Life in Roma: Sara Young

Buongiorno from Roma! I am very excited that I can take a break from homework to write to you fine women!

Being here in Rome has been a total dream come true for me. There are endless things to do and see here. My school lies right across the bridge from the beautiful Castel Sant’Angelo, due east of St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City. Our classes are really awesome because we have required field trips every Wednesday all around the city. I get to see and study places like the Colosseum, Vittoriano, Roman Forum, Pantheon and Vatican for class credit! I am also a part of a photography class which is great because I can bring more of a creative eye to the photos I will be bringing home. Whenever I have down time or breaks between classes, I usually just take a walk and get lost (voluntarily). It continuously blows my mind that you can turn a corner and be greeted by a monument that was built long before our time. I have been told that it takes a lifetime to fully understand Rome… I think that is the understatement of the year!

I have had the pleasure of seeing beautiful places inside of Italy as well as out. One of my favorites so far has been wine tasting in Tuscany with my IES program! My upcoming trips include Springfest in Munich, hiking in Cinque Terre, and visiting friends in Belgium and Ireland before I return home. Although I am very excited to start my internship at Abbott Labs this summer, I am not looking forward to the day that I hop on a plane for the last time.

Being abroad has taught me that transition and change is not easy, but it is totally worth it. Pushing yourself in a situation like this brings you to a new level of independence. I have learned a lot about this city and a lot about myself during my time here. Next time I walk past the Trevi Fountain I will toss in a coin and make a wish for my Wibbers!

Ciao ragazze, e buona Pasqua!

Maggie Morrissey takes on London

Cheers from London, Wibbers!

I miss you all so much! I'm currently deep into studying for my finals this week. It is so beautiful outside, so it is a drag being stuck inside studying! Luckily, London has a lot of green space and parks, so yesterday I laid in the grass and read "Hamlet" before my Shakespeare final.

I cannot believe my time abroad is almost over. Time flies by, doesn't it? I'm trying to enjoy every last second in this beautiful city before boarding my flight on Saturday. One of the greatest parts of the Study London program is that everyone on our program lives in the same dorm building, and there are tons of us here from IU. So, anytime I want to go explore the city and do something fun, I have lots of people who want to go with me! We are all trying to cross everything off our "London Bucket List" in these last few days.

Here are some things to add to your London Bucket List, if you are thinking of studying abroad here: walk through Regent's Park, eat the grilled cheese "toastie" at Borough Market, frolic around Picadilly Circus (during the day AND at night), channel your inner Hermione Granger at Platform 9 3/4 and the Harry Potter studio tour, paddle boat in Hyde Park, enjoy tea at Harrod's, stalk the royal family at Kensington Palace, have a drink at the top of the Shard, sing along at a concert at the O2 Academy Brixton, be artsy at the Tate Gallery of Modern Art, feel like you're in "What a Girl Wants" on the top of a double decker bus, take selfies in front of Big Ben, and dance the night away at Roxy on a Wednesday.

I'm going to miss it here, but I can't wait to see you all soon!

xx,

Maggs

Travels in Denmark: Katie Addison

Hello Wibbers all the way from København!  I hope all is going well in Bloomington!  I know you are all probably so excited that the warmer spring weather is finally here.

I have now been in Copenhagen, Denmark for a little over three months and I have to say, I absolutely love it. Never did I think I’d visit Denmark let alone call it home. The city is gorgeous, the classes are interesting, and the pastries are dangerously good. 

The classes here are all very fascinating.  Each professor has their own way of doing things and their own way of connecting the course material with the Danish culture.  I have learned so much about Denmark’s history, values, and current outlooks.  Two weeks ago I finished my midterms and was rewarded with a weeklong break for traveling.   During my time in Europe, I have been lucky enough to visit Croatia, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Luxembourg, and still have some trips coming up.  All of these places have been absolutely spectacular, eye opening, and really old.   Every time I visit somewhere new, I am constantly shocked by the amount of history present.  I recently saw a fortress that was built in 963.  The fact that there was no number 1 before the 963 was hard to wrap my mind around.

Thankfully, the weather here has gradually been getting warmer, which means Tivoli and the gardens will soon be opening!  I have heard that Copenhagen in the spring is beautiful and unlike anything else.  Just in the recent days, when the sun has been out, I have seen more Danes out and about then in all of January, February, and March combined.  I swear the population has either instantly tripled, or the Danes are finally coming out of hibernation.  I have just about a month left, and I have a lot to see and do during that time.  Europe has been an amazing home to me.  I am not even close to being ready to leave!

I miss you all!

Katie