My Time In Madrid Spain

 Reflection On My Study Abroad Experience- Getting to Madrid Tips / Spanish Phrases to know

Going into this experience I knew it would be challenging for me as I have never travelled outside the country before and can often get very confused when it comes to directions and new systems.

Traveling to Spain in particular is a struggle if you do not know Spanish. There were many times where people tried to talk to me and I could not understand a word of what they were saying. This made me feel embarrassed and like I did not deserve to be there. I would say study, study, study spanish before you come to Spain. You can get by without, but the experience is a whole lot more enjoyable if you are able to actually communicate with those around you. Over time I realized that I need to be less hard on myself and allow myself to learn slowly without feeling ashamed. This experience motivated me more than ever to actually dedicate time to learning Spanish each day, and since being back in the states I have more time to dedicate to learning Spanish and it makes me feel so good! Learning more of the language continues to remind me of my experiences and brings me back into the culture.

Specific phrases and areas of study to begin to learn before coming.

As soon as you get to your gate for your flight to Spain everyone around you will be speaking in Spanish, at least thats how it was for me. So it is great to go ahead and learn all airport vocabulary and basic phrases to speak to others on the plane if you need to get by, ask a question, or get to your seat. It can be intimidating being surrounded by those all speaking a different language than you, just focus on listening to nearby conversations and trying to pick up on words you understand. Slowly you will grasp more and more words and then begin to understand the general idea of what is being said. When you arrive in Spain you have to go through customs. It if often very hectic and a long line. They will ask in Spanish if you have an EU passport to go in one line, and all others continue walking to another line. Then an official will view your passport and ask you some questions about your stay. It would be great to already have these answers prepared in Spanish so you are not as flustered as I was. Some questions they asked were…

Why are you entering Spain? How long will you be staying? Where will you be staying? 

The Madrid Barajas Airport is quite huge, once you are let through you will go pick up your bags. Since the customs process took so long my bags had been put to the side when I got to the baggage claim so just keep looking around everywhere if your bags are no where to be found because thats how I found mine! I then got an Uber to my address I was staying. I had to travel up to the Uber pickup spot, the signs in the airport often point two different ways so it can be hard to tell which way to go. Take your time and follow the arrows and if they lead you wrong just back track and try the other way. Pay attention to your surroundings, learn phrases you might need to ask for help, other workers will offer to help you if you look confused, and other travelers will help as well. 

Spanish Apps I recommend

I love a good language learning app so here are some great resources I have used to learn Spanish.

1. Memrise: This app is really great, it uses videos with native speakers, ai toolbots to chat with you, and really easy interactive ways to learn words and phrases and it is free!

2. Ella Verbs: This app/website is awesome, it takes you through all the gramatical bases in Spanish and tests you. A really great educational tool, almost like a Spanish class. This is also free for 3 months, then after you can write an email requesting further free access and they will grant it. 

3. Duolingo: This app is great at keeping you practicing every day. It teaches good gramatical concepts and helps you to form sentences. However the ads do get very annoying so to get the full benefits try to convince your parents to sign up for the family plan so you don't have to pay. 

4. Youtube: I love looking up spanish- english translated music videos and singing them and following along trying to understand the lyrics. 

5. Lipdub: This app is great because it can give you an understanding of what your Spanish voice is supposed to sound like. It’s a really cool software that translates your voice and speech into whatever language you want. This helps you understand how you'll sound once you get more fluent and is another good motivator. 

6. Conjugato: This app is also free and has all the spanish verbs and conjugations. It has flashcards to tell you the correct form and tense to use. 

7. Netflix: Any show you watch you can change the audio to spanish and turn on english subtitles. I recommend specific Spanish shows set in madrid such as Elite, and Valeria. 

Try your best to dedicate time to learn spanish to get the most out of your study abroad experience, if I could go back I would start practicing a lot sooner. 

Untraditionally Abroad

 Embarking on a semester abroad is challenging; however, going abroad to three different countries is even more challenging. This intensive, semester-long program - 16 academic credits, three developing contexts in the global south, cross-cultural learning, geographical differences, stark contrasts, and vast disparities in each context. How do we even dive into the complexities of each culture? Have I processed everything that has happened? Will I grasp what experiences we lived?

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries where tradition has seamlessly blended with modernity. Hanoi has influences from Chinese dynasties, French colonialism, and periods of Vietnamese dynastic rule. As a result, it is a diverse cultural tapestry, blending Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and elements of French culture. The hum of scooters creates a busy atmosphere while street foods of banh mi sandwiches, bowls of bun cha, and crispy spring rolls waft from street vendors, begging patrons to take a break and eat. Old temples stand as a reminder of the country's rich culture. There is no shortage of cafes or sites to visit as one navigates the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow alleys lined with colorful buildings, each specializing in unique trades and goods. Flower vendors adorn the streets as women in traditional clothing lines take photos of the scenery around them

South Africa brought about a new pace. The jewel of Africa, where the waves of the Atlantic Ocean meet a new wonder of the world, a growing city ready to be unveiled. The town, nestled at the southwestern tip of the African continent, is a breathtaking blend of natural wonders, rich history, and vibrant culture. Traveling through the vibrant V&A Waterfront, one will feel the breeze carried off from the sea with the wonderful smells of food all around. This bustling harbor precinct is not only a shopper's paradise but also a gateway to Robben Island, a poignant reminder of South Africa's history. The vibrant houses and cobblestone streets make for a photographer's dream as anyone can walk through the city's history at the District Six Museum, a poignant tribute to a community forcibly displaced during apartheid. A beautiful and complex place still learning how to heal.

Finally, the vibrancy of Buenos Aires, Argentina brings you to a new home you did not know about. The vibrant colors of La Boca, a neighborhood where art and culture collide. Stroll along Caminito, a street museum adorned with lively murals, street performers, and artisan markets. Don't forget to visit La Bombonera, the iconic stadium of Boca Juniors, a pilgrimage site for football enthusiasts. Make sure to not die when trying to get a glimpse of the Messiah himself, Messi. Please take a break in the many parks for merienda – a time to relax, drink yerba mate, and eat a sweet treat. Listen to the echoes of tango, the warmth of its people, and the timeless allure of a city where tradition and modernity seamlessly intertwine. Hasta luego, Buenos Aires – a place where every step is a dance, and every moment is a celebration of life. 

Embarking on a semester abroad in Vietnam, South Africa, and Argentina was a transformative odyssey that transcended academic boundaries. Immersed in the vibrant tapestry of Hanoi and the bustling heartbeat of Vietnam, I delved into the intricacies of health policy, social determinants, and cultural nuances. Transitioning to South Africa, the journey continued amid the kaleidoscope of Cape Town's landscapes, unraveling disparities and resilience in health systems. With its rhythmic tango, Buenos Aires unveiled the cultural dimensions of health. Outside classes, my peers and I took to late-night karaoke, academic nights, dancing the tango with strangers, motorbikes in Vietnam, and homestay after homestay – no words to describe the journey. I can only offer some blurbs about the places, knowing it does nothing to capture the whole sensation. 

- Kathlin Ai Chang

Quito/Ecuador

 Quito/Ecuador Experience

    Hi guys! I'm Andres Manzano Zambrano and through Universidad de San Francisco de Quito and HPU I got to study abroad in Ecuador. I could not have predicted how amazing my time there would have been through the program. 

Quito

    At the beginning I was bummed to find out that the program was 2 months in Quito and 2 1/2 months in Galapagos. I thought I was gonna spend my entire time in Galapagos, but it turns out that was the best pacing for the program. 

    
How classes work for study abroad students is you only take one class for three weeks 9-12 Monday-Friday, and after those 3 weeks you move on to the next class and in total do 5 classes. For the marine bio track that I took our classes were Marine Techniques 1, Freshwater Ecology, Marine Ecology, Marine Conservation, and Marine Techniques 2. In Quito I took MT1 and Freshwater ecology. Every weekend if we didn't have a field trip with the school me and my friends would travel to different parts of Ecuador and explore the country. USFQ gave us so many tips on how best to travel and info on the best places to explore. The coolest places me and my friends went to was Cotopaxi, A huge dormant Volcano with glaciers and did a huge hike and got to cross out lick a glacier from my bucket list!! Other places we went was like Banos, where there's a bunch of beautiful hikes, white water rafting, and hot springs.

Marine Techniques 1

Marine techniques 1 was an amazing class with the incredible Maggie Brandt, an amazing professor who was so much fun to be with. With her and our great TA Ibon we went to the coastal town called Ayangue, where there is a Marine reserve. We studied the rocky intertidal at several beaches and go to see awesome creatures like lobsters, sea hares, and brittle stars! (I actually got a brittle star tattoo on my foot because of it). We also dove 4 times while we were there to study the subtidal environment as well. On the boat ride to our dive site we saw so many humpback whales jumping and playing around. And while diving I got to see octopus, sea lions, and even my first shark. The hotel we stayed at was so pretty and had a a great pool and we always went to the best restaurants for food. The class was way more about practical application and diving practice which was awesome to experience since most college classes are way more theoretical.

Freshwater Ecology

This class was a bit more on the theoretical side for the first two weeks but then we got to do an incredible field trip to the Amazon rainforest for a week!! We went to the USFQ Tiputini Biodiversity station and got to explore Ecuadors part of the Amazon rainforest. Got to see monkeys, river dolphins, caimans, so many species of birds, snakes, spiders, and bugs and got the blessing to even see a jaguar!! The station even has a canopy tower where you can see the vast stretch of rainforest and hear all the birds singing. It was such a beautiful experience. 

Galapagos

Right after the Amazon we hopped on a plane and headed straight to the Galapagos. We stayed at the island San Cristobal which is overall my favorite island because it's the second most populated island (8,000 people) and has easily accessible beaches to be able to go every day. There me and my friends beached essentially every day and even camped a few times at our favorite beach called Puerto Chino. A heads up, Galapagos has not much to do aside from beach (no movie theatre, no people attractions, not many concerts) so it is handy to have a hobby to be able to pass the time. Me and my friends picked up DnD as a hobby and it was some of the best parts of the trip just playing and laughing together. For our fall break we went island hopping and explored the other Islands. Isabela is by far the prettiest island with long stretch of white sand beaches and super healthy nature to go see as well as penguins and flamingos!

Marine Ecology

For Marine Ecology we once again got Maggie as our professor. We got to dive again but now in the Galapagos and got to see so many sharks. We saw hammerheads, black tips and white tip sharks as well as eagle rays and hundreds of turtles and sea lions. 

Maggie got us an extension of her permits and allowed us to do our own independent research project. It was awesome how much trust she gave to us and allowed us to actually pit our field knowledge into use. My group and I were very passionate about our project and we did research on dominant behavior of damselfish and got some really cool results out of it. 

Marine Conservation

Marine Conservation was a much more theoretical class. Talking about management projects and seeing different stakeholders perspectives about conservation. I enjoyed this class because it made me think of how the rest of society especially business owners view environmental issues and how to make it possible for them to be persuaded. We also got to do some DNA analysis in this class for illegally caught fish to see what fishermen are actually selling on the market which was pretty cool to do.

Marine Techniques 2

Then we head probably my favorite class, Marine Techniques 2. This class was taught by Alex Hearn, one of the most knowledgable shark scientists in the world. He taught us about the tracking methods and catching methods of sharks for research. He was also very honest with us about how the world works and corruption throughout environmental and government institutions and how to combat them to protect the planet. He was very welcoming to conversations and loved debating and hearing out our ideas. To add to that we had SO MUCH field work experience with him. 

We got to watch him handle and tag baby sharks and teach us the tagging techniques in person and why they tag them this way. We also got to dive with him as well and saw so so many sharks. Including Galapagos shark that would swim up to 5 feet close to you and we encountered a school of 40 hammerheads which was such an insane and beautiful thing to experience.  We also ran into a school of over 100 devil rays and saw probably up to a hundred white tip sharks as well. 

End Note

The experience I have had to be able to connect with nature in such intimate ways was the best thing I could've hoped for. I got to accomplish so many things on my bucket list and enjoy the beauties of the Galapagos, Amazon and many more environments in just 4 months. To add to that I had awesome professors who gave us so much practical experience on the field with wild animals and techniques to study them. On the social side I got to make a group of friends that I will know and treasure for the rest of my life and go to explore and adventure with them across a beautiful country. The experience was a treasure and studying abroad was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Knowledge gained after two months in Tokyo

 Hello, my name is Makayla Martinez. Just a little bit about me, I am currently a Junior studying abroad at Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan. I am a Criminal Justice major and a Japanese minor at HPU. At the time that I am writing this, I have almost been in Japan for two months! Though I have not been here long, I have both had so many amazing opportunities as well as learned so much through trial and error. While I am having the time of my life, there was many challenges I had to face. I hope that this post helps give an insight to students who are looking at studying at Toyo University or in Japan in general.

1) If you are lost (or need anything), ask for help!

    I flew into Narita airport with my family when coming to Japan. Though I did so much research about transportation and navigating Japan, being here is a another ballgame. We took a bus from Narita airport to Tokyo Station (roughly 2 hours). I have never been in a "big" train station before, let alone a train station in another country. When we got to Tokyo station, we got lost (at the time I didnt realize that there were different floors to this particular train station. Though I have been studying Japanese for two years, the stress combined with the jet lag got the better of me and I refused to ask for help because I was afraid of being "embarrased". I eventually caved and asked the police officers for help and they politely helped me and my family get to where we had to go. Fast forward to today, whenever I am at a new train station and I get lost or have a question regarding my train ticket, I'm not afraid to ask for help. This is not limited to just police officers, but most Japanese people are more than willing to answer questions you may have about directions or help. 

2) Always have cash handy!

    While Japan has digital cards used for trains as well as convenience stores and some other stores, it is vital to always have cash on you. If you are coming to Japan, I highly reccomend you to get either a SUICA or a PASMO card. This is way more convenient than constantly buying train tickets at every station you go to. I also use my SUICA card for quick runs to the convenience store when I don't want to carry my wallet. That being said, If you are planning to eat at a resturant or go shopping at smaller stores, many times they don't take digital cards. I always try to have a couple thousand yen on me at all times as well as my coins. I highly reccomend you to buy a coin purse to hold your change, if you are buying something small or doing a gatcha machine, coins come more in handy. 

3) 外人のフィーバー (Gaijin fever)

    One of the biggest cultrue shocks I have experienced has been the Gaijin fever, or the "Foreigner Fever". While this mainly only happens with some elders, it is basically the phenomenon where people avoid you due to being a foreigner. For example, one of the first nights I was here, my friends and I were trying to go to get drinks, and as we passed by an old man he proceeded to put on his mask only when we passed and then promptly took it off when we were no longer in his sight. While this did not bother me, I have never experienced that before, so it was a bit shocking. In another instance, one time on the train  I sat down next to a person and they proceeded to immediately move and stand away from me and my friends. While this does not happen often, do not be shocked if you also experience this. Another example of Gaijin fever, which most international students face, is when it comes to dating apps. Many of my friends have used dating apps as a way to meet people here more easily. In their experiences, many men here are not looking to date a foreigner, rather as a one time fling. Of course this is not the case with everyone, as some of my friends have met amazing guys. My advice is just to be careful if you decide this is soemthing you are interested in. 

4) Japan is (mostly) cheap

    While it does depend on what country you are from, Japan tends to have a good exchange rate. In my case, comparing to Hawaiian prices while I am at HPU, Japan is CHEAP. At Kura sushi last week, my friend and I each ate around 10-12 plates of sushi each (two pieces on each plate) and I paid $10 USD in total. There are also many cheaper stores, such as Book-Off (a manga and trade in store) where you can find super cheap figurines and Animate where you can buy any anime merch. Of course there are other small buisnesses that are cheap. While most things tend to be on the cheap side, a few places aim to target tourists, such as many stores on Takeshita street in Harajuku or big chain stores in Shibuya. I reccomend downloading a money converter app on your phone, that way if you are not sure how much something is in USD, you can quickly see if you are willing to spend your money. Another important point is that you do not need to spend alot of money to have fun! While many people want to travel to many scenic places, such as Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, and more, many of those places are a long train ride away. Shinkansen (Bullet train) tickets are not cheap! If the price is out of your budget, there are still many ways to have fun locally. For example, since I have classes Mondays through Fridays, I only have weekends to travel and go out. My first week of classes I felt like I was missing out due to other students who are not taking as many classes as me visiting so many cool places. After meeting more friends and putting myself out there, I learned that these people were staying local or close to Akabane (dorm location). While in the future I intend to splurge on concert tickets or theme park tickets, I am still having a blast visiting local resturants, bars, shops, and historical sites. My favorite thing to do currently is to take a train to a close city and just walk around to see what I find. Doing this, I have found some of my favorite places to visit so far. 

5) Do not take your time for granted!

    I will be in Japan for a year (September 2023 until August 2024) and even though I am here for two semesters, time if flying by faster than I thought. While I arrived at the beginning of Septemeber, in reality I did not start classes until the last week of September. Once classes started and I made more friends, time started to fly by and now I am already in my third week of classes! My advice that I had to first learn myself is to not wait for anyone! If you want to visit a city or tray a new food place, do not be afraid to go by yourself. At first, I would not go out unless my friends were also coming with me. I slowly started to realize that if I continue to do this, I will never get the most out of my study abroad experience. Exploring alone has also helped me to become more independent. It has also allowed me to meet new people and find small places I never would have found with others. That being said, having a strong support system of friends is vital to studying abroad. From bigger events, like visiting a nearby city, to smaller things, such as studying with friends or relying on them when you are homesick, friends will make your study abroad experience life changing.

While I am still learning through trial and error every day, I hope some of these points gave you an insight to studying in Tokyo and also just being a Study Abroad student in general. I intend to post frequently on this blog, but if you would like to see a daily/weekly update of living abroad feel free to follow my instagram " Dat_lit_bean". I look forward to sharing what I experience with you all about my time in Tokyo. :))

Solo Adventures/Tips and Tricks for Solo Traveling! :)

 Hi everyone! My name is Kayleigh Mosher, and I spent 6 months studying in Alicante, Spain. Between January and June of 2023, I traveled to 6 countries: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Morocco. An important goal of mine was to solo travel in Europe. While I was across the pond, I went on a few solo trips and some of my favorites were Barcelona, Valencia, and Paris! I hope sharing my experiences and tips will help you when you decide to study abroad and/or solo travel! 

Picasso Museum - Barcelona, Spain

Traveling alone can be a scary yet transformative experience. As I am writing this entry, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the time I spent exploring the beauty and uniqueness of each place I traveled. Solo traveling felt special to me because I was completely in control of every decision I was making. Whether it be waking up early for the sunrise, or strolling down a random street aimlessly, or striking up a conversation with someone and deciding to change my plans just so I can keep talking to them, I was happy because I was doing what made me happy in the moment. While I was still in school between taking these trips, being able to make my own schedule was great because I would set my sights on finding a cool library or bookstore that I was able to sit down in and get my homework done. For me, these places that I went to to get work done felt like safe spaces. 

Solo Adventures: Barcelona, Valencia, and Paris!

VALENCIA

One random day after class, I was sitting in the grass on campus at the University of Alicante and I decided to look up train tickets to Valencia. To my surprise, round trip tickets were only 30 euro Thursday to Sunday. I booked the tickets, found a cheap hostel, and within 24 hours I was at the train station. It was incredibly nerve racking, knowing that I was about to be by myself in a foreign city, miles away from anyone I had known, but I soon fell in LOVE with Valencia! After visiting many cities, I have to say that Valencia is by far my favorite place I visited! I quickly found that this place is a very safe and welcoming destination for female solo travelers, and I met so many other women just like me that expressed the same comfortability.

- Where I stayed: Purple Nest Hostel

While In Valencia, I stayed at ‘Purple Nest Hostel Valencia’ in an all girls 10 bunk room. Everyone I met while staying there was incredibly nice, and I even went out with a group of girls I met on the first night there! One of the things I loved about staying in hostels, other than the fact that it was cheaper than any other option, was that almost everyone I met had the same sense of adventure and curiosity that I do. A great piece of advice that I took and ran with was to make friends with others in your hostel. Most hostels I stayed in had events such as pub crawls, board game nights, etc. for the purpose of meeting new people. This is a great way to make connections with people from all over the world.

- What I saw: 

• The City of Arts and Sciences

• Mercado Central

• Torres de Serranos (Ancient Town Gate)

• Plaza de Toros de Valencia (Bullring)

• Catedral de Valencia

BARCELONA

- Where I stayed: Zero Barcelona Hostel - Now known as Jacobs Inn Barcelona

This was the nicest hostel I stayed in during my travels. We had big storage drawers that my travel backpack could fit in while it was completely full, outlets, a light, and a curtain for each bed space, and a shelf above your pillow for your phone/valuables at night. This is a top-tier accommodation compared to some other hostels I've seen that throw up a couple pieces of plywood and call it walls. Breakfast was an extra fee (I don’t exactly remember how much extra but it couldn’t have been that much because I was ballin 'on a budget) and it was delicious! I stayed in a mixed 12 bed dorm (Men and Women). I went into this scared to stay in a mixed dorm because I didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in a room with men I have never met before, but people stayed in their own areas and everyone I met was very nice. 

- What I saw:

• La Sagrada Familia

• Picasso Museum

• Mercat de la Boqueria - Famous market in the city center

• Park Güell

• La Rambla

• Ciutadella Park

• Casa Batlló

PARIS

This was an amazing experience I will never forget! I flew from Alicante to Paris, France by myself. I flew into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and when I got off the plane, UBER pieces from the airport to my hostel were $50!!!! I do not have the funds for that! So I took a minute to rethink my options and decided to try and figure out the train from the airport into the city. After about an hour of trying to speak broken French, almost getting on the wrong train, and looking completely lost, I finally got on the right train and only paid $4 for a ticket! I was so proud of myself. 

I met up with two of my friends that were also studying abroad through HPU, one in Seville and the other in Paris. We were all staying in different places, but met up to sightsee, eat dinner, and go out! I still considered it solo traveling, but I had the plus of seeing friends along the way! It was great to be able to have that sense of freedom and independence, while also being connected to home and having safe people to turn to.

- Where I stayed: BVJ Opera Montmartre - Youth Hostel 

This hostel was in a great location with a lot of foot traffic. In the area, there were museums, parks, coffee shops, and super close metro stations. I would recommend staying here if you are traveling to Paris. I stayed in a Basic 10 bed female dorm, but there were only 4 girls in the room the whole time. Breakfast was included in the price and it was gooood too! I paid a total of $80 to stay there for 3 nights. I felt very comfortable, and I even met a girl that I still talk to now.

- What I saw:

• Eiffel Tower

• Arc de Triomphe

• Louvre

• Tuileries Garden

• Montmartre

• Musee D’Orsay

• Luxembourg Gardens

• Sainte-Chappel

• Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

Tips and Tricks for Solo Travelers:

1. Research the destination

1. Be aware of where you are booking accommodations - “Is it in a safe neighborhood?”

2. Keep friends and family updated on your itinerary and/or share your location!

3. Seek advice from locals!

4. Never look lost! 

1. Act like you know where you are going at all times! Of course in the middle of busy tourist areas it is common to stop, look around, and take it all in, but in less populated areas or at night, I always make sure to look like I'm on a mission!

5. Pace yourself!

1. You are the only one you need to worry about now! That means you can do whatever you want, whenever you want to do it! This can be very overwhelming for some people and it is important to remember to pace yourself if you need to. Personally, I get very stressed out when I am traveling because I try to cram every possible thing into two or three days. This is when I try to remember that I can sit down, have a cup of coffee, and just observe.

6. Journal

1. I tried to keep a journal of my travels, but I simply forgot or got too busy and I regret it too often. I recommend you take notes of anything and everything that you think is important. Sometimes I look back on a picture and think about how I felt at the time. If I kept a journal I could whip it out and be transported back to that memory. I highly recommend you journal where you go, what you do, eat, feel. Anything!

7. Homework can be done anywhere!

1. I had a heavy course load when I was abroad and ended up with hours of homework every weekend! Instead of staying cooped up at home sitting at a desk in my room, I decided to take my work wherever I went! I found beautiful old libraries and bookstores, cafes and parks to set up and get some homework done. I thought this was a fun way to go off the beaten path of common tourist attractions by finding places where locals might be working as well. 

I cannot stress enough how important solo traveling is for self discovery, and I hope I can encourage you to take the leap and expand your horizons by participating in HPU Study Abroad!

“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

― Miriam Adeney

Lots of Love, Kayleigh :)

Advice for Studying in Alicante, Spain!

 Hi everyone! My name is Kayleigh Mosher and I studied abroad in Alicante, Spain this past Spring 2023 semester. I was in Alicante for 5 months, and I traveled around Europe for a month before coming home. In this post I will be sharing some advice that would have saved me SO much trouble before going abroad, mostly specific to Alicante, but also some general advice for traveling Europe. Although these are things that I would have been better off knowing before I left for Spain, I would not change any part of my experience. I had the greatest 5 months abroad and I highly recommend considering Alicante for your study abroad. 

THE AREA

Explanada de España 

Alicante, Spain is a beautiful coastal town in the south of Spain. It has the perfect combination of activities for those who love nature, history, gastronomy, and nightlife. It has beautiful beaches, mountains, and castles. I arrived in January when the weather was in the late 50s. It warmed up quickly though, and by April it was hot and sunny, perfect beach weather!  One of Alicante's most popular tourist attractions is the Castillo de Santa Barbara. This is a castle at the very top of a mountain that looks over the whole city and neighboring cities as well. You can see the castle from almost every point in the city and it is a great navigation tool if you get lost in the many small streets. There is also Playa Del Postiguet, the local beach that exchange students would meet up at on weekends and play volleyball, frisbee, or spikeball. Nightlife in Alicante is SO fun! The exchange student organization for the University of Alicante has events at different coffee shops, bars, and clubs throughout the week, and hosts different events for meeting new people. My favorite bar was called Parabarap, and this organization holds events there every wednesday night. If you are planning on studying abroad in Alicante, you should make it a point to go here. It was SO FUN!

Walking through Old Town, Alicante in front of Castillo de Santa Barbara

ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK ALICANTE (ESN)

Formentera Island, Spain

If you are planning on studying in Alicante, you will want to be connected with ESN. This is an organization all throughout Europe that supports and develops student exchange programs. When I first heard of it, I thought it was only for EU students, but anyone can attend their events. Some of the most notable events/trips I attended through ESN were beach volleyball, board game nights, and trips to Ibiza and other islands/beach towns in Spain. Some advice I would have for future students going on this program would be to sign up for any and all events/trips possible with 'Erasmus Student Network Alicante(ESN)'. I met people from all over the world, and some of my best friends by going to events planned by this organization. It is also a great source of information/help if you are worried, scared, having a hard time, etc. 

HOUSING

University of Alicante

I chose to live in an apartment complex through an organization called MICAMPUS. I applied through the University of Alicante website and it was a great option! The building is right across from the university campus. I didn’t have to walk more than 15 minutes to get to my classes from my front door. I lived with 4 other people: 3 girls from Spain and 1 boy from China. We each had our own bedroom with a twin bed, drawers, a closet, a desk, full body mirror, and shelves. We also each had our own full bathroom. We shared a decent sized living room and kitchen. I would recommend living here because it was a great community of students from all over the world. I met so many people living here that I will be friends with forever. While living at MICAMPUS is great, the only downside is that it is a little ways away from the city center of Alicante. The University of Alicante is in a town right outside of the city called San Vicente Del Raspeig. It has restaurants, bars, grocery stores, a pharmacy, and everything else you might need.

TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation in Europe is amazing! When I arrived in Alicante, one of the first things I did was get a TAM card (TRANSPORTE ALICANTE METROPOLITANO). This is a card that allows you to take the public bus and Tram. Every student is eligible for a free TRAM card that is valid from the time you arrive, until the time you leave. The tram was my main form of transportation. It is a set of railways that run from the University of Alicante, to the city center of Alicante, and to neighboring towns such as Benidorm and Murcia. Other than Alicante, I used public transportation to get everywhere in Europe. On weekends, I commonly took trips to other cities/countries, and navigated my way through trains, buses, metros, etc. As a female solo traveler, I felt safe using the bus and metro at night in most places as well. 

VISA

The process of applying for my visa was LONG, difficult, and tedious. There was a lot of information and paperwork required, which had to be sourced from many different locations. I could not have gotten this done without the help of my study abroad counselor, the financial aid office, and my mother. If you have any questions at all about how to apply, obtain, pick up your visa, etc., please don't hesitate to reach out because I know it can be stressful and confusing!

SPENDING MONEY

Before going abroad, I signed up for a credit card with no international fees. I had a Southwest Chase Visa and this worked everywhere I traveled. I also have a Discover card but alot of places did not accept it. I also brought my debit card, however, this card would have had international fees. I chose to charge almost everything to my Southwest Chase Visa and then immediately go online and pay the credit card bill. BONUS POINTS: I received credit card miles and points for all the money spent and earned enough to pay for a couple trips to/from Hawai’i. I would recommend setting aside about $1000 per month during study abroad. I know this sounds like a lot, but if you want to have extra money to go on weekend trips and planned trips with 'Erasmus Student Network Alicante (ESN)', then this is definitely a good amount!

Paella - A classic Spanish rice dish

SPEAK THE LANGUAGE EVERYWHERE!

The number one thing I tell people is to try speaking the language EVERYWHERE you go! It is common for people to hear you talking and immediately start talking to you in English, but locals appreciate the effort and will teach you more than you could imagine. Talking to waiters and cashiers at the grocery stores is how I practiced the most and learned new words.

WHAT TO BRING

• Nice clothes - People dress nicely when they go out, and I used this as an excuse to dress up everywhere I went
• Comfortable backpack for weekend trips - Most flights in Europe will charge extra for a carry-on suitcase, so I got around using only a backpack (counts as a personal item on flight).
• Comfortable sneakers for walking around cities - In Europe you will be walking everywhere. When I went on trips to new cities I would be averaging 10 miles a day. Having comfortable shoes is a must!
• A good water bottle - Most places will not give you water unless you ask, and even if they do, almost all places will serve room temperature water because ice is not common.
• Advil/Ibuprofen - I read before studying abroad that you cannot find over the counter medicine/vitamins in Spain, so I brought 2 whole bottles of Ibuprofen. I am so happy I listened to that person because I could not find any kind of Advil anywhere!
• SUNSCREEN
• Umbrella
• Portable charger
• Journal
• Travel adaptor 
• Copies of travel documents - I thought my mom was crazy for making me take paper copies of all of my travel documents, but it was actually a genius idea. Pickpocketing and theft is very common in Europe, especially in big cities like Barcelona or Madrid. I have friends that had their wallets, phones, passports, etc, stolen, and while I was never pickpocketed or robbed, I felt an extra sense of security having those extra copies of my documents.

I would definitely recommend this program, and I encourage you to choose Alicante for your study abroad. As someone who is not a big city person, Alicante was perfect because it has many things to do, while not feeling too big or too small. I have met so many people from all around the world, and  connected with people who I never would have had the opportunity with otherwise. This experience broadened my horizons in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Taking the big leap of moving halfway across the world to a foreign country, making a life for myself outside of any person I had ever met, making lifelong friends, and seeing the world made me realize that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to. You are just as capable, and I highly encourage you to study abroad!

Stay tuned for my next post about my experience as a female solo traveler! 

- Kayleigh :)

Beans on Toast: 06/10 - The Beginning

 After being here in London for a week, I finally took a special trip to the grocery store and picked up the light blue can of Heinz beans, whole wheat bread (because whole wheat was slightly cheaper than white bread), and lactose free butter (because I’ve never heard of such a thing). And for £5, I finally set off to make the oh so famous Beans and Toast. In my communal kitchen, I toasted two slices of bread (slightly burnt), and put a little butter on each slice because bread tastes better with butter. Before consuming, I opened the can of beans which smelled like tomato sauce and put a hefty spoonful amounts of beans on each toast. I hesitated because the combination would never have been thought of otherwise in my household. I should have filmed my experience to show my future kids that their mom tried this outer world combination. With a deep breath, I took my first bite…. ? Why is this delicious? I don’t understand. It was so delicious. I don’t know if it helps that I like beans, or the tomato sauce adds a savory flavor. But I really like this combination. And the cost of everything for £5 when I have enough for 2 more meals of beans and toast, make this meal unbeatable as my new “college student struggle meal.” This beats my instant ramen and egg combination in terms of effort, cost, and nutritional value. In my instant ramen, it has more carbs than protein, and an overload of sodium. But my American food pyramid told me that whole wheat bread is healthy carbs, beans have beneficial protein, and butter is delicious. I am, surprisingly, a big fan. 

So far, in the past week I have visited, the City of London, two different museums, Kensington Palace, Greenwich, Nottingham Gate, and explored Kensington/ Chelsea area. If I know which trains to take or which bus to catch for class, does this make me a local or a well explored tourist? I think the latter. But throughout all these travels, I realized my most satisfying travels have been where I do the unexpected and not the checklists on the tourist guides you pick up at the hotels. For instance, I’m currently writing this on an hour long bus ride from London bridge to 221B Baker Street. On this cloudy Sunday afternoon, I have no plans nor any appointments, so I figure that I’m okay with taking the bus because 1) it’s free for me, and 2)I get to see more of London this way without having to walk the journey. I do appreciate the tube station, but it can be exhausting just going underground and walking. I’m a bus rider at home in the US, so I’m okay with the journey and time consumption of taking it. It also gives me opportunity to site see places I may want to visit in the future. What better way to fuel my day then with beans and toast to start my day of exploring.

Philharmonic Dining Hall: Chicken and Mushroom Pie

 This weekend I took a trip to Liverpool and titled it “the Beatles.” Yes, you guessed it write, my day and a half trip consisted of me and my friend going around Liverpool visiting the inspirations and important landmarks of Beatles history. We started off the trip by taking off to Liverpool in a delayed coach ride that took 7 painful, sleepy, hours. It took us two stops to pick up people to get there and by the time we got there we were exhausted. We got off the coach and hurriedly made it to the Beatles Story museum where we booked tickets to explore on a self-guided audio tour of the biographies and stories of George, Paul, John, and Ringo. There were lots of artifacts from the four, and I even got to share over Whatsapp a video of the White Room dedicated to John’s famous Imagine music video scene with my grandpa, who loves the song. I thank technology for these moments where I get to share my experience with my grandparents who are halfway across the world. After visiting the gift shop where I reluctantly bought a sweatshirt to combat the 60 degree freeze outside, we headed to our Airbnb to drop off our items. I was surprised to be introduced to our host who is a Liverpool native, and had to carefully dissect her Scouse accent. We then journeyed to the Philharmonic dining hall, the same dining hall Paul McCartney performed at on the James Cordon carpool karaoke show. We had pies, mash, and veg, and by golly was it a better experience than the Sunday roast I had on the first night of my England journey. This meal was hot and filling with a side of gravy to pull all the flavors together. The pie was chicken and mushroom, and although I appreciated the large chunks of chicken, I would have liked to take bigger bites of mushroom as well. I washed it down with a berry rum cocktail. While looking towards the stained glass window where tables blocked the stage that was set up for Paul McCartney to play both his Beatles and Wings classics. I imagined what it would be like if that same stage was set up properly like that day and Paul came out with his solo for Hey Jude or Silly Love Songs. Being in Liverpool made it all the more surreal when we visited various Beatles landmarks the next day.

The Beatles hold a certain place in my heart because they’re songs were part of my childhood the same way that Fiji or Bruno Mars does. I grew up listening to their songs on catered CD’s burned by my mom or grandpa, who loved to share the music they loved. Although my name isn’t Jude, I used the Beatles to escape from reality by using their music as a certain comfort as if they wrote the song to help me get through tough times. It’s in the same way I used food to escape through cooking back home. Food has always been a comfort that holds a meaning of family and love, so to keep my head up through cooking meals for myself at home. This reminiscing of home through mashed potatoes and creamy chicken and mushroom, brought me back to my grandma’s cooking, and from this I realized that while trying to experience my own Beatles adventure, how much they have meant to my childhood and it’s almost like taking parts of Liverpool with me to bring back home. 

If you’re wondering if I had visited the famous Abbey Road in London, of course I have. But being by myself, I couldn’t bring myself to asking a random stranger to ask to take a photo of me stopping traffic for one slightly off angled photo of me trying to mimic the Abbey Road album cover. I stayed to people watch for ten minutes shifting my eyes back and forth from the angry drivers having to stop abruptly for a family taking their fifth photo to the family to the dozens of tourists lined up for their own photo. I would definitely recommend going and getting a photo of your own for making your London era in your Instagram complete. I think the best times to go is when it’s slightly cloudy, in the evening time so the light isn’t completely harsh.