It has been almost six months since I last blogged, and while this can be heavily attributed to the massive brain drain that is junior year, I also just feel that I’ve outgrown this blog. “Maria Across the Pond” began in August of 2014, when I was only a few months into my 18th year … More Homage to Catalonia
It has almost been three months since I last posted on this blog, and I am finally getting around to sharing my most recent adventures. Sophomore year wrapped up much faster than expected after my trip to Paris in March, and, aside from some weekend excursions, I enjoyed being a very normal college student. I … More The Amalfi Coast and other things
14 days of traveling means 14 days of new foods, strange beds, and unfamiliar faces. As I sit at my laptop reflecting on my last two weeks, I feel like I’m retelling three months of stories rather than just days. This academic travel, which was focused on studying French “Orientalism” and all its associated discourses, led … More 14 Days in France
If I had a franc for every time someone asked me, “Did you go skiing yet?” I would be very, very rich. Naturally, living beneath the Alps in the ski capital of the world, people assume I hit the slopes frequently. I always have to explain that, while most of Switzerland is covered in snow, Lugano … More And She Finally Went Skiing
The fifth week of spring semester has commenced, and I’ve only just had my first real excursion worth writing about. It’s strange living abroad, because people back home have trouble imagining that my life is anything less than a vacation, but here in Switzerland, my friends and I stay busy studying and hanging out just … More A Villa for Valentine’s Day
By now, 8-hour flights between IAD and ZRH are becoming routine, and I think I’ve finally gotten the hang of bicontinental living. I arrived in Lugano on Friday, quickly adjusted to the time change, and found myself roaming around the city on Saturday. Upon my arrival in Zurich Airport I experienced a new sensation; for the … More Hitting the Ground Running
It’s finals week here at Franklin, and obviously, I should be buried under books all week studying. But, I am a typical college student and am living in denial, so this weekend, my best friend Diego and I decided to escape to Geneva and runaway from our problems. Last year, we started a Christmas trip … More Noël en Genève
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and missing this treasured American tradition is one sacrifice of living abroad. Last year, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my cousin in London, but this season, my friend Anika and I flew to Barcelona for a weekend in the sun. Although I still haven’t gotten used to the idea of listening … More Blondes in Barcelona
There is no better feeling than returning to a familiar bed after weeks abroad. Academic travel is the best part of life at Franklin, but it’s also exhausting and mentally draining. Our trip to Scotland, which consisted of hiking all day and “pubbing” at night, was tiring enough, but my additional four days in Ireland left … More An Irish Halloween
I am currently sitting in an adorable cafe in Dublin with my best friend Rachel, inhaling food to stay awake after a whirlwind trip to Scotland and an 8 am flight. For the past 8 days, I was traveling through Scotland with my academic travel class, in which we studied Scottish storytelling and music. The 22 … More Highland Adventures
Carpe Vitam 