gelato once a day. One of our favorite stops was right near the Vatican, named Old Bridge. There was a line wrapped around the building, but it was totally worth it. Another culinary masterpiece we discovered when in Rome was a nutella calzone. Yup, you read that right. It was as amazing as it sounds.

I made it!!!

Following Rome, we took a train to the beautiful city of Florence. This was by far my favorite place we visited over the course of our trip. Between the art, architecture, and overall feel of the city, it was both relaxing and exciting. Although I am definitely not the athletic type, my friends convinced me to make the trek up the 483 steps of the Duomo for 360 degree views of the city. It is definitely a must-do for anyone visiting Florence. Of course, you can’t go to Florence without going to the Uffizi Gallery, chock full of amazing paintings and sculptures. The highlight for me was the Boboli Gardens. Situated behind the Pitti Palace, it is a maze of greenery, fountains, and flowers. I can just picture it being a perfect setting for a rom-com. In sticking to our tradition, gelato was also a major part of this trip. The prize goes to Grom gelato for the best espresso flavor I have ever had. Florence is also a great place to shop, from high end stores to family owned boutiques, I was in retail heaven.

Finally, the last stop on our journey was the waterfront city of Venice. Being from coastal Maine, I was definitely having ocean withdrawals. Bridges, tunnels, and canals (oh my!) made this water-logged city that much more charming. And yes, the gondola operator (which, according to Google, is called the gondolier) does wear a striped shirt and a straw hat. The main piazza in Venice is called St. Mark’s Square, which is home to St. Mark’s Basilica, the Clock Tower, the Campanile of St. Mark’s church (the pointy tower), and Doge’s Palace. After wandering through both the Basilica and the opulent Palace, we took time to soak in the waterfront. Cafe culture is huge in Italy, and being the coffee lover that I am, it is ideal for me. Slowing down and taking time to enjoy the scenery and your company is what Italians do best.

Almost like the Oscars selfie, but less famous people

If someone had told me last year that I would be travelling around Europe for my Spring Break, I would never have believed it. Much like London, Italy and Greece were places I only saw in movies. Actually getting time to spend in these countries was surreal. I feel very lucky not only to be in London, but to have the chance to travel as well. I also never anticipated making the friends I have made in London. Although we all come from different places and backgrounds, we have formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Despite not being together next year (and missing them all terribly), it also gives us an excuse to travel to each other’s universities in the States (I have already convinced them that UNH has simply the best dining halls in the country). But until then, it’s time to buckle down and study for my upcoming exams. After all, the next trip I will be taking will be back home.

Here at the London School of Economics and Political Science, students get five weeks off to start preparing for our exams. I know what you’re thinking, five weeks seems like a long time. But it’s all fun and games until you take a three-hour, written exam for each of your four classes. Oh, did I mention it counts for 100% of our grade? Not so jealous anymore, are we?

To be honest, I have not spent my five weeks studying. In fact, for the first week, I was treated to a visit by my parents! It was so exciting, and kind of surreal, to have them in what has become my home over the past seven months. It also made me feel even more like a Londoner. Being able to give them a tour (and actually know where I was going) made me realize just how integrated I have become into London life.

Mom and Dad at Buckingham Palace

Their time here was spent hitting all the major tourist attractions, which I actually wasn’t sick of yet! From Big Ben to Tower Bridge to Buckingham Palace, it was like experiencing everything for the first time. Our lovely neighbor back home gave us tickets to the London Eye, which I hadn’t done yet, and was a great chance to see all of London (thanks Peggy!). In addition to the famous spots, I wanted to show them some more “local spots.” For example, the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, home of the 2012 Summer Olympics, was recently opened to the public. My mom and I are both swimmers, so we were wicked excited to try out the Olympic pool (unfortunately there were no Tom Daley sightings). My dad particularly enjoyed our trip to Abbey Road, complete with the Beatles recording studio and crosswalk that graced the cover of their album. We spent time scouring for souvenirs at Portobello Market, eating everything at Borough Market, and even picnicking in Kensington Gardens.

tea time!

Speaking of food, much of this trip was devoted to taking my parents to my favorite restaurants and cafes. As my Instagram feed could demonstrate, London is home to some delicious options. I took them to Wahaca, a tapas-style Mexican eatery that has become one of my favorite spots. For burgers, we stopped by GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) and Meat Liquor (which, if you have read my previous blogs, is a much-loved London establishment). I also took them to Da Mario, a favorite Italian restaurant of the late Princess Diana. As it turns out, Mother’s Day in the UK is a different day than it is in the States, and luckily it coincided with my parent’s visit! We celebrated at Bea’s of Bloomsbury, one of my favorite bakeries, with an expansive afternoon tea. After all, I couldn’t let my parents come to London without experiencing a British tradition!

the royal family

Going to UNH was not only a great choice for me, but it also allowed me to be close to home. I love being able to stop by on a weekend (usually with laundry in tow) to have dinner with my parents. They too love to visit me at UNH (mostly I think it was because they love HoCo as much as I do, but I digress). This year has certainly been different for us as a family. My journey to LSE and to London could not have been possible without the support of my wonderful parents. Without their encouragement, words of wisdom, and unwavering support, I would not be where I am today. Like anything, success means nothing unless you have someone to share it with. Finally being able to show my parents, who have been my cheerleaders from day one, all that I have accomplished while abroad means the world to me. I know this trip is something we will look back on for years to come. As much as I love London and seriously don’t want to leave, it will be nice to be able to go home for dinner again.

ENGL 703 is Travel Writing, and in addition to online assignments, students in this program will actually be going to London to write about the experience. Though the next break is summer, I mention it before the fall ’14 semester for a reason.

This J-term course requires some planning ahead, because the pre-requisite is ENGL 501, or intro to creative non-fiction.

If you love to travel and write, this course could be the first taste of the type of career you only dream of. This is an opportunity to experience a country with a rich history and culture, and your memories will be all the more vivid from the stories you are asked to produce as part of the assignment.

The challenges will include those of real travel writers, such as figuring out your own transportation and navigation systems. You must learn to be comfortable with the unfamiliar.

It will take some planning ahead, but it looks well worth it.

If you’ve had a good experience with other courses, go ahead and drop the course name and a quick explanation for why it belongs in the series in a comment. If you disagree with the selection, or had a bad experience, I’d like to hear about that too.

The past two weeks have been absolutely amazing.  I didn’t travel quite as much as the previous weeks but I discovered some fantastic things in Italy.  My first weekend was spent close to home but one of the most fun filled weekends yet.  On Friday, my roommates and I met up with some other API friends and took the short train to Pisa.  We of course had to take about 100 pictures in front of the iconic leaning tower and then grabbed a yummy lunch.  The next day my roommate Caroline and I had quite the cultured day and attended a private wine and cheese tasting!   We tried the most amazing wine and cheese from different parts of Italy as this little old Italian man explained to us what they were in his adorable broken English.  On Sunday, we went to a Florentine soccer game.  To be honest this was one of my first soccer games ever and I must say it was unbelievable! My roommates and I of course had to represent Florence head to toe so we bought some gear and were game ready.  It was so great spending the entire weekend in Florence because those are very few and far in between due to our travels!

Last weekend we had the pleasure of taking a trip to Venice and the Venetian Islands with API.  This turned out to be one of the most relaxing and beautiful weekends yet.  The weather lately has been absolutely stunning and we really lucked out this weekend with shining sun and no clouds in the sky! (Sorry to break the news but it doesn’t snow in Italy quite as much as Durham, NH).  After a brief bus ride we took a private boat to Venice.  Once we arrived in Venice we had a short walking tour and then had plenty of free time to explore on our own.  We had a huge group of us so we split up and went on gondola tours and then had some local fried fish.  I’m not a huge seafood person but I thought “when in Venice” and went for it! The whole “when in…” saying has basically become a staple for decision making here and it has not failed me yet! The seafood was incredible and the view was even better overlooking the water.  The second day we traveled to the islands of Burano and Murano.  These were some of my favorite places and I am already looking into going back soon.  Burano is known for its beautiful bright colored buildings and Murano is known for its glass.  They were both so quaint and I wish I could have spent more time exploring! We watched a professional glass blower and it was incredible!

Beautiful Burano #colors

This week and weekend is all in Florence so I’m so excited for what is to come!  One thing that I am absolutely looking forward to is the arrival of my family! They’re coming in mid April and I already have a long list of activities and places to see.  I cannot wait to show them everything that I have been up to this semester.

Grazie for reading! Ciao!

the cutest little cheese shop

one of each, please

When I arrived Friday night, we went out and explored Bastille, a major battle area during the French Revolution, and now a popular cultural destination. Filled with bars, restaurants, and shops, it was a really fun place for my first night in Paris. The next day we did some shopping at Galeries Lafayette and lots of eating! There is the cutest bakery literally next door to Paige’s apartment, making our morning trips for pain au chocolat and pain aux raisins almost too convenient. There was also the cutest little cheese shop that I obviously had to check out. Needless to say, if I lived in Paris, I would never stop eating.

the Louvre

“Love Lock” Bridge

On Sunday, we did a long walking tour of Paris. Our first stop: crepes. I had a delicious egg and cheese crepe (think a breakfast sandwich, but better and more French). Then we walked over to Notre Dame Cathedral (I resisted the urge to make Hunchback of Notre Dame references). It was absolutely stunning, with high vaulted ceilings and intricate stained glass windows. From there,we walked along the river Seine to the “Love Lock” Bridge, where couples write their names on locks and secure them to the railings. There are thousands upon thousands of locks in all different designs and languages. It was a surprise favorite of mine (and a prime Instagram spot). Next we walked over to the Louvre, and saw the enormous glass pyramid. Being the ultimate tourist that I am, I made Paige take a picture of me “touching” the top (feel free to be impressed). It was a perfect, sunny day, so we walked all the way through the Tuileries Garden to the Arc de Triomphe. Finally, we made it to the Eiffel Tower. Even more majestic in person, it absolutely exceeded my expectations.

Paris is everything I knew it would be: gorgeous, fun, and filled with the most delicious pastries ever. But best of all was being able to spend time with a great UNH friend in a new city. I came to London solo, and while I have made some lifelong friends, it is nice to know Paige is only a short train ride away. I cannot wait for her to come visit me in London! Soon enough, we will be sitting back in HoCo reminiscing over all our adventures together.

mon ami

Oh, and in case you folks at home were keeping score, I brought back enough macaroons to last me until tomorrow my next trip.

Since my last blog I have been quite the travel bug! I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the beautiful cities of Rome and Barcelona.  Rome was my very first excursion from Florence but it was quite an easy transition because of the parallel language and food (obviously a main concern of traveling).  This excursion was through my program, API, so luckily we were provided with a tour guide for the majority of the weekend.  Rome is HUGE compared to Florence so it was a bit overwhelming when we first arrived.  I definitely recommend getting a tour guide if you ever decide to visit.  It was incredible seeing the historical monuments in Rome-definitely a memorable experience!  We would be walking down a busy city street, and turn the corner to find the Pantheon and turn another corner to find the Trevi Fountain.  I know it sounds cliché but it honestly was like opening a page in an old history book-I promise this is much more exciting in person.  We also saw the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.  The Sistine Chapel was quite possibly the most stunning thing that I have ever see- a definite check off of my bucket list!  On our last day we had the grand tour of the Colosseum.  I was even able to snap a picture representing my wildcats!

Florence girls take on Barcelona

My second trip was to Barcelona.  Two of my fellow Alpha Phi’s are studying there-hey Mack and Sam!  I was absolutely thrilled to be able to spend an entire weekend in a different country with two of my best friends.  This was my roommate’s and my first trip on our own but we surprisingly made it all in one piece.  Luckily my roommate Caroline knows a few phrases in Spanish so she was able to navigate us to the center of the city.  Barcelona was certainly very different from both Rome and Florence but I absolutely loved it.  It’s a big and absolutely gorgeous city that reminded me of Manhattan in some ways with its tall buildings and beautiful architecture. It was certainly an adjustment taking the metro to get places-we walk everywhere in Florence!  However, with the help of Mack and Sam (and my map for the most part) we were eventually comfortable finding our way around the city.  My favorite part of Barcelona was Park Güell.  We ended up spending hours exploring this incredible park and it was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places that I have ever been.   The food in Barcelona was a huge change as well.  We decided to take advantage of our time there and try some local dishes.  My favorite was a seafood and meat paella-we even scraped the bowl clean after!

Paella #YUM

Although I had two incredible weekends away, I am happy to be back in my city.  My roommates and I headed straight to our favorite restaurant Gusta Pizza once we were off the train from Barcelona! Florence is becoming more and more like home to me and I cannot believe that I have been here for a month already.  I know that my journey has just begun and I cannot wait to see what the next few weeks have in store!

Until next time! Arrivederci <3

I arrived in Florence just about three weeks ago but it already feels like home.  It was certainly nerve-wracking traveling here all on my own but I surprised myself when I felt instantly comfortable in this incredible city.  I made the bold decision to choose a program in which very few of my fellow wildcats or sorority sisters were participating in, but I can confidently say that it was one of the best choices that I could have made.  Being essentially on my own for the first few days forced me to truly put myself out there and it honestly felt like UNH Freshman orientation all over again.  The program presented wonderful orientation activities to get the ball rolling but I had plenty of those awkward first conversations.  I quickly got past it though, and made some awesome connections with many people in my program.  My very first word of advice to those of you who are interested in studying abroad is: take the chance and go for it on your own!

tough day of classes

After settling into my beautiful Italian apartment it was time to explore the city!  I am from a very small town in Connecticut with just over 6,000 people so although Florence isn’t the biggest city, it seems huge to me!  One of our first activities was a cooking class where we learned how to make gnocchi with bolognese sauce followed by the best chocolate cake that I have ever tasted!  If you know me already, you know that food is more often than not my first priority; if you don’t know me you will learn that very quickly!  The food here in Florence has proven to be some of the best that I have ever tasted.  I’m sure I will delve more deeply into that subject at a later time.

The first week was filled with orientation activities and tours so it came as a slight shock last Monday that I actually was taking classes and attending school here. It is very easy to forget when you can easily fill your days simply walking around and taking in the beauty of the city. I’m studying abroad through API at Lorenzo de Medici, which offers a huge variety of classes.  This leads me to my second word of advice: take classes that will immerse you in the culture of your city! Forget about the classes that you can easily take in the states.  You’re in a foreign country so think about a cooking class or even a history of museums course.  Although I am a physical education major at UNH (shout out to my favorite pedders), I decided to take a little side track this semester and explore the subjects of Fashion Marketing, Pairing Food and Wine, The Food of Italy (all hands on cooking!) and Italian.  After just two weeks of classes I can certainly say that I will be enjoying school this semester.

our very first cooking class! #chefs

I cannot wait to share with you the many stories of my experience here in Florence.  Hopefully by the end of the semester I’ll even be able to throw in some full Italian phrases!

Ciao Ciao!

#coffeeproblems

The first one would be the lack of iced coffee. Yes, I’m 100% serious. Whether it’s Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Aroma Joes, or Breaking New Grounds, students at UNH can sleep soundly knowing that their iced coffee of choice will always be there. In my totally unprofessional opinion, New Englanders seem to drink the most iced coffee in America year round. This is sadly not the case in London. While there are plenty of coffee shops to satisfy my daily caffeine intake, iced coffee options are few and far between. Sure, Starbucks will still make me an iced latte, but as any coffee aficionado will tell you, it’s not the same. My London friends have assured me that iced coffee makes an appearance in the summer months, so I will just have to wait until then.

Now that I have been in London for close to six months, I officially feel like a city girl. I can cross the street without panicking, navigate the escalator for the tube like a pro, and even hail a cab. However, ask me a year ago to do any of these things, and I would probably have balked at the suggestion. Definitely one of the biggest adjustments for me in this journey has been adjusting to city life. Don’t get me wrong, Durham is a great place to go to school, but I’ve never had to worry about a car stopping for pedestrians in NH like I do in the UK. The small-town charm of Durham, where, like Cheers, everyone knows your name, is not present in London. This is not to say people in London are rude; they just don’t want to know your life story, major, or if you know their cousin who also lived in Fairchild last semester.

I have never been the most athletically inclined (lack of hand-eye coordination). I can’t say that I religiously follow any of the major New England professional sports teams (sorry!). When it comes to UNH Hockey, however, I am a die-hard fan. I definitely miss cheering on the Wildcats in the Whitt. Sports teams at UK universities, on the other hand, do not have the same fan base. Sure, sports like cricket and football are a big deal, just not at the university level. You are much more likely to see LSE students in a pub cheering (or sneering) at the likes of David Beckham than attending an LSE rugby match.

A view from the top: the LSE Library

The educational system in the UK is also much different from that in the States. Students here specialize in what they are going to do for the rest of their life in high school. This means that, by the time they get to university, they are only taking courses that pertain to their major. I’m sure arguments could be made for both sides of the issue, but in my experience, the British students are really very knowledgeable in those subjects that they major in. It has certainly inspired me to be an even better student. Also, at LSE, there is very little coursework over the course of the year. I only go to class for 8 hours a week, and it is expected that you supplement this class time with independent work. Plus, the entirety of your grade rests on a three-hour final exam for each course in the summer. I have heard that, come summer, the library doubles as a sleeping, eating, and even showering area for all students.

It is true what they say; opposites do in fact attract. Being in London and at LSE is a totally different experience for me than my first two years in Durham at UNH were. That is what makes studying abroad so great. It is a chance to experience a completely foreign world with its own unique perspective. Then, when it’s over, you get to come back to a place that feels like home (my first stop will be BNG for some ICED pumpkin spice).

P.S.–Honorable mentions go out to Netflix (there is a huge debate over this), peanut butter (trust me, it tastes different), and the lack of Targets (you just don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone).

Have you ever seen that show Mythbusters? Today, I am going to debunk the greatest myth of UK study abroad: the food is actually really good! One of the most frequent comments I got from people when I told them that I was studying abroad was how terrible the food is in the UK. Being a vegetarian, I am used to not having a ton of great options (except at UNH Dining halls!). The wide range of options in London has been a pleasant surprise. In fact, most of my weekends surround my friends and I deciding where we should eat. In the spirit of sharing, here are the top five restaurants I have dined at in London so far:

Number 5: Bea’s of Bloomsbury

Bea’s of Bloomsbury

There is nothing I love more than a good cupcake. When I found this little place near my flat, I knew it was love at first bite sight. I went during the holiday season, and the window featured a cupcake Christmas tree that was every sweet lover’s dream come true. With flavors like chocolate espresso, cookies and cream, lemon meringue, and sticky toffee pudding, it is incredibly hard to choose. Not to be overshadowed, the lunchtime specials are equally as good, with changing soups, salads, and sandwiches daily. I have yet to try their award-winning brownies or duffins (donut/muffin hybrid), but rest assured I will be sure to sample them (for research purposes, of course). I’m not sure who Bea is, but she has made a lifelong friend in me.

Number Four: Meat Liquor

Okay, so this may seem ironic to for me to include considering I just told you I was a vegetarian. I will admit, I too was skeptical the first time I went. This spot is so popular that the line (or, as we say in London, the queue) is always wrapped around the building. A “bouncer” puts a stamp on your hand like you’re at a club to ensure no ones tries to sneak in. If you end up waiting long enough, you might just get to try some fried pickles (yum!). Inside, the dimly lit space is full of industrial looking furniture, and graffiti adorns the walls. The menu consists of burgers, fried sides, and dressed up cocktails. That’s it. In a place like this, you might think the vegetarian option can’t nearly compare to the other options. However, my grilled halloumi (cheese) and three mushroom burger was delicious! It was absolutely more than worth the wait. Bonus points for the bottles of American ketchup.

Number Three: Bone Daddies

Bone Daddies

In most dorm rooms in America, you can usually find your fair share of ramen noodles. A staple of college life, all it requires is some hot water and a bowl. However, you have not had true ramen until you have gone to Bone Daddies. In a similar style as Meat Liquor, they only serve ramen and a couple of pre-dinner snacks. You seriously will not need anything else. The bowls are huge, the portions generous, and the taste is so much better than the stuff in the package. Ask for the “secret menu” dish of mushroom ramen, and you will not be disappointed. One of my good friends is a die-hard carnivore, and even she got the mushroom ramen on our last visit. You leave feeling warm and full, and ready to go back the next day.

Number Two: Dishoom

When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Well, when in London, you must eat Indian food. London has some of the best in the world (after all, the national dish is Tiki Masala). While I have yet to travel to famous Brick Lane, this next spot in Covent Garden is critically acclaimed Indian “street” food. Whenever my friends in London have guests, this is the spot we take them to. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful (especially to Indian food novices, such as myself). The menu is extensive and wide-ranging, from small plates to grills to more traditional dishes like biryani and ruby murray.  Of course you must have the freshly baked naan, served with different dipping sauces. Really I could just go eat a plate of naan and call it a day. With very reasonable prices in a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere, this is a winning addition to any culinary tour.

Number One: Food for Thought

Food for Thought

Last but certainly not least is my favorite discovery in London thus far. I might be a little biased, considering this spot serves only vegetarian and vegan cuisine, but amongst my friends it is the clear winner. The menu changes daily, always offering a soup, two hot dishes, a quiche, and mixed side salads. Plus there are plenty of freshly baked breads, brownies, and scones to accompany your meal (or take home for later). Don’t leave without saving room for dessert: the Strawberry & Banana Scrunch is actually life changing. It’s basically a whole-in-the wall restaurant that you could easily walk by, but you would be remiss to dismiss it. It has a cult following of travelers and Londoners alike. Just ask any of the people you might end up sharing a table with in their downstairs eating area. Featured in every travel book and consistently receiving glowing reviews, Food for Thought remains unpretentious and delectable.

Living in London for the year gives me a unique opportunity to really get invested in the neighborhood and city that I’m living in. While I’m still a girl on a budget, it has been great to try new things and broaden my horizons. My only complaint is that I have yet to find a place that makes as good chocolate peanut butter pancakes as HoCo.

Because Thanksgiving isn’t really celebrated in the UK (for obvious reasons), Christmas starts much earlier than it does in the States. Londoners prescribe to the “go big or go home” theory of Christmas decorations. This is not a one string of lights and a star on a tree kind of deal. It seems like every week there is another section of London that is having a party to “turn on” Christmas lights. I recently went to one such celebration on Carnaby Street, a shopping district off of the famous Regent Street. The theme this year was the Robin, and replicas of the cute birds hung over all over the street. There was a big projection screen displaying classic Christmas music videos as well as Instagram pictures and tweets (no pun intended). Each shop in the area was also giving 20%, making it a perfect time to start your holiday shopping. Different goodies were also being handed out, including pastries and coffee. All of these decorations stay up past Christmas, so there are plenty of opportunities to view the LEGO snow globe in Covent Garden or the hanging lanterns on Oxford Street.

Another great Christmas event is the Southbank Centre Christmas Market at the London Eye. Located at the pier overlooking the Thames, there are over 80 vendors selling an array of crafts and treats. The German theme is carried throughout the market, from the stalls decorated as wooden chalets, to the traditional German food, such as Glühwein (mulled wine) and Milzwurst (sausage). One of the best things about the holidays is the array of desserts, and this market certainly delivers. Gingerbread, hot chocolate, and churros are just some of yummy options to fuel your shopping. Sanata even took time out of his busy schedule to make an appearance!

Luckily I will be able to travel home for the holidays with enough time to cram in some Christmas cheer, but I still will be missing some of my favorite holiday traditions (special shout-out to the Holiday Dinner at UNH!). I have made some great friends while studying here, and together we have had a lot of fun sharing our own traditions and making new ones. I am very excited to be going home, but until then, it is great to be in a city with so much spirit. Even though London and Durham are miles apart, the holiday season helps us remember just how small the world really is.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We arrived in Dublin just in time to go and explore the nightlife! Our hostel was situated right near the city, so a quick walk led us right to Dublin’s famous Temple Bar area. Shops, clubs, pubs, you name it! We danced the night away to such classics as “Don’t Stop Believing.” Needless to say, we were the most enthusiastic Americans Dublin has ever seen.

Saturday we decided to hit all the touristy attractions, getting on one of those “hop-on-hop-off” busses. I highly recommend it as an easy way to see the major parts of the city when you have a limited amount of time. We saw Trinity College (gorgeous!), Christ Church Cathedral (also gorgeous!), the town center with the “Spire” sculpture, and much more. The highlight of the day, though, was getting to tour the Guinness Storehouse. One of the most popular destinations in Dublin (and possibly Ireland), it was the ‘Disneyworld’ of beer. They teach you everything from how it’s made, to how to drink it correctly, and the right way to pour it. The pièce de résistance is Guinness’ Gravity Bar, located on the very top of the building. You get 360-degree views of Dublin, all while enjoying your very own pint of Guinness. It is worth it for the picture taking opportunities alone.

On Sunday, we decided to venture outside of Dublin and see a little more countryside. After being in London for so long, I kind of forget what grass looks like. I am constantly bragging to my friends (and strangers alike) about how beautiful UNH is in the Fall, so I needed my fix of greenery. We took a bus tour up to the Cliffs of Moher, passing by hills and mountains that were so green it almost looked fake. There were plenty of cows and sheep greeting us as we passed by. The cliffs themselves were beautiful, situated right on the ocean. Fun fact: the film Leap Year was filmed right on this location! If you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you watch it to get a feel for the scenery. My pictures don’t do it justice, especially since it was raining! Next we hopped back on the bus and went into the city of Galloway. A seaside town, it has been referred to as the cultural center of Ireland. If you’ve read my other blogs, you know I’m all about the food. So naturally I couldn’t resist picking up a “souvenir” of Irish soda bread from the cutest little bakery. I brought it all the way back to London, it was that good.

What struck me the most about being in Ireland was how friendly people were. From cab drivers to the front desk at our hostel, everyone was genuinely interested in us and always willing to offer advice. Being a UNH girl at heart, it was reminiscent of being back on campus where everyone is always so helpful and kind. While I love London, it was a nice break from the hustle-and-bustle of city life, especially in a place that felt so close to home.

Visiting Notting Hill was like stepping onto a movie set, except it was real! Narrow, cobblestone streets where lined with colorful apartments, boutiques, and restaurants. You keep thinking it’s going to end, but street after street is just as picturesque as the first. The real attraction in Notting Hill, though, is Portobello Market. Stretching the length of Portobello Road, this outdoor market is held throughout the week. However, the main day for antiquing is Saturday, and people travel from all around the world in search of a one-of-a-kind treasure.

In the beginning of Notting Hill (and throughout the movie), Hugh Grant can be seen strolling casually through the market. It is considerably less crowded in the movie. In reality, it’s jam-packed with tourists and locals alike. There are stands filled with fresh produce, cheese, baked breads, desserts, you name it. Of course we had to sample everything a few things. We ate crepes filled with Nutella and bananas, coconut water right out of a coconut, delicious quiche, and paella cooked in giant cast iron pans. Yum! Never one to pass up on shopping, we also checked out all the great antiques, ranging from books to teapots to fur coats. I can imagine that it is going to be a great place for Christmas shopping.

The highlight of the trip was when we went to the actual apartment where Hugh Grant lived in the movie. It’s iconic blue door makes it easy to distinguish and hard to forget. I naturally had to take a picture in front of it. The other stop was to the bookshop where Grant worked in the film. Although it is no longer just travel books, it was incredibly cool to see it in person. I was waiting for Julia Roberts to waltz in and start her famous monologue (“After all… I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her”).

I will be in London one month this week, but moments like these still make the whole journey feel surreal. London is such a historic city, and every day I am discovering new places with detailed pasts. While I probably won’t be running into Julia Roberts any time soon, it was great to be in a place that I had only seen in the movies.

Read more posts from Samantha Friedman here.

So in case you haven’t read my previous blogs, I will give you a little insight as to how I ended up here. Confession: I wasn’t really planning on studying abroad. I applied to LSE on a whim, hoping to get in but assuming I wouldn’t. As fate would have it, I did get in, and I simply couldn’t turn down the opportunity to study at one of the best social science institutions in the world in one of the greatest cities in the world. This is my first time overseas as well, unless you count visiting the UK at EPCOT (wish I guess doesn’t count…)

I am living in the Holborn area of London, which is essentially ten minutes from LSE, SoHo, Covent Garden, and the Oxford Street shopping area. I seriously lucked out on this location! I live in a “flat” with four other people, but we each have our own rooms. There is a mix of other General Course students (a fancy way of saying study abroad), regular undergraduates, and postgraduates in our building. London is such a diverse city, which LSE definitely reflects!

Since I arrived, I have been to the theatre to see The Woman in Black (terrifying!), had lunch at Borough Market (yum!), and took a boat cruise on the River Thames. I also hit up all the classic tourist attractions, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. I basically haven’t stopped walking in a week! And no, I have not met the Queen… yet! (fingers crossed)

Whoever said London doesn’t have good food is lying. Even as a vegetarian, I’ve been able to find delicious food everywhere. UNH Dining’s amazing selection has set the bar pretty high, and while I have yet to find chocolate peanut butter pancakes, London is definitely rising to the occasion. From gelato to quiche to stir fry, there is everything you could ever want (and you feel good about eating it because you walk everywhere).

As I said earlier, I wasn’t really planning on studying abroad. Now that I’m here, I love every minute of it! If anyone reading this is contemplating applying to a study abroad program, DO IT!! It’s challenging and exciting, and you will have major ups and downs, but from the moment you step off the plane, it’s all worth it. If you’re not studying abroad, no worries, continue to read my blog and grab an extra freshly baked cookie for me. Please?

So I pushed open the gate and stepped on to the red dirt road. Located less than a quarter mile from my door, the trading center had grown up on either side of the main road. Cars and trucks screamed through the center, kicking up great clouds of dust that settled in the long intervals between vehicles. The unwritten law was that whomever was biggest had the right of way. Pedestrians seemed to be lowest on the totem pole, a fact that would be proven true when a friend with a star-burst scar over his left eyebrow from the accident described being struck from behind by a boda boda motorcycle taxi driver. He had been walking exactly where I was now.

But I didn’t know that then and worried more that the boda boda drivers might live up to their reputation and hassle me. I focused my eyes on the road as I passed their stage, the place where they leaned over their motorcycles or lounged under a tree waiting for someone to flag them down for a ride. Past them, I could see the buildings where the stores and trading posts were located. The metal doors had been flung open and people stood in the door frames. People were everywhere, and as I came closer, all eyes fell on me. I was white, they were black, and it was obvious I was the outsider.

I followed behind a young school girl wearing a blue gown, the kind you might find on a flower girl. Uganda, it turned out, was a dumping ground for secondhand clothes, and most prominently, forgotten wedding outfits. During my early days, I was often caught off-guard by women walking barefoot through the dirt roads while dressed as if they were headed to be a bridesmaid at the altar.

The girl was slender, her arms and legs long, her head shaven. She turned when she heard my footfalls behind her. Her face showed no expression, but she crossed the road so that she could walk across from me, and stare.

The trading center had a tree with a wooden bench built beneath it. I walked there, my plan having been to sit in the shade and take notes about what I saw. A journalist and writer, I considered it my first introduction to the community where I had come for a three-month research project to learn about subsistence farming in Uganda, the world’s fourth-fastest growing country. She followed, her eyes locked on me as she walked to a fence built around an outdoor pool table. There she stopped and kept watching.

She was not the only one. A teenage boy came over and sat on the opposite end of the bench from where I’d taken a seat. He seemed to have no purpose in being there other than to look at me, so I smiled and lifted my hand to wave hello.

“Osibiirota,” I said. It was my best attempt at saying how has the day been.

The boy lifted his chin as if to nod, and murmured something.

I smiled back harder since I had no idea what else to say, and looked away.

My knee-length skirt that I’d chosen to wear out of respect for the fact that women wear skirts instead of pants began to feel short. I wished I’d picked a long, wrap skirt instead. I knew that my whiteness gave me the leeway to even wear pants if I wanted and that I was dressed appropriately, but the way I was being studied by the girl, the boy and everyone else—the shopkeeper, the pool players, the men drinking at the bar—made me worry I’d done something wrong.

An older man dressed in a suit jacket and slacks sat on a chair, an unfolded newspaper held between his hands. He wore a hat, and looked like an old-school detective except that he had a large yellow jerry-can resting on the ground beside him. I watched as a woman in a gold headscarf approached him with an empty water bottle. He took it from her, placed a funnel in it, and poured from the jerry-can. The liquid came out an opaque yellow. I had no idea what it could be. He saw me watching him, and smiled.

“Osibiirota,” he said.

“Karungi,” I replied. I’m good.

“Empako yaawe?” he asked. What’s your pet name? In the local culture, everyone has one of ten pet names; often people have no idea what someone’s real name might even be.

“Abwooli,” I said. I was thrilled to be understanding him. “Kande yaawe?” And yours?

“Abwooli,” he said.

Okay, I thought. We have the same name. That’s cool.

He continued speaking, but I shook my head to tell him I didn’t understand. Again, I smiled. Did it communicate everything I felt? Things like, I’m so excited to be here, thank you for talking to me, and I feel so out of place, what have I done.

“He wants to know where you’re from,” said the boy, who continued to sit opposite me on the bench.

“America,” I said.

The man and I looked at each other. His face lit up. He pointed to his jerry-can, a gesture of offering, but I shook my head to say no. I had no idea whether he was selling juice or alcohol or unboiled water, and I wasn’t prepared to drink it. We smiled at each other for a few moments more, and each returned to our own work, me writing, him reading the newspaper and waiting for customers.

I made a commitment to sit in the center for a half hour. Whenever my discomfort rose, my gaze would flutter to my watch while my mind tried to hurry the minutes. When thirty had passed, I put my notebook away, stood up and waved to the man and to the boy. The girl had wandered away, returned for some time and left for good, or I would have said goodbye to her too. Then I headed home…

About the Author: Lisa Meerts-Brandsma is a third-year graduate student in the University of New Hampshire‘s Master of Fine Arts in Writing. She grew up in Guilford, Connecticut, but found her place in the world while living in Durango, Colorado, and wishes it were her hometown. While not holed up in Hamilton Smith, she loves to ride mountain bikes at Kingman Farm.

At first I was terrified! Showing up to my first fashion class with a mixture of students whom for the most part were all majoring in fashion from their home universities. Seeing these girls gave me instant flashbacks to when Anne Hathaway as Andrea in The Devil Wears Prada is describing her co-workers as the ‘clackers.’ These girls wore far beyond the daily fashion that is seen around UNH campus. In Europe, fashion is moving art. As it should be, clothing originally is not by fashion standards a mass produced product but rather, a masterpiece that has been created by a designer. Although a bit uncomfortable, I was in heaven; so happy to be in a room full of people who appreciated this art as much as I did.

The four fashion courses I took while in Florence were some of my favorite courses that I took as a UNH student. Some had a history aspect discussing the evolution of fashion, while others discussed more of a business perspective regarding marketing or buying for a fashion company. All my classes went on field trips around leather markets, fashion galleries, haute couture stores, or fashion museums. At times I felt as though I was truly in a surreal paradise of pretty fabrics and fabulous clothing. I was ecstatic each day to attend class and have another opportunity to talk amongst others who shared the same passions as I did.

On field trips around Italy my professors encouraged us to bring sketch pads and challenge ourselves to draw as often as possible. Personally I had not taken an art class requiring me to draw since high school. There was a reason I did not take art classes at UNH while many believe that art is subjective, it is a well known consensus that I have no artistic abilities. I began little by little to draw a pattern here or a handbag there and was thrilled when my professor complemented a sketch I had done of a Gucci dress. I found it relaxing to sit in fashion museums and take the time to draw my favorite pieces of fashion collections. Sketching provided me with a whole new perspective of visiting museums.

Italian fashion museums are beautiful works of art. My personal favorite to visit in Florence was the Gucci museum which was a special featured exhibit during my stay. Along with the museum was a gucci cafe as well as a fashion library that had every book imaginable about fashion. I would sit and sketch for hours in my favorite room which featured custom Gucci dresses that had been made for Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, and Salma Hayek to just name a few.

It was all these experiences while I was in Florence that contributed to my passion for the fashion industry. My time in Florence showed me the forms of art that lie within everyday fashion. These lessons will last me through my life as I hopefully will someday work to assist in the creation of these works of art.

After settling into our hostel we set out to find lunch and explore the city.  For lunch we ate at a restaurant called the “Green Room,” and after deciding that we didn’t know what most of the menu items were, I opted for cereal and fruit.  The fruit was great and offered me my first taste of Portuguese strawberries, a taste I continued to have as I purchased strawberries throughout the weekend.  Afterwards, we wandered around and found “se Cathedral,” an old, medieval cathedral in the middle of the city.  Although a wandering actor harassed us with its history at the door, we enjoyed the beautiful paintings and stained glass of the interior.  In fact, it reminded me a lot of Notre Dame in Paris.

We then walked up the street and got our first glimpse of the amazing red roofs, brightly colored buildings, and amazing blue sea that characterizes Portugal.  The views from the tops of Lisbon’s numerous hills are breathtaking, and between the warm, 70 degree weather and the amazing views, we were psyched to be in such a city.  However, we then decided that we did not know how to find our way around and purchased tickets for a bus tour.  The tour took us around to some of Lisbon’s more famous sights, including the various squares, the castle, and the bull-fighting arena.  However, it also took us outside the city center a bit to see the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, a beautiful 15^th century monastery in the Belem area of Lisbon.  We also saw the Ponte 25 de Abril, or the “25^th of April Bridge,” which is a bridge that looks remarkably like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  After making this observation, the audio tour guide told us that, in fact, the bridge was built by the same company that built the Golden Gate Bridge and was named as such to celebrate Portugal’s form of Independence Day.

After the bus tour, we ate at a Portuguese restaurant where I tried a cod, cream, and cheese dish that was traditionally Portuguese.  One of my friends got a chicken kebab that looked extremely exotic, and although we were not used to our meals we enjoyed them.  As we had been awake since 3 am we went to bed early that day, but we were up the next morning around 8 for our trip to the beach.

We began our day at a pastry store with some of the best breads and pastries I’ve ever eaten.  After ordering a tea, pastry, and toast meal and waiting for an absurd 15 minutes for my toast, I bit into it and agreed with my friend Emily that it was the best toast I’ve ever eaten – definitely worth the wait. Unfortunately, I did not order the orange juice about which my other friends raved.  They said it tasted like “an orange squeezed into a cup,” and after trying a sample I agreed.

After breakfast, we went back to the start of the bus tour and waited for the orange line, the bus that traveled to the beach areas outside of Lisbon.  The views as we traveled of the bright blue water, rocky cliffs, and brownish-white sandy beaches were incredible, and after departing the bus at the quaint village of Cascais, we agreed that Portugal’s reputation for beauty is well deserved.  After arriving in Cascais we laid on the beach for several hours before finding a pizza place for lunch and shopping for souvenirs.  The souvenir shops in Portugal are much nicer than many of the ones we’ve seen in other cities due to Portugal’s reputation for tiles and, strangely, painted chicken figurines.

After Cascais we took another bus to a bigger, more crowded beach closer to Lisbon.  The beach was busy but relaxing, and we spent an enjoyable afternoon tanning and watching the interactions of the Portuguese people.  Then we headed back to Lisbon for a dinner outside and drinks for my friend Lisangi’s 21^st birthday at the bar next to our hostel.  We loved the atmosphere of Lisbon at night, as the Portuguese head out for dinner around eight or nine to dine in the warm, light surroundings.  During our outdoor dinner we enjoyed the sounds of street music as we observed the multitudes of people walking by and the beautiful tiled buildings surrounding us.  The bar was also an example of the personality of the Portugese; when we arrived around nine it was empty, an occurrence that would never happen in the London pubs.  As the bar was directly next to our hostel, during the previous night we had been annoyed to hear the live band playing long into the night.  However, from the other side of the wall it was much more enjoyable and we were happy to experience a taste of the Portugese nightlife.

The next morning we decided to take the entire orange line of the bus tour.  After eating breakfast at our favorite pastry place (I got the orange juice this time- it was amazing!) we went to the first stop of the tour and waited for the bus to depart.  The first half of the coastline tour was mostly what we’d seen the day before on our way to the beach, but the second half along the coastline was less populated and breathtakingly gorgeous.  Towards the end of the tour we saw giant rolling green hills, rocky cliffs, fields full of flowers and cacti, and isolated sandy beaches.  This section was definitely my favorite part of Lisbon, as I was able to see the natural beauty as well as the quaint man-made buildings.

Unfortunately, after we finished the bus tour it was time for us to leave Lisbon.  We had one last lunch (I had grilled cheese that actually tasted like the grilled cheese I like at home) with a pitcher of sangria that had more fresh, Portuguese fruit than I ever expected.  Then we took the metro to the Lisbon airport, hopped on our last flight with Easyjet, and arrived in London around 11 pm.  Luckily, we were able to catch a ride on an earlier easybus than the one we had booked and were at Regent’s a half hour ahead of schedule.

The next morning, I decided to attend the London Marathon despite the fact that none of my friends wanted to go.  Some of them just weren’t interested, while some had parents who had forbidden them from going due to the Boston bombings the week before.  However, once I showed up to the marathon in my New England Patriots shirt (thanks for sneaking it into my suitcase Dad!) and my “Boston Strong” sign, I was overjoyed that I had made the decision to come.  As I stood in front of Buckingham Palace and cheered on the winners of the men’s and women’s races and then the masses of marathon runners that came across the finish line later, I was happy to be a part of such an energetic, supportive crowd.  I talked to several people about my sign – one of whom was from Boston herself and was happy to see me supporting her home city.  The day was warm and sunny with a slight breeze, a day unconventional for London but perfect to watch a marathon.  Unfortunately, I had too much homework to stay for the whole race but I stayed for as long into the afternoon as possible.  Then I went back to Regent’s, where I basically spent three days switching between going to class and working on homework.  This has been the week containing all my final papers, so I have spent much more time in the library than I would like.  However, the weather has been warm and sunny so I’ve alternated between doing my homework outside during the day and working on it at night in the library.

On Tuesday night, I was able to obtain a free ticket to Once, one of the major musicals in London this semester.  The play was based in Ireland and featured a great deal of traditional Irish music.  It was a romance story, and our favorite part was before the play started, when we were able to go onstage before the play to a “stage bar” where the cast played music.  The next night I saw The Tempest at the Globe theatre, the second night of the Globe’s summer season and the day after Shakespeare’s birthday.  After arriving at the Globe, we immediately noticed the energy in the theatre and the beauty of the stage.  The play turned out to be one of my favorite I’d seen in London; Prospero, Ariel, and Caliban were all amazing actors, and the audience interaction was surprisingly hilarious. The Elizabethan-style costumes and language gave me a taste of what the plays may have felt like in the original Globe, but it was still enjoyable as a modern night out at the theatre.  This weekend is sadly my last full weekend in London, and consequently I am planning to visit a lot of sights I have not yet seen.   I will be headed home on May 5^th and I am starting to look at souvenirs and packing.  My big purchase of the week was my tea set I bought as a gift to myself – I can’t wait to put it in my apartment next year!

I’m starting to be sad to leave but I’ll be happy to see all of you once I’m home! Thanks for reading!

The next day, I went to my first two classes and then took a tour of the reconstructed Globe Theatre as required by my theatre class.  Our tour guide was a little too sarcastic for my liking, but seeing the Globe as we imagine it would have been during Shakespeare’s time was an incredible experience for my nerdy, English-loving mind.  The theatre was smaller than I’d imagined it to be, but in Elizabethan times 3,000 people would be crowded into the space that in today allows 1600.  Within the Globe, the stage was wooden and ornate, and the open-topped roof was made of thatch (the only thatch roof in the modern city of London!) After exploring the museum and learning a great deal of new information about the Globe and its long, tumultuous history, I headed back to Regent’s just in time for the start of my Shakespeare class. 

That night I saw one of my favorite plays yet, Before the Party by Rodney Ackland and Somerset Maughm.  Depicting the struggles of an aristocratic 1950’s British family after they find out that their daughter has murdered her husband, the conversational scenes and image-obsessed dialogue reminded me of a theatre version of Downton Abbey.  The theatre was in Islington, a wealthy neighborhood filled with adorable cafes and shops – one I definitely want to visit again.

The next day I spent the morning writing essays and the afternoon on a field trip with my Social History class.  We visited Trafalgar Square, the home of the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, in order to learn about the giant monument of British hero Horatio Nelson housed in the middle of the square.  I also had my first experience in Covent Garden, a wealthy shopping district filled with high-end clothing shops and a bustling center of urban activity.  As my teacher lectured about the 18^th century architecture within the square, I had trouble preventing my gaze from wandering over to the street performers and crowds circulating around the area.

For the last portion of the field trip we visited Ben Franklin’s house, which he used when he was acting as a U.S. diplomat in Britain.  The house was very old and it was interesting to see the house where he had spent five years of his life.  After the field trip, I had dinner at Regent’s and headed out again to see Matilda, a West End theatre production that has been gathering glowing reviews since my arrival in London.  Fortunately, UNH paid for the majority of my ticket since I went with our UNH advisor and a small group of students, so I didn’t have to pay the exorbitant price for a professionally renowned theatre production.  However, after seeing Matilda I agreed that I would have paid for it – it was that good.  The dancing, singing, and acting skills of children in the musical amazed me to no end. The actors playing Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, Miss Honey, the Trunchbull, and the various other characters were incredibly skilled and used the dazzling set to their advantage.  After reading Matilda and seeing the movie as a child, I was overjoyed with my theatre experience and recommended it to everyone I saw back at school.  As we left the theatre, all the girls I went with could not stop raving about it –we were amazed!

Since Matilda my week has mostly consisted of homework, but I am excited for my coming weekend in London. While running I was able to find a section of Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill, about which I had been curious, so I’m planning to take my friends there one day when we have nice weather and some extra time.  The weather is predicted to be in the low 60’s for two of the days this weekend, so I am fully intending to take advantage of London’s outdoor attractions and explore the city! Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Written by Sophie White, UNH Class of 2015.

After class on Thursday I headed with my friend Emily to Liberty, which I can now deem my favorite department store in London. We explored the sections of fancy stationary, cute London-themed cards and household decorations, bath items, garden accessories, and various other areas of interest.  After Liberty, we ventured over to Hamley’s, London’s giant toy store.  Although I was not looking for toys for myself, I was curious to see this famous London landmark.  Unfortunately, we decided to go on the Thursday before Easter, and the store was packed with wailing children, stressed parents, and overall chaos.  However, it was still interesting to see the store, and I enjoyed the lego-royal family and all the extravagant toys the store had to offer.

The next day, Emily and I headed to Brighton for a day trip on the train.  Brighton is a coastal town in England famous for its pier, pebble beach, and beautiful buildings such as the Royal Pavilion.  Despite the wind and cold, we had a great day exploring the beach and the surrounding town.  The town was covered with little shops, a food market, and charming parks; we enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and the opportunity to see another part of England.  We had fish n’ chips for lunch at a seaside restaurant and talked to some of the locals in the shops, causing us to enjoy the English-feeling of the town.

After taking the train home from Brighton, we toured Parliament on Saturday and visited platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station (the platform featured in Harry Potter).  Parliament was incredible – the building has been used for hundreds of years, and while the House of Commons is relatively unadorned and simple, the House of Lords and its adjacent rooms are incredibly ornate.  Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about both the history of the building and the operation of Parliament. We also visited some of the more superfluous rooms, such as the golden, statue-littered lobby and the Queen’s robing room, which is used once of the year when the Queen delivers Britain’s version of the state of the union address. We also were able to see Big Ben from close range and examine the outside of the building more clearly, so overall the experience was great for my political science side.

At King’s Cross station we found platform 9 ¾ almost right away.  After taking the tube from Westminster station, we walked into King’s Cross and immediately saw a huge line next to the small platform along the wall.  Once we explored further, we found that the line was for platform 9 ¾ and people were being ushered through the line to take pictures.  They had props set up, including a Gryffindor scarf and the Hogwart’s cart with an owl cage with which to take pictures.

After showing some visitors one of our favorite bars, the Monarch, on Saturday night, I attended a church service on Easter Sunday at St. Paul’s cathedral.  As I’d visited before on a field trip I knew it was beautiful, but seeing the masses of people and the incredible organ playing was a moving experience.  Afterwards I visited the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery, two of the renowned art museums in London.  At the National Portrait Gallery I saw many amazing portraits, but my favorite was the one of Kate Middleton.  Although the rumors of the portrait making Kate appear old were partly true, I still thought it was an accurate representation and it still captured her beauty.  At the National Gallery I had to fight the crowds to see the paintings, but I saw some incredible Monets, Renoirs, Rembrandts, a Michelangelo, and other famous paintings for free. After paying exorbitant amounts to see Van Goghs and Rembrandts in Amsterdam, I really appreciated London’s system of donation-only museums.

Once we were finished with the museums, we traveled to Hammersmith Bridge to see the famous Oxford-Cambridge boat race.  The most important college sporting event in London, people lined the Thames with flags, t shirts, and signs in order to cheer for their favorite teams.  Although we did not know much about either team, the crew race was entertaining and we loved experiencing the excitement radiating off the British fans.

The next day we attempted to visit London’s Natural History museum, which is supposed to be a trip worth taking.  Unfortunately, the Easter crowds were still out in full force and we were deterred by the extremely long lines.  After awhile of standing in the midst of flurries with little progress, we decided to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum across the street to see the exhibits I hadn’t seen before.  Although this was crowded as well, the crowds were less overwhelming and there was no line to enter.  The third floor, which was closed the last time I visited but contains the jewelry and theatre exhibits, was interesting and led to a culture-filled day in London.

On Tuesday I began the regular grind, rushing to finish my schoolwork and ready myself for Paris over the span of two days.  I saw a play on Wednesday night with my theatre class based on two Chekov short stories that was enjoyable and had a beautiful set.  Although my favorite play was the one I saw the week before, Paper Dolls (the story of five Filipino drag queens in Israel), the night was enjoyable and relaxing after two days of packing and frantically finishing homework.

At 5 am Thursday morning I headed to the train station with four of my friends from school.  Psyched to be taking the train rather than going through the hassle of airports, we felt as if the two and a half hour trip to Paris was a walk in the park.  I napped for almost the whole trip, and when we stepped off the train, onto the Parisian metro system, and walked off to see the Louvre, I was excited and refreshed.

Once we walked into the courtyard in front of the Louvre, we were amazed by the faint sight of the Eiffel Tower in the background, the glass triangles that were the entrance to the Louvre, the stone fountains, and the elaborate façade of the Louvre directly in front of us.  Being classic tourists, we took a great deal of pictures in front of the courtyard.  Our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower was absolutely breathtaking – I’ll talk about the tower later.  We also made sure to take pictures of John Cena, the action figure that I’d taken with me at the request of Ben, my boyfriend.  Although he only got John Cena for Christmas, he took a few funny pictures with him and asked me to bring him on my trip to Paris.  My friends and I had a lot of fun taking his picture throughout the weekend with various monuments – some of our best were John Cena kicking over the Eiffel Tower, John Cena on top of the glass pyramids in front of the Louvre, John Cena doing a handstand in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and John Cena holding a passport.

After arriving at the Louvre, we visited Venus de Milo, the winged angel, and one of the most famous paintings in the world, the Mona Lisa.  Although the crowds were overwhelming and the Mona Lisa had a huge crowd in front, the art was beautiful and I understood why the Louvre has obtained the reputation it now holds.

Next, we found our hotel and went out for dinner at a French restaurant.  My favorite part was the French onion soup, which has always been one of my favorites and felt authentically French.  We ate near Notre Dame and were excited to see the elaborate front of the cathedral at night.  Eventually we went back to the hotel to meet our three other friends who were arriving on a later train.  Exhausted from our day, we fell asleep and readied ourselves for the busy day ahead.

Bright and early the next morning we hopped on the metro, bought train tickets, and arrived about forty-five minute later in Versailles.  An area outside Paris proper, Versailles was the lavish palace built by Louis XIV in the 17^th century.  The building was gold-encrusted, and the rooms inside were no less extravagant.  Again, the crowds were intensely thick, but the building was interesting to see and was beautiful in its extravagance.  My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors, which had seventeen full-length mirrors across from seventeen full-length windows, making the room seem extraordinarily airy and light.  After leaving the palace we wandered around the gardens, which were covered in topiaries, daffodils, and trees that had not yet bloomed but had leaf buds that looked as if they were soon to open.  The cold wind was chilling us to the bone, but we enjoyed the gardens and I wished I had been able to see them in full bloom.

Next, we headed back to Paris, bought crepes (I got a nutella and banana one), and got in line to go up the Eiffel Tower.  Up close, the wire, manmade structure was beautiful and looked exactly as I had imagined it.  After taking pictures and reveling in the sight of the Eiffel Tower up close, we arrived at the front of the elevator line.  An adventure in itself due to the slanted angle of the tower and the tiny escalator, we took the elevator up to the second level of the Eiffel Tower in a matter of minutes.  The view of the city was incredible; I could see the Arc de Triomphe, a sparkling gold domed building, the top of Notre Dame, and sprawling buildings reaching far into the distance.  The wind was howling, but we ignored our physical discomfort to appreciate the amazing sight in front of us.  After standing on the top of the second level, we took the elevator up to the third, and top, level of the Eiffel Tower.  Fortunately, the top level was enclosed by glass in order to prevent the wind from becoming too severe.  The third level of the Eiffel Tower had extra exhibits, such as a map of different cities around the world and the distances to them.  As I saw cities such as New York and Washington that were thousands of miles away I felt very far from home, but the signs were cool and gave me a sense of where I was located in the world.  The sights from the top of the tower were even more breathtaking, and after coming down we all felt empowered and in love with the Eiffel Tower.  After looking in a gift shop at the bottom my friend Kim was almost pickpocketed, but luckily she looked down at her purse in time and we were able to save the situation.

Afterwards, we found a restaurant for dinner after much price-checking, ate a quick meal, and headed to the Arc de Triomphe.  An arch in the center of the city, the Arc du Triomphe is the meeting point of several (maybe six?) major Parisian roads, including the Champs-Elysees.  After walking the 200-odd steps to the top, we waited at the top while watching the Eiffel Tower.  The Eiffel Tower “sparkles” every hour with hundreds of white lights that are attached.  Although the tower is lit up for the entirety of the night, it was amazing to see special lightshow at 10 p.m. sharp.  We cheered as the lights began and our excitement never wavered for the five minute duration of the flashing lights. 

The next day, we woke up and visited the Musee D’Orsay, a museum known for its Monets, Manets, Renoirs, and Degas.  Psyched that, like every other attraction in Paris besides the Eiffel Tower, we were able to visit the museum for free with our student visas, we spent some time in the museum and then walked to Notre Dame.  After waiting inside, we were able to enter Notre Dame and walk around the cathedral.  I felt slightly rude because a service was taking place during our visit, but we were still allowed to enter as long as we remained silent.  The old, gothic feel of the cathedral was chilling and beautiful, and the vibrant colors of the stained glass windows were a huge focal point.  Happy to be able to enter the famous cathedral, we felt even more fortunate when we realized that 2013 marks the 850^th anniversary of Notre Dame.

Afterwards, some of our friends on an earlier train headed back to London while the rest of us went souvenir shopping.  We explored the little stores, and in order to kill time, investigated the surrounding streets and the quaint gift, cheese, bread, and other shops filling the streets of Paris.  In this manner, we pleasantly passed the time and were soon ready to board the Eurostar back to London.  Sadly, I accidentally left a poster of a black cat that I had bought myself at the train station (much to the confusion of the non-English speaking station guard when I asked if I could go back through the station) but overall the trip was incredible.  Paris greatly exceeded my expectations, as I was worried it would be a tourist-filled, dirty city rather than the charming, beautifully romantic city in which I found myself this past weekend.  This coming weekend I’ll be enjoying a much-needed break in London, exploring the London sights I haven’t yet seen as my days here begin to dwindle.  Again, I’m sorry for the late blog post, but I’ll try to get my schedule back on track for this week! Thanks for reading!

Written by Sophie White, UNH Class of 2015.