Destination London

February 12, 2016.Reading time 11 minutes.

After non-stop fun in Aix the past two weeks, it was time for my first European trip. There are way too many places to go, and not enough time to do it. Prioritizing has been key, but even still I’m realizing that the idea of going “everywhere” this semester was not going to happen. But my list is piled high with different countries, so no complaints here. I started to feel a bit homesick the beginning of last week, and it felt like a good time to see a familiar face, and be immersed in a familiar language. As much as I love the French, it’s work to try and communicate.

A Week in Aix

January 31, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Bonjour! It’s been a crazy week here in Aix so far, but what an incredible adventure! The first 24 hours are simply a blur, remembering moments of sprinting between customs and my gate, but thankfully the flight from Paris to Marseille was short and easy. Walking outside of the airport with my excessive amounts of luggage and seeing the mountains lining the sky was nothing short of breathtaking. Read More

À Bientôt, America

January 22, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

Today is the day!! After what seems like the longest winter of my life, the Netflix marathons have come to an end. I leave for Aix-en-Provence tonight to start my four-month journey in Europe! I am so much more excited than nervous at this point, and am ready to tackle the eight-hour plane ride.

As long as I can remember I have wanted to study abroad, and it seems like as soon as I knew what traveling was I was ready to take on the world. But this past month at home has been filled with nerves, anxiety, and anticipation for today. All of my friends at Miami were going through recruitment, getting back into classes, and going out with each other (#GroveThursdays), and I felt like I was missing out on everything. I know that sounds crazy. I’m going to France! How can I be jealous? But the fear of the unknown has been lingering for months now and not being in Miami really set me straight: France is a very real thing. Read More

Looking to 2016

January 2, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

2015 has come and gone, and it has been a year filled with happiness, lessons, adventures, and friendship. I have had some wonderful opportunities in 2015, and it will be exciting to see how they turn out in 2016. I am starting off the year by preparing for my first big solo adventure. January 22^nd I will be leaving to spend the next four months in Southern France, and hopefully travelling throughout Europe during that time as well. As we get closer I am getting more anxious, but I know that it will be a wonderful experience that will set the course for the rest of the year.

No Place like Home for the Holidays

December 25, 2015.Reading time 2 minutes.

After powering through a hellish finals week, winter break has finally arrived. Flying from 80° in Miami to 30° in Chicago was quite the change of scenery, but I was greeted by a loving family, a happy pup, and a home decked for Christmas. The cookies were piled high and I immediately nestled in my dearly missed couch, ready to get my break on.

Junior Year

December 7, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

When starting the third year of college, you expect a few things: a hard academic schedule, an abundance of fun times with friends, and a big dip in your bank account. Junior year is said to be one of the most difficult, as you are beginning classes that are FINALLY part of your major. The other campus activities you are involved in are becoming more of a drag, and you are so close, yet so far from that glorious senior title. Trying to balance health (sleep), a social life, classes, and everything else that the world has to offer has been a steady struggle all semester, and when you finally seem to be getting the hang of it, it’s finals season. Two weeks of pure hell. So why has this been my favorite semester yet? Read More