LIVING IN MADRID #HogsAbroad in Spain

what’s it like living in madrid, spain for 127 days !!!!!!

i’ve always sort of known that i would go, study, live, etc abroad at some point in my life… i’ve taken spanish since my freshman year of high school, and it is one of my majors in college ! i actually was in the process of applying for spring of my sophomore year of college, but i got a little nervous… and decided it would be better to go the following year !

TIME FLIES. and before i knew it… it was time to prepare !

spain was my top (and only choice) for places i wanted to go.

i chose an exchange program which is different than most… always being last minute a lot of external programs (like ISA, etc) were full… and my advisor suggested an exchange. i had interned in d.c. the summer before… i went in knowing absolutely no one and had the time of my life ! so with a little pep talk i was up for the challenge… an exchange program is different in a lot of ways. first off, it’s all up to you ! the whole process. your visa. flights. friends. weekend trips etc. sort of a sink or swim kind of thing… which can be really scary but all the more rewarding. a BIG plus of choosing exchange is my tuition from my home university transferred to my university in madrid. and… lucky for me, that’s all taken care of with scholarships… being a nerd pays off !

i nervously chose and submitted my application all on the day it was due… pretty typical of me being so indecisive and proof that it’s OK to make last minute BIG decisions.

another choice was… where do i live !!!! LUCKY for me, one of my closest friends, roomie, etc, N, had studied in madrid at the university i was going to the previous summer. she had stayed in a homestay and mentioned requesting her host mom… BEST DECISION (other than studying abroad in the first place) … with my university there was the choice of a dorm, homestay, or finding your own housing. a homestay was the best choice for me… wanting to improve my spanish. my host mom, M, (truly an angel) did not speak a word of english… sink or swim !

ARRIVAL
my mom and i went 2 weeks before… we spent a week in paris (ugh dreamy) and then a week in madrid before classes started ! we got all my stuff moved in at my host mom’s apartment… and explored my new home ! i am such a mama’s girl, and this honestly helped me so much ! the adjustment was easier than i ever thought it could be !

homesickness… ok, so shockingly enough… this wasn’t really a thing for me. like i said, i had wanted to do this for SO long. there was literally no time to miss home. don’t get me wrong… i missed my brother’s constantly teasing me, my dog bud’s sweet cuddles, date nights with my boyfriend, my mom and dad’s encouraging talks… in person, but my support system loved me just as much from roughly 4,674 miles away. what other time would i get to explore entirely new places freely like this? live live live… go go go !

SCHOOL
i went to universidad antonio de nebrija… i literally cannot speak highly enough of this place… i took 15/18 hours (i’m still not too sure…) of spanish classes… NADA en inglés (super super super good for my spanish) …truth is even though i’d taken tons of spanish in the u.s… i had major anxiety about speaking. i speak spanish now better than i ever thought was possible for myself… and i love doing it. no classes on fridays was PERFECT for travel. my professors were also the BOMB. and class was a 5 min walk from the homestay.

… i got way too lucky.

on my walk to school every morning…

BFF’S

i’ve mentioned in other posts that i met my 2 closest friends on the literal 1st day… orientation. G and E !!!!!! i love them both HUGE ! we’re all from different states, go to different universities, etc… they were a big part of making my study abroad so incredible. we had our lives flipped upside-down together. we figured it out together. i could go on and on about these friendships, but i could never put into words how thankful i am for them !

(G and E below… and a chocolate croissant !!!!)

TRAVEL 
i went a pretty decent amount of places… to the point i was like ‘ok, no more flying for a minnnuuttte’ …

Paris, France… Seville, Spain… Mallorca, Spain… Salamanca, Spain… London, England… Paris, France (2nd time)… London, England (2nd time)… Verona, Italy… Amsterdam, Netherlands… Lisbon, Portugal… San Sebastián, Spain… tiny town outside of Milan, Italy… Mykonos, Greece… Santorini, Greece… Venice, Italy…

7 countries. i could’ve done more, but it was really important to me to spend time exploring madrid… AND important for my beauty sleep too…

fav places…

santorini !!!

amsterdam…

london !

i traveled by plane. train. ferry. and bus… trains are my favorite !

i stayed in everything from hostels to 5 star boutique hotels.

i had the best time ever !!!!!! i learned a BIG part of travel is who you’re with ! always a good idea to be around people you wholeheartedly enjoy! take your time and don’t try to fit too many things in at once. laugh a lot, meet new friends, eat good food… love BIG !

pro tip: hostels are realllllly nice… when you’re ballin’ on a budget. use hostelworld.com, research, book ! most provide a free breakfast, you meet people from around the world, a lot offer discounts on things to do, and always free advice ! ALSO, use goeuro.com for transportation… shows you options of all your choices at the cheapest rates… and believe me, you can find deals. i used all forms… frequently. trains were my favorite because it is more spacey, comfy, less time to check in…and you get to see stuff you’ve probably never seen before !

IF YOU’RE GOING TO SPAIN
be patient with yourself. it literally took me a month to fully understand my host mom. don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. FULLY IMMERSE. eat pan (bread) with EVERY meal. drink café con leche. sleep until at least 10 (nobody is going to be out before then anyway). RELAX. take your time. mistakes will happen. you’ll forget things, and maybe miss a flight, get lost… but make the most of it! there’s no time to get frustrated or mad at yourself… and it is all a part of a growing process ! you’ll learn so much about yourself and the world. you’re so much stronger than you’ve ever imagined !!!!

FAV SPOTS
reina sofia (my fav museum… modern art… lots of picasso and dalí), mercado de san miguel, palacio real, TAKOS al pastor (literally a must… the best street tacos in the world), CHOCOLATE WITH CHURROS (at chocolateria san gines… open 24/7), federal (good for studying… american-style coffeeshop), el corte ingles (pre-packaged salads with goat cheese, fresh orange juice, and digestive chocolate cookies), top of el corte ingles on gran via (good for drinks at sunset), las bellas artes/any rooftop, parque del retiro, templo de debod (both beautiful parks !), fruterías (for snacks for your picnics in the park)… malasaña/cheuca/lavapies (my fav neighborhoods), prado (like the louvre for spanish art… i have a love/hate relationship), real madrid games (soooo fun), PAELLA (traditional spanish rice dish…el sur is my favorite in lavapies), el sol (be careful about pickpockets here… and everywhere else ever), royal botanic gardens, casa de campo and oeste (other really nice parks… find your fav !), hiking the sierras (for a little break from the city) …..

me and E supporting our team !

picnics in oeste…

taking lots of pics!

TAKOS !!!

MOST IMPORTANTLY

have the time of your life. give every day your all !!!!!

xoxo

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Spanish major & Legal Studies minor Chloe Riggs spent the spring 2018 semester in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Nebrija in Madrid.

Read more from Chloe at cocothecreator.wordpress.com

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

Meet One of Our Study Abroad Peer Advisors: Micaela Chamon

Hola a todos! Salut tout le monde! Hey everyone! My name is Micaela Chamon and I am a senior here at the University of Arkansas. I’m an international student from Bolivia, majoring in International/Global Studies, Political Science, and French, with a minor in Latin American Studies. Travelling has always been my favorite thing to do, so going to a college in a different country was always the plan and studying abroad for a semester was a no-brainer. I spent this past Spring in Lyon, France, with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).

When people say studying abroad changes you, they aren’t kidding. I did a cultural exchange in high school in France, studied abroad in France, and interned abroad in Hungary. Every single one of those experiences were unparalleled. I learned so much about the local cultures and customs, but the most shocking thing is how much I ended up learning about myself.

Usually the first thing that comes to mind when anyone talks about France is Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Not to say that Paris isn’t great (I went like 7 times during my 5 months in France), but Lyon is a hidden gem. Lyon is the gastronomy capital of France, so yes, the food at the local restaurants called “Bouchon Lyonnais” was AMAZING, and there is nothing like stopping by the bakery on your way to class for a pain au chocolat or a croissant.

Paris shows up in countless films, but what’s really cool is that Lyon practically invented movies. Auguste and Louis Lumière, both born in Lyon, are credited with creating the first film camera (the cinematograph) in 1892. So, there is a museum/cinema dedicated to them, and their work, in Lyon, where you can spend hours exploring and learning more about the evolution of the film camera. 

My two favorite parts of Lyon where the rivers and the parks. The Rhone and the Saone both pass through Lyon and actually meet up in the district of Confluence. As it started getting warmer, we started to realize that people gathered on the banks of the rivers to picnic for hours with some cheese and wine every afternoon, and it was definitely what all of the students looked forward to after class. As for the parks, the Parc de la Tête d'or, which literally translates to the Park of the Golden Head, was the prettiest place to spend time outside. It has a little zoo on one side, a pond on the other, a running/bike trail, and endless amounts of trees.

Although Lyon was amazing, I took advantage of every weekend I could and tried to visit other cities in France, as well as other countries in the region. I was able to hit 16 countries and 31 cities. Studying abroad can be very scary, travelling alone can be terrifying, but if there is something I learned while being in Europe it is to take every day at a time because nothing is as bad or as scary as it may sound. Visiting other countries opens up your knowledge of the world in innumerable ways, the people you meet will definitely be unforgettable, and the memories you make will stay with you forever.

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Come meet Micaela and the other peer advisors for a HogsAbroad 101 drop-in session at the Study Abroad House! Come to the office weekdays from 3-5 pm to get all the study abroad basics. Peer advisors are available to help you review your options for study abroad and start searching for a program.

Final Thoughts On Studying Abroad #HogsAbroad in Spain #MondayMotivation

My study abroad trip in Madrid has officially come to an end. I have been home for a few days now, and the realization that I am back is finally setting in. It really seems like I had just unpacked my things yesterday. I really came to love Madrid. I met so many amazing people, and visited so many gorgeous places. I saw so much, yet it feels like I still had even more to see. I wish I could have stayed a while longer.

For the people who plan to study abroad, I have but one recommendation. That is to meet and get to really know some new people during the trip as possible. I had so much fun travelling Europe, but what really made it special, were the awesome people that I got to go to those places with. I also had the amazing opportunity to room with 8 amazing people that became my dear friends. So enjoy your study abroad trip, but more importantly, spend that time meeting new people, and connecting with, because in the end, you will only be left with those memories, and those new friends to make more memories with.

View From The Royal Palace

Templo De Debod

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International Business major Edgardo Flores spent the spring 2018 semester in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with the help of the Gilman Scholarship and our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

Read more from Edgardo at edgardoenespana.wordpress.com.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
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About the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

How I Paid For My Study Abroad #HogsAbroad in Spain #FundingFriday

Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. For someone like me, coming from the worst financial situation imaginable, it seemed impossible. But it’s not. I made it, and that means you can too. Here are a few ways that helped me fund my trip.

Scholarships- Without the scholarships I received, I would not have made it to Spain. So, my advice is to check the deadlines every day, and scour your college website, and outside sources for scholarships and deadlines. I was lucky to receive various scholarships. I received The Walton Study Abroad Scholarship for $2,800 by applying directly on the Walton College site. I also received the Office of Study Abroad Scholarship for $800. And finally, I received the Gilman Scholarship for $3,000. If you receive financial aid, then you HAVE TO apply for the Gilman scholarship. Also, any academic scholarships or aid (like FAFSA) count towards your study abroad.

Hard Work- For me, asking for financial help from my mother was out of the question. Because of this, work was what paid for a big portion of my study abroad. If you are even thinking of studying abroad, I recommend getting an early start and working hard to save as soon as possible. This will allow you to enjoy your trip to fullest, and travel around as much as you want. Especially while in Europe. It is very cheap to travel around Europe, especially when planned way in advance.

Loans- Although I did not personally take out student loans, I know many people who did. Taking out a student loan can help you a long way. However, I would recommend looking into a credit card. I took out a Sapphire Chase Credit Card just in case of emergencies. I have a $5,000 limit, with no interest for a year, no international transaction fees, and cash back points on every purchase. It is definitely worth having in case you need extra help during your trip.

Budgeting– Create a budget early on. Figure out how much your housing and utilities will be and set that aside. After that look into transportation fees in your city. I had a 20 euro metro card I had to pay for monthly. Next, give yourself a budget for your food. Be very generous with this especially if you like to eat out. Consider that groceries are usually more expensive in cities. Finally figure out where you want to travel to and approximate the costs there and back. Book early for the best rates and include taxi fees and metro fees within the city. Places like London have a very expensive metro fee. Most importantly, stick to your budget. If you over spend early on, it can lead to problems later.

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International Business major Edgardo Flores spent the spring 2018 semester in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with the help of the Gilman Scholarship and our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

Read more from Edgardo at edgardoenespana.wordpress.com.

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

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About the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

STUDY ABROAD 101: PART 1 #HogsAbroad in Germany #MondayMotivation

Budapest, Hungary

(BACKGROUND INFO: ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I MADE THE DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD. HERE IS A PEEK INTO THE 6 MONTHS OF MY LIFE THAT I SPENT IN GERMANY, AND SOME LESSONS THAT I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.)
STUDYING ABROAD COMES WITH MANY QUESTIONS, AND HERE IS MY BEST SHOT AT ANSWERING A COUPLE OF THEM FOR YOU.

1. WHO SHOULD STUDY ABROAD?

Not me, surely not me. This was my initial thought when I first heard about studying abroad early my freshman year of college. See, I used to be the type of person whose worst fear was to pack up my whole life and move, especially across the world. I had spent all of my life in the tiny corner of the world called North West Arkansas. Over the past 6 months, however, I have realized that I am exactly the person that needs to study abroad.

Here’s why: Perspective.

Those of us that have spent all of our lives in one place are especially the type of people who must go abroad. As with most people, I had only experienced other places and cultures through vacation. The fact of the matter is, that without living in another place, you begin to believe that your little world is the entire world. Reading about German car companies in the Economist is a little different than hearing leaders of these companies give guest lectures in class. As I found out, it is simply not enough to read about these places and the happenings in them. At some point, you just have to pack up your suitcase and dive into the adventure. Studying abroad is a beautifully humbling experience where you realize just how small you are and how big the world really is.

(Really cheesy, I know, but doesn’t make it any less true!!)

My first look at WHU, my exchange university!

2. WHEN DO YOU GO?

Now. Ok…maybe not now, but make the decision to go, and do it soon. If you keep putting something like this off, you will never go. That’s just the way these types of things work. But this is probably not news to you. So, plan ahead. The earlier that you decide to go, the more of an advantage you have in planning. Here is where you may be able to learn a bit from my mistakes. I paid for an entire semester of rent for an apartment that I never lived in. Had I known that I was going to study abroad earlier, I obviously would have taken a different lease, or sub-leased my apartment to someone else. I also bought subscriptions and memberships for 12 months that I only used for 6. By planning ahead it is super easy to avoid losing this money. Put simply: decide what you want now, and put the plan to action soon.

Another aspect of the “when” is: What year in college? I did my exchange program in the second semester of my junior year. Personally, I think that this is the perfect time. Had I gone any earlier, I don’t think that it would be the same fulfilling experience simply because my maturity level was not there in my earlier college years. An exchange is a very independent process where you have few, if any, people from your university that are traveling with you. There are many other options for earlier in college where you can study abroad with faculty and peers. Also with maturity, I found an independence. This helped me greatly when traveling in big cities. I can’t imagine little college freshman me navigating alone through London and Paris with the fierceness and confidence that I had this spring. By junior year, you are pretty far enough in your college career that you (a) may need a little break to remind yourself how much you love your university or/and (b) have taken enough classes to know that you are a little ahead and can afford a semester away. This might have just been my case, but maybe some others can relate. At the beginning of college, most people are just finding out who they really are. When going abroad it is a bit easier to make friends when you have a foundation of who you are apart from circumstances. While study abroad does help further develop this foundation, it is important for it to somewhat be there in the first place.

3. WHERE SHOULD YOU GO?

What country / school to go and where to travel once you are there are the two “Where” questions that I will address. Since I studied in Europe, this will mostly be speaking to places there.

When I first sat down in my new little apartment with the intention to plan some trips around Europe, it felt like the world was at my fingertips. Every noteworthy landmark and piece of art that I had dreamed of for years, was just a 50€ (Or less) plane ride away, and I had a whole six months to take advantage of this opportunity. Sure enough, I spend a decent amount of time at first visiting these famous places.

I went to the Eiffel Tower,

visited Buckingham Palace,

I saw Mona Lisa,

and basically every other place you can think of,

but these were not the places where I fell in love. About two months into the study abroad, I decided to slow down.

The Rhine at sunset,

the little markets in Poland,

Kraków, Poland

the flowers in the trees in Spain,

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

the Italian seaside,

Cavallino-Treporti, Italy

these are the moments that I loved most.

In these moments I was given perspective. When you stand in the middle of a place in which you cannot understand a single word spoken around you, yet you still feel the beauty of the place, this is perspective. This is a gift. I encourage you to not just go places for the things that you may see there, but go places for the way that the environment feels as a whole. With each trip, give yourself time to truly know the city. This cannot be done with the tourist, consumer mindset. It won’t always be the biggest and famous cities that you will connect with most, and this goes for anywhere, even beyond just a study abroad to Europe.

Where you go, in terms of school is another story completely. I know that the power is not completely in your hands, as there is usually some sort of application process with each study abroad. Do your research, and make sure that you are culturally compatible with the country that you are studying abroad in. That is, if you want a super easy transition, like I had. (On the other hand, it may be fun to be indulged in a completely different culture, I just have no experience with this to speak to.) For me, it was extremely beneficial to study in Germany because I found myself very at home with the culture. On weekends that I would travel to places that were very different, I found a bit of peace every time that I got to return to my little German village, Vallendar.

If you have made it this far, I thank you for reading and taking interest in my journey. This is just a small piece of the whole that I may be expanding on in later posts, but thank you for sharing this moment with me to read.

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Accounting major Sophia Storkov spent the spring 2018 semester in Germany with our U of A Exchange program at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Read more from Sophia at https://sophiastorkov.wordpress.com/

Don't wait. Make plans for your semester or year abroad today! Find your program today at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

A Royal Weekend Pt. 1 #HogsAbroad in England

This weekend was nothing short of a dream.

Back in November, at a very nice luncheon with important people, the realization of being in England during a royal wedding set in as someone asked me if I’d be going. As my mind went crazy with thoughts of being in the general vicinity of royalty, I tried to keep my cool given the professional environment I was in – but of course I would go! When else would I get a chance like this again? Ever since I fell in love with England, the Royal family has always been a top fascination of mine.

When the time came to get the train tickets to Windsor, I checked the app to reserve my seating but the only message I could see was “currently unavailable”. I figured most everybody had booked their train ride already and that all coaches were simply full. Not to become too devastated I moved onto the idea of just going to the public viewing of the wedding on Brighton Beach – where a large screen would be set up and people in costumes would view the ceremony live.

It wasn’t until the day before the wedding that I realized my mistake – I had the app search setting for “coaches” and not “trains”. So it was then – midnight on the eve of the wedding that a friend Kyra and I reserved tickets to Windsor! To my pleasant surprise, the hour and a half train ride was not too full after all. Once we stepped off the train and admired the beautiful station of Windsor and Eton Riverside, we were handed free Union Jack flags to wave around in celebration. We enjoyed cream tea before waiting on the streets for the ceremony to begin.

The ceremony was broadcasted live on large screens as well as the audio throughout the town. We listened to what was going on while anxiously waiting for the moment the carriage would make its way through, but it all happened so fast! I caught a few pictures of the newlyweds on my Canon while simultaneously filming on my iPhone, but as the carriage strolled by I forgot to use either of my devices as I watched the royals go by. It was Harry’s red hair and Meghan’s white veil that brought me back to reality as I managed to get some pictures of the back of the carriage (see pictures below). Although that moment came and went so quickly (Kyra: “wait… they passed already?!”) we loved the atmosphere of celebration and are grateful we got to participate.

On the train back I sparked up a conversation with a man sitting next to me called Marcus. Marcus was from London so I asked him if he has attended other royal weddings. He hadn’t – just Harry and Meghan’s because he especially liked them. He talked about how he liked that they were different. He compared them with William and Cate, who he doesn’t care for much, and also mentioned that without Meghan, Harry isn’t as important (just a prince nbd – I didn’t really understand what he meant by this). We also talked about our hometowns and current events – these were my favorite moments! I love hearing other perspectives no matter how different from my own.

After a long day of royal celebrations, we arrived back in Brighton in the late afternoon to begin yet another fun venture: a camping/climbing trip in Dorset. With some delays per usual, we began our road trip to the South East. It was here in Swanage I first camped and climbed in England and I was happy to do it again. Check out the next post for more details on my “Royal Weekend” adventures.

Xx

Windsor!

Decorated streets

Union Jack + American Flag = LOVE

Legit road signs just for the Wedding

Headed towards Windsor Castle

Here the Royals come!

The horses before the carriage…

The Newlyweds!

A British grannie standing next to us hand knit these little dolls!

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Accounting major Jessica Perez is spending the spring 2018 semester in England with our U of A Exchange program at University of Sussex, Brighton with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the Kitt Rom Scholarship.

Read more from Jessica at tobrightonandbeyond.wordpress.com

Don't wait. Make plans for your semester or year abroad today! Find your program today at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Wrapping Up #HogsAbroad in England

I know I’m not the most consistent in my blog posts, so I’m going to post a lot more in a short amount of time! Here’s just a short one detailing lists I’ve made throughout my time abroad:

Things I miss from home:

• Proper thunderstorms
• My dogs
• One-stop superstores (Walmart, Target, Kroger)
• Saying “y’all”
• Dishwashers
• Garbage disposal
• Ceiling fans
• Southern hospitality

Things I will miss from abroad:

• Walking everywhere
• All the different biscuit (tea cookie) flavors
• My international friends
• Living close to the sea
• Public transportation (that isn’t sketchy)
• Not having to worry about parking
• Proper afternoon tea
• Fun weekend trips
• Inexpensive flights
• My go-to coffee shops
• The slow pace of living
• Tax included in the listed price

How I will change coming home:

• Bringing my own bags to the grocery store
• Recycle more
• Plan fun, spontaneous trips
• Drive less
• Walk or cycle more
• Help other international students studying at UARK
• Encourage others to study abroad

Things I’ve learned since living abroad

• I say “y’all” way too much
• I have taken for granted tumble dryers
• You will never regret wearing a scarf or a light jacket
• Umbrellas are not worth it. They will break and blow away, and you will get wet no matter what.
• Never forget the portable phone charger
• Nothing compares to peanut butter in America
• Tea time is anytime – and there are definite wrong ways to make tea
• Not every Brit loves Harry Potter (what?!)
• Everything is smaller in England. Everything.

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Accounting major Jessica Perez is spending the spring 2018 semester in England with our U of A Exchange program at University of Sussex, Brighton with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and the Kitt Rom Scholarship.

Read more from Jessica at tobrightonandbeyond.wordpress.com

Don't wait. Make plans for your semester or year abroad today! Find your program today at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

A Cultural Tour #HogsAbroad in Italy

For the month of May, I mostly focused on traveling throughout Italy during my free weekends to become more acquainted with the region and culture. I traveled to Venice, Pisa, and Florence throughout the month. Also at the end of the month, I visited Nice, France, where I stayed for two nights, then went to Monte Carlo, Monaco for the Formula One Grand Prix.

While I was in Venice, I visited many museums to learn about the history of city. This included a glass blowing tour in Murano, one of the many famous islands of the city. Glass blowing is big on this island because too many people used to blow glass on the main island and caused too many fires, so they were forced to continue this art on a different island. I visited other islands, each of which had a unique atmosphere and feel to it. Venice was by far the most crowded city with tourists, so it was also not the most enjoyable city I have visited.

My next trip was visiting Florence. On the way to Florence, I got off the train and visited Pisa for a couple of hours. This was mainly to see the famous leaning tower. Of course I had to take a classic picture of pretending to support the tower with my arms. Once I returned to the train station, I continued traveling to Florence. Here, I visited the art gallery that had Michelangelo's David statue. It was more inspiring to see in person because of the size. I previously thought the statue was life sized, but in fact it was about five times larger than an average man. The best part of Florence for me was the dinner I ate after the gallery. Two other friends and I ordered a two pound Tuscan steak, and it was easily the best steak I have ever eaten! This alone, as well as the atmosphere of the city made Florence my favorite city in Italy that I have been to so far.

Finally, going to the Formula One Grand Prix at Monaco has always been a dream of mine, so as soon as I came to Italy I purchased my travel, hostel, and race ticket. Nice was the nearest city to stay before going to Monaco, since Monaco is too expensive to stay during the Grand Prix weekend. Nice turned out to be one of my favorite cities outside of Italy primarily for the night life and culture of being a French beach city.

I planned to complete all of my desired traveling for the remainder of my time abroad during the month of May. This is because I will use the entire month of June and possibly July to study for upcoming final exams. My first round of exams will take place during June 26 through July 6, while the second round will take place July 17 through July 23. I will not have to participate in the second round of exams if I pass on the first round and am satisfied with my grade. If this happens, I will most likely continue traveling throughout Italy and Europe until my return flight to the United States on July 31.

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Mechanical Engineering major Kody Piccirilli is spending the spring 2018 semester in Italy with our U of A Exchange Program at Politecnico di Torino with the help of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.

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

May: Finished with Schoolwork & Experiencing the Royal Wedding #HogsAbroad in England

“Among the changing months, May stands confest The sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed.”
--James Thomson

It’s certainly been a May to remember. I’ve spent it in Brighton, studying for exams and doing some last-minute research at the archives. As of today, though, I’m official finished with all my schoolwork! It feels good to be done. Then again, I’m going to miss my classes, professors, and all the incredible people I’ve met here.

Just a few hours ago, I went to the study abroad office on campus to pick up a going away present – a T-shirt and a drawstring bag. It was bittersweet. My time as a student here is at an end, and I find myself slipping back into traveler mode. 

The final few weeks of study abroad are the hardest. I look at things differently now. I wonder if I’ll ever see that church on the corner again – the one I pass on my way to class each day. And I have to say goodbye to my friends every time we meet up, just in case I don’t see them again. But I’m hopeful that I will see them again sometime – maybe in a few days, or a few years. Maybe in 20 years, maybe in 50. But what will the world look like then? Where will we all be?

I was thinking recently about the day I first arrived to Brighton – I felt so lost. Save for two other students that I had met, I didn’t know anyone. Now I’m comfortable here. I’ve made many new friends.. and an abundance of great memories. Nevertheless, it’s almost time for me to start making my way back to the States – ALMOST – but not quite. My family is coming to visit in a few days, and my girlfriend, Savannah, is coming to visit after that!

But that’s enough sentiment for one blog post! I wanted to briefly share some pictures and anecdotes from the past few weeks – which include my experience at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle!

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Being present for the Royal Wedding in Windsor was EPIC! The atmosphere was electric!

My roommate, Justin, and I arrived to the tiny Windsor train station at around 9 am, and it was already packed! As we walked through the town, street vendors plied their wares for the special day – scarves with Meghan and Harry on them, T-shirts, and masks of the Queen’s face! I actually saw a LOT of people wearing Meghan, Harry, or Queen Elizabeth masks. It must have been strange for the married couple to look out at the crowd after the ceremony and see their own faces staring back at them.

As we waited in line to get through a security checkpoint, we spotted our friend Corey – another student from Arkansas who is studying at Sussex. The fact that we found him was a really crazy coincidence. We just happened to get to the same security checkpoint (of which there were several) at the same time. Corey also had two other friends with him who were visiting from Arkansas, so we joined forces – just five Arkansans ready to celebrate the Royal Wedding! We staked out a good spot on “The Long Walk” – the green space leading up to Windsor Castle – and settled in. A number of large screens had been set up on the lawn, so we were able to watch all of the wedding guests arrive! The crowd went particularly wild when George Clooney and David Beckham showed up.

The Streets of Windsor a few hours before the wedding. The castle is just visible off in the distance.

Setting up shop on the Long Walk. I couldn't find an American flag, but someone handed me a British one!

The newspapers later reported that over 100,000 people showed up!

Meghan Markle was driven past us at about 11:45 – all smiles and ready to go. We then watched the ceremony on the big screen and started inching forward to get a good view of the couple after they left the church. We ended up in about the third row – pretty good considering that about 100,000 spectators were present! At about 1:10, Harry and Meghan embarked on an open carriage ride through town. They reached our position at around 1:30, smiling big and waving! As the crowd pressed in tight around us, I managed to snap a few pictures with my right hand while I waved with my left. After the carriage went by, I asked my friend Corey, “did you feel that – Meghan looked right at us!” She definitely made direct eye contact – yeah, we’re basically best buddies now! 🤣

Meghan and Harry

Perfecting the Royal Wave!

After the wedding, the newlyweds and the wedding party retired to the interior of Windsor Castle for a reception hosted by the Queen. Back outside on the Royal Walk, the event organizers started playing The Princess Diaries on the big screens that had broadcast the wedding. We plopped down in the grass for a few hours and took a nap, knowing that the train station would still be busy for a while. The weather was perfect for lounging around on the lawns – about 65 and sunny.

Later on, Justin and I walked around town, seeing the castle and Eton College, which is just across the river. We also saw the 19-year old cellist who played at the wedding – Sheku Kanneh-Mason – out on the street afterwards just talking to passersby! It was a day that I will remember for a long time.

Entrance to Windsor Castle

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Just a few days before the Royal wedding, Corey and I went to London to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra perform. They performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Stravinsky’s “Firebird.” It was one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.

Getting ready for the second set -- at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

The dynamic contrast that the orchestra showcased was incredible. The soft moments were the best – when dozens of violins sounded like one player. I also really enjoyed the moments where the woodwinds – flute and clarinet – shined through in “Firebird.” 

The concert inspired me to start playing my clarinet again – I’m going to have to pick it back up when I get back to Arkansas. I’d also really like to learn guitar, but it might be tough to do it all.

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I also had the opportunity to spend a museum day in London a few weeks back. I visited the British Museum and the British Library!

The British Museum is most famous for its ancient collections – specifically its artifacts from Egypt, Assyria, and Ancient Greece. Despite the hype around the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Marbles – which were both SUPER cool – I think my favorite exhibits were actually those on Assyria. The Assyrian Empire, centered on Nineveh in the Mesopotamian Region, was at the height of its powers some 3,000 years ago. Looking up at all of the stone statues, thousands of miles away from and thousands of years past their original context, I was reminded of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem, “Ozymandias”:

I met a traveller from an antique land,

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal, these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.” (1817)

I wonder where the collections of the British Museum will be in another 3,000 years. Maybe they’ll be back in the lands from whence they came, or maybe they won’t exist at all. Perhaps they’ll be on another planet, preserved in a grand exhibition on the civilizations of the planet Earth. Or maybe they’ll be exactly where they are now. Only the “lone and level” sands of time will tell.

One of the Egyptian Pharaohs -- possibly Ramses II

I often hear friends talking about how they can “feel the history” when they walk around older areas of London. I’ve never been sure how to interpret this – is it really possible to feel history? I don’t have an answer to that question, but I know I felt something as I walked around the British Museum. I felt the weight of all the world’s great civilizations – the weight of their rise and fall and their WILL to pass on their story to future generations. The modern study of history owes a LOT to the scribes of Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Persian Empires. Their work has not been forgotten.

The Rosetta Stone, which shows the same text written in Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Egyptian Demotic text, and Ancient Greek.

The Parthenon Frieze marbles or "Elgin Marbles." They were taken by the British Lord Elgin from the Parthenon in the early nineteenth century, a time period when Greece was under Ottoman control.

After spending several hours at the British Museum, I walked over to the British Library. Here, I was able to see some VERY old documents and manuscripts. I saw the Magna Carta (800 years old – no big deal!), a letter written by Queen Elizabeth I in which she apologizes for her bad hand writing, an original copy of Shakespeare’s first folio, and the lyrics to “Hard Day’s Night” scribbled out by John Lennon on the back of a birthday card! I wasn’t able to take any pictures, but still, the British Library exhibit was one of the coolest things I’ve seen here in England so far.

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It’s time for me to head to bed, but I thank you very much for reading this post. I hope to put up pictures over the course of the next week as my family visits, and I will plan on posting again in mid-June.

Cheers for now,
BD

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English major and Medieval & Renaissance Studies minor Brock Demark is spending the spring 2018 semester in England with our U of A Exchange program at University of Sussex, Brighton.

Read more from Brock at brockinbrighton.blogspot.com

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