I've Studied Abroad 3 Times, Here Are 3 Things You Should Know

You Don't Have to be in College (or in your Junior year, for that matter)

Option 1: High School

I studied abroad my first time in high school. Even I am a little in awe that I managed to convince my parents to spring for that one. The first time I decided I wanted to study abroad I was in Jr. High and I wasn't even aware that study abroad was a "wait 'til you get to college" sort of thing. My parents weren't thrilled at the idea at first, but for years I obsessively read blogs, watched videos, collected information on different programs and countries, and it was this passion that convinced them I was ready to fly the nest a year early. If I hadn't studied abroad in high school, my life would not be the same today, and I would not be the person I am today. Going abroad when I was so young, naive, and impressionable allowed me to build skills that most of my peers wouldn't gain until years later.

I had gotten my braces off exactly 4 days before I went to Costa Rica...

Option 2: Junior Year

Most people study abroad their Junior year of college, usually second semester. I did this when I was in high school and I honestly regret it. Whether in college or high school Junior year is a HUGE year where a lot of important things happen. For me, it was during track and musical season in high school when I missed my chance to grow and develop in those areas, and in college it was a time of huge personal change and decision making. 

Option 3: Sophomore Year

Studying abroad the first semester my Sophomore year was a MUCH better option. I was settled in enough in college that I felt like if I left for a semester I would still have a good group of friends to come back to, and I was early enough in my college career that I had more freedom with what credits I would be taking. When I returned home, I came with new, insanely close friends I had met abroad and I was able to switch my Spanish minor to a major. Of course, there still were drawbacks. For example, there were a few newly made friends I could have strengthened my relationship with and not lost if I hadn't gone abroad. 

Sophomore year was really when the insta started to flourish

Option 4: Summer

Then, I studied abroad over the summer my Junior year. Studying abroad definitely has the least amount of downsides--it's cheaper, you don't miss school, you don't miss important events and friends, you can take less classes, etc. However, I find that studying abroad for a longer period of time has waay more of an impact on your life. It allows for you to more fully immerse yourself into the culture, make local friends, learn the language, and travel to more places over weekends.

I'm not saying summer is the Basic™ option but.... ;)

Options 5-∞: Freshman, Senior, Breaks, Gap Year, Grad, etc, etc...

As you can see, there are loads of options!! While I've never met a Freshman studying abroad, I imagine it would be a great way to make upper class men friends and open opportunities to study abroad more in the future. I did, however, meet several seniors studying abroad (even in their last semester!!) who found it to be the only time available for them, and didn't regret their decision at all. You can also choose to study abroad for a couple of weeks over winter or spring break, take a study-centered gap year, or, an increasingly popular option, study abroad as a grad student. What is most important is that you weigh the pros and cons of each choice and decide what works best for you.

You Don't Have to be Rich 

I know you've heard this a thousand times. Wait! Don't skip this section!!

Dreaded Debt...

I went in debt in order to study abroad. This is probably just about the exact opposite statement this section should be making, but it's the truth. Studying abroad is expensive. But if you're smart, it's manageable. So, after spending a semester in Costa Rica, a semester in Spain, and a summer in London, along with the many weekend trips to different towns and a total of 13 different countries how much debt am I in? Three thousand dollars. For the life long friends, unforgettable experiences, awe inspiring sights, delicious food, and priceless knowledge, I'd say that $3,000 is worth it. Plus, employers LOVE to see study abroad on your resume, so you can really think of it as an investment.

Beloved Scholarships

• Step one is to check and see if any scholarship money you already have can be put toward your study abroad payments, especially if you are doing a program through your school. While my twin brother's school allowed for the use of scholarship money in study abroad programs, mine didn't. And that, my friends, is the only area in which his rival school is better than mine. 
• Next step is to talk to your study abroad office, sit down with an adviser, scour their websites, and attend seminars. They are the experts after all.
• If you are going on a major or department sponsored program, whether that be a language, science, journalism, or any other program, check and see if they are offering a program specific scholarship. 
• If you aren't studying abroad in the highly popular European countries (and believe me, I know how tempting they are having studied their myself) it opens up a huge door to several more opportunities such as the Gilman Scholarship. This award favors students traveling to less studied in countries such as Ghana, where my brother got a scholarship to study over the summer!
• I know I said the study abroad office are the experts... but they also don't know everything. Their are TONS of lesser known scholarships out their if you search enough. Ask your friends, study abroad alumni, teachers, and scour the internet. I went to London for a month and didn't spend a single penny out of my pocket because of a scholarship* that nobody knew about.

Not only did the Lord Mayor of London give me a scholarship (kind of)
 he helped me celebrate my 21st Birthday (kind of)

Independent Travel Isn't Better or Worse, It's just Different

"I'll travel when I have a job and have the money to travel," "Independent travel offers more flexibility and freedom than study abroad," "Having to go to class will ruin the experience," "I'll have too much FOMO if I leave."

I've traveled through Europe on my own, staying in crowded hostels, taking cheap buses from place to place, making my own schedule and switching it up to join a fellow backpacker turned new friend. I've lived in a private dorm in the heart of London riding the tube to class each morning, taking weekend trips to Wales, shopping for dinner in Borough Market. I've lived with a host family, chatting with my host mom while walking the dogs, eating homemade Paella, sneaking into the apartment at 7am after a night going clubbing. 

Each experience was equally amazing, but I would have never traded one experience for the other. While it's easy to want to have a stable income and freedom from class while travelling, it's also easier said then done once bogged down by office hours, rent, family responsibilities and everything else that comes with office life. When else in your life will you have the opportunity to say that for four weeks, or six months, or a whole year, you are going to leave everything behind to dedicate your life to adventure and discovery? Short term travel is fun and fulfilling but long term travel is life changing. Too many times I've heard adults say they wished they had studied abroad when they could. So: are you going to make the same mistake?

No matter how you travel, you always gotta take thumb selfies in front of the sights.

*The scholarship I'm referring to is The City of London/London Bridge Rotary Educational Foundation (COL/LBREF) Scholarship, which pays for airfare, schooling, room and board, and even gives you a generous cash allowance. If you go to any Arizona university you should check it out because not a lot of people know about it!

El Tigre ~ Best Place to Eat Tapas in Spain

While studying abroad in Madrid my American friends got the genius idea to make friends through Tinder. That, of course, was sarcasm, and I thought it was a terrible idea. After a few awkward encounters, however, that idea paid off when we met Jaime, and Jaime took us to El Tigre.

Legitimate tapas are fast dying out in Madrid, so you have to be in the know in order to get the real deal. For one thing, you should never have to pay for tapas. The whole deal is: you buy a drink, you get free food. This way of thinking is honestly why I love Spain so much. Who doesn't love two euro drinks and free, delicious food!? Unfortunately, times are changing and the free tapas is becoming increasingly rare what with hip new bars and hoards of tourists.

Well, Tigre is the real deal. Here's why:

1. You can see your food as soon as you walk in

This is important. Spaniards are ham obsessed, which isn't hard to figure out after walking around the city and seeing shops full to the brim with ham legs. When you go eat tapas you want to be able to see the ham you are about to eat. A tip: legs with black hooves are better. That's because these pigs only come from a certain region where they are pasture raised and fed exclusively acorns from a certain type of tree. Another fun tip: sometimes shop owners paint white hooves black to raise curb appeal. Not sure how this is helpful, just fun to know.

Look for the taparia with a black hoof in the window. 

     2. The floor is usually covered in cheap paper napkins

This becomes increasingly true as the night wears on and the bar becomes increasingly busy. Spaniards don't have time or space for that trashcan nonsense. Throw those guys on the floor like a local. 

    

     3. The menu doesn't have pictures

I know, I know. The pictures are pretty! And it's easy to order when you don't speak the language! Believe me, I love the taparia Indalo as much as the next exchanged student out to get some cheap beer and food. But the real deal will never use pictures.

      4. The drink choices are limited

Here are your options: House white wine, House red wine, beer, sangria and tinto de verano. I LOVE tinto de verano, but at half red wine and half lime soda, it's basically just watered down wine. El Tigre actually breaks this rule because they also serve the biggest Mojitos you've ever seen for sooo cheap.

     5. The later it gets, the fuller it gets

Spaniards are famous for their night life. If it weren't for siestas, I'd have no idea how these guys would get any sleep! Stop by a tapa bar any time after siesta until around 7, the tapa bar will be practically empty. But come nightfall this place will be hoppin! I certainly didn't mind stopping by around six to get my choice in eating area to watch the taparia slowly fill up with locals as the night dragged on.

     6. Pay for Drinks, Tapas come Free

Ok, so we already covered this one. The special thing about El Tigre is that rather than choosing a small dish from a menu like most places, they choose for you and give you a giant platter filled with a selection of bread an ham, spanish tortilla, croquettes (which I think are nasty), patatas bravas, and more ham, and more ham. 

Another thing that makes El Tigre feel so legit Madrid is the interior. There is no seating room in the dark interior, and you're likely to be standing at a bar underneath the head of the very animal you're eating!!

If you're looking for an authentic Spanish experience, grab a group of friends and hit up El Tigre.

Dreaded Bartering

Bartering is something that every traveler has to learn to do. Whether you're buying a beach dress in a market in Mexico, a kitschy Eiffel tower statue in Paris, or a sturdy leather bag in Morocco you're going to have to haggle to by it at a somewhat reasonable price. For many people, bartering (or haggling or bargaining or whatever you wish to call it) is a way of life. For me, it's agony. 


Luckily, today I bought some knock off Ray Bans on the streets of Barcelona and managed to haggle the price all the way down from 20 euros to 5 euros! So I decided to give you all some tips on haggling haggling since I am obviously a master: 

1. Get really nervous

2. Give up immediately

3. Try to walk away in a cloud of shame and suffering until the salesperson gives you an offer you can't refuse!

These tips will work every time! Happy shopping!

...Ok, so obviously I haven't really gotten over my fear of arguing over prices yet. I think this is yet another trait I get from my mom. In our recent trip to Morocco we did the usual wonder and window shop through the twisty maze-like Medina, but we bought pretty much everything from a shop owner our friends knew well. Just as we were wrapping up all of our goodies, I pulled my mom to the side,

"So, uh, mom... Do you think we should, like, try and barter the price down?" 

After making a quick game plan in which my mom did all the talking and I stood by feeling uncomfortable, my mom approached our new friend,

"Abed, how much will this all cost?" she asked for about the fiftieth time. 

"Low prices! Good prices!" He assured us for the fifty-first time, still not giving us a straight answer,

"Are you going to give us Jacob Prices?" she asked, referring to our friend who had already done plenty of shopping here. 

the shop keeper laughed, finally realizing that this was our attempt at bartering. He seemed proud that us two dorks had finally gotten the guts to do it, "Of course! You get Jacob Prices!"

I consider that one a win. 

Dreamy Scotland Highlands

9/02/17
Yes, my sister did take a trip in a dreaded tourist bus. And no, I do not regret it one single bit!! When your traveling a foreign country with two kiddos under the car rental age of 25, a low budget, and a desire to see what's off the public transport/walking/carpooling path, you make to with what you have. Abby and I wanted to see the highlands, and while renting a car for a heightened price was an option, it wasn't something either of us were entirely comfortable with. And let me tell you, after traversing a fair share of tiny, one way, on the edge of a cliff roads I am reeeeallly glad we chose the bus option. Plus, our tour guide was this amazing old Scottish man who knew the histories of various Scottish clans like the back of his hand. In the end, I have zero regrets!! Ok, maybe I do wish I hadn't fallen asleep on the bus so much.

Perthshire and Dunkeld

With an early morning starting off in Edinburgh, a rag tag group of tourists boarded our small silver bus to start 3 days packed full of adventure. Abby and I managed to get in a quick nap before the woody forests are rapidly transformed into the highlands. I never could have imagined such a dramatic transition in landscape, one moment being typical British woods and the next turning into rolling, impossibly green hills. Dunkeld was our first stop and it was the most adorable, quaint little town you've ever seen in your lives! If you want my advice, I'd say skip the Cotswolds and head for the highlands. I may be biased because it was a beautiful sunny day, enjoyed with a walk by Loch tay.

Adorable cottages lined the narrow roads

Glen Coe

Back on the bus and Abby and I were right back asleep. Of course I wanted to take in the beautiful scenery but watching Abby nap was just too much! We get it from our mother. The next time I would wake up it was because of the narration of our Scottish tour guide telling the tragic story of Glen Coe. It is hard to imagine how somewhere so beautiful can have such a sordid history.
While the Massacre of Glen Coe may have taken place in 1692, it is not something the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe have forgotten. I don't think I can do the story justice, but I can try. This beautiful part of the world had been home to the MacDonalds since the 14th century when on January 1st of 1962 King William, under the threat of the dethroned James VII whom many clans had pledged their allegiance to, ordered chiefs to sign and oath of allegiance to him. the MacDonalds at the time were well known for trouble with neighboring clans involving raiding and pillaging, and they were in allegiance with the former kind. The chief Maclain set out for Edinburgh in the worst of winter conditions to ensure the safety of his clan, but he was captured by soldiers of an opposing clan and never made it.

When soldiers arrived at the homes of the MacDonalds, they were offered shelter and stayed among the clan for 12 days. Then they received the order to slaughter every last one of them. 38 people died that  night, and many more perished in the harsh weather in the days after.
My words cannot do justice to the history and beauty of this place, and I can only hope that I will return one day to further explore it by hiking and staying in the area.

The Jacobite

Apologies, but you are going to have to listen to me blabbering on about being a Harry Potter lover again. Book nerd or not, riding 84 through Scotland (from Fort William to Mallaig) in a classic steam train is something everyone should want to experience. There is something so romantic about this mode of travel, the smell of coal burned, the shrill sound of the whistle as the train pulls away from the platform, the chugging of the engine as it passes through tunnels and over lakes. The special thing about this particular train is that part of it's route was featured in Harry Potter! Ok, so it's really just a few seconds of the train crossing over a bridge, but it was truly wonderful imagining what it was like to be sitting on the Hogwarts Express, eating candy from the sweets trolly and looking forward to a magical school year. Abby and I got to peak into the train's engine room where they shovel coal into the engine. It was so delightfully warm it made me miss the hot sun of Arizona! Even more exciting to me was how bits of steam and coal would rush into our open window every time we'd enter a tunnel. Plus, the scenery was spectacular!!

Warming up next to the hot coals

Isle of Skye

If you look up Isle of Skye on pinterest you'll find picture after picture of dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, rolling hills, and castles. Pictures couldn't do this Island justice. But before arriving to our home for the night we had to make the voyage over seas via ferry. I can confirm that rough Scottish seas are not all that good for ones vertigo. When we finally arrived to solid ground and our welcoming hostel, we were met with an island practically on lock down due to a bank holiday. Luckily, Abby and I had done some shopping prior so we packed up our dinner and began hiking--peacoat, leather boots and all--to what looked like an impressive castle ruin from our hostel. Here's my mini vlog I made on that little trek:

The next day we were led to said impressive waterfalls and kilt rock, followed by yet another castle called Dunvegan. A highlight for me was a museum which showed how people once lived on this cold, desolate island. I always love these cultural museums which show us how ways of life have transformed but culture remains. This museum, of course, just had to be at the top of a hill reached by the most windy, narrow road you could ever imagine. That was a ride in which I definitely did not fall asleep. 

Dunvegan's Castle

Out of the many castles Abby and I visited during our time in Europe this one felt the most like a princess could be living in it. The interior of the castle was nice enough in itself, nothing too special, but the castle grounds were what made it feel truly magical. The gardens were huge, tended by friendly gardeners who talked to you about the bees and the flowers. Walk a bit further, and the garden seemed to melt into forest and hill. At one point, you could sit at a fountain and overlook your kingdom. At another, you could prance around the bouncy spongy moss of a forest.

Then came... the worst part of the trip. It makes my face turn red just to say it, but Abby and I committed the worst travel mistake you can ever make while on a bus trip. We basically broke tour bus commandment number 1.

Don't be late to the bus. 

While wondering through the magical squishy forests I made a point to ask Abby when we were going back to the bus, I hadn't internalized it when our tour guide had told us. And she oh so confidently had told me a time which was half an hour later than the actual time. As soon as we walked out the castle and saw the bus pull up to us, I knew we had made a mistake. But I hadn't even considered we had made everyone wait for half an hour!! If we weren't somewhere so remote, the tour guide told us he would have straight up left us. Luckily, the many elderly people, couple of young solo travelers, and one young family seemed satisfied enough at our mortal embarrassment that they didn't tear us apart.

Fort Augustus and Loch Ness

Having spent our second night in Isle of Skye it was time to make it back to the main land--and thank goodness we elected to drive over the bridge this time. Why wasn't that an option before???

"THERE SHE IS. IT'S NESSIE!!"

Abby and I had a little too much fun at the Loch Ness. Here we had the opportunity to pay for a little cruise around the river to look for our friend the Loch Ness Monster, but Abby and I opted to save our money and search for ol' nessie from the shores. Every time we'd see a duck or a stick or a tiny ripply we'd be screaming again, "I SEE 'ER! I SEE NESSIE!"

We did explore the town a bit, too, but it was mostly screaming at the lake. 

Fort Augustus is actually quite the cute little town. They're known for their historic and intricate Caledonian Canal which connects Scottlands east to its West, complete with a series of five locks leveling historic steam boats and modern cruisers to Loch Ness. 

Our tour was set to take us to Inverness for a final chance at becoming life long BFFs with my girl Nessie, but unfortunately bad traffic sent us off to our next location. 

All in all, it was a really wonderful trip, and I wouldn't change a thing. At $335 this trip is actually a pretty great deal, but it's worth noting entrance fees and hostel stays weren't included in the price. I did spend a little too much time stressing about the money, but I'd pay every single cent of it if I could do it all over again. If you're interested in the tour company we took, check out Highland Explorer Tours. Our guide was amazing and knowledgeable, and the trip was well planned and thought out. 

Fairy tale Scottland: Edinburgh

8/39/17

Edinburgh

If you know me you know I love Harry Potter. And if you know Harry Potter, you'll know that most of it was written by JK Rowling while she stayed in Edinburgh! And let me tell you, I can definitely see how this beautiful, fairy tale of a town inspired such magical novels.

With great stone buildings rising above cobblestoned streets, Edinburgh is the type of city that inspires stories of adventure, fantasy, horror, and love.

Castles and Ice Cream

Now I will say this before I begin: If you're planning on visiting Edinburgh any other month than August, your trip is likely to be WAAY different than mine. But chances are you are planning your trip for August (or at least you should be) seeing as that is the month when the Festival Fringe is going on. And no, it's not the Fringe Festival as I kept calling it, it is the Festival Fringe. This is because the festival, often referred to as simply, The Fringe, was established in 1947 as an hipster artsy alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival when eight theater companies turned up uninvited to the festival, using alternative venues in place of proper theaters. The Fringe takes over the entire city with blocks of pop up shops and bars, schools and buildings being taken over to host theater, comedy shows, dance, circuses, caberet, opera, music shows, and other exhibitions and events.

Everywhere you look during the entire month of August you are bound to see advertisements for shows, street performers, open bars filled to the brim with partiers, and art unfolding itself right before your very eyes. It's impossible not to feel as if you are a part of something huge and exciting!

My sister is very into all things comedy, so we elected to see a professional show of comedy skits and a smaller one woman stand up show. If only we could have stayed longer and had an infinite pocket book, I would have liked to watch every show there!!

You'll only find these attractions during the Festival!

Now, straying away from the festival, you can't forget to enjoy the rest of the city! As I may have mentioned, my sister and I are massive dorky fans of Harry Potter, so we of course had to take a "free" Harry Potter tour around the city. Our guide was fabulous, and she definitely earned our tips (hence the quotations around free) she took us to graveyard locations where J.K. Rowling found inspiration for names, Cafes in which she wrote her book, and several other locations significant to the Harry Potter franchise. Afterwards, my sister and I were sure to visit the famed Elephant Cafe to indulge in some delicious Scottish food and imagine ourselves writing best selling novels within the cozy confines of the cafe. If you do happen to stop by the Elephant Cafe, make sure you peek in the bathrooms! They are COVERED in Harry Potter themed graffiti.

A cozy meal on a cold summer day

J.K. Rowling... was hERE!!!

Now, that of course wasn't the only guided tour we took around the city. One thing I would definitely recommend to any traveler, solo or not, would be downloading the Rick Steves app. This guy is my best friend, even if I've never met him. He provides full, free, audio guides complete with maps and extra podcasts. My sister and I were able to walk around historic Edinburgh, one ear bud in her ear and one in mine, while good old Rick pointed out landmarks and told us all about their history.

Lastly, I was very interested in the more spooky side of Edinburgh a la witches, ghosts, Dooney & Burke, and fabled creatures living among the human remains from the castle moat, so I talked my sister into doing a paid guided tour that would dabble in that area. Unfortunately, with the craziness of the festival our tour company got a bit mixed up and our guide was replaced with a young girl who took us on more of a...folkloric tour of Edinburgh. She did a great job, it just wasn't what we paid for.

I know I've already written a lot, but I could write about this amazing city forever. Even though it's soaring hills had me wheezing all day, this city contains a culture and spirit entirely unique to itself. If it's not already on your bucket list, it should be!

Advice:

What my sister and I got right were seeing a mixture of smaller shows and professional shows. Don't be afraid to try new things and go to shows you normally wouldn't! The Fringe is all about experimentation and the alternative. To further involve yourself in the hubub, try out a mixture of long standing local bars, and temporary popup bars. And eat EVERYTHING that comes from a food truck. You won't regret it.
What we didn't get right was our accommodation. If you are planning on visiting Edinburgh during The Fringe make sure to plan ahead!! The entire city was either booked out or over priced. My sister and I ended up staying in a hostel across the Fourth Bridge, which it turns out has a bus toll of ten pounds every time you cross it. That ended up severely hurting our pocket books.
Lastly, as fun as The Fringe is, don't get too caught up in it and forget to enjoy the city! Try taking a couple of free tours and skip the paid ones, that way the guides will have to be good in order to work for your tip. Like I said, this city is genuinely one of the most beautiful in the world, and probably my top 3 favorite destinations. I can 100% see myself living there someday.

The Wee Man With a Cone on His Head: Glasgow

8/3/17
I've been in Spain for a week now, so of course I'm only just now writing about my travels in Scotland. You'll notice I didn't mention England or London; that's on purpose. While I did stay 3 whole days in London I just absolutely fell in love with the whole country of Scotland. It's probably not fair to make this judgement after spending an action packed week in Scotland and a fever filled few days in London, but there's always time to go back and change my mind!

My original plan was to write about my entire trip in one post, but after writing my way through Glasgow and Edinburgh I already had a novel's worht of blog post so I've decided to split them up into each destination. So, without further ado: Let me tell you about beautiful Glasgow:

Glasgow

Off my plane and straight onto a train, only to walk about 100 meters before packing my bags into a car. The first stop in our Scotland trip would be the largest city in Scotland, an industrial beauty named Glasgow! After eight hours of driving (Lets' be real, I was asleep for seven of those hours) we rolled up to a shelled out church with a sign proclaiming it was "The Tartan Lodge." My sister wanted to see the city, I wanted to sleep. Jet lag never hit me so hard, and before she could complain I was out like a light. The hostel was perfect for our one night stay, it had plenty of space and was completely covered in plaid, which was just so scottish. I would later learn that Tartan is actually what they call their plaid in Scotland, and it is a very important part of Scottish clans and culture. Men wear there tartan on their kilts, and women on their sashes, the colors of which tells the world whether you belong to clan MacDonald, MacAlistair, or all the many other clans in between. If you are wearing a tartan kilt of your clan's colors, you had better hope you don't run into a rival clan! Their grudges survive over centuries.

After passing some beautifully derelict buildings, my sister and I made it to our sinister first stop: Necropolis. Even the name is enough to bring chills to your bones. My sister proudly declared that is was the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom before promptly being corrected to a local. Biggest cemetery or not, the Victorian cemetery is absolutely beautiful situated on a small hill across from Clasgow Cathedral and littered with everything from ruined tombstones to large monuments to intricate mausoleums. We were told that if you lifted the grass up the entire ground would be filled with bones, giving it the nickname City of the Dead. It definitely felt strange to be walking around it and taking photos as if were any other park.

After exploring Necropolis we made a stop at Glasgow Cathedral, a really beautiful old building that was fun to look around. Straight across form the Cathedral is Glasgow's oldest house, built in 1471. That place was really built to last! Most of our day was spent walking around the city enjoying the architecture and ambiance. Some favorite stops were a point called "The Lighthouse" which housed an architecture center in an old lighthouse and allowed for amazing views of the city, and a statue whom the locals call "Wee man with a cone on his head." Which looks almost like it sounds; a statue of a man on a horse with a bright orange traffic cone on his head. Apparently the locals are fiercely protective of him and there was a long and drawn out battle to keep city council from removing the cone. Unfortunately we didn't have more time in Glasgow, but I felt as if I had seen all I wanted to, minus a few museums and restaurants.

Advice:

My advice for anyone visiting Glasgow: Talk to people! There are tourism banners all around the city proclaiming that "People Make Glasgow" and it's really true. Outside of Necropolis the local who corrected my sister also had some really insightful facts about the cemetery that I never would have known about otherwise. Similarly, we would have never visited the oldest house in Glasgow (or learned that it's probably haunted) if it weren't for the friendly locals. I am SUPER shy talking to people, but the citizens of Glasgow made it easy for me.

Fun Times in Chicago!

5/28/16
First of all, congratulations to my beautiful older sister Abby! We're all so proud of you for graduating! Plus, since you actually graduated, we all got to take a trip to Chicago! Chicago is an amazing city, it is so authentic and full of culture, art, comedy, and most importantly stories. I decided I'd make a vlog of our time there to share our stories! Make sure to check them out below, and check back for blog posts and vlogs of my adventures studying abroad in Spain in September!

Festivals and Fine Arts: Chicago Day 1!

Our first day consisted of a very, very early flight, very little sleep, and the shenanigans that ensue from being sleepless and delirious. We had a day full of art; first we went to to the Art Institute of Chicago, famous for housing tons of art and being part of one of my favorite movies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. After that we went to the famous sculpture Cloud Gate, more commonly known as the bean. Even though it's terribly touristy I love this sculpture and how it distorts the reflections of the city above. Abby's college, Columbia College Chicago, was also putting on an urban arts festival called ManiFest. In addition to a parade and a stage holding concerts there are tons of exhibits, drama and comedy performances, and interactive tents. After looking at all the cool art we decided to make some of our own and had a little photoshoot. Things always get silly when me and my siblings are together and my mom never gets the perfect picture she wants. Watch below to watch my twin brother Cal throw Abby in the air and drop her a a hilarious attempt at the dirty dancing move!

Graduation or Concert? Day Two-ish. 

Here we get to watch the most amazing graduation commencement I have ever seen. It was so spirited and happy with students cheering along with family and friends. A bunch of students dressed up their robes, there was one guy even wearing a full chewbacca costume, I wish I got a picture of that. Jane Lynch (yes, the mean lady from Glee) gave the speech and she was hilarious, so I included the highlights in there. We also get to hear a few words from our new graduate about how it feels to be in the real world.

We went on the slides: Day Four? 

Ahhh I had so fun on this day! Chicago has a bunch of really amazing free things to do, including museums, parks, festivals, and more. On this day we hit of the Museum of Contemporary Art on it's free day (all you need is a Chicago zipcode!) The museum is much smaller than the Institute of Art but I actually enjoyed that, I also enjoyed that it felt more laid back and I liked the style of art better. It was a freezing day so we decided to take shelter in the Chicago Cultural Center, which is also free! This place is a crazy amazingly beautiful building that houses a few art exhibitions that we checked out. We also stumbled upon a Spanish bookstore of sorts where a total jam session was being held, which was a wonderful experience. Afterwards we hit up the bean again (it's right across the street!) and then headed over to Maggie Daley Park, which is a superior park to Millenial Park in my opinion. More shenanigans ensued as we played on the playground. Hey--the sign said it was for all ages! Then we got some deliciously different grilled cheese at Cheesey's and caught a hilarious sketch comedy show at my personal favorite, Second City. 

But wait, there's more! 

I'll be updating this post as I edit and post more of my videos, I think I have two left? And if you like my videos, head on over to my Youtube channel and subscribe, I'll be making videos of my summer adventures and my adventures in Spain next semester!