Month: August 2016

Last semester, I studied abroad in Nantes, France as part of Grove City College’s study abroad program. If you’re curious why I choose to study abroad, I explained the process in a previous post. Below I describe my Thanksgiving break experience.

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Thanksgiving break came in a flash, which marked the remaining three week period of our European voyage. Throughout the semester, I spent my weekends local, visiting major tourist sites on the North West coast of France (including La Baule, Guérande, and St. Malo). But from November 20^th to November 30^th, I experienced a journey of a lifetime. Venturing from Barcelona, Spain to Florence, Italy all the way to Prague, Czech Republic. I felt as though I saw and observed more in 10 days than I have in my 20 years of life.

To kick off break, my friend and I boarded a flight and landed in Barcelona, a city full of passion, life and unforgettable spirit. After spending a rather interesting night at an apartment near the bus stop, we met up the following morning with some other friends from Grove City. We took the city by storm drinking fresh squeezed fruit smoothies at the La Boqueria, visiting Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya and taking pictures of Gothic Quarter’s breathtaking views. That night, along with the locals, we experienced the country’s national pastime by watching football at a popular restaurant eating tapas. The city was alive as Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona scored a hat trick which lead the team to a 5 to 2 victory over their opponents!

Believe it or not, the following day seemed even busier as Leah and I joined another GCC group at two of Spain’s most famous monuments: Gaudi’s Park Güell and the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. From beautifully gardened landscapes to detailed mosaic décor, Park Güell was an artistic experience all within itself. Personally, my favorite site was Sagrada Família. Upon entering the church, I was overcome with emotion and beauty. The exterior windows are made of stained glass while the interior of the building is structured with high posts and tiles made of white marble. Gaudi loved nature and created his architecture to represent God’s creation. Columns are carved into trees while the roof’s steeples are sculpted into the Fruits of the Spirit. My experience at Sagrada Familia was otherworldly and I feel so very blessed to have entered such a spiritual place of worship.

After a venturous weekend in Barcelona, we headed to Florence, Italy – the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Primarily recognized for its architecture, monuments and cathedrals, specifically The Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence has the ability to awe tourists of all backgrounds and interests. Our four-day visit was made possible and enjoyable through the service of Hop On Hop Off tour bus which took us through the entire city, dropping us off at Florence’s most famous monuments and buildings. Piazzale Michelangelo, being located on the hillside, was one of my favorite stops. From this location, one could see the entire landscape of Florence including the Duomo, surrounding mountains ranges and the Arno River. The tour also included a two hour excursion to the mountainside of Fiesole, a town and commune of the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany.

During my time in Italy, I could not get enough of Italy’s most favored cuisine including gelato, pasta and pizza. I often dream and desire to relive the moments of sitting in an Italian café sipping a cappuccino while enjoying a chocolate cannoli. In terms of social and recreational events, Florence is primarily recognized for its leather street markets. While visiting these markets I scored some great deals purchasing a leather wallet, belt and purse. Although short, my time in Florence was incredibly memorable through the culture’s art, architecture, cuisine and social atmosphere.

Our amazing adventure ended in so far my second favorite city in Europe: Prague, Czech Republic. Nicknamed the “City of a Hundred Spires,” Prague is the largest city in the Czech Republic and it looks as if it belongs in a fairy tale. From its Parisian architecture to friendly locals and safe atmosphere, Prague felt like a home away from home.

During our visit we took the Best of Prague tour which included a city walking excursion, boat cruise and typical Czech lunch. The tour was six hours long and included famous sights and monuments and a boat cruise. For lunch we had a wonderful meal of potato dumplings and Prague’s most famous delicacy, goulash. My three favorite stops on the tour were Lennon Wall, Astronomical Clock and Prague’s famous Christmas Markets. Because Prague is known for its origins in Baroque music and operas, my friends and I attended an opera at the National Theater. Overall my experience and time in Prague was unforgettable and I plan on returning to this magical city of history, music and welcoming atmosphere.

Upon returning back to the ESC, I was taken back by how amazing and unique God created his world and how wonderfully He designed each and every part of it!

Last semester, I studied abroad in Nantes, France as part of Grove City College’s study abroad program. Also, be sure to check out my post on why I chose to study abroad.

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During the course of lengthier vacation breaks, including Fall and Thanksgiving break, students are given permission to venture to varying countries of their interest. Upon deciding which country to visit, students are required to pair up in groups, reserve hotels and apartments as well as book flights. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, all groups are to submit a travel sheet to Mark and Deb Reuber (the program directors), describing where their group will be traveling along with information about airfare, apartments and other varying forms of transportation. Students are also required to notify their parents for consent before departure.

As our sixth and last week of the field trip program came to a close, we started packing our bags and printing out our boarding passes. I have always wanted to visit the homeland of my heritage and what better way to spend my fall break then to visit Ireland, a country full of luck, live music and lively people!

Once my group reached Ireland, we settled into our beautiful apartment (which was in the heart of Dublin). We took the streets by storm, exploring as much as we could before the sun went down. Later that evening we found ourselves at a nearby mall that was featuring a student night. All stores were offering student discounts and sales, which made for some wonderful souvenir shopping. After some great steals and bargains, we headed downtown to the world famous Temple Bar.

We woke up the next day, bright eyed and bushy tailed. The morning began with an early start as we ventured out at 7 a.m. to catch the Cliffs of Moher tour bus. The all-inclusive tour took us on a 13-hour journey from Dublin all the way to Galway which featured the famous cliffs. Personally, I believe our tour guide was the best part of the excursion. He sang, taught us Gaelic and provided us with an unforgettable experience that I will always cherish. After stopping at St. John’s castle, we arrived at the cliffs. It is so hard for me to put into words the feelings and emotions I felt as I crept to the cliff’s edges. Between the pumping adrenaline in my blood to the rapid beating of my heart, I was in complete amazement of God’s creative handiwork! Without railings or fences, one is held at his or her own risk. The harsh whip of the air and the smell of sea salt mesmerized my senses as I walked from cliff to cliff. After the cliffs, we enjoyed a traditional fish and chips dish at an authentic Irish pub right on the coast.

On our way home, we ventured through numerous limestone quarries, pastures, cemeteries and beautiful beaches. The following morning the lasses went shopping while the lads took a tour of the Guinness factory. During my time in downtown Dublin, I was able to see the spectacular Trinity College which was so elegantly preserved and well kept. We soon met up with the remainder of the group at the bus stop and headed towards our next destination, Scotland.

 

As we flew over Scotland I had no idea what to expect. Personally, Scotland was not on my mental radar of countries I was interested in visiting, but after firm persuasion, I was happy and content to visit the UK. We arrived around 7 p.m., just in time for the local Edinburgh versus Ireland rugby match. Fun was had by all, as we tried to blend in as best we could cheering on the Glasgow Warriors. Edinburgh by night, looked as though we had just arrived in a fairy tale. All buildings have externally remained the same for hundreds of years which gave the city a medieval vibe.

We had another early start, this time waking up at 5:30 a.m. to watch the sunrise at Arthur’s Seat. For those of you who may not know, Arthur’s Seat is a dormant volcano that is said to have the best panoramic view in all of Edinburgh. Upon arriving at the top of the mountain, I was in total shock. We were in a cloud, nothing could be seen below but white fluff. I started to cry because I was so overwhelmed and could not believe I was hundreds of feet in the air. As the sun rose, the view became more scenic as mountains and the city structure became visible. This was yet another wonderful experience where God revealed his presence and majesty ever so clearly to me.

As the day progressed we took a pleasant walking tour, located on Royal Road. Our tour guide took us to numerous historical places including St. Guiles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, the Elephant House and Greyfriars Kirkyard. We all had a wonderful dinner at the Standing Order which offered great traditional Scottish meals such as Haggis. I did venture to try some Haggis and I cannot say that I truly enjoyed it. The next day, we returned to St. Guiles’ Cathedral for mass and enjoyed a warm cappuccino at the Elephant House (Harry Potter was written there!), following the service.  We also had the opportunity to learn about Edinburgh’s history at the National Museum as well as Scottish National Gallery.

Overall I had a terrific fall break and made memories that will last me a lifetime. Both countries have such unique cultures but what both countries have in common are the very friendly residence. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ireland and Scotland and look forward to returning one day with my family and friends.