All the Emotions of Leaving Europe

I'm back in the United States and the culture shock and adjustment of being back is in full effect. The second half of my semester was crazy busy, full of travel, visits from home, and intense language practice. I can definitely say that this entire experience was MORE than worth it. I met more people than I could have ever imagined, made some really long-lasting friendships, forced myself out of my comfort zone by backpacking alone for 3 weeks and with a friend from home for another 3, and really enjoyed my time. This was one of the greatest moves I have made in life.


I left Paris on May 16th, both happy and utterly heartbroken as I embarked on the next adventure - 6 solid weeks of backpacking throughout Europe. I had a plan of the first 17 days going to Lyon, Strasbourg, Fussen, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Dresden and Berlin. My long-time friend Heather from California was meeting me in Berlin to do 24 days throughout Eastern Europe; Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvic, Ljubljana, Bled, and Zurich. Although I was nervous to be on my own for the first part of the trip, I immediately made new friends in Lyon, as I was staying with a friend from Paris' family that offered their home to me. It was amazing to be able to integrate into Lyon's lifestyle with locals for a few days. Lyon remains one of my favorite cities - hence why  I visited twice in my time abroad. Backpacking by myself forced me to be comfortable on my own instead of relying on anybody. I made so many connections in the hostels - some I traveled with for a couple days, while some I just spent an afternoon with. Each of these new faces brought a different perspective to my travels and greatly impacted me. I loved being able to broaden my views and take in a wide range of ideas from all over the world. In my time alone, I hiked one of the Alps, drove on the Autoban, visited Mozart's home, went to the original castle that Disney modeled theirs after, ate apfelstrudel and spatzle, spent time in the oldest concentration camp from WWII, watched surfers go at it in the park river in Munich, and climbed more stairs that I can count.


When I arrived in Berlin I couldn't wait for my friend Heather to come. I was a little exhausted, my phone had been having issues, and I was ready for some comfort of home. She ended up missing her connecting flight in Turkey and was delayed 15 hours, but finally arrived (newly-sprained ankle and all). While the mobility was a bit of an issue and we ran into problems here and there, our trip was absolutely fantastic. Eastern Europe is less traversed than the western portion, making it less crowded and cheaper. Heather and I explored the cities on our own, venturing off the beaten path, and discovered a whole new world that we loved. My top favorite place was by far Mostar, Bosnia. The people we came across were incredibly friendly, the food was good, and the scenery was breathtaking. There is a vast contrast between Western and Eastern Mostar due to the Bosnian War of the early 1990s and wreckage is still present with bombed-out buildings and bullet casings found throughout the city. Very few people seemed to be visiting here, so the peaceful aura of the city was very different to what I had experienced in places like Paris and Berlin. This trip together included getting tattoos in Prague (sorry Mom!), relaxing at the thermal baths of Budapest, jumping into a freezing lake/waterfall in Bosnia, meeting a friend I had met on a previous stop in Bern, Switzerland, seeing famous graffiti walls, and bonding with one of my best friends.


Everyone should backpack - and do it alone at least for some time. It sounds crazy and people told me I was out of my mind, and I'll admit that I was scared. But was it worth it? COMPLETELY. I can't stress enough how much I grew in this whole experience - both from studying abroad and from traveling afterwards. This world is huge and there is so much to see, but there is also so many people to cross your path that will open your eyes in a way you didn't know could happen.


I'm already planning my return to these incredible places.

Fussen, Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle.

Fussen, Germany

The most picturesque little city, Strasbourg, France.

One of the best things about backpacking is meeting new people that become lifelong friends.

Munich, Germany

Dresden, Germany

Filbling, Austria, outside of Salzburg. Hiking in The Alps!

In the Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague, Czech Republic

My right hand companion on the second half of this trip - Heather

The Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany

Waterfalls outside of Mostar, Bosnia

The Shoes - Holocaust Memorial in Budapest, Hungary

View from our hostel in Bled, Slovenia just before dusk

View from our hostel in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Bern, Switzerland. I was lucky enough to have a friend I met previously in Nice from here to show us around.

Hanging on the edge in Bled, Slovenia

Our last day - Zurich, Switzerland

The famous Plitvic Lakes Park in Croatia

I'm like so totally cultured now

I finished up my semester abroad in Madrid, Spain, and have been home in Hawaii for a couple weeks now. I’ve been trying to write this blog post for a while, but I’m finding it really hard to sum up my incredible 6 months abroad!! I know it's cliche, but the best way I can put it is: an incredible growing experience. It was both challenging but rewarding, lonely but liberating, stressful yet the most exciting 6 months of my life. 

My last couple weeks consisted of studying for finals, traveling to some awesome new cities, and perfecting my Spanish. Overall, I really really enjoyed my classes at Universidad Pontificia Comillas. It was a thought provoking experience to learn through not only the courses, but the plentiful different international minds within the classrooms. I felt intellectually challenged in my classes, in the best way possible. Finals were intense and it took some time to adjust to the Spanish system of education (ie: more papers, more exams, less day-to-day busy work compared to HPU), but eventually I settled in and fell in love with my classes. I will forever remember the Universidad Pontificia Comillas as a wonderful university filled with dignified professors and fellow students!

Since I last posted, I also got to travel to Prague, Munich, London, Dublin, Cadiz, Cordoba, Lugano, Budapest, Plitvice Lakes, Athens, Santorini, and the Amalfi Coast in Italy. All were nothing short of spectacular, but I especially liked Dublin for its streets so full of life, Cadiz for its warm Andalusian atmosphere, and Santorini for its undeniably gorgeous views. Since being home in Hawaii, I have really missed the opportunity of traveling to a new city and culture every single weekend. My favorite parts of studying abroad were definitely the opportunities to learn about the history of each country from locals themselves. I learned about the Balkan Wars from taxi drivers in Croatia, about the British referendum to leave the EU from Brits in Greece, and about communist history in Prague from waiters and waitresses. As an international relations major, this was probably the most valuable experience of my whole time abroad. Here are some pics from the latest travels around the European continent. I even made a short video that I will add here as well! https://youtu.be/fp-M-uAxQhw

You know that U curve they talk about before you leave for studying abroad? Yeah, its real. I definitely went through it. I was in so infatuated with Spain and Europe when I first arrived. By the middle, I was starting to feel a little homesick for my friends and family (and warm weather!) back home in Hawaii. But by the end, it was almost impossible to leave the country I had called casa and the people I had called familia for so long. I miss the soothing sound of cars gliding over the cobble stone streets, the wealth of languages that I overhead in busy plazas, and the FOOD, oh, the food! I cannot commend the HPU study abroad department enough for their endless help and support in facilitating the study abroad experience, and I am forever thankful for all of the memories I made while abroad. It was the most exciting time of my life...it was a beautiful learning and growing experience that I would highly recommend to all HPU students!

Che Cosa E' Nuovo con me?

Whats new with me you ask? Well I am here to not only show you some experiences I've had the pleasure of having, but also my gratitude for this program as a whole. During the past four months  I can honestly say I have learned more than any other semester I've ever had. I have learned a multitude of new painting techniques from famous pieces in museums all over Florence, and from my professor as well. Ive completed my first oil paintings, surrealism works and many more. 

My first oil painting self portrait project

Still life project with egg tempra paint and a hint of surrealism

Painting the Ponte Vecchio from the Firenze Rowing Club

My first fresco! A fresco is usually done on a concrete wall, but we did it on slabs of lime. This is the street I live on Via Del Ronco

My Griptape art of Cinque Terra, with paint pens for the medium

Through the incredibly hospitable community of skateboarders all over Europe I've been able to skate some amazing parks, film some new parts for a skate video, and compete in many skate competitions all over Europe. 

New skate family and sponsor of LaFabbricona 

Elbo Skatepark in Bologna

Far N' High Contest promo shot in three weeks!

Aside from skating, the scenery I have been able to see is incredible. Davvero Bella! Each place has character and culture all its own. I was lucky enough to take trips to Amsterdam, Croatia, Cinque Terra, Marseille, Venice and more. One excellent thing is that in the course of only four months abroad I can truly say that I have become fluent in speaking Italian. A feat that I am extremely proud of, and it has opened my mind to envisioning my success in other Latin based languages like French and Spanish. 

Cinque Terra 

 Venezia, or Venice, the floating city that is slowly sinking, and will only exist for a few hundred years more.

Amsterdam 

 Croatia Teguir and split

This experience abroad has been one of a kinda that I will never be able appropriately show my complete gratitude for.