Tips for Trekking – Part III (Keeping in Touch, Homesickness, and Coming Home)

When you're drowning in unfamiliar territory and all you want is to hear a familiar voice, know you're not alone. Modern technology makes homesickness significantly easier to cope with while also helping you to remember and relish every moment you find yourself in awe of the places and things you're getting to experience. Coming home may also have it's challenges, but it's nothing you can't handle!

This is the last installment of tips and most likely my final post on this blog! I hope these are able to help in one way or another and if you have anything to add or ask, please comment at the bottom!

Keeping in Touch (with Home and Yourself)

1. Journal. I had never really kept a journal before going abroad and there were times when I forgot or didn’t take the time to write, but keeping track of my days, the things I’d done, and the places I’d been felt rewarding to me. There are details and emotions that the mind forgets and it’s nice to be able to look back on my time abroad and remember it all. 
2. Don’t let yourself get discouraged if you miss some time writing. I missed a month. Instead of ignoring it, I decided to leave some space to go back and write the highlights from that time period, which I did. I often left the weekends I traveled until I got back to Hungary or I would write on the plane. I’ve since kept it up and continue to write almost daily – although, my entries a lot less exciting than when I was traveling. 
3. Wi-Fi-based communication. I used several forms of communication while I was abroad to keep in touch with Friends and Family. I recommend Skype, Google Hangouts, Whatsapp, and Facebook Messenger. Skype is best for one-on-0ne video chats, Google Hangouts for group video chats, FB Messenger is ideal for group chats, and Whatsapp is most like a texting service. I did use Viber but I found that several times messages were never sent or received so I wouldn’t rely on that. If you choose to download Whatsapp, do so before leaving your country (if you don’t have an international phone plan) because it requires as code entry that will be texted to you.
4. Explore phone options in advance. I got a local SIM card because of the length of my stay. It was a significantly better deal (that included 1GB of data) than the international plan my phone provided offered and benefitted me because of the unreliable Wi-Fi in the dorms (HOWEVER, some phones have locks that prevent use of a new SIM card. Check your phone before spending the money). Others get burn phones (think Tracfone) with local numbers to contact people in the group. Our program directors offered several of these for low prices. I also kept my home SIM card on me for emergencies and weekend travel (since I also had an international plan at the end).
5. Stay connected with home – but not too connected. My first week was rough because the Wi-Fi and Ethernet were unreliable and I had difficulty contacting my friends and family when I wanted to most. Once that was settled, I would message my friends daily and parents almost as often (what can I say, I’ve got more friends than parents), but I never let this distract me from where I was or what I was doing. I used Skype or Google Hangouts for video chats approximately every other week or so (or whenever I just really wanted to see someone from home). The trick is to not over-do it. Don’t make yourself miserable over what you’re missing at home when everyone else is jealous of what you’re doing there.
6. Take lots of pictures. The mind is fickle. Every time you access a memory, it’s slightly altered. Pictures don’t alter themselves so you’ll always have the unchanged memory in front of you. But...
7. Look at things through your own eyes before you do so through a camera lens. We have a tendency to get wrapped up in camera culture. We’re too concerned with saving the memory forever to take it all in in the moment and we end up with a lot of pictures of places that we barely remember. Cameras can’t smell the flowers.
8. Know the basics of the language. Nobody expects you to be fluent or even to sound natural, but knowing how to say a simple “hello” and “thank you” can garner a lot of appreciation from locals.

Homesickness and Coming Home

1. Know that it’s okay to miss home. Believe me, you’re not alone and it doesn’t hit everyone at the same time. I was most homesick the first week and when I got a really bad cold, but my roommate was fine until the last month. It’s different but also likely for everyone, even if they won’t tell you. 
2. It’s okay to miss where you went away from home. Reverse culture shock comes in many forms, including reverse homesickness. I frequently miss the European architecture and seeing the Danube River and everything along it when I would walk to class. Every so often I find myself scanning through my pictures to relive the memories and I’ve learned to be okay with a little nostalgia.
3. Reverse culture shock doesn’t always hit you right away. Sometimes coming home can leave you feeling stagnant or out of place and it may take a while for this to even start. I was home for over a month before I realized I hadn’t been farther than Target in several weeks and I started feeling stuck. But...
4. It goes away. Whether it’s on its own or with some effort, the feeling of reverse culture shock goes away. You readjust to life at home and figure out how to use the experiences you had abroad to change your life at home if you desire. Explore more of your local area, try something new, or try to make a meal from your host country for someone else. You may need to push yourself but every experience is worth it in the end. 

Tips for Trekking – Part II (Transportation, Navigation, and Preparation)

Having never used public transportation on my own - let alone not having traveled on my own before - I was a fish out of water (aka a small-town girl in a big city). It took some getting used to but eventually hopping on the tram or taking the metro became second nature to me. Even flying became something I looked forward to at the end of the week. But no matter how easy things become, you can never be ready for everything. And that's okay!

Transportation

1. Try to wait for the second bathroom at airports. There will likely be times that waiting is not an option (especially when it’s your last chance before a lengthy wait in a border control line), but I have found that a majority of the time the restrooms immediately off the plane are smaller, more crowded, and dirtier than those by or closer to baggage claim.
2. Keep water and snacks with you when traveling. I know that airport prices are outrageous but it will help in the end. Despite having every meal on my flight to Europe, I nearly passed out in the Frankfurt, Germany airport during my layover and somehow communicated to two very kind German men who saw me about to lower myself to the floor that I needed water (since I had none of my own) and they made sure I was taken care of before boarding the plane. Thank you mysterious German men!
3. Know if food/drinks cost on planes. You may have heard of RyanAir being a hugely popular airline in Europe for its low prices, but you may not know that their prices include nothing but the flight. This brings me back my previous point – keep water and snacks with you. 
4. Be aware of carry-on restrictions. Some airlines will let you play dumb if your bag is a little over-sized and will check it for free at the gate, but it’s never a good idea to rely on getting by. The same applies for the weight. My friend assumed they would never weigh her carry-on but they did and found that it was over twice the legal weight. She ended up paying for a third checked bag to get back home with all her books. Yes, it was entirely filled with books.
5. Have a travel pillow. Whether it’s a rolled up (blanket) scarf or an actual pillow, give your neck a break. The side of the plane for those in the window seat is never as tolerable as you somehow make yourself believe and you’ll want something between the wall and your head.
6. Bring your passport with you if you travel. Some students in my program left theirs behind when they took a bus to another country in the Schengen territory thinking they wouldn’t need them. They were wrong and the bus driver and everyone else on the bus were not pleased with the 45 minute wait while they filled out paperwork in a police car to continue on – and again reentering Hungary.
7. In line with that, know if you should keep your passport on you or in a safe place where you’re staying. Always keep your passport it in a safe place where it won’t be easily stolen. In many places, your passport may be the only acceptable form of ID. Otherwise, leave it at home, preferably in a locked box or safe of some sort.
8. Plan trips as far in advance as possible. Last-week flight purchases are expensive and hostels/hotels can book up quickly.
9. Consider train and bus transportation for places closer to where you’re based. It may be longer travel time but saves you the time it takes to the airport and get through airport security. It’s also typically a heck of a lot less expensive. Overnight trips are also a good option if you have a commitment until later in the day but want to be somewhere else tomorrow.

Navigation and Preparation

1. You can’t be prepared for everything – and that’s okay! It’s okay to be surprised, shocked, or thrown off guard. It keeps you on your toes and leads to experiences and learning opportunities you never could have planned. Even bad things (like losing your wallet) can teach you how to cope and become a true adult when you have to deal with the consequences.
2. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone in order to have an experience that you never would have had while you were at home or before you took this journey. This is tame example but I had never flown alone before I went abroad and I didn’t particularly like flying at all. However, during my semester I travelled so much that I grew to feel comfortable in airports and in the air (even when we broke through the clouds landing in Dublin and immediately began swaying with the strong winds). I miss flying now!
3. Take directions slowly. When lost, only follow the first step of verbal directions before stopping and asking someone else to confirm
4. Don’t be afraid of getting lost. I met up with two of my friends in Barcelona, Spain and we got a little lost looking for some ruins. We ended up finding a small but nice restaurant for lunch where they showed us how to properly put together our own garlic bread.
5. Keep a bag with you incase of unplanned shopping. Most grocery stores make you pay for bags and so it’s easier to keep a small reusable bag or two with you. I got two at IKEA in Hungary and became very attached to them.

Tips for Trekking – Part I (Money and Fashion vs. Function)

It’s been almost three months since I landed back in the states after four months of studying and traveling in Europe. Central Pennsylvania is a lot smaller and quieter than the cities I hopped through then and it’s given me plenty of time to reflect on my time abroad and analyze my response to returning home.

With stories shared by friends and family who have also studied and/or traveled abroad and my own experiences I decided to write one more post to this blog to share some travel tips. Most of these apply to both long-term and short-term travel with a few study-abroad-specific notes as well.

There’s a lot to say so I’ve broken it down into more specific categories through three separate posts for an easier read. Here we go...

Money

1. Notify your bank(s) in advance. They prefer at least two weeks warning before you’re set to leave. Know which cards you can use at point-of-sale versus which will be ATM cards only and tell your banks before you leave for a weekend trip across any borders.
2. Try to get a card with no travel or ATM fees if at all possible. I went through a local Maine bank that had no fees and it saved me a lot of money.
3. Avoid exchanging currency at the airport. Airports know you likely don’t have the country’s currency upon landing and they have some of the most exorbitant exchange rates available. If you can get by until you find a better rate, I strongly recommend doing so.
4. Know/Save your bank(s') number(s). Should you have any issues, it’s good to have their number handy. Most bank help numbers can usually be reached through Skype for no charge.
5. Have $100 cash in your home currency in your room or in your wallet. This way, you have the money if you need to exchange it but you won’t spend it frivolously or by accident.
6. Have a minimum of two credit/debit cards with you. One of my friends had her card eaten by an ATM –  Twice. That was her only card so until the replacement came in, she had to live off the cash she had stashed away. The second time, her parents actually had to wire her cash. And yes, wiring cash is still a thing. Which brings me to my next point...
7. Should you need to pick up a money order, be sure that the name on your ID matches exactly what the other person wrote down for the wire. Some places are stricter than others about this but it’s safest and easiest to just make sure they match.
8. Pay with cash whenever you can. It’s always a good thing to have a reasonable amount of cash on you (but not too much). It reduces unnecessary fees, since many restaurants and other businesses charge extra for using a card, and makes you more aware of what you’re spending. Plus, you may be surprised by how many places are still cash only.
9. Ask for your check. This depends on the country but some cultures find it rude to rush people and will never directly ask for your to pay and leave. In that type of culture, ask for your check at restaurants or you may be there for a lot longer than you bargained for.
10. Check whether service is included in restaurant bills and be aware of tipping expectations in your host country. I still don’t entirely understand the difference between service and tips so feel free to explain in the comments if you do – but I do know that restaurants in some countries (like the U.S.) expect tips of 10-20% while others find tips to be a bonus but not an expectation.
11. Keep your currencies separate. When you have a wallet full of coins from all over, you hold up lines and confuse yourself when searching the correct currency for the transaction. Save everyone some time and frustration and only hold what you need or keep extra in a separate pocket.

Fashion vs. Function

1. Bring a blanket scarf. If you don’t have one, get one. You may think it looks ridiculous at first but it’s one of the best purchases I made while abroad. It’s especially great on airplanes and at hostels when you don’t have enough blankets or need an extra pillow.
2. Neutrals are your friends. Pack multiple neutral colored shirts. Make sure they’re plain. Layer.
3. Bring at least one nice outfit. You can make it simple but you may want something nice to wear out on the weekends and something professional to wear for class/work/internship presentations.
4. If it’s going to be hot, bring loose clothing. This comes from my friend who’s currently studying in India where temperatures are averaging around 100°F (37.7ºC) so it may be wise to heed her advice.
5. Bring shoes you don’t mind destroying. As impressed as I was that my $30 target boots got me up and over a mountain in Transylvania, it would have been nice if they didn’t reflect that trek for the rest of my trip. You don’t always know what kind of adventures to expect, so plan for all of them, especially if you’re there long-term.
6. Embrace the hip straps on your backpack. I know you think you look funny but I promise that it’s worth it. Your shoulders, neck, and back will thank you dearly. 

Oh, The Places We’ve Gone

I haven’t had much time to write over the last few weeks because I was wrapping up my semester abroad and then travelling with my best friend for a couple weeks before returning home. I’ve been home for just over a week now and it’s been a busy week full of seeing friends and family, enjoying being home, and trying to remember that the past four months was more than an amazing dream. Now I’m preparing to repack over the next two days to go back to school in Pennsylvania.

*Warning: This is a long one.

See You Later, Budapest

Saying goodbye to Budapest and all of the great people I’d met there was bittersweet. I was ready to go home and see my family and my home again but it was hard to know that such an incredible adventure was coming to an end.

Statue on the CIEE webpage that we only found the last weekend there

When I wasn’t studying, I spent my last couple weeks getting around the city as much as I could to see my favorite places one last time and to see new places I hadn’t gotten around to sooner. And Christmas shopping. So much Christmas shopping. My roommate and I kept each other sane as best we could while shopping that last weekend.

CIEE threw us a farewell dinner on our last Friday evening that included traditional Hungarian food like goulash soup, chicken paprikash, and somlói galuska for dessert. When we had finished, we hugged our program advisors and professors goodbye. One of our advisors, Juci, refused to say goodbye and insisted on saying, “See you later.”

Packing took several hours and a whole lot of hope. It was extra challenging for me because I had to pack for two and a half weeks of travel (carry-on only style) in addition to the two checked bags I needed to get from Budapest to London and then to Boston at the end.

As difficult as it was to leave my temporary home, I was thrilled to travel with my best friend before going home. It was especially nice to have that intermittent period between homework and home that allowed us to relax while also seeing so much.

A Grand European Adventure

I flew to London from Budapest on December 20, while most of the people I had spent the last several months with began their journey home. I met my best friend there and we had about 24 hours until our next flight that would begin our Grand Adventure, so we didn’t do much that night.

In the morning we got our large bags into storage and made our way to our first destination: Pompeii, Italy. We landed in Naples without much of a plan, which is very unlike me. We had a hostel booked and only vague directions for how to get there.

After a lot of confusion and several odd interactions, we eventually got a bus to Pompeii and found our hostel thanks to the help of some extremely kind locals who spoke no English. We were the only ones in the hostel and it was positively freezing, but our host, the owner’s father who spoke almost no English, was very kind and made most of our meals during our stay.

Our one full day in Pompeii was immersed in the ancient city’s history. We began with a trip up Mount Vesuvius where we had the most incredible views of the Amalfi coast through the fog. We could also see some of the steam coming from inside the crater since it is still an active volcano. My friend was least enthused by the fact that it is said to have a 20-year cycle but hasn’t erupted since 1944, making it beyond due for another eruption.

Stunning view from the top of Mt. Vesuvius

Later we walked around the ancient city and covered the major areas that we wanted to see including the forum and the amphitheater (where they house devastating plasters of some of the victims). It was fascinating to see what was left of what was once such a glorious city.

The Forum in Pompeii

Pompeii Amphitheater

The next day we took a train to Rome where we spent six nights. We saw St. Peter’s Basilica, wandered around Vatican City, and threw coins into Trevi Fountain on our first full day. The next day was Christmas Day during which we chose to mostly stay in and watch classic Christmas movies like “Elf” and “Die Hard.”

St. Peter's Basilica

On the weekend we took a train for a day trip to Florence on a whim. There we saw the David (Michaelangelo’s masterpiece Renaissance sculpture of a man that is over five meters tall), the Duomo (part of a beautiful cathedral), Ponte Vecchio (a bridge lined with jewelry shops), and the Galileo Museum.

Ponte Vecchio

Inside il Duomo

Back in Rome we took a tour of the Coliseum early the next day. The tour allowed us to go on the stage, into the dungeon underneath, and up to the highest spot currently open in the structure. Our guide shared a lot of interesting information and clarified some false ideas that many of us may have come with, like the actual amount of violence and the use of the so-called “dungeons.”

The Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum from the top

On our last full day we got skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican and were very glad when we walked by the huge line shortly after they opened. We walked through on our own instead of opting for a tour but we were glad to go at our own pace. The decoration was unbelievably intricate and extravagant throughout, especially in the Sistine Chapel.

The next day we flew to Dublin, Ireland. We got to our hostel and our 10-bed dorm around 2 a.m. and took our time waking up and making our way around the city the next day. We took a walking tour to hit a lot of the major points since we realized that we didn’t really know what was there.

Dublin Castle, an architectural mishmash

Ha'penny over the River Liffey

On New Years Eve we took a day trip to Cobh, Cork, and Blarney. We walked the grounds of Blarney Castle but only after kissing the Blarney Stone, which is said to give the gift of gab for the next seven years. Results have yet to be proven.

Blarney Castle

Kissing the Blarney Stone

We spent our last morning in Dublin at the National Leprechaun Museum, learning a bit about the tricky creatures. Then we flew to our last European stop: London. With only two full days in London, our excursions involved early mornings and tired feet in the evenings. My friend had spent her semester in London and knew the lay of the land so she served as my guide.

Peeking out of a storybook at the National Leprechaun Museum, Dublin

During our first day we through Reagent’s Park, up Primrose Hill, and to Camden Market for lunch. Then we moved on to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. We took a ride on the London Eye Ferris wheel to get a spectacular view of the city as night fell.

Buckingham Palace

Big Ben and Parliament

The London Eye

View from near the top of the London Eye

The second day we got our luggage from storage back to the hostel and then went to the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone and remnants from the Parthenon. Then we went to the London Bridge and walked across it to go through the Tower of London, which is more of a fortress than a tower. There we saw the crown jewels, armor over the years, and more.

The Rosetta Stone

Remnants of the Parthenon in the British Museum

London Bridge

The Great Return

Coming home was surreal. When we landed and met our parents at the airport, it felt like we had never left. It felt good to be home, even though I missed the incredible places I’ve been and the constant activity. It’s been good to relax for a short time before returning to school.

My experiences over the last four months feel a little dreamlike because they were so incredible. I was able to go places and see and do things I could only ever imagine before. It was the adventure of a lifetime and it has inspired me to do so much more (when I have money again).

I want nothing more than to share my experiences with anyone who wants to hear them and to encourage others to take their own journeys. From mine I learned more confidence and I solidified who I am and what I want from my life. I hope others can do the same. No matter how big or small the adventure, there’s a lot to learn out there.

Corporate America Saves the Day

No American wants to admit to intentionally seeking out a McDonald’s while in Europe. But when you arrive in an unfamiliar city at 4 a.m., there are only so many options for 24-hour safe havens.

This weekend I went with one of my roommates to Prague via train and it proved to be an interesting experience. We had tickets for any train on Thursday from Keleti Station in Budapest to Prague (her birthday present to me). In our search at the station, we were so wrapped up in finding a train to Prague that we didn’t notice whether we would arrive at 4 a.m. or 6 a.m., as we originally intended. It was the 4 a.m. train.

We didn’t have a reservation in addition to our tickets so we sat in one of the seating cars, which are far from ideal for sleeping. Still, we managed to get at least a couple hours of rest wrapped in our coats and taking full advantage of the current blanket-scarf trend.

We arrived in the city with little idea of where we were with our only destination being warmth until we could check into our AirBNB at 9 a.m. I had briefly used the data on my phone to search 24-hour places in Prague and McDonald’s seemed to be our safest option. It helped that the first sign we saw upon stepping out of the station was one pointing us toward the nearest McDonald’s.

Unfortunately, that particular one was closed. We continued walking down what appeared to be a main tourist street where we passed two more closed McDonald’s, two Burger King’s, a KFC, and a Starbucks before finding an open McDonald’s around the corner. We found our safe place so we got coffee to get us through the day and settled in for the next three hours.

Another perk of the American fast-food chain: free Wi-Fi. We used it to set our plans for the next two days and find directions from one place to the next before leaving to try to catch the sunrise by the Charles Bridge. Well, directions didn’t seem to help too much for that. We ended up about 10 minutes in the opposite direction before checking and making our way back, heavy bags in tow.

Eventually we made it to the bridge and caught the end of the sunrise before going to check into our AirBNB right at the opposite side of the river. We were finally able to warm up and drop off our bags before beginning all over again.

The best part of arriving so early in Prague was being able to see it so empty. There were barely any people around and it was the perfect opportunity to take pictures and appreciate the sheer beauty of the city. Having that first impression got Prague a spot as one of my favorite cities in the world before we resurfaced in the middle of the day to the extreme crowds.

Nearly empty Charles Bridge and Prague Castle in the distance

Deserted Old Town Square in the early morning

Crowded Old Town Square and Christmas market at night

After a brief stop in the apartment we went around the corner to Bohemia Bagel for a real breakfast. Czechs are excellent at breakfast. I got a delicious and filling French bagel toast. When we left to explore the other side of the side, we found the Charles Bridge covered with people and vendors.

It was a pseudo-maze to get through the Old Town Square and past the Astronomical Clock that hours before had been barren. We passed the McDonald’s we had started the day at and paused to get their Wi-Fi and check directions to a real maze – one of mirrors (think corn maze but with walls of mirrors instead). It was smaller than it felt on the inside, very disorienting, and a lot of fun.

Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square

We visited several churches and got a late lunch of traditional Czech food and amazing white mulled wine with cinnamon and apple juice at Café Louvre. We ate our way to exhaustion and we were both in bed by 8 p.m. and slept for over 12 hours.

Inside St. Nicholas Church

Refreshed, we began our Saturday with a stop at the Lennon Wall (dedicated to John Lennon) on the way to breakfast at Café Savoy. There we had to wait almost half an hour but the meal and the service was well worth it.

The Lennon Wall

The Lennon Wall

Once we were sufficiently stuffed we went up to Prague Castle where we got tickets to see St. George’s Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Golden Lane. We sauntered around the city afterwards, enjoying the Christmas markets and the cobblestone streets.

St. Vitus Cathedral

One of many impressive stained glass windows in St. Vitus Cathedral

Golden Lane

Besides the heavy crowds, Prague has been my favorite European city so far. The streets and architecture were beautiful; the people went out of their way to help; and when we were desperate, corporate America and its offer of free Wi-Fi always came to our rescue.

Four Languages, Countless Christmas Markets

Temperatures are down and I’m in a winter wonderland dotted with Christmas markets! Here in Budapest, there is an abundance of vendors lining streets and squares in their wooden booths throughout the city. This weekend I left the Hungarian language behind for Barcelona, Spain – though the flight there and back was conducted in English, Hungarian, Spanish, and Catalan.

Christmas Season in Budapest

It already looks a lot like Christmas in Budapest: main streets and buildings are lit up with twinkle lights, streets and squares have turned into villages of vendors, and a #2 tram is wrapped in lights. I’m in my glory!

Here are some of the many markets around the city:

Advent Feast at the Basilica

This market is located directly in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica and features an ice-skating rink with a large decorated tree in the center and several food trucks down the road opposite. In the evenings, there is a short video version of The Nutcracker projected onto the face of the basilica (as you can see in last week’s post).

 

Fashion Street Advent

High-end stores on Fashion Street face the wooden booths that line the center of the pedestrian road. Large lights are suspended in the air above in the shape of gift boxes, umbrellas, purses, and shoes.

Budapest Christmas Fair at Vörösmarty Tér

At the end of the touristic street of Váci Utca you will find a Christmas haven in Vörösmarty Tér. It’s considered one of the prettiest markets of the city and hosts specifically chosen vendors of high-quality handmade products.

Four Seasons Christmas Market

The Christmas market of the Four Seasons Gresham Palace is a window-shopping experience for many, selling mostly luxury-type products. Still, the hall dedicated to the market is beautifully decorated and indoor, serving as a good place to warm your fingers between hot apple ciders and mulled wines on cold winter evenings.

Nativity in Barcelona

We got lost trying to follow a map to a Christmas market, but we found it shortly after. It reminded me of Spain’s heavy Catholicism. About 90% of the market stalls only sold nativity scenes and related items. There were also several small nativity “towns” throughout the city for people to walk through.

We stumbled upon one of these whilst walking through some Roman ruins. We followed the crowds and ended up in the central courtyard of the Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia where geese wandered as people walked through the little village in the center.

We didn’t keep only to Christmas-related events and places. We visited the famous Roman Catholic church, La Sagrada Familia, with its incredible details and amazing acoustics. The sun shined through the massive stained-glass windows so that the walls appeared to be painted with color.

 

In the afternoon we searched for a late lunch and ended up at Melic del Gòtic, a traditional charcoal grill restaurant. When the waiter brought our breadbasket he asked, “Do you know how to do it?” We looked at each other wondering what he was talking about and gave a unanimous “No.” He then taught us how to properly prepare the bread with garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and salt for a delicious outcome.

The grilled corn on the cob was delightful and the (white) house wine was phenomenal. The meal took longer than we anticipated because of the laid-back, slower-paced culture, but it was worth it. It was also very reasonably priced!

From there we went to the Gaudi House in Park Güell, where the architect of La Sagrada Familia lived. Our visit there was brief because arrived late and the building had to close. We took our time leaving through the park and stopped to take in the night view of Barcelona below.

On Sunday two of us were able to appease some nostalgia by going to the beach. We walked past the Arc de Triomf and through the Parc de la Ciutadella to reach the Spanish coast and touch the sand for the first time in three months.

Most study abroad students will be heading back to the U.S. in the next two weeks, but I look forward to travelling with my best friend for a couple weeks after the semester. Time will fly, as it already has, and soon it will be January and I will be standing on the Maine coast again (but maybe with a few more layers of clothing).