This Week Abroad - 2/27/15
Blogs Abroad: A Day in the Gardens!
This is Arcadia's weekly roundup of highlights from student blogs abroad.
This week, we were treated to recaps of beautiful adventures in Rome, a homestay with a local family and getting to know Cape Town and Otago. In addition, Eien wrote thoughtfully about how little things that most people don't even consider can make a huge difference, like the differences between Australia and America's bathroom etiquette. And finally, Brenda unlocked the key to unwinding after midterms: spend a day in the gardens!
A Day in the Gardens!
"Midterms were this week and it was brutal. There were so many hours put into midterms. Studying abroad is not just about exploring the culture and learning information about the place, it involves a lot of intense studying for school as well. I tried my best in all my exams so I am now rewarding myself to an enjoyable time during the weekend. I went to Parc de Laberint. It was a beautiful and historical garden in the Horta-Guinardó district in Barcelona. It had canals, fountains, pavilions and waterfalls. It is a must-see site when visiting Barcelona! After that, I visited a museum called, Museu d’Història de Catalunya. There were many facts that I did not know about Catalunya, from prehistoric times and how it got to be what it is now in modern times. The rest of my weekend, I relaxed for most of the time. I spent time shopping with my friends, went to many cafés and was able to Skype my parents. I was very pleased to have talked to them!"
Homestay with an Irish Family
Allison in Galway, Ireland (Day 1, Day 2)
"This weekend, the Arcadia students were each staying in a home with an Irish family in Castlebar, Co. Mayo to truly immerse into the Irish culture. After a day spent in Adrahan with the horses of Forgotten Horses Ireland, I was running behind and had to throw whatever items I thought I might need into my hiking pack and run to the bus. Preoccupied with the exciting day spent with the horses, I didn’t have time to be nervous about the home stay but was much more excited to spend time with an Irish family."
In Which I Discuss The Little Things That Make a Huge Difference
"Wow. Its been a while since I have had internet access! So much has happened! There's so much I want to talk about: I went to a toga party, met my awesome Japanese roommate, explored my Uni campus, learned all this Australian slang, saw a koala, made so many friends! Its weird to say it but the thing I want to focus on this week is bathrooms."
Roma: A Weekend in a Dream
"My weekend was short, but just long enough to make me fall in love with Italy. Italy has always been on my list of places to visit, and it was everything I hoped it would be. I fell in love with life there. With the way they spoke Italian so beautifully saying “Ciao Bella” and “Grazie.” I fell in love with the architecture and the music and the small cobblestone alleyways, which were home to some of the best-hidden restaurants. I fell in love with the food and the wine there. There was so much magic in the air and I know this sounds crazy, but there is something seriously dreamy about that city.
Arrivederci Roma, I’ll be meeting you again."
Welcome to Otago
"It's night, the stars are out, and a bonfire is burning wildly in the middle of the road. Green shards of glass from smashed bottles are strewn about the flames. Through a thick column of smoke, you can see that the entire street is filled with a mosh pit of students, hundreds thick. You peer closer at the fire, fearing what could be burning in there. Dodging flying sparks, you see the shape of-- a ratty old couch. "
Cape Town Time
Remy in Cape Town, South Africa
"It is nearly impossible to describe my current position in time and space. According to a calendar, I left for Cape Town one month ago today. However, there are two opposite poles of thought I find myself in when I think about time here. There are moments when I feel relaxed and content, as if I’ve been living here for several months. On this end, I feel as if I have a world of time left and that I should not be rushing to experience every adventure available. On the other hand, the realization that there are only about 100 days left to make the most of my time here is everything but relaxing. It feels like time is slipping through my fingers at I rate I cannot attempt to slow."