This past weekend was my last one away from Sevilla until the end of my program, after an astounding two months of consecutive weekend trips. Studying abroad has given me the immense opportunity to not only live in Spain but also explore the many countries and cultures surrounding it at prices incomparable for travel from…

This past weekend I felt very fortunate to be able to see my parents during my stint abroad. Normally after a month or so away at Pitt, I will find myself retreating back to my hometown of Swarthmore to catch up on SNL episodes with family and spend time relaxing with my dog. Originally, I…

After my first visit to Portugal on the breathtaking Southern coast near Lagos, I knew I needed to come back to see more of what the country had to offer. Fortunately, our ISA program provides us with a free trip to Lisbon and I was able to explore some new cities including Sintra and Évora…

In June I received an email from ISA that proposed the option of going to Morocco for a week in November. Without hesitation, I knew that it was a great opportunity to see a part of the world I’d never been to and I desperately wanted to go, so I responded ‘yes’ promptly. The Morocco…

This past weekend our ISA Sevilla program traveled to the small town of Córdoba and then to the city of Granada. In both cities, Moorish culture is largely represented in their most famous monuments: the Mezquita in Córdoba and the Alhambra in Granada. Geographically, Spain is divided into 17 territorial landmasses called ‘autonomous communities’ which…

When you ask a student who has studied abroad how their overall experience went, their initial reaction is generally along the lines of, “Best decision of my life! GO!”. What they don’t mention is the transition within the first month or so when you are becoming accustomed to new things and ways of thinking that…

Firstly, I apologize for not having a photo of campus for this blog post, but here’s a photo of where I went this past weekend, Lagos, Portugal! I digress. This Fall semester I am attending Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO), situated on the outskirts of Sevilla. This relatively new, public university has around 11,000 students…

Thus far, one of the most challenging and unique transitions I’ve endured whilst studying abroad pertains to the Spanish meal schedule. Unlike the hearty American breakfast I’m used to consisting of eggs, toast and a smoothie (food is important to me), the Spanish tend to eat smaller portions for breakfast similar to what I consider…

Upon applying for a homestay I felt slightly nervous. It is no secret that some study abroad students arrive to their new international digs and are met with some unfortunate situations. By good luck, I fall into the group that loves their new home. My 200 year old home in the Triana neighborhood in Seville,…