Travel Adventures

Hello Readers,

I will have officially been here a month this coming Sunday and the time has flown by. They always say that time moves fast when you are having fun, but this is crazy. I feel like I would believe you if you told me that I have only been here for two weeks. Now you are telling me that I only have four weeks left here. I genuinely could not recommend doing a program like this enough. For anyone who is thinking about it just take the leap and sign up. This is a type of program that is once in a lifetime and should be taken up on.

Since being here, I have not done too much traveling. Like I said this time has been moving so fast and has gotten away from me. I have been in multiple places in the province of Ourense though. Where I live is a small "barrio" just 10-15 minutes' drive from the center city part of Ourense. I have gone to three or four other "barrios" with one of them being around 35-40 minutes away from Ourense. Then two weekends ago I went to Madrid with my host sisters to explore the city and stay with their cousins. We explored the center city of Madrid by doing shopping, looking at historic buildings, and watching the St. Patrick's Day parade they were having. At one point we were walking and found a Galician band practicing before the parade started and it was a funny coincidence since that is where my host family is from.

While we were there, I also met up with my first teacher from my Spanish immersion school I went to when I was younger. I had her as a teacher for two-three years and have not seen her since I was about eight if my memory serves me right. It was so interesting coming to the place where she is from and seeing her again for the first time after so many years. It truly made my full-circle experience by seeing her in Madrid. I am hoping to see her and one of my other teachers sometime during their spring break.

Also, while on the topic of traveling and spring break I am planning a trip to Mallorca for three days. My sister has been telling me since she got back, and especially since she found out I was going to Spain, that I NEED to go to Mallorca at some point. After looking at some pictures it took little to no convincing for me to start buying tickets to go there. Thankfully, I will not be going by myself and have made friends with the other girls in the COST program, and we will all be going together.

Since being here, and doing some other traveling before this, I have picked up some helpful tips to use when traveling. One of the first things that I tell people who are traveling in Europe, which is actually a tip I got from a girl that did this program last year, is to download the Rome2Rio app. This app has changed the game from traveling not only between cities but between countries. It tells you all the different ways you can travel, times, and approximate costs. It is the most useful app ever and I have used it so many times. Another tip that I would recommend is buying train tickets as far out as possible. While this is common sense sometimes, we forget or do not think that it is that important to do but it will save you a lot of money doing this. Now I cannot think of any other ones that really need that much explanation, so I am just going to make a list for whoever wants it. Most of the ones about theft are more for bigger cities. Where I live, you can put your phone on the table or hold your purse in your hand instead of needing to put it in your armpit. However, for those not going to small cities where there is almost no crime whatsoever, please listen carefully.

Traveling Tips:

• You NEED to know the language of the place you are going to. I do not care who tells you otherwise learn at least a few key phrases and words before you go. The locals will be way more helpful and nice to you if they see that you are at least trying.

• Tipping is not really a thing in Europe. While you can it is not necessary and something that people do not do often.

• If you are going to wear a crossbody bag, do not wear one that has a clasp in the back. This can be easily grabbed and stolen in seconds.

• Always carry cash with you, not all local small stores allow payment with card.

• Do not set your phone down on the table, it will get stolen.

• Pack as minimal stuff as possible because you will want to shop all the time, and you will have to buy another suitcase (may or may not have happened to me).

• Always make sure that you have a portable charger on you. It is one thing to be lost because your phone died but it is another to be lost in a foreign country with no one to realize you are lost.

• Ask locals where they would go to eat/drink on a night out. Honestly ask locals everything, they will tell you the good things that are not overpriced because they are strictly tourist traps.

• Research clothes, mannerisms, and customs before you get to the country. Even if you think you know, do some more research before you are startled with two cheek kisses the first time you meet someone.

• Lastly but definitely not least, live in the moment and enjoy every second of what you are doing.