My Most Memorable Last Day

by Kaity Walker | Dec 4, 2023 | Study Abroad Advice

Four people stand wearing bright aprons and masks over their eyes. They stand next to each other in front of a counter full of cooking utensils. They are in a kitchen with stone walls and warm lighting.

My Most Memorable Last Day

Hey Explorers! My name is Kaity, and I am happy you’re here! My study abroad trip definitely rocked my world in more ways than one. I went to Barcelona two years ago and had the time of my life. I was lucky enough to be there for a month. I experienced so many different things in that time span. However, our last few nights together were some of my most memorable. By the end of the trip, I had learned everyone’s majors, their likes and dislikes, and their hopes for the future. We all were friends in such a lovely way. I am so thankful for the memories I have made with each of those people. However, our last activity together was one that truly made the trip feel real.

Starting the Night

Our last day’s activity was a surprise. We were all excited yet nervous. The gals on the trip were told to wear their hair back. We were all told to wear less nice clothes to make sure we didn’t ruin anything we cared about. We met our guides for the day at a market. They introduced themselves and told us we would all be learning to cook paella! Paella is a Spanish dish made with rice and some form of protein. We were all excited. We had tried paella previously but being able to cook it was exciting. The guides were our chefs and they led us around the market. They showed us which ingredients were good, local, and fresh. We helped purchase our ingredients for the day before venturing through the city to their restaurant.

The camera stares down a long kitchen counter. On both sides, people reach across to pour, stir, and mix things in. The counter is full of food.

At the Restaurant

The whole building had been rented out for us so we had a private and premium experience. The chefs had us dress up in aprons and prepare for the class. We learned about the history of the dish before we split into teams. To make the day more fun, we turned it into a competition. We were split into four teams, each making a different kind of paella. My group cooked the vegetable paella. I was excited because that meant I didn’t have to play with raw meat. For the most part, we chopped and prepped vegetables for when they would be ready to use. The rice and other ingredients were added slowly to a large pan. We all cooked together, creating delicious dishes to share later.

Presentation

When our dishes were finished, we presented them in a “Chopped” fashion. Each team plated and served their paella to the chefs of the day. They tasted each and deliberated on whose was to be the “best”. Unfortunately, my team did not win. However, we did come in second place. After we served enough of each dish for each person in the room, we were able to eat and relax. The restaurant was a beautiful setting. Waiters appeared from the back doors and served us wine that complimented each dish wonderfully.

Settling In

The night became about relaxing. We were able to hang out with each other and enjoy the dish of the place we had been in for a month. We ate and drank for an hour before things started picking up. Someone found the wire for the speaker and that was when we all started kicking it. We played songs that got us up and dancing. Fueled by wine, friendship, and good food we were all in the mood to celebrate. We celebrated the memories we had made; we celebrated the food we had cooked, and we celebrated the fact we had completed the academic program. The trip abroad was worth six credits, a usual semester long class is three credits. Someone turned on Sweet Caroline and that was where the fun began. We sang, danced, and drank into the night.

A girl stands wearing an apron and smiling. She holds a spatula, the cooking end sits in a large pans. The girl is stirring vegetables. She is in a kitchen with cozy lighting.

Heading Back

As we walked out it was a bittersweet feeling. We walked as a group back to our apartments for the last time. We said goodnight for the last time. We all got dressed and ready for bed for the last time. I went to sleep next to my roommate staring at my suitcase. There were many things I missed about America, but I would deeply miss the friendships I had formed, the memories I had made, and so much more. I am forever thankful for my experience abroad. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to grow as much as I did. I knew I could make friends wherever I went. I knew I could go abroad again. I knew I could do whatever I wanted. It was relieving, it was exciting, and it made me want more. My advice is to go abroad whenever possible. If you have the chance, take it. You never know what is going to come of your trip.

Explorers, take the pictures. Make the memories. Soak everything in and never forget it. Studying abroad is going to be a core memory. Whether for better or for worse, it will be a story you’ll talk about for years to come. Remember it how you see best. I take pictures, but my roommate on my trip kept a travel journal. No matter what it is, keep the memories and hold them close. I look forward to tell y’all more travel stories soon!

Sitges, Mallorca, and More!

by Kaity Walker | Dec 4, 2023 | Study Abroad Advice

A blue parade float has several layers. On the top are many men. They are older and only wearing blue booty shorts. On the bottom layer of the parade, there are two men in harnesses. Attached to the harnesses are an array of colorful balloons. They stretch out like feathers.

Sitges, Mallorca, and More!

Hey Explorers! Its Kaity, and I wanted to talk to y’all about travelling during your study abroad trip. I know it seems kind of odd since you’re already travelling for the trip. But some programs offer time off for students. My program, though short, gave us a long weekend to do whatever we wanted. Me and a few friends decided to travel to Mallorca. This is an island off the coast of Spain. But, during the weekends we had free time to catch a train to somewhere new. So, we visited Sitges, a beach town, quite often. So, here are some tips for what I found helpful when travelling during my study abroad!

Plan Ahead

This one seems a little self-explanatory. But it doesn’t hurt to hear it again! My friends and I had our travel plans set and confirmed before we even left for our study abroad. We did the planning in advance, so we only had to show up and have fun when the time came. When you’re actually studying, it can be so hard to plan things and set time aside for trips. Doing it in advance made the whole process so easy.

Hostels are So In

I had never stayed in anything besides a hotel or an Airbnb. But when I travelled to Mallorca my friends and I stayed in a hostel. We were a little nervous at first. But we searched on multiple sites to see the reviews of the place we stayed. Once we all felt comfortable, we booked a stay in an all-woman’s bunk room. The hostel was wonderful. It was conveniently located close to the beach, it offered amenities a hotel wouldn’t, and we got a wonderful experience. We made friends with other people staying in the room as well. Staying at the hostel was one of the highlights for the trip to me. Just make sure you check the amenities and location of wherever you’re looking.

Overlooking a cliffside. On the bottom right corner there are rocks and green plants that go down the side of the hill. On the rest of the image there is bright blue water and bright blue skies.

Tell Someone, Everyone

Before we left, we made sure our program heads knew where we were going. We gave them our flight information, an approximate itinerary, and much more. If anything were to have gone sideways, our program heads would have known where we were. They were very kind too. Our professors texted for updates while we were away. We always made sure to let them know what was going on. It was also fun to share our silly pictures with them.

Travelling Doesn’t Have to Be Far

On our regular weekends, my program had lots of time to wander around the city. We even had time to venture into cities outside of the one we stayed in. I recommend poking as far out as you can. We travelled to Sitges twice. It was an hour-long train ride to and from, but it was so worth it! Sitges was one of my favorite memories. You never know what events are going on in towns close to yours. That one-hour train ride showed us a completely different town than the city we were staying in.

Timing is Everything

When we went to Mallorca, we took our flight at seven in the morning. This meant that we had to wake up at four to catch the subway at five to walk into the airport at six for our flight at seven. We were able to sleep on the plane. But, we were exhausted upon arrival. We also miscalculate the timing for checking into our hostel. When we got to Mallorca we were too tired to wander and were not able to check in to sit in a bed. So, we found a spot on the beach and all knocked out. We didn’t bring much with us so we held what we had. But what I learned the most is that timing is everything. Don’t book the early flight unless you know you’re a morning person.

Those are all my tips off the top of my head. If y’all have any advice you’d like to share, head to our forum page! I would love to hear your best travelling tips!

Stepping Into Study Abroad

by Kaity Walker | Dec 4, 2023 | Study Abroad Advice

Stepping Into Study Abroad

Hey Explorers! My name is Kaity and I’m the creator of this site. It has always been a passion of mine to go and travel the world. As a kid, I only really went to the same few places on vacation. I am extremely thankful for the trips and memories I created with my family. But, I wanted to broaden my horizons. I wanted to experience new things, see new sights, and start traveling.

Baby Steps

I am from the US so traveling between states was all I had ever done. In fact, for most of my life I never even left the East coast. It was my home, my familiar, and my safety. The first time I left was when I went to Tennessee. It isn’t branching out too much, but it was a step in the right direction. I went with my family. We visited Dollywood, hiked through the mountains, and saw many more things.

Bigger Steps

A few years ago, my family decided to switch things up. Instead of our usual vacation to the beach or Tennessee, we planned a trip to Hawaii. My mom and aunt planned the trip. We stayed in a hotel on the water. The sand there was bright white and the water a crystal blue. We snorkeled with fish and drove to beaches full of turtles. The highlight of that trip was a guided tour we took. A local man picked us up in a sprinter van and drove us to some of his favorite places. We went waterfall jumping, ate lunch and ice cream made with local ingredients, and saw rainbow-colored trees. The entire experience was something I will never forget. It also jump started my love for traveling.

Lunging Steps

When I got into college, I knew I wanted to travel more. The easiest way to do so? Studying abroad. After an admittedly short research period, I applied to a program that fit for my minor. It was a bit of a trip away. And by this, I mean that the program was across the Atlantic ocean. I applied to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Thankfully, I got accepted into the program. Studying in Barcelona was one of my favorite memories.

Studying Abroad was my first experience being in another country. It was also my first experience traveling alone. As I would come to learn, I was truly never alone. I can’t wait to tell y’all about my experiences, my wisdom, and so much more. Stick around to hear stories about my experiences abroad!

Safety when Studying Abroad

by Kaity Walker | Dec 4, 2023 | Study Abroad Advice

A group of girls walk around the corner at the end of an alley. The walls are a bright, white brick. The girls are dressed in summer clothes. The picture is taken so you can only see the back of each girl and not their faces.

Safety when Studying Abroad

Hey Explorers! It’s Kaity again and I’m still excited that you’re here! I was super lucky and was able to study abroad two years ago. Even though it was two full years, the memories are so vivid in my mind. The trip was life-changing for me. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. I hate to be one of those people who was “changed” by their study abroad experience, but its true! However, being away from home, especially at a place so far and so new, can be frightening.

Your Cohort

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful group to study abroad with. Each person you go on your trip with will have different travel experience. In my cohort, one student had already been in Spain for two weeks on vacation with his family. He had gotten a lay of the land before the rest of us had packed our bags. You all are also in the same situation. More likely than not, each of you have not stayed in the hotel/house/apartment you’re staying at. More likely than not, they have not been to the places your group will travel to. More likely than not, they are doing everything for the first time just like you. Your cohort can offer a lot of emotional and physical support when times get stressful. Confide in them. They probably have the same worries and concerns you do.

Your Advisors

If you’re travelling abroad, I know you have one or several professors with you. Their role in this is to help you. Whether that’s academically or social in the new location, they are here to assist you. They are here to teach you. It could be about the topic of the study abroad, or it could be teaching you about the culture of your temporary home. Bottom line, your professors do not want anything to happen to you. It would look bad on their part if something happened to their students. So, always lean on your program heads. Those people know what they’re doing and can always be there for advice.

Your University

For me, all of my anxieties were calmed by one thought. No university would send students somewhere that could be dangerous. It would look pretty bad if your school lost a student in a program. Your school will vet out each location, make sure your professors are prepared, and make sure you have enough information and protection. It also helps if your program isn’t new. I know I was year five of my program. Numerous students had participated before and numerous would participate afterwards. Your school would never risk sending students somewhere potentially dangerous. So, that always eased my conscious.

Fear is Real

I was afraid of many things when I was studying abroad. First of all, I was scared of going to a new country. I had never been outside of the US before, so travelling all the way to Europe was frightening for me. I didn’t know the culture, had never experienced anything in person, and was nervous about standing out as a tourist. I was also nervous because I was going to a country where I didn’t speak the national language. I went to Barcelona, Spain and only knew enough Spanish to ask for a bathroom. Finally, I was nervous because I had never travelled alone. But you never are really alone when travelling abroad.

Feeling Safe with my Group

Our group became a family, and we labeled a lot of our activities after that dynamic. I remember our group dinners that we would have each night we called “family dinners”. They were some of my favorite moments. I remember our first family dinner was awkward. We didn’t know each other senses of humor nor any similar traits or facts to discuss. It was introduction. But we all were also introduced to the same experiences at the same time. We had the traditional foods of the area together. We discovered each other’s tastes, likes, and allergies – funny enough. I learned that a dish I enjoyed at first had something I was allergic to. This was also one of the moments that I realized that how much I could rely on the people I was with. It was a lamb dish that had a cilantro stuffing. I am unfortunately allergic to the green seasoning. I took a couple bites before I asked if my friends knew what was in the dish. After learning of my allergy concerns the eleven girls made every effort to call a waiter over. Almost at once, they all started asking what was in the dish. Through rough translation of Spanish to English, we learned there was cilantro in the dish. However, the girls immediately cleared the dish from my plate and got me a new one. They all questioned if I needed an epi pen, quickly googling the closest restaurant in case I was to lost consciousness. The silly part was, I wasn’t severely allergic. The worst reaction I have ever had to cilantro was red lips and a scratchy throat. I had never swollen up or lost my ability to breathe, nor had I ever been close to that point. But these girls went out of their way to ensure I was safe. All they knew was that I was allergic, and they got to work. Each girl ensured I was safe and happy before returning to the meal. That was our fifth night in the country, and it was the first moment I realized I was truly safe.

Studying abroad can be scary, especially when going someplace new. But the resources around you can help you Your advisors, your cohort, and the knowledge of your university are all baby steps for relaxing before travelling. My key tip, soak it all in. Feel the fear, the nerves, the excitement, the curiosity, and everything else. Make the most of your trip and remember to push past the worries.

Thoughts on Studying Abroad

by Kaity Walker | Nov 15, 2023 | Study Abroad Advice

Hello Explorers! My name is Kaity, and I am happy you’re here! Out of the four of us, I am the one who is going to talk the most about travelling abroad. It is one of my favorite things to talk about, admittedly. I truly am one of those people who was “changed” by their study abroad trip. I have always wanted to travel. It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. When I got to college, I knew I was going to study abroad. My mind was set on going somewhere across the sea. My biggest concern was the language barrier.

Where to Study Abroad?

In high school I had declared that I wouldn’t go anywhere that didn’t speak English. Now I know that sounds bad, I understand that now. But as someone with extreme anxiety and a lack of language awareness, I wanted to go abroad to a place that spoke English. As I searched for programs at my school, I quickly realized that I would not be able to do so. All of the programs in primarily English-speaking countries were for majors different than what I had. I quickly discovered a program that would fit perfectly into my minor. A program that went abroad, had a small group, and was customizable to what you wanted to do. I applied without thinking much of the country. When I got accepted it dawned on me that I would be going abroad to Barcelona, Spain.

Packing Fears:

Do I need a Spanish translation book?

I had taken Spanish in high school and a little bit in college but vaguely understood the language. I was nervous about getting lost, being stuck in a place, and being unable to communicate myself. I was so afraid that something would happen. I started buying every Spanish translation book I could. By the time my trip rolled around I had collected about five. However, only one made the trip with me because it was small enough.

How to pack just the right amount?

Another fear of mine was trying to pack enough stuff. I am not a woman of minimalism. I am very much an over the top, over packer. I picked out one suitcase and spent a week deciding which outfits to take and which outfits to leave. My recommendation, bring items that you can mix and match. With the help of my travel scale, I was able to keep my bag below the fifty-pound maximum.

My Studies

This program was particularly appealing because I was able to customize it. My minor was honors, this is very broad and can be shaped to whatever major each student has. Because of this, I was able to customize the trip to whatever I wanted or needed. The only requirement: create three proposals for papers and then follow through with one. Our final paper had to be fifteen pages and reflect on our experience and knowledge gained.

My final paper topic? Graffiti. Because of my majors in English and Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication, I decided to do my project on something that combined visual rhetoric, communication, and writing. I focused on the graffiti in Barcelona and how it is a form of communication and protest instead of a crime. The trip itself taught me so much besides the street art I saw while walking around.

Where we lived:

I was in Barcelona for a month. We were there from the middle of May to the middle of June. Our group had seventeen students and two professors. We stayed in apartments in the more “residential” area. We were in a quieter are that was still within walking distance from major attractions. My apartment was a ten-minute walk from Sagrada Familia, one of the main attractions of Barcelona. Our apartment was in a building full of other apartments. We were lucky enough to have an in-room washer and dryer. We also had a small kitchen and living room. There were three bedrooms and one bathroom.

The Group Energy:

My favorite part was our little balcony that overlooked the street. We were able to watch the people walk by and see everything that goes in. My cohort was mostly girls. There were four boys and sixteen girls. The dynamic was always entertaining. There were a lot of big personalities in our group, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Our Professors:

Our professors were John, a Spanish professor, and Jessica, a history and women’s studies professor with a focus on Barcelona. It was amazing learning and living with them. Our professors didn’t stay with us but stayed close by.

Before I was jet set, I had anxiety about nearly every part of this trip. But, by the end, I had fallen in love with Spain. I managed quite easily in a country where I didn’t speak the language. Through travel dictionaries, previous knowledge, and the experience I gained while there I was able to get by quite well. If you have concerns, voice them! I felt most comfortable after practicing terms with one of the professors on our trip.

I saw everything Barcelona had to offer. From museums to cathedrals, mountains to beaches, and so much in between; I had an amazing time in Spain. The sites are unmatched. This trip will be a memory I keep for a lifetime. I cannot wait to revisit my “stomping grounds” in a few years. Stay tuned for more stories of my study abroad trips, Explorers.