3 Weeks in Spain

Landing in Sevilla, I was greeted by warm, golden sunlight and a welcoming atmosphere. The drive to my housing was picturesque, with narrow streets lined with orange trees and historical buildings that told stories of the past. My host mother was a sweet older woman who became like family. During these three weeks that I lived with her, I felt safe, happy, and at peace. I was extremely appreciative of the delicious food, the heartfelt conversations, and her kindness, patience, and humor. Señora genuinely brought a smile to my face every day!

Weekend excursions were a highlight of my trip. Throughout my time abroad, I was able to travel to Barcelona and Lisbon, Portugal as well to truly maximize my experience. I loved Sevilla, but getting the experience to travel to other places was the experience of a lifetime. Classes were held at a local university, a short bus or train ride from my homestay. They were challenging but engaging, taught by passionate professors who encouraged us to immerse ourselves in the culture. Each day in Sevilla was a new adventure. Mornings started with a stroll to a local café for café con leche. Classes took up a significant part of my day but were balanced with exploration. Afternoons were spent visiting the Parque de María Luisa adjacent to the Plaza de España, getting gelato or relaxing by the Guadalquivir River.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had in Sevilla. It was a transformative experience, and I do believe it will DEFINITELY stand out on my résumé and in future applications. Returning to the States after my time in Europe has been an eye-opening experience. I never fully realized how much growing and changing happened until I got home. I grew a newfound sense of confidence, independence, and self-assurance in Europe. I learned to navigate unfamiliar environments, adapt to new cultural norms, and communicate more effectively in Spanish. These experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop a stronger sense of self and resilience. I also gained lifelong friendships with the other girls in the program! 

Since returning, I've felt a strong longing to go back. Life here doesn't feel the same, and I miss the excitement and growth I experienced in Seville. This has motivated me to explore opportunities for employment and graduate school abroad. I'm particularly interested in finding a way to return to Spain when I graduate in May 2025, as the experience with GlobalEd has profoundly shaped my aspirations and worldview.

Suggestions/Advice to Future Study Abroad Students

1. Embrace the Culture: Dive into local customs and traditions. It will enhance your experience and help you feel more connected.
2. Learn the Language: Even basic Spanish will go a long way in making daily interactions smoother.
3. Be Open-Minded: Expect and embrace differences. They are what make the experience unique and enriching.
   

The beginning of my semester abroad in Spain

My name is Kat and I am a senior at HPU. I studied abroad for my last semester. I left Hawai'i on December 25th and arrived in Madrid on December 27th. The reason I went so early was because I wanted to get situated, figure out how to metro works, get a phone plan, etc. I found out later that most students arrived right before classes started around January 5th-10th. Either way, arriving early meant I was going to be spending New Years in Spain. I learned about the Spanish tradition where you eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Years Eve to receive good luck the following year. 

New Years Pic

I spent New Years day at Parque del Retiro, which was about a 20 minute walk from my apartment. The park is huge and there is a lot to explore. 

Park pic

I remember being in awe at all the beautiful art and architecture when I walked around the city. I took a lot of pictures and really appreciated the new environment.

I was still feeling pretty nervous at this point since I had never left the country before and I didn't speak a lot of Spanish. I was really lucky that my brother moved with me to Madrid since he was able to transfer for work. It was a lot easier to figure things out with someone rather than having to figure everything out by myself. I tried to take it one day at a time and have little goals and things to look forward to every day. For example, I would look forward to having a morning coffee or a good breakfast. I would also make sure to call my boyfriend, family, friends, etc. pretty often so I could still feel connected to my support system. 

Must See Art In Madrid

 Must See Art In Madrid

There's nothing I love more than strolling around an art gallery by myself with no rush. It puts me in a creative mindset where I feel endlessly inspired for my next projects. As an arts and markets major I was so excited to see the new world of paintings available to view in Spain. With Madrid as the capital I was in the perfect place to see some amazing Spanish art. Below is a list of my favorite museums and a must see list for an art lover like myself. 

1. Museo Del Prado: This one is a no-brainer and I visited about 10 times throughout my semester abroad and would still like to go back. It's a huge museum, home to some of the most famous Spanish artists like Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, and more. They have walls with huge masterpieces that will truly blow your mind. I recommend visiting in the morning, as the later the day gets the more busy it typically is. No food or drinks are allowed. As a student you can enter for free (which I clearly took advantage of). On one of my visits there I even got to see other art students copying famous works for their own studies. I always bring a notebook to write down any ideas I have or inspirations that hit me. This is one of the most well renowned art museums in the world and in my opinion you could spend an entire day here. 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia: This museum was very interesting and had much more modern sections compared to other museums which are mainly historical. This is also home to Picasso's Guernica so of course it is a very important and wonderful museum. They have many other famous artists such as Salvador dali. This museum also has a courtyard in the middle to sit down and relax in between absorbing all of the art which I enjoyed. Definitely a must see art museum and as a student you can enter free of charge. 

   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza: This museum surprised me as I assumed it would be less wowing than the others I’ve visited but Thyssen Museum was truly one of my favorites. Not only do they have more modern artists, they have beautiful priceless early netherlandish paintings. This museum is very big as well and has something for every taste of the artist. They even had a picasso exhibit when I went with the original pieces side by side with the ones that inspired Picasso. I had such an amazing time here and was able to enter for free because of my student transit card. I really encourage looking here to see amazing art from all different kinds of genres and backgrounds. 

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

I was so thrilled that I chose Spain to study abroad and learned so much more about Spanish art history and culture. It made me so motivated to continue to learn Spanish and other languages to be able to better connect and experience different art from across the world. Going to these art museums pushed me outside my comfort zone to go places alone. I feel that this experience really helped me to dedicate more of myself to art and get a better understanding of the art world. 

Fall Semester in Italy

Ciao my name is Lizbeth and this past fall semester I studied abroad in Milan, Italy. I studied at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and it is one of HPU’s exchange partner schools! Studying abroad has been one of the best adventures of my life and I feel so grateful that I took that leap of faith.

This experience was truly enlightening and daring. I learned so much about myself and the world! When it came to housing my school didn't offer it for international students so my friend and I used spotahome (definitely recommended) to get an apartment for the semester and it worked out great. Transportation is also very accessible and interconnected through the city. I would go to school in the metro and it was very efficient and cheap. The food was also affordable. I could get a croissant and cappucino for 2.20 euros!

Here are some of my pointers: 1. Complete your visa application appointment as soon as possible because it can take longer than expected (my visa arrived 2 days before my flight so it was very stressful). 2. Go on as many adventures/ trip as possible. Time flies by too fast and you don't want to have any regrets! 3. Take the time to not only travel around Europe but know your city! I would travel every weekend but when I was home I tried to do so much exploring and immerse myself in Italian culture :) 4. Pack light being abroad you will want to do it all so having a weekend bag and small travel containers and packing cubes makes that a lot easier. 

Some of my favorite parts of Milan to explore was Navigli canal, Parque Sempione, Duomo and Brera :)) A huge culture shock for me was how everybody dressed! Especially coming from Hawaii where a tank and shorts is acceptable but in Milan you would not even see people in athleisure and everyone always looked so put together! Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world so it does make sense haha. Another tip is to go on solo trips at first I was hesitant but it felt so freeing! Lastly document everything whether that be by journaling, pictures, blogging or vlogging do it you’ll thank yourself later!! Like any adventure outside your comfort zone there will be ups and downs with missing loved ones and familiarity but just by taking it day by day helps.

While abroad I took my unrestricted classes(perfect to explore classes outside of your major). I took classes about Italian food and fashion, female literature, diversity and psychology and loved them all. I only had classes from Monday through Thursday same as HPU. The coursework worked very differently to what I was used to. In Italy I only had two assignments that weighed my final grade which was just the midterm and final exam/ presentation. While back in HPU it's more traditional to have small assignments along the semester and have exams that have less weight on your final grade. 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or doubts my instagram is @lizbethh.s

A note from June, in Innsbruck et al.

 A note from June.. 

A month in Innsbruck, Austria.  And to say the experience is not what I pictured would be an understatement.  

Some contextual details for my experience are: I didn't know a soul coming here; I'm only taking 1 course which is entirely online; and, I am working my full-time job (remotely) from Innsbruck.  

Some people I've met: my sweet motherly flatmate Rita, a 40-year-old accountant from Germany (found her on Facebook); my other flatmate that only speaks German and stays cooped up in his room; Kyra and Valentina, best friends from Orlando who joined the Erasmus (study abroad) program with me but take in-person classes; Hannah and Charlotte, both in our program and came from England and love some fun; their friend Lara who came to visit; Sarah, she's a spunky Canadian; Julie, from Germany, our dedicated translator, hiker, and introvert; Savannah, also from Orlando, a gentle sweet friend; Lalo and Marco are from Mexico; and Albert, an aspiring photographer from South Africa.  

Some adventures we've had: the Swarvoski museum in Wattens (especially the "no age limit" four-story jungle gym); Hungerberg to Seegrube hike (which we pursued under the impression it would be a brief and easy 1.5-hour trek, that turned into a 4 hour up, brutal but rewarding experience we all were ill-equipped to handle); the disastrous "club" scene where we learned how 9 women should stand up and defend one another in a sea of disrespectful men (where I learned upon returning to the US I broke my foot); the European League Football Game (American football style) to watch the Raiders Tirol defeat Barcelona); the campus spot that seems to be the only place we can find to meet up and talk (its called Sixty Twenty and for some reason, no matter how respectful we can be, they do not seem to like us); the courtyard where we line danced, did the worm, and told jokes at midnight; the gelato place in the square which sells a scoop for 1.5 euros; the carnival that followed the football game (but none of us wanted to spend the money on the activities).  I took weekend trips; first to Zürich, Switzerland where I read 2 books on my kindle in 2 days while walking around the lake and old town (centering and peaceful... I learned how much I enjoyed not weighing myself down with the pressure of seeing and doing everything, but just being, and being at peace); fulfilled a full-circle nostalgic moment of having Swiss Fondue one night; and, making plans for my adventures moving forward. And second to Munich, Germany, where I finally found a gluten-free bratwurst, sat in the English Gardens to read, watched surfing in a river, listened to a violinist in a park, and continued to walk everywhere I went. 

Locations I added before and after June: London, Paris, Venice, Lake Como, Genoa, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Purmerend, and Volendam. 

But what I want to leave you with from this note... Don't put your dreams or adventures on an indefinite hold because you don't have the family, friend(s), or a partner to go with you.  You can do the job, save the pennies, make the smart and safe choices, but still see the world and do the big things, making friends along the way!

I'm proud of you, and I'm proud of me too, xx. 

The English

With our Japan trip around the corner, I will finally wrap up my 8 month English experience. 

Studying abroad led me from one opportunity to another, and even from one country to the next. 

I realized all that I was capable of and the epiphany was empowering. It ignited confidence, independence, and a zest for life.

English Food

The most twisted thing about the U.K. is its lack of twisting. Lemons, that is. 

For many Americans, it strikes as culture shock that England is void of lemonade. The gloomy reality of English lemonade is that no fresh lemons are involved, and it is essentially sprite. 

The English love fresh-squeezed orange juice, halloumi, clotted cream, jam, biscuits, English Breakfast tea, weetabix and big, sweet strawberries that took decades to perfect.

The strawberry season is from May to September, so I came at the right time to eat my fill of juicy, ruby red, $2/lb strawberries. 

Berry season was delightful in England, I loaded up bucketfuls of blueberries from fields in South London, to make cobbler, muffins, or just smoothies and snacks. Even the exclusive and expensive London Borough Market had a great deal (pick three fruit for £1). 

Here’s where you should eat: see Cloë’s Google Reviews and

Camden Market

Portobello Market

Chinatown

The Real Wan

Westfields

Wagamama

40 Maltby Street

Ole & Steen (Download “Too Good to Go” app)

The English Rose

Coombeshead Farm

Gordan’s Wine Bar

Chisuru

Financial Transparency

Here’s how I paid to study abroad. I received these grants and scholarships: 

Generation Study Scholarship

Federal Pell Grant

HPU Need Grant

J. Scott Van Der Meid Scholarship

HPU Study Abroad Scholarship

Gilman Scholarship

Holomua Grant

This resulted in $25,417 of financial aid. I also sold my car ($5,900) before leaving. So in total, I had about $31,317 to pay for my tuition, accommodation, and travel, over the 8 month period. 

The largest and most realistic study abroad scholarship to apply for is the Gilman scholarship. The AIFS summer experience was $12,000 for 12 credit hours. The University of Essex Autumn experience was $19,000 for 12 credit hours. So that just about worked out. I’ve been home and back in the groove of work for the past two months. Fortunately, I am still on track to graduate with no debt.

If you’ve worked out the scholarships and grants necessary to cover HPU, an exchange school is a good option because this will transfer directly to the exchange school you attend overseas. I took 12 credits over the summer because that was the minimum amount required to receive the full extent of my scholarships.

Contact me with any specific questions about my application process and written essays.

Summer

My summer season in England was spent traveling/learning/working. 

On July 19, London reached its hottest day in history at 104.4 °F. 

I was right in the heart of London on a this day, walking to work. Was it as dramatic as it sounds? 

I think so. I saw people faint and desperate for water while firetrucks flew to and from incidents. London isn’t built for that kind of heat. 

If you only get the chance to spend one semester in England, I think Spring would be perfect so that you can experience the range of seasons. 

But if possible, stay a whole year! This summer 2022, pandemic restrictions were lifted and many people traveled around Europe.

Throughout the summer, from May to August, I looked up cheap flight and train tickets on Kiwi. Each trip included Airbnb, food, and transportation expenses. This ranged from $50 to $500 per trip. I visited Scotland, France, Croatia, Italy, Tel Aviv, India, Dubai, Sweden, and Vietnam. 

There are many places in England to explore, so you don’t have to leave the country for great adventures. 

But if you’re like me, island born and raised, try to seize this opportunity. Go all in and travel as much as possible!

AIFS

My home-base was a tall, thin Victorian house in London with a small garden and library throughout my 12-week program with the American Institute of Foreign Exchange. 

I lived with 9 students who also interned in psychology, finance, fashion and media placements. 

My roommates and I communicated before meeting because we all had to navigate our work visa and flights to London. I actually got my Visa from the Immigration office at Waterfront, building 2. It took two months to receive it, so apply early.

Upon meeting, we were instant friends. We adventured together, shared meals, watched movies, traveled, and had a lot of fun. I miss them! 

Some, like me, booked their own flights/accommodation and opted out of the optional AIFS Paris trips. Especially if visiting people we knew.

The other friends I made from my classes were in the first, second, or third three-week AIFS programs. For that reason, they were housed in a different accommodation that could hold more students cycling in and out. 

The accommodation was an apartment 40 minutes away from us via tube. These students didn’t intern, but took a three or six credit course instead. I miss them too!

The AIFS organization is there to help. They put together many events for us each week including: Shoreditch Street Art Walking Tour , Germany v Spain EUFA Women's, King Lear, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Brixton Walking Tour, Stratford-upon-Avon Daytrip, English Country Dancing Class, and so much more. 

This is similar to what HPU does each week, so that students have options for weekly activities when they’re getting used to a new place. 

Personally, I asked AIFS for a lot of favors. I requested to use their computer for my internship, and I asked them to get the interns tickets to the London Eye, afternoon tea, and take us out to a last hurrah dinner. They graciously accepted each request.

They also held all my luggage for me when I left for a month to Vietnam. AIFS has many resources, so they are happy to help. I recommend the organization. 

Fall-Winter

I spent my “Autumn” semester at the University of Essex, check out this blog to learn more! 

The University of Essex is based in Colchester, 40 minutes northeast of London by train.  (The train is overground, the tube is under.)

The University of Essex is home to a beautiful Fall, and it was my first time seeing leaves change colors. There isn’t much to do in Colchester, so the university has many clubs, sports, events, and activities to join.

Towards the end of November, temperatures dropped to 30°F. It was colder and colder from there, and difficult to get any sunlight. Behind a cloudy sky, the sun rose at 9 pm,  then set shortly after at 3pm. It was a true English winter.

Mid-December, it began to snow. Our white Christmas felt like a winter movie. The English ate mince pies and drank mulled wine. I wore a beanie and gloves from Tesco. It was a vibe.

English Adventures

There’s no limit to the English adventures available to you. While you’re there, you must visit:

Alcotraz

Wales

Stonehenge

Bath

Coswolds

The Mandrake Hotel “hidden terrace”

Sky Garden

Chinatown

Giant’s Causeway

St. James Park

Wellington Arch

Tower of London

Windsor

Lake District National Park

Cambridge

Oxford

Snowdonia

Kingston

Character Development - “It’s about the journey, not the destination” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think you have the agency to dictate your experience on planet Earth. You may even find yourself in a rocket to the moon. No matter where you end up, the journey will force you to grow and learn what you were born to know. 

We all come from different backgrounds, which you can use to your advantage or disadvantage. The immersion into so many lifestyles, languages, cultures, foods, education approaches, and personalities that you are not used to, will change you. 

I totally changed the course of my life in order to study abroad. I wanted a long and enriching experience for myself. I worked hard for many scholarships, reached out to family/friends around the world, and let go of any possession or relationship holding me back, which even included my car! Nothing about my experience was passive. I actively participated in sports, events, and skill-buildings lessons with an open mind.

Closing thoughts: Seize every opportunity abroad, have fun doing it, stay in touch with your global connections, take lots of pictures, and don’t expect to pick up an English accent. Be brave, be yourself.

When in Prague... Get out of Prague

My two months in Prague have been absolutely outstanding. They were transformative and helped me learn a lot about myself and my capabilities as an emerging adult. However, I didn't just stay in Prague! Since the Czech Republic is quite literally in the center of Europe, it was the perfect place to call "home" while I went on casual weekend trips to neighboring counties. The first weekend I went to Germany for a whopping round trip transportation fee of $35 and stayed in a cheap hostel. Another weekend I flew to England and Ireland for $125. My last trip during my stay was to Austria for the same price as Germany. And right now I am writing from Sweden after a $35 plane ticket. Even though Prague was an amazing place to live, I highly suggest traveling around the neighboring countries on long weekends. Some of my classmates went to Hungary, Morocco, Greece, Italy, France and so on and so forth. Here are some pictures in and out of Prague.

Cliffs of Mohor, Galway, Ireland

 Česky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Vienna, Austria

Prague, Czech Republic

Höllviken, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

What to do without Walmart?

Brooke Gottmeier 

Spain - Comillas Universidad 

Spring 2019 

I don't even shop at Walmart that often back home. Occasionally, I make a trip to Target, but both superstores are somewhat of an oddity for me. I go there if I need a new charger for my phone, or cheap plates for my kitchen, or new bed sheets—every time whatever I’m looking for is completely random and I always tend to find it. 

However, shortly after I got to Spain I realized that there was no superstore here. I needed all of these random things like tights, and nail polish, and kitchen utensils, and stamps, but I had no clue where to find them. 

One of the first situations that I encountered with this dilemma was with my great journey to find tights. Being that Spain is cold and Hawaii is not, I owned none of these elusive articles of clothing. 

I went to buy some at the Zara near my house and left empty handed. Next, I went to the underwear store—nothing. I tried the closest thing we have to a department store here in Spain, El Corte Inglés, but I only found handbags and watches. 

Yet, on the streets all around me were girls were wearing tights! I had absolutely no clue where they were getting them! Being that I was in Spain, Amazon could not save the day this time. So, I spent the rest of the week frustratingly trying different stores and keeping my eyes out for the secret tight superstore. 

Finally I broke down and decided to ask the “stupid question”:

So, I asked my host mom, “¿Dónde compras medias?”.

She replied, “A la merceria medias”. 

After she gave me directions, I headed over to the merceria medias and was surprised to find the cutest little store jam packed with tights in every inch of it. So this was were everyone was getting them… 

I got a pair and headed home feeling relieved and slightly accomplished for figuring out the mystery. 

Though my great journey to find the elusive Spanish tights, I learned several things that I’d love to share with you guys so you don’t run into the same situation:

1. JUST ASK FOR HELP! No question is stupid. You are in a new country where everything, including the language, is foreign to you. Don’t be afraid! Most people are more than willing to help you out, so even if it’s a stranger just ask. 
2. We are very spoiled in the U.S. with giant superstores and Amazon to answer our every need. 
3. In Europe if you can’t immediately think of where to buy something, it’s likely being sold at a tiny little specialty store. To find it either (A) ask for help or (B) try translating the name of what you are looking for and then google it. If you just google it in English, you likely won't find the best results. 
4. Try not to get frustrated! You will find everything in time, and adjusting to these difference is just a part of life while abroad. To me, I found the tights situation hilarious. The fact that they have a whole merceria just for tights here I found to be so cute and funny. Try to take everything lightly! It’s all a process.