The stranger
By Taylor E.
Published March 28, 2025
I recently went to Toulouse, France. It was my first ever solo-trip, booked on an absolute whim. I was worried about getting lost. I was worried about being bored. I was worried about being lonely. All of these things happened. I was lost, I was bored, I was lonely. But out of all of them,…
A birthday abroad!
By Kaitlyn H.
Published March 24, 2025
https://flic.kr/p/2qXHCwo Chocolate cake on the beach in a thunderstorm! March is a special month for me as it’s my birthday month. This means that I got the privilege of celebrating turning 20 years old in Spain! Although not the last, I am the first person out of our group from Mizzou to have a birthday…
Multilingualism in Europe
By Asher F.
Published March 21, 2025
Living in the middle of the United States, a thousand miles from any other country, there is little need to learn a foreign language. Yes, America is a melting pot full of people who speak an astonishingly wide variety of languages, but anywhere you go in the United States, English will be understood and spoken…
Visiting the European Union
By Gwendalyn B.
Published March 11, 2025
At the end of February I traveled from Barcelona, Spain, to Brussels, Belgium, for an exciting opportunity. I was one of a group of 20 young Gilman Scholars from across the U.S. currently studying in a European Union member state, invited to participate in a study tour funded by the European Union. We met in…
Feline friends in Alicante
By Fisher M.
Published March 4, 2025
One of the more surprising things about Alicante has been the number of stray cats wandering around. On the second day I was here, we took a short trip to the old part of town (by which I mean over 1,000 years old). As we were walking up the steps that led up to the…
February, full of firsts
By Isabelle B.
Published March 3, 2025
I can hardly believe it, but month two in Spain is almost over. I currently have classes five days a week, and my weekends are full of plans with friends traveling to new places and trying new things. But I am so grateful for busy weekends because I have been able to check a few…
Day in my life: Alicante, Spain
By Kaitlyn H.
Published March 3, 2025
Now that I have been living abroad in Spain for almost two months, I have a pretty set daily routine. Of course small things change day to day, but overall, I have created a life here that I love. For my blog this month, I wanted to share a bit of what an average day…
Notes on Spanish food
By Asher F.
Published March 3, 2025
Out of the cuisines of the world, it doesn’t seem like Spanish food is particularly well-known among us Americans. Beyond tapas and paella, people often assume that it must be just like Italian food, or maybe like Mexican food. While it has much in common with neighboring countries, Spain has a cuisine all its own.…
Tiquismiquis
By Taylor E.
Published Feb. 28, 2025
Before coming to Spain, I was a very picky eater (“picky” in Spanish is “tiquismiquis” — a very fun word to say). In Spain, I am very grateful to not have the option to be picky anymore. When my host mom puts a plate of food in front of me, I could ask what I…
Día de Reyes in Spain
By Kaitlyn H.
Published Feb. 6, 2025
I landed here in Alicante the early morning of Jan. 4, a beautiful and warm Saturday. The weekend to follow was filled with sightseeing, pastries, a lot of walking and even more jet lag. What I didn’t know was that the upcoming Monday, Jan. 6, is what is known as Día de Reyes here in…