Category: All

Submitted by Rebecca Gomes on the 2024 Spring program in Granada, Spain…

This was my first week in Granada Spain. I arrived on Sunday, January 7th. Once I arrived in Granada, we took the bus to the city center, where our host families picked us up. I am staying with a host family and another student from Boston College. Our apartment is located in the heart of Granada, only 15 minutes from our school. At first, I was shocked to hear people speak Spanish so fast. It felt surreal, however, I quickly adapted and go to practice the language. Staying in a host family is truly a unique experience, it is also one of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in a culture. I am lucky to have an amazing host family and be part of this awesome program. 

On the first day, we visited the school for the first time. The school is located in a restored palace, and we have classes every day at the same time. I have learned so much so far, a lot about the culture and language. On the second day, we had a tour of the town where we learned about Isabel la Catolica, many plazas, the cathedral, and many other famous sites. The time difference is very tricky, in the Spanish culture they take siestas, which are around 20-minute naps. We learned that Americans often take siestas as 2-hour naps and in reality, they should not do that because it can mess up their sleep schedule. 

Some of the foods I have tried and learned about are Palmera de Nutella and Piononos. Some of the things I hope to try this week are Tapas and visit Alhambra. Today we learned how to use the metro, which is only a few years old. I learned that it took 10 years to build the metro due to the many discoveries found underground. We went to the mall and it was huge! It also 

had many American stores. 

Even though I have been here for only a few days, Granada feels like home! It is such a small charming town, everyone is extremely nice and wants to help you learn about their country. I am excited to see what the future holds and I look forward to learning more and more about the culture and language. (Submitted on January 24, 2024) 

Submitted by Sydney Ballenger on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

My third week in Rome, the sun was finally out and the weather warmed up. I took advantage of the improving weather, spending as much time outside as possible. On Tuesday, my roommates and I walked up to the top of Gianicolo Hill (also known as the Janiculum Hill) to watch the sunset. Although Gianicolo Hill does not count as one of the proverbial “Seven Hills of Rome” because it is west of the Tiber and therefore, outside of the old boundaries of Rome, it is the second tallest hill in Rome and offers a beautiful view of the city. To get to the top of the hill, you must climb up several flights of stairs, each seemingly steeper than the one before. However, the view from the top is worth it and I highly recommend the walk to anyone that finds themselves in Trastevere.  (Submitted on January 24, 2024) 

Submitted by Juliana Monticello on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

Week two of my spring semester abroad was even more amazing than the first! Classes started this week, and I am really looking forward to them. I am taking three Italian courses (grammar, language and gender, and writing) and one media study course taught in English. The courses seem very interesting, and I feel that I will gain a larger global perspective on popular topics. For instance, my media studies class examines how Italians consume media such as film, television, music, etc versus how Americans consume them. I had never previously considered how this consumption could vary based on country and culture, so I am very excited to see how this class unfolds

My roommates and I also spent the weekend exploring Rome some more. Last week, we saw the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Church of Saint Ignazio of Loyola, so we decided to spend Saturday and Sunday seeing the other popular Roman sites. This includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. Entering the Colosseum was like going back in time. It was huge and we got to see where the ancient Romans would watch gladiators fight. The Roman Forum was next, and it felt like stepping into the old city hub. There were ruins of old buildings, temples, and arches, showing how people used to live. Then, the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus was a bit eerie but intriguing. Going through these underground tunnels, we learned that it was a place where all Christians could be buried, regardless of economic status. The walls had beautiful paintings and writings about them. All these places in Rome shared stories of the past, making my trip feel like a journey through history.

As week two of my spring semester abroad closes, I am still amazed by the experiences and opportunities the city of Rome has to offer. The anticipation of diving into my Italian courses has added a new excitement to my academic journey. Beyond the classroom, exploring Rome with my roommates has been an adventure.  Now that we have seen the major iconic landmarks, I look forward to discovering some of the hidden gems Rome has as well as traveling to other nearby cities in the future. I am so grateful for each day of my study abroad semester and can’t wait for the rest of the journey! (Submitted on January 23, 2024) 

Submitted by Emma Reed on the 2024 Spring program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

The days leading up to departure for the Spring 2024 semester, we got an email from DIS that there would be a coronation of the new crowned monarch, King Frederik X. About over a week go, on January 14th, this is when this coronation took place, however the reasoning is unusual from the past: his mother, Queen Margrethe II, surprised the public with her abdication, due to her recent back surgery, as well as other ailments that left her unable to undertake as much as she had in her 52-years worth of reigning the country of Denmark. My Living Learning Community was fortunate enough to witness this in the Danish capital, and it was amazing to see such a joyous sight. This picture I’ve provided is of one of the city squares throughout Copenhagen, and while it is very picturesque that they have the Danish flag hung on all of the streets, it was simply for the coronation of the new King. Again, it was heart-warming to see a country come together and be a harmonious community when celebrating the new leader of their country, something we have not seen in the States for a long time unfortunately. It definitely made me think about how America’s political system differs from Denmark’s, especially how the public reacts to the election of a new leader – The coronation of the new King, while exciting, Danes were very respectful and quiet during the ceremony, and only hollered and celebrated. (Submitted on January 22, 2024) 

Submitted by Jules Scott on the 2024 Spring program in Paris, France…

On a busy Saturday in Paris, I understood something new about how I see the world. The day started at 6am, an honorable attempt, but was snoozed until 6:35. At half past 7:00, the tour group is expected to be across town and waiting with bells on for the buses to take us to Versailles. My roommate and I double and triple checked our outfits, our bags, the lights, and the email with instructions. We venture into a cold dark morning, walking briskly in a hope that maybe a café will be open near the rendezvous point. On the métro, I realized I forgot my phone in the apartment. It will always be the simplest thing you will forget. 

The scale of Versailles is what makes it so important, I think. The history, how ornate it is, the amount of gold embellishments on the outside of the building alone are enough to take a tour. It feels self-important, like it says, “Of course you’re impressed — look at me!” Painting after painting of wealthy patrons and scenes of men, dogs, horses, women with their breasts showing, and the occasional cherub or Napoleon victory. Everyone around me looks intentionally thoughtfully at these paintings, even some nodding their heads and murmuring to themselves hoping that their friends see them as cultured and perhaps sneak an aesthetic picture — it’s so voyeuristic. For the rest of our time, I couldn’t help but see the art/viewer relationship as self-fulfilling. As a museum, Versailles is the perfect installation about ego, and the pleasure of being seen. I think it’s beautiful — while in the Hall of Mirrors, an ornate hall flooded with natural light and mirrors wherever you could want them, my friends and I huddled together to take pictures of ourselves. 

From the palace we drove on French highways that looked an awful lot like home to Chartres, what I can only describe as magnificent. The town is home to Our Lady Chartres Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is so large you need to crane your neck to look at it properly. The cathedral has the opposite effect of Versailles — towering, stunning, humbling. Entering the cathedral quietly, you cannot believe such beautiful history still exists. Our tour was given by a soft spoken German woman who thoughtfully guided us through soaring buttresses and statues from hundreds of years ago, however the real show-stoppers were the original stained-glass windows that stretched and painted the walls, the crown jewel being the circular window on the front of the church. The end of the tour, the woman asks us, “May I sing you a bit of a Germanic hymn?” And as she does, I feel so moved. We walked together as she sang, up the aisle towards the large central window and the golden hour hit the rich jewel tones just right. I always get emotional in Catholic churches, mainly as it reminded me of going to mass as a kid. I remember I always wanted the communion crackers to have more flavor, and that my favorite part was zoning out of the sermon to study the stained glass windows. Pieces of something pretty good formed together to make a masterpiece. I wiped away a quick tear. On our way out, my friend told me that instead of Latin, her church sang songs like “Lean On Me”, which we sang together on the way out of the church — there are many ways to connect with something larger than yourself. Sometimes it’s a window, or a song. 

We didn’t arrive back to central Paris until late that night, but the day was not over for my friend group. We all dispersed to put on our fineries to meet up at a bar across town to celebrate someone’s 21st birthday. All day I had spent observing and analyzing the world around me, but drunkenly sitting outside of a bar in an outfit that in retrospect definitely needed a jacket will always make me think of death the most. I sit and shiver. What am I doing here? I’m a fraud! I don’t know the language, or what I’m doing with my life! What if nothing I ever do matters, what if this is it? I look at my friend lighting a cigarette and flirting with a boy from class, and to the other glowing beautifully from street lamps, smiling and being wished a happy birthday by our chatty waiter. There is so much laughter — I look up at the starless sky. I close my eyes and feel the cold January wind on my flushed cheeks, and I think about how lucky I am. (Submitted on January 22, 2024) 

Submitted by Elizabeth Mitchell on the 2024 Spring program in Athens, Greece…

I have officially completed my second week of study abroad and my first week of classes. After completing my first week of classes I can confidently say that my history of architecture in Paris class is my favorite so far. This class is intended to help us gain a better understanding of the architecture of Paris and why the city is the way it is. During our first class, we started at our study center for a brief introduction to the course and then immediately went on a field study. Our professor brought us around to the streets and showed us how to recognize older buildings from new. She walked us to the Notre Dame Cathedral and explained to us that gothic architecture was created in Paris. She said that during medieval times, churches were created to be a place for light and music so there was an emphasis on large stained glass windows to bring light into the churches, and large organs for the music. She told us the square shapes on the church represented the four seasons of humanity and the circles represented divinity. She then walked us to the oldest structure of Paris called the archaeological crypt of Paris, which was an ancient Roman bath. During this first class, I feel like I gained so much more insight into the history of Paris and I cannot wait to continue this class and deepen my knowledge of the city I will be living in. (Submitted on January 22, 2024) 

Submitted by Jasmine Pennington on the 2024 Spring program in Athens, Greece…

From the very beginning of exiting the airport; I could tell everyone knew I was American. It was insane the complete change from wearing sweatpants or pajamas to going grab something at a nearby store. When I first went on campus for classes, I was so stunned. It was as if everyone woke up and chose business casual attire. I believe every woman I have seen, owns a blazer or a long trench or some alternative that is dressy. So, the two massive suitcases I bought felt obsolete. I thought I could not let it get to me and continue to dress in my style and try not to draw any more attention to myself as an American tourist. But, last night I went to Zara and I saw this long cute trench in a nude color and it was 20 euros off and was fitting so perfectly. So, I caved and now have assimilated into European culture to wear these style coats and not just throw on a sweatshirt and sweatpants. It was a different look for someone who is used to campus at UD. At one point I wore my Comfy around campus because finals week was my last reason.

Finally, I would like to say that as much as i want to assimilate fully, i will never be able to. In Greece, the outfits, the smoking culture, and the insanely late dinners makes me feel blessed to have such lower standards of living. I just really can’t wait to explore using the Metro here. Another quick thing I’d add to your welcome and congratulations letter to study abroad is to bring your UDID with you. There is a massive discount at the metro station Syntagma, but it only works with US institutions that are public. Some of my friends had to pay 90 euros for a 3 month pass, and I paid about 38 euros. Lastly, I hope to find the confidence to wear the European coat I got, but it feels silly to me to be so dressed and end up sweating while hiking up the terrain to campus. (Submitted on January 22, 2024) 

Submitted by Irene Piro on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

With the start of classes comes a new routine for the remainder of my time in Rome. Still, a surreal feeling floats over me whenever I think about where I’ll be for the semester. This week, the streets of Rome became my commute to school. It’s refreshing to be able to stop for good coffee and food to, from, and between classes (when the city becomes your campus, am I right?). 

In my classes, it was exciting to hear where students were from. Especially in my psychology classes, it will be interesting to hear different perspectives from locals and students with other unique backgrounds. 

After my first week of school, I was looking forward to my day trip to Pompeii with my roommates and new friends. While we had to ride on both buses and trains to get there, it is still nice to see how convenient it is to visit such intriguing places. 

I didn’t realize how large the city of Pompeii was until we got there and saw the map. Seeing the ruins of the living quarters and bathhouses was quite compelling. Specifically, reading about what the well-preserved structures were used for–laundry and sinks–really put the city of Pompeii into perspective. Seeing how advanced the city was so long ago was quite captivating. What shocked me the most was how the paintings, tiling, and other artistic elements such as engravings were also so well preserved. 

With so many historically rich opportunities at my fingertips here in Rome, I am excited to see where the next few months take me. (Submitted on January 22, 2024)

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As I finish my third week in Rome and my second week of classes, I’ve started to settle into a new routine. I’ve never envisioned myself living in a city–ever. I’m not the biggest fan of cities, but Rome has granted me a new perspective of convenience. On the way to classes in the morning, stopping in for a light breakfast is easy, as many small cafés line the walk to school. Between classes, my friends and I can easily dine at an assortment of restaurants for a satisfying lunch. We’ve picked a few favorites in our three weeks, so we’ve frequented those quite often. One waiter even knows our preferred dessert, seeing as we stop by every Thursday. 

Not only has Rome shown me a new perspective on city life, but it has also shown me the unique elements of Rome as a city. This past weekend, I was able to take day trips to both Vatican City and Florence. I’ve reflected before on how amazing it is that I can visit so many new, historical places in Italy now that I’m in Rome, yet as my friends and I managed the hour-long walk to Vatican City, and when St. Peter’s Basilica came into view, I once again was in awe that this new world was just an hour away from my apartment. Not to mention Florence too, being an hour and a half train ride away. There, I was able to see The David, The Birth of Venus, Da Vinci’s unfinished works, the Sistine Chapel, and so many more beautiful pieces of art. I can’t believe I was standing just feet away (or below) some of the most well-known art pieces, nor can I believe that I have my very own photos of The David. It’s coming on 1 month in Rome for me, and I feel like I’ve experienced so many life-times already. (Submitted on January 31, 2024)

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I took some time off because my roommates and I were sick for a bit, and right after, exams quickly followed (the exams have continued…the reality of studying abroad I suppose). It has become quite warm here in Rome during my hiatus (I may need to retire my puffer soon!). In this time, I have also gone on quite a few adventures, and have picked up on little bits of Italian/Roman culture that I have come to appreciate. 

I have been able to visit many different areas of Rome such as the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill where there is an orange garden, along with a few hidden gems. In my neighborhood, Trastevere, my friend and I visited a small nursery that sells so many different plants. I’m very tempted to take home a cactus, but I’m not too sure how I’d go about that. My friend and I did pick up a basil plant for the apartment though, so we’ll enjoy that for the time being. I’ve also been able to try several new restaurants in Rome, and I have enjoyed the late-night, slow dinners that seem custom here. On Valentine’s Day, my friends and I spent a good 3-4 hours at dinner, where we enjoyed live music, pasta, drinks, and dessert. I fear that I’m taking the slow meals for granted here! 

Spring break was also amazing. My friends and I hit 4 countries in 6 days. Our first stop was Budapest, where we explored the city, visited the thermal baths, and did a Prosecco River Cruise. Then we hopped on another plane and hit Brussels. The fries were delicious! Next, we took a train to Paris and saw the basics–the Mona Lisa, The Eiffel Tower, and the Arch de Triomphe. Then finally we flew to Dublin, where it snowed the day before and rained for a good amount of our first day. Our socks and shoes were wet from the slush, but we still managed to have a fulfilling time. We went on a Jameson and Guinness tour where we learned how to taste whiskey and the proper way to pour and of course, drink a Guinness. I’d love to visit Ireland again in the spring or summer without the biting wind, slush, and rain, but overall, it was definitely a spring break for the books. (Submitted on March 18, 2024)