The problem with crossing the street

I think one of my favorite things about studying abroad is being surprised by things that one never expects could be surprising.  I enjoy this because I think it says a lot about what we as people are used to in our daily lives, about what just happens around us without much notice.  So along these lines, I find it funny that one of my bigger concerns in the month that I’ve been in Australia hasn’t been anything like adjusting to the culture, feeling overwhelmed by being in a new city, or not knowing where to go (though of course, these are applicable), but rather one of those little things that one never expects couple be surprising: crossing the street.

Yes, crossing the street. (more…)

Maybe Studying, Definitely Abroad

I should probably start this entry off by introducing myself: Hi UCSB, I’m Drea. I’m a third-year history major studying abroad in Lyon, France. I’ve been here since August and let’s just say that it’s been one hell of a vacation. I’m not going to beat around the bush with that because it’s true – sure, I “go” to class. But I don’t like to let “class” get in the way of my travels or joie de vivre (See what I did there? Tried to be cross-cultural by saying “joy of living” in French).

If you’ve already stopped and asked yourself, “But Drea? I’ve heard of Paris, France – but Lyon? That’s crazy speak. Where is that?” To you, I say: I had that exact same question seven months ago. Lyon is the 2nd largest metropolitan in France – the first being Paris. It’s situated in the Rhone Alps (which makes snowboarding, or as I like to call it “shredding the gnar-gnar,” the Alps is a mere 1-hour train ride away), it’s the hometown of modern cinema (thanks to the Lumière Brothers), and it’s the gastronomical capital of France.

What does “gastronomical capital of France” mean exactly? It means that Lyon’s culture and reputation is based largely on food – mouth-watering, taste bud titillating, “I wish it were more socially acceptable to wear sweat pants out to dinner” food. Allow me to start by explaining (while salivating) their assortment of French cheeses: they have hundreds of specialty cheese shops and open-air markets dedicated to just finding the perfect cheese, from Camembert to Roquefort to anything in between.
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Sounds From Down Under

Waking up to the sounds of La Trobe University is my favorite part of the day. The sounds of Australia are vivid, fresh, and new; they reiterate the fact that I am currently “down under”. Having only been here at La Trobe University for three weeks, I have felt as though I have been here for two months. The campus is active with sporting clubs, picnics, and movements of students just beginning classes. I do find, however, that it is great to escape the movements of campus by taking a tram ride into the city of Melbourne for an evening or day- it is the most beautiful city in the world. The tram ride into the city is about 45 minutes, but it goes by fast—and once you are there, it’s worth the crowded tram ride. My favorite food to get in the city is sushi (It is the cheapest food here—you can get 2 rolls for $3.00!). The best place I have found to eat, however, was in Fitzroy (just about a 10 minute tram ride out of the Melbourne CBD (Central Business District): a Thai restaurant called “Patee Thai.” There I took off my shoes and sat on the floor to enjoy a delicious lamb curry after an evening of exploring Federation Square. (more…)

B(o)log(na)

I suppose I should give some sort of introduction, both of myself and my situation here in Italy, this being my first blog post here and all. First blog post anywhere in fact. Anyway, I’m Mark and I’m vacationi… er,  study in Bologna, Italy this semester. I’ve actually been in Italy since the beginning of the year, but I was in Siena for the first half. After my wonderful experience there, I couldn’t bring myself to kiss good Italian pizza goodbye just yet, and so I decided to stay just a little bit longer. Or something like that.

Bologna’s a lot different than Siena. I made an incredibly clever vacation joke up there (am I right?!), but the fact is that Siena really was as close to a vacation as you can get while still technically attending classes. We traveled every weekend, went to bars every night, and just generally passed those three months without a care in the world. I kid you not, a seventy-something year old Italian grandmother cooked me dinner every single night, and it was as good as you think. (more…)

La Dolce Vita (con Nutella)

Buonacera to all of you! I’m currently studying in the UC Rome program — in Italy, obviously. As of right now, I have been in Europe for one month and seventeen days. And let me tell you: it’s AWESOME! I am literally in love with the city, the buildings, the ruins, the river — everything. Granted, I am a classics and Renaissance studies double major, so this place is basically my Mecca. Today, per esempio, we visited Emperor Augustus’s mausoleum and altar of peace during class. For those of you who a) don’t know who Augustus is b) have never heard of either structure or c) don’t give a crap, shame on you!!! It was awesome to be able to see where one of the greatest rulers of Western civilization chose to be buried, and to see an excavated monument from the ancient Roman empire dedicated to him (I mentioned I was a classics major, right?) And all this was covered extensively by my professor right in front of the monument during class. Unbelievable, right?! We have site visits like these every week where we get to go out into the city and learn about history right where it took place.

Basically, the nerd in me wets her pants daily.

Besides class and trying to learn Italian everyday (for me, it’s an uphill struggle), my friends and I explore the city via walking, food, and, of course, drinking (oh, hello nonexistent drinking age!). We try to explore everything we can when we can, but despite Rome’s centralized historic center, we have yet to experience even half of what Rome has to offer. (more…)

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