It’s been just over a week since I returned home from Europe. After I left Madrid, I spent a lovely three days with my friend and her family at their home in Naples, which included a day trip to Rome. Since then, I’ve been back in my childhood home in Clarksburg, Maryland, where I’ve spent…

¡Hola todos! Before I begin my blog post, let me answer the question everyone has been asking: YES, it’s awesome being in Spain while they won the World Cup. Me and my friends got to witness the insanity that was Plaza Colón (pictured below), which apparently had over 800,000 people gathered around huge screens to…

¡Hola todos! As I’m just two weeks from the end of my internship, I have many reflections on navigating different communication styles both inside and outside of work environments. Many times throughout my experience in Spain, I have felt very grateful for orientations from Pitt and EUSA that explained “low context communication” culture. In the…

Hola todos! This past weekend I had an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. My friends and I went to Morocco! We went on a guided tour with CityLife Madrid, a company that visited our group during EUSA’s orientation. We were led by the enigmatic Adam, whose boundless energy made the trip even more magical….

Hola! I have been having a wonderful time exploring Spain. This weekend my friends and I went to Málaga, where we rented a boat and swam in the Mediterranean Sea. I’ve been doing so much sightseeing, working and exploring, and while I’ve loved being active it was very nice to have an experience that was…

After traveling to another city literally every weekend (and even another country during the week), I finally decided to stay put this past weekend. While many of my peers went to Sevilla, my new friend Ashley and I stayed back to enjoy what the outdoors of Madrid has to offer. We went hiking at La…

¡Hola! Time has been flying by here in Madrid (as it often does when you’re having fun), and I can’t believe it’s getting close to halfway through the program. This past week I had a friend from Pitt and my parents visit me, which made me realize how settled I’d become; I actually had recommendations…

¡Hola! My first full week in Madrid has been full of adventures and learning experiences. I began working for ActionAid, an international NGO focused on human rights and advocacy. For my next 2 months as an intern, I will be splitting my time between ActionAid Spain and the European Union office. Starting an internship in…

¡Hola todos! I am pleased to share that I have been settling in very well to life in Madrid. My host family has been incredibly welcoming, even giving me a present upon arrival (a book about Joaquín Sorolla, since they know I love art). My 3 host siblings are all in high school and incredibly…