a list of things i’m homesick for #HogsAbroad in Italy

five weeks is a long time to be in a place so incredibly different than your home. it’s especially difficult because your setup is temporary and you’ve only packed what you could fit. you go without items you’re accustomed to having unlimited access to. adapting to this has been a really valuable experience and has taught me how to lessen my dependency on the material. i still miss my american things, though, and have kept a list of things i felt random longings for.

things i miss about america:

• ice. it’s virtually nonexistent in italy and no matter how hard i try, i can’t get behind lukewarm water. i also miss iced coffee, but italy makes up for that in unmatched hot espresso.
• air conditioning. another rarity due to a more limited access to electricity. we had days as hot as 99 degrees with no way to cool off. when a texan complains about the heat, you know it’s bad.
• walmart. we’re spoiled brats thanks to the convenience of this establishment. an employee whose sole job is to bag our groceries for us? a one-stop shop for all of life’s necessities? italians don’t roll that way.
• instant rice. the pace of life is very different here when it comes to food. it’s all about relaxing and connecting with people. that means that the markets here aren’t stocked in pre-cooked foods. as a college student, i’m having a bit of an identity crisis.
• the ability to look up the menu before meals. i’m absolutely the type of person who already knows what she’s going to order before i even leave the house. most restaurants don’t have websites here, though, because they’re tiny, family owned joints. most don’t even have their hours of operation listed.
• petting dogs. i learned the hard way that it’s not quite normal to pet other people’s dogs here. my theory is that they don’t treat their dogs like children, as we do in america. i actually catch myself pouting and reaching out toward cute dogs i know i can’t touch. it’s hard, okay?

of course, none of the things i miss are necessities and going without it is half the point of traveling and immersing yourself in a new culture. i’m breaking habits in order to step outside myself and gain appreciation for other ways of life. the italian way of life has tons of things they can boast over america, too.

things i’ll miss about italy when i’m home:

• cheap coffee and pastries. most mornings, it costs me 2 euros or less for a coffee beverage. the drinks are smaller here but american coffees have more milk in them so really, you’re getting the same amount of espresso. and 6 chocolate-filled croissants for 1.80 euros? can’t wait to go back to paying $7 for a latte.
• the emphasis on relationships. it’s so fulfilling to create meaningful connections with italians. i truly feel seen and valued by most people i interact with, especially when i wander around alone. italians are predisposed to help you when you’re not walking around with I’M A TOURIST stamped on your forehead.
• pure foods. no gmos, no fake sugars, real fruit. i watched a waiter make my strawberry daiquiri with a handful of real berries and not a trace of syrup. it’s nice not having to worry about what’s hidden in the food i’m consuming.
• the scenery. the weighty history of the buildings i walk past every day on my way to class will never be lost on me. there’s nothing in frisco, texas, as cool as the pantheon.
• not having to tip my waiter. this sounds stingy, but the wait staff actually gets paid at or above minimum wage and so tips aren’t necessary to make sure they earn what they deserve. it’s nice knowing people aren’t solely dependent on other people’s generosity to make a living.

i could make each list go on forever, but you probably get the idea. there are so many things that i appreciate about my homeland and many other things that i’ve learned to love in my new culture. going back to america this weekend will require another adjustment on my part. i’m probably going straight to chipotle after deplaning, and i have a strange urge to sit and watch a load of laundry go through the dryer (we hang our clothes to dry here). it has been pretty cool, though, to see all the ways i’ve grown accustomed to living a different way.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

"could be worse!" #HogsAbroad in Italy

when you’re living it up in italy, only taking two classes that require minimal effort, things could most definitely be worse. in fact, that was our mantra this past weekend. early friday morning, my friends and i got on the first of many metro trains to kick start our miniature vacation to the amalfi coast. we took a metro and then a train to naples (psa: the metro is the superior method of transportation in italy) and that was the only thing we had pre-planned. we completely winged the rest of the weekend.

the only way we could get from naples to our bungalow in sorrento was via the cicumvesuviana. you’ve probably never heard of it and you definitely don’t want to ever ride on it. it was the sketchiest, most crowded tram we could have found. it creaked and jerked like it was about to fall apart. we stood shoulder to shoulder without a/c while straddling our luggage and inhaling cigarette smoke for an hour. just when we thought the cart couldn’t fit one more body, the italian equivalent of a mariachi band pushed their way on and began blasting despacito. even if we wanted to drop coins in their basket, we couldn’t physically move to get into our purses. we did what we had to do, though, and made it to sorrento with smiles on our faces.

we were able to drop our bags off at the bungalow, which boasted a private view of the sea, and then went on a search for a bus to positano. evidently the sita bus doesn’t have an official stop. after flagging down every bus that passed by, we found what we assumed to be the right bus and lo and behold, it was filled to the brim with people. my best comparison is a can of sardines, but like, vacuum sealed. it’s important to note that the route to positano consists entirely of switchbacks on the edge of the cliff. one of us had to focus on not throwing up, another was being launched across the aisle, and all of our hands were so sweaty that we couldn’t grip the poles. for another hour, we were hysterically laughing and also trying not to fall into the doors and tumble down the face of the mountain.

don’t worry, though; we arrived safely and the process of getting there made the breathtaking view that much more incredible. positano was the most beautiful place i’ve ever seen. we laid out on the beach, swam around the crystal clear water, ate lunch at a restaurant on the sand, and browsed in little linen shops until the sun began to set. we watched it go down while drinking fresh strawberry daiquiris and eating pasta on a rooftop bar. when it got dark, we went down to the bottom of the city to retrace our original path back to where the bus had dropped us off. no one talks about the amount of stairs you have to climb in positano, either. climbing 400 steps to the top of the duomo was child’s play compared to this. at the top, we decided to taxi back to sorrento and managed to wave down a van that fit us all. our driver was lovely and gave us a history lesson while teasing us about our american obsession with ice water.

day two proceeded in similar fashion. we took the circumvesuviana, bless our hearts, to the port of sorrento after missing the tram we intended to take. a ferry took us to capri and as soon as we docked, we hightailed it to a pastry shop and munched on some of the best croissants and coffees we’ve had yet at grotta azzurra. then, we bought passage on a boat that sailed us around the entire island of capri. halfway through, we literally jumped off that boat into a 4-seater rowboat and when the waves subsided, lay flat on our backs as the guide launched us into an underwater cave. we slipped him 5 euros to let us jump into the blue grotto, which illuminates a neon blue due to the reflection of the sunlight through the tiny opening. back on the island, we sprinted back onto the ferry as the crew was untying the boat from the dock and waving at us to hurry. to save a little money after an expensive day, we swam at the public beach in sorrento and took home some zucchini flower pizzas from the beach bar. we ate them on our little porch in our damp swimsuits, watching the sun go down. then we got gelato from a bakery and stayed up late belly laughing at all our attempts of getting good pictures of such a hectic and fulfilling day.

this has been my favorite weekend of the trip, not in spite of the challenges, but because of them. not many people share the realistic aspects of traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language. the destinations are picture-perfect but the process can be messy. i mean, the hotel van got into an accident at the bottom of the driveway on the way to drop us off at the tram station. the driver of said van loaded our suitcases upright on their wheels and we were doubled over trying to stifle our laughter as they crashed around the trunk the entire way. we got kicked out of a pool for not buying a swim cap. we spent an eternity trying to get cute pictures in capri and ended up with maybe two acceptable shots. if you have the wrong attitude, these things can cast an irreversible shadow on your trip. luckily, i made friends with some girls who would rather laugh til they cried than complain.

we accomplished what we set out to do. we figured it all out on our own (special thanks to apple maps and universal hand gestures). we saw so many beautiful things, met tons of wonderful people, made unforgettable memories, and learned to be independent. i could have written this entire blog post without mentioning any of the less-than-ideal stuff, but that’s not always how life works. of course the view was great, but the path that lead us there brought so much meaning to the experience. miley cyrus really hit the nail on the head when she said it’s the climb.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. 

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

a weekend in firenze #HogsAbroad in Italy

this weekend, half of the students in my program traveled by train to florence for roughly three days of museum tours, eating, and exploring. we saw many cool things, including an aerial view of the city from the top of the duomo, the gucci gardens (gucci began in florence fyi), and famous paintings such as the birth of venus.

day one, we stepped off the train and went straight into the medici family mausoleum. multiple sculptures crafted by michelangelo rest here along with late members of the most important family in florence. we took a break for lunch, where i devoured the best cacio e pepe at a little place called trattoria da guido. of course, we had to test out the gelato around and unanimously concluded that the ice cream from don nino right next to the duomo was the best we’d had in the country. they also had a nice build-your-own cannoli bar and who wouldn’t love that?

our professors then sent us to the top of the duomo. i’ve actually climbed it before, but walking off that final step into the blinding sunlight still made my chest compress. that feeling of almost flying, of being able to see the entire city and the mountains that surround it- that’s worth the four-hundred-something stairs. we then rewarded ourselves with florence’s specialty: wild boar. i had mine served in a red sauce over noodles and let me just say that the university of arkansas has a very tasty mascot.

day two began bright and early with a tour of the ufitzi gallery and the basilica of santa maria novella, which provide access to some of the most breathtaking ceilings. we followed that up with lunch at mercato di san lorenzo, which sits in the middle of the city. it’s a two-story building housing dozens of different restaurants and bars. we split up and picked from sushi, fried chicken, classic italian, smoothies, burgers, seafood, and restaurants dedicated entirely to truffle dishes. we spent the rest of the afternoon shopping around for some of the best leather in the world. florence, after all, was founded on the industry (pro tip: the famous market in the middle of the city doesn’t have an ounce of real leather for sale. explore the brick and mortar shops a little bit away from the crowds to find real italian masterpieces).

our activity for the evening was sipping some wine in the rooftop bar at the grand hotel minerva while the sun set on the duomo. we then had some cocktails and snacks at konnubio, a quaint and intimate lounge with an open roof and tons of greenery. to conclude our saturday in florence, we managed to find an irish pub popular among american students. in fact, we met lots of other students from arkansas and even caught the end of a championship football game that ended quite favorably for the italians.

our third and final day was a brief walking tour of the city, which is so small that we walked down every single street in a couple of hours. at volume, i tried my first shakerato, which is the italian equivalent of iced coffee. hot espresso, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker. the coffee froths at the top and cuts out the need for any milk. i might start making my coffee that way back home! for lunch, we came across rosalía, a precious salad bar offering fresh juices and american-style coffee. and then it was back on the train to rome.

i’ve always loved florence and how the vibe is more laid back and relaxed compared to rome’s hustle and bustle. it’s a lot smaller and less urban, which is why a couple days was all we needed to exhaust the city of sights and sounds. the one thing we didn’t get to do this time around was see michelangelo’s david due to ticket scarcity. i highly, highly recommend it to other travelers, though. it puts every other sculpture to shame (except bernini’s apollo and daphne. they’re tied for first). if you’re an arkansas student considering this program, just know that florence is one of the best cities in italy and the fact that it’s included in the curriculum is truly amazing! if you’re just someone keeping up with my time here, i guess all you need to know is that florence will always have a special place in my heart.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

livin la vida local #HogsAbroad in Italy

one of the things that my friends and i are challenging each other to do this month is to behave like a local. or at least, try our hardest to. in some ways, this has been an easy transition. we’ve taken the subway without asking any questions, conquered the bus system, sipped our coffees standing at the bar, bought produce at a corner stand, and refrained from asking restaurants to split our check. however, in other ways, trying to shed our american assumptions has proven to be more difficult. here are five things i’ve picked up on and adapted to in an attempt to make my time here as authentic and rewarding as possible.

1. italians don’t wait patiently in line for anything. not for coffee, not for food, not for events and definitely not for the bus. you have to be a little pushy to get what you want in a timely manner and as long as you’re not physically or verbally abrasive, no one will scoff at you. there’s no better way to look like an intimidated, lost american than standing toward the back of the huddle in the coffee shop and watching everyone else effortlessly catch the barista’s attention (pro tip: they sometimes change the menu according to the time so don’t be shocked if the barista says you can’t get a drink with milk in it after 4pm).
2. dinner is not the time to get drunk. the relationship with alcohol in italy is one of the biggest cultural differences i’ve experienced. casual, social drinking is emphasized here while drinking to get blacked out is almost unheard of. if you want to go out with your friends, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs, but if you’re eating pasta with your girls, don’t overdo it on the wine. you’ll be out of place and potentially perceived as disrespectful.
3. the dress code is nicer here than in america. on a day to day basis, italians tend to look instagram-ready. you don’t see a lot of leggings and sweatshirts, even on college students walking to early morning classes. if you want to keep the negative attention off yourself and experience what it’s like for those who live in rome, up your style a little bit. if you really want to blend in, go for the neutral colors or even better, pile on the black and reach for the leather. from what i’ve noticed, the aesthetic here is clean, minimalist, and modern with a touch of casual chic. confusing? yeah, i’m still trying to catch on myself.
4. the cars will not hit you. at least not in rome. many of the crosswalks do not have buttons for you to press and are rarely placed at actual intersections with traffic lights. that means you’ll be crossing four lane roads without any way to make the cars stop except for your body. ever been to new york city? it’s like that but worse. the key is to realize that the cars are not going all that fast and they know to watch for pedestrians. the other key is to just be ballsy. it may seem like they’re going to flatten you, but they will absolutely swerve around you as long as you make eye contact and don’t jump out right in front of them. do not, and i repeat, do NOT stand on the corner and wait for them to stop. they will literally laugh at you from behind the windshield.
5. everything costs money, even the water at dinner. you will be offered either sparkling or still water at every meal, and even if you order the flat water, it will still show up on your bill. typically, so will that basket of bread that they sometimes bring without asking. do not be afraid to decline these things! i’ve been carrying and refilling my own plastic water bottle so that i don’t end up spending thirty euros on water by the end of the trip. also, those guys lining the streets trying to give you bracelets? they will never give you anything for free. i’ve seen them put jewelry on people so tight they can’t get it off and then demand payment. just ignore them or say “no grazie” and keep walking. don’t even slow down; they’re hustlers trying to profit off polite tourists.

this list is by no means comprehensive, but i feel like these five things have been the most important differences i’ve noticed during my short time here. since i recognized them and made the conscious effort to conform to them, i’ve found myself getting more confident and comfortable in italian culture. i’m sure that when i get back to the states, i’ll be saying “va bene” to my waiter and asking for aperol spritzes at jj’s out of habit. but that’s a sign that your travels have truly changed you and opened your eyes to a new way of living.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

week one overview #HogsAbroad in Italy

my first week in italy has come and gone and looking back, it feels like i’ve been here much longer than that. my new friends and i have packed each day with as much adventure as possible, walking between five and ten miles a day to lay eyes on and brush our hands against as many historical monuments as possible. included with our program is a trip to florence (next weekend) and some tours of museums and places like the colosseum (in a few weeks), and so on our free days and weekends, we’re left to our own devices.

the most memorable moments thus far are hard to narrow down. walking through campo marzio to see the exact location where julius caesar was stabbed twenty-three times, climbing the spanish steps and looking down over the historic center of rome, going underground to see the original streets of ancient rome; these are a few that make the cut. of course, it’s the little things that always end up being my favorite memories. sitting on my laptop in a coffee shop and the barista asking to take my picture because she thought it was funny, wandering around at 2am to see what rome looks like without all the people, meeting other study abroad students from texas in tiny basement bars. i can’t believe how many times i’ve laughed this week or unintentionally whispered “wow” under my breath.

the other night, i had terrible (and i mean truly awful) italian food. you don’t believe me? my roommate’s ravioli came out frozen and my gelato tasted like i was drinking straight from a torani syrup bottle. but i also munched on fantastic 4 euro pasta while sitting on a wall overlooking the tiber river. we got yelled at for not wanting to buy a (clearly NOT) handmade ring but we also spent twenty minutes talking with a sweet italian woman we met while wandering down a pretty alleyway. we were given a sexist lecture from a male panhandler who didn’t take rejection very well (it’s not just america, people) but the same barista who took my picture remembered me and poured a heart into my cappuccino. the balance is real, and i feel like it’s necessary to have both the encouraging and the discouraging experiences.

after spending a few days here in high school, i had completely romanticized rome in my memory. now that i have time to truly dive into the depths of the culture here, i have realized that i still adore this place endlessly despite its flaws. every single place has flaws, but those flaws do not make up the heart and spirit of this city. i feel like i’m gaining a truer understanding of everything rome is and is not and i know that i’ll still be obsessing over it for years to come. i guess that’s what they call true love.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

so i’m in rome (now what?) #HogsAbroad in Italy

i’ve been in rome for almost a week now and it’s taken about this long to get adjusted to living here. now that i’ve had the chance to explore the area and get comfortable, i feel extremely confident about the next couple of weeks. however, the moment the plane touched down at the airport, i had this sinking feeling in my gut.

i’m stuck in a foreign country for a month and i have no idea how to speak the language. i don’t know the bus system. i don’t know how to order coffee. i’m completely and utterly unprepared for this.

i thought it would only be fitting my first blog post would be the six ways i felt were most effective and healthy in helping me get oriented in a new country.

1. i wandered. our class schedule was very sparse the first week and so we had ample time to explore the area around us. this might seem very obvious, but the key here is to roam around without a map. not alone, of course, and not if you’re trying to get somewhere specific. but in a group, take as many streets as you can, even if you walk in circles, to get a sense for what stores, restaurants, and landmarks are near. not only will you quickly become more comfortable navigating, but you’ll also find tons of hidden gems and photo opps.
2. i learned major streets first. the road system in rome is not like america. there’s no gridlock system and the smaller roads don’t always have names. my apartment is two streets down from a large and important road and so if i ever get uncertain about how to get home, all i have to do is find gulio cesare or germanico and i can get back home with familiarity. it’s also helpful to know the names of the major streets in case you need to ask for directions.
3. i spoke bad italian. it’s true that the majority of people you interact with in italy speak good english. it was a major relief to realize that i could come to understandings quite easily with the locals through body language, motion, and speaking slowly. however, i’m not in america anymore. i’m on someone else’s turf and it’s a sign of respect to try to adapt to the culture here. i guarantee you that every barista i speak to knows i’m american just by looking at my shoes, but they all love the effort and humorously award my terrible italian grammar and pronunciation with a kind smile or a laugh. it actually seems to make the locals like you more and it also helped me feel more comfortable being immersed in a new country.
4. i made mistakes. tons of them. certain things work so much differently here and there’s no way to figure out which ones or how until you try. sure, a local might notice that you ordered your coffee a little funny or tried to buy something cheap with a big bill (pro tip: don’t do it). but no one besides you is going to care. i ordered my coffee wrong the first time, listened to how the barista repeated my order after we came to an understanding, and now that’s how i order it everywhere. instead of shying away from things because i’m afraid of looking ridiculously american, i let these experiences teach me how to have a more authentic experience. when you travel, there’s no time for fear. mistakes help you acclimate.
5. i broke down formal barriers. to emphasize, the only italian i know are the very, very basic phrases. and even my knowledge of those are laughable. knowing that i sound stupid has the potential to discourage me from interacting with italians in the same way i would interact with americans. let me say it another way: when i order pasta, i make the first joke about my american-ness with the waiter and it automatically opens both of us up to friendly banter and creating natural relationships with one another. this is hugely important in becoming oriented in italy because of tip number six.
6. i frequented the same spots. not what you expected to read in a travel blog, right? the local culture of italy is to return to the same places often, sometimes multiple times in a day. it’s not about getting in and out quickly but forming personal relationships with bartenders and baristas and waiters. communication is such a huge value here, refreshingly so compared to the hustle and bustle of american cities. in between branching out and trying new places, try to make your face known in the places nearest to where you are staying. it feels good to be a regular in the usa, but it feels even better when the barista at the cafe across the street remembers your order. it’s also comforting to have familiar italian faces to boost your morale if you have a negative experience at a random gelato place across town.

of course, there are many other things i’ve been doing to help myself have the most authentic, fulfilling experience while i’m in this incredible place. there’s almost no way to truly prepare yourself for the culture shock. the best way is to throw yourself into the culture and lose your fear of embarrassment. the southern hospitality we all know and love is so real here, and most everyone here wants to help you and have a relationship with you in some form. open yourself up to these experiences because way too soon, you’ll be back in texas or arkansas or whatever state you’re from and you might wish you’d been a little bit more willing.

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

Welcome! #HogsAbroad in Italy

friends, family, students, professors- thanks for stopping by! as a social media ambassador for the university of arkansas’s office of study abroad and international exchange, i will be using this blog to talk about my experiences during my month abroad in rome, italy.

during my time overseas, i will be taking two upper-level humanities courses at the university’s rome center and living among the locals in an apartment with three other girls from my school. in between attending lectures and completing homework assignments, i’ll be wandering the cobblestone streets of the eternal city and soaking in anything and everything i can.

ever since i spent a week in various parts of italy as a high school senior, i thought about returning to this country every single day. i wanted to spend enough time there to learn more of the language, establish favorite spots, learn short cuts and even become a regular at some of the cafes. as an almost college senior, i am fortunate enough to have been accepted into this program and given the opportunity to do exactly that almost four years later.

i hope you enjoy following along on my adventures and if you’re a university student considering a study abroad program for yourself, i hope you find my blog both informational and inspiring! i truly believe that traveling can very quickly teach a person so much about themselves and the world we live in. i can’t wait to see the ways in which this trip challenges and rewards me!

--
Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

The Great Ocean Road #HogsAbroad in Australia

On the second half of mid-semester break, some friends and I traveled along The Great Ocean Road. To start off our journey, we walked around Melbourne. I got to see the tennis courts where The Australian Open is held. It was really cool to see the courts because I have seen them on T.V. so many times.

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia. We stopped along some beautiful places. Some of the best places were The 12 Apostles, London Bridge, The Tree Top Walkway, the Thunder Cave, and Umpherston Sinkhole. We just drove along the road, stopping wherever we pleased. It was not as structured as New Zealand like in my last post. All-in-all, such a fun way to spend my last week of vacation. Below are some pictures from the trip.

School has started back up, and now I'm off studying again.

--
Junior Christine Rheinberger is spending the spring 2019 term in Australia through our U of A Exchange program at the University of Newcastle.

Read more from Christine at https://crheinberger16.wixsite.com/website/blog

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

Sleep is for the weak #HogsAbroad in Australia

Wow! I did not realize I had not posted in a month! This past month has been hectic, and it does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. I had a lot of homework, assessments, and quizzes to do at the beginning of April. School picked up heavy because mid-semester break was coming. 

The second week of April, I went on a weekend trip with Don and Ace.

The first day of the trip, we walked around Sydney. I got to see the Sydney Opera House, along with Chinatown and Bondi Beach. It was so fun to just walk around. We even took a ferry to go to different places in Sydney.

On Sunday, we took the train to hike Blue Mountains. It was absolutely beautiful. Before we hiked, we went to The 3 Sisters lookout. To start the hike off, we took the Giant Stairway, consisting of 998 steps. Even though we were going down the stairs, it was still exhausting. I can not even imagine what it was like to go up. After taking the journey down, we walked around to see waterfalls and great views. The hike back up was not as bad because there were little lookouts to stop at and walk around.

This past week, mid-semester break started. Me and some friends went to New Zealand for the week.

Our home and vehicle for the next 5 days, was this bright green camper van. There were 2 beds, so the 5 of us were nice and snug at night for sleeping. In the van, there was a stove top, sink, and kitchen supplies. Kevin and Ethan were the best drivers ever, driving us along the south part of New Zealand. Our flight landed in Christchurch. We stayed in a hostel that night, picking up the van in the morning. From Christchurch, we drove to Queenstown.

In Queenstown, some of us did the Nevis Swing (the biggest swing in the world). It is a 134 meter drop. It was only scary for the first 2 seconds because we were just free falling. After the free falling was over and all the screaming was done, Ethan and I just looked around at the pretty views as we swung back and forth. Once the swing slowed down, we got reeled back up. It was exciting having a little adrenaline running through our veins. I know I was a little scared, but I think my mom was way more scared just watching the video I sent her.

The final 2 days of the trip, we turned in our camper van for a smaller car. We stayed in hostels again. We were supposed to go to an observatory for stargazing, but it was cloudy. Instead of stargazing, we stayed in and played cards. It was kind of nice to stay in and relax. We had been driving around so much, constantly having something fun planned. We had an early flight of 6:30 am back to the Sydney airport. Since it was an international flight, we got to the airport 3 hours early just to be safe. I do not think anyone was feeling too great getting up at 3 am, but we all got to sleep on the plane. Once we landed in Sydney, we took the 2.5 hour train ride back to Newcastle.

--
Junior Christine Rheinberger is spending the spring 2019 term in Australia through our U of A Exchange program at the University of Newcastle.

Read more from Christine at https://crheinberger16.wixsite.com/website/blog

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Christine? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.

2 countries, 2 days #HogsAbroad in Spain

Y’all. This trip! I was SO eager to get through the week and hop on my flight. Jess and I booked this trip at the very beginning of the semester and it was finally here! Vienna was at the top of both of our lists so of course we had to work it in.

A few weeks ago a Jess had the crazy idea of doing Vienna in a day and then heading to Prague for a day trip. Prague was also at the top of my list and flights from Madrid to Prague and vice versa are ridiculously expensive so I said let’s do it. We had already booked the hostel and flight home so we knew that we would have to come back to Vienna the second night. Everyone told us we were crazy, and we knew we were crazy, but we we’re going to do it anyway. I consulted with my friend Madeline who is studying abroad in Prague this semester and she made us feel confident that we could see the highlights in one day. So we booked our train tickets. Two countries in two days, no problem, just a severe lack of sleep.

As soon as we landed in Vienna we hit the ground running, well after a quick pit stop at the hostel to freshen up a bit and put our bags down. (side note: we stayed at a Wombats Hostel and I HIGHLY recommend them if you’re ever in Europe! This is my second time staying at one of their five locations and are seriously the best!) Right across from our hostel was this adorable market with endless restaurants, gift shops, and tea shops. It smelled so incredible. We honestly could have spent the whole day there. Luckily, it was in our direct path to the cathedral so we had to walk through it.

Our mission was the city center and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Holy heck with every step we were in love. We passed a beautiful white and gold art museum, the Opera House, (we were 3 minutes late for the tour and weren’t even allowed entrance into the building. sad.) and just an abundance of beautifully unique and decorated buildings with gilded facades and glorious iron balconies. Ultimately, Jess and I felt that it was a mixture of Belgium and Germany. Though I have never been to Belgium, I took Jess’ word for it.

This cathedral. Might be in my tops. First off, the tile roof – are you kidding me? The juxtaposition with the gothic elements of the building is just beautiful and so intriguing. I want to know the history behind it. And then inside we were met with the most wonderful surprise: an art installation. The piece was entitled “Sky Full of Stones” and it was magical. I love that the Catholic church allowed for a contemporary art piece to occupy its vault during the Lenten Season. Yes, it obscured the view of the altar but its okay because St. Stephen’s participates in the tradition of covering the altar in a cloth during Lent as well, to be revealed on Easter. I could go on and on about this piece, but I’ll save if for my art friends. In short: I’m obsessed, well done Peter Baldinger.

After I pulled myself out of the church (I could’ve stayed in there all day) we headed to the palace to see none other than Gustav Klimt and his famous piece “The Kiss.” It was everything I dreamed of and more. Pictures honestly don’t do it justice. But of course, I’ll upload one. And another Klimt, just for good measure. After perusing through the galleries we were both completely exhausted and starving.

After dinner and desert we wandered, got snacks and headed back to the hostel for some rest before our day trip to Prague. I think I maybe got three hours of asleep, worried we would oversleep and miss our train. Of course we didn’t and after what felt like forever we arrived in Prague. Luckily, my friend Madeline is studying in Prague this semester so she sent me an incredible itinerary of things to do and places to eat. Sadly, she went to Vienna the day we went to Prague so we couldn’t meet up.

We followed Madeline’s plan as close as possible and saw a majority of the sites in our short six-hour span. The town center is amazing and the guy constantly blowing bubbles added to the magic. We started church hopping and wandering into any building that was open and free. We also found the Russian nestling doll store Haley found three years ago. I made Jess go in and we were immediately greeted with “Where are you from? What team do you like?” Love this place. If John’s wasn’t already gifted a set by Haley I would’ve bought one.

Eventually we made our way to the Charles Bridge where I think every person in the Czech Republic was standing. We practically had to push our way through the bridge to get to the other side and then hiked up to the castle. The castle was very confusing and we had no clue where to buy tickets so we mainly just wandered around and went in every side door with a free entrance that we could. We did find the most beautiful stained glass though. That and the view made the hike totally worth it.

By this point we were again tired and hungry. We headed to Madeline’s favorite restaurant and boy it did NOT disappoint. Pilsner and Goulash, you can’t go wrong. Though we were stuffed we made room for the dessert we’d been seeing all around town: trdelník (yes that’s spelled correctly)

Take aways from the weekend: I’m in love. That being in Austria gave me a sense of familiarity since it is a German speaking nation, while Czech is totally new territory for me. I’m glad I’m pushing outside of my comfort zone and experiencing new places and languages. I am so incredibly fortunate that English is my first language since it is spoken nearly everywhere. Regardless, I am beyond desperate to return to both. There are so many museums, small exhibits, and tiny treasures I want to go back and explore. Also Prague is CHEAP so live it up. Also, warning: you have to pay to pee in Prague.

Also, Jess and I are the most compatible travel partners. We got hungry at the same time, need to rest at the same time, had an itinerary but didn’t mind veering to seek out something cool that caught our eye, loved taking pictures (follow @worldwidewalton on Instagram for some shots from the weekend!), and were willing to sacrifice sleep for experience. I am so happy Jess and I have become so close over the semester. I cannot wait for our upcoming Budapest and Warsaw trip!

--
Senior Darci Walton is spending the spring 2019 term in Spain with through our U of A Exchange program at Universidad Nebrija, Madrid.

Read more from Darci at https://worldwidewalton.home.blog/

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Interested in becoming a HogsAbroad Social Media Ambassador like Darci? Contact Katie at ksabo@uark.edu.