Category: Spring Semester

Submitted by Jason Rizzuto on the 2024 Spring program in Madrid, Spain…

Throughout my second week here, I feel like I lived the biggest difference between Madrid, and back home. I obtained my Metro “abono” which grants me unlimited monthly travel through Madrid’s major stops for the incredibly cheap price of 8 Euros per month. As opposed to my life back in NYC’s suburbs, where I relied on my car every single day, the ability for unlimited travel without having to worry about gas, or parking, was practically mind boggling. 

The Metro is also a melting pot that brings together people from all walks of life, from businessmen to nomad travelers. It is a way of life, and provides a beautiful look into true Madrid culture. (Submitted on January 28, 2024) 

Submitted by Quinn Wichert on the 2024 Spring program in Madrid, Spain…

I took this photo at Madrid’s Plaza Mayor where I’d met up with two friends Reese (on the left) and Bergen (on the right). It’s funny because Reese, who has been my best friend for as long as I can remember, was visiting Madrid from Florence. Bergen, who I met through Reese, is her roomate at University of South Carolina. 

Seeing these two in Madrid made me feel at home in a place still very new to me. It was so surreal to have such familiar faces and it brought such a sense of comfort. Studying abroad in Europe is amazing because it is so easy to travel to different countries, a convenience that I never knew growing up in America. I can’t wait to travel throughout Europe and hopefully visit Reese in Florence as the semester progresses.

Knick-Knacks

I took this photo in a shop in Sol. The whole shop was filled with cute little knick-knacks and souvenirs. These purses in particular reminded me a great deal of my grandmother. Like something she would see in a similar shop at home and bring back for me and my sister. I took the photo to send to her because it had her written all over it. I find myself far more communicative with my family members since arriving here than ever before. I’m constantly seeing new things that remind me of home and I love to share them with those family members. The distance really makes you appreciate being with them even more. While I’m loving my time here, I wish I could share it in person with the people I love back home.(Submitted on January 28, 2024) 

Submitted by Alexandra Evangelist on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

I traveled outside of Rome for the first time. Traveling in general is a task where you learn as you go. I am lucky to say I have made friends that I trust and chose to travel with. The more people you travel with, the more it helps when you are trying to navigate. I left Friday morning and saw many sites by the time we returned Sunday night. My friends and I went to Uffizi Gallery where we saw the painting of Venus and many other great statues and paintings, Palazzo Vecchio, Accademia Galleria which is where the David statue is, and Piazzale Michelangelo which has a beautiful view of the city. Ponte Vecchio is known as the oldest bridge and has a great view as well with many shops and restaurants. Florence has so much history in art and architecture. It’s known for great wine, given they have wine windows, and also largely known for steak. We had a great meal at Zaza for dinner, Le Vespe for breakfast, and a great sandwich at All’Antico Vinaio for lunch. Florence is a great place to learn and immerse yourself in the italian culture. (Submitted on January 28, 2024) 

Submitted by Lauren Choptij on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

This week, I had a full week of classes and was able to explore more of Rome. I was able to visit the Vatican during the week, which was such a great experience. I have gotten adjusted to living in Rome as well as adjusting to my classes. This weekend, my roommate and I went to both Colmar and Strasbourg in France. It was out of a movie scene. It was gorgeous! We even spontaneously ended up in Basel, Switzerland for the day. It was such a good weekend with a lot of unexpected surprises. (Submitted on January 28, 2024) 

Submitted by Emma Smith on the 2024 Spring program in London, England…

After my first week in London I had the opportunity of experiencing its unique architecture, distinctive attractions, and amazing city life. I am not used to using public transportation in the U.S. so going to class everyday and around the city by the underground train service was definitely a culture shock. This service is widely used by a large majority of London’s population which is very impressive. Throughout my first week here I had the chance to see the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, the National Art Gallery, and many more attractions unique to London. Groups of us were set up with a tour guide and coach bus to take us around the city and learn more about Londo and the United Kingdom. We also had the chance to visit Stonehenge and Bath in order to further learn the history of those two places. I specifically really enjoyed learning about the history of the Roman Baths. If I have learned anything in my first week in London, it is that it is so important to seize the moment and travel while you have the chance. Many citizens of London that I had the chance to meet have told me about all of the states they have visited in the U.S. and it has made me realize I should take the opportunity to travel around my home country more as well. Because of this realization, my friends and I here in London are taking any chance we get to see other places in Europe such as Amsterdam, France, Italy, etc. After one week of studying abroad I have learned to completely engulf myself in London life and take advantage of my opportunity to see more of the world. (Submitted on January 28, 2024) 

Submitted by Sydney Moreno on the 2024 Spring program in London, England…

As my first full week in London comes to a close, I can happily say that I am moved in and ready to have an amazing semester! Moving into a new country can be extremely daunting, especially when you know very few people and the scenery changes from Newark, Delaware to London, England, but with an open mind, anything is possible.

I moved into my flat last Thursday, and it has been a whirlwind of things to do since the start. My roommates, as well as the other students who live in our building, were taken on tours of the area we are located in, which is the lovely Whitechapel borough. The area is nice and homey, with lots of coffee shops, and easy access to the tube, which will be our main use of transportation while we are here. 

After attempting to shove all of the clothes I packed from home into the tiny dresser and cabinet we were given, I was feeling super anxious about what this upcoming semester would look like. Would I be able to make friends? Will taking the tube to class be scary? Now that I have been here a week, I feel much more at ease about all of my previous questions. When having so much going on around me, it was easy to forget that both my roommates, supervisors, and professors are all here to answer any questions I may have, and support me through any sort of transitions that may take place while taking classes in another country. 

Now that I have moved in and gotten to know my roommates much better, I am eager to begin a journey that I will remember for a lifetime.It is easy to forget that as intimidating as going to class in a new place can be, it can also provide a great deal of opportunities and learning experiences. After going to class this week and going over each syllabus, I was excited to find out that each class has a few field trips around the city of London planned to really emphasize how much culture can impact our lives both on and off campus.

With this first week in London kicking off strong, I am extremely excited to continue this journey and see what else I can do with my time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world! (Submitted on January 27, 2024)

Submitted by Kara Kimos on the 2024 Spring program in Aix-en-Provence, France…

One of the things I’ve appreciated most about France is what seems to be a very apparent awareness of how the locals interact with the environment. There are minimal cars traveling on Aix’s cobblestone streets, and I find myself surprised to see a car occasionally coming behind me on my walk into town. I’m averaging 4-6 miles of walking per day! That being said, the city bus system is huge, and I am so grateful to have purchased a student bus pass. When I do wind up taking the bus, all the buses are labeled either “hybrid electric” or “100% electric”.  

Sustainable food is also of major importance in France! There is a great deal of pride surrounding the purchase of domestic goods, and there are major produce markets in town three days a week. The fresh produce is incredible — I’ve gotten everything from (massive) red bell peppers to the pears that are in season right now! As for grocery stores beyond the markets, my host university recommended an app for finding produce, croissants, and more that did not sell right away at their original business. The food is still fit for consumption, but is discounted in order to help prevent food waste. I’m super excited to try out this app — an assorted fruit and veggie basket for 4€ just sounds too good to pass up! I also was thrilled to find tofu at a local organic store. I don’t eat meat, and I frequently rely on tofu as a protein source. I was concerned about finding vegetarian/pescatarian options while abroad, but I have been doing pretty well with the restaurant and grocery store selection.  

Lastly, the Mediterranean climate allows for the buildings to rely on central heating systems, so my apartment does not have air conditioning. My program coordinators told us that French utility bills tend to run high, and citizens are encouraged to conserve their energy usage. When we leave the windows/balconies open, we have to take care that the radiator in each room is turned off. My apartment does not have a dryer, so my roommates and I instead dry our clothes on clotheslines on the balcony or on our drying rack inside. For the washing machine, there is a note from the previous apartment owner encouraging us to use the machine during “green energy hours” from 2:30 – 5pm. We try to run it during these hours whenever we can!

Overall, it’s super interesting to see how sustainability is handled in a different country, and I can’t wait to learn more about European environmental initiatives in some of my classes this semester! (Submitted on January 27, 2024) 

Submitted by Maxwell Poruban on the 2024 Spring program in Granada, Spain…

Week three of my semester in Granada began with a day trip to the thousand year old city of Córdoba. Appearing over the river Guadalquivir, the city seems to spring out of a fairy tale at the foot of the Sierra Morena. The Romans founded a settlement here in the second century BC, alongside an existing Iberian town. From here the city grew and was expanded by the Visigoths, then became the seat of grandeur for the Umayyed Caliphate and after la reconquista, the Catholic kings continued to patronize the city. Although Córdoba is filled with beautiful historical sites and excellent food, its crown jewel is the mosque-cathedral in the center of the old city. 

Founded in 785, the mosque was built on an existing religious site and construction reutilized material from earlier churches. The building has been renovated on a massive scale over seven times and today the beauty from each period can be seen as you pass through the structure. 

The rest of our week in Granada was spent studying for our final exam for our Intensive Spanish grammar and conversation class as well as for our placement exam. The placement exam, although stressful, was designed by the Centre for Modern Languages at the University of Granada to test our language skills and ensure that we are placed into the correct course of study. The exam lasted almost four hours, but in the end, it was worth the effort. The rest of our courses start next Thursday, and I am looking forward to beginning a new academic journey. Un saludo. (Submitted on January 27, 2024) 

Submitted by Samantha Jennings on the 2024 Spring program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

One of my favorite things about studying abroad is the experiential learning component to the experience. Studying abroad is a unique way to see the world as your classroom. Not only can you travel and explore new places, but you can observe ways of life and experience history in a new light. The DIS Copenhagen program offers numerous opportunities for students to embark on a journey and explore Copenhagen as their own classroom. In one of my class sessions this week, we did just that. We took a classroom field trip to a small public park near the harbor called Churchillparken. Named after Winston Churchill, this park and its statues serve to memorialize the role that Denmark played during the Second World War. As a class, we were instructed to analyze each statue present in the park as a primary source and begin to construct an argument regarding how Denmark has chosen to memorialize WWII. It was very interesting to see firsthand how the Danes chose to remember their liberation story compared to the true history of this event. Exploring Copenhagen through the lens of its history has been extremely eye-opening and I can’t wait to see what else I may uncover with the city as my classroom! (Submitted on January 26, 2024)