I’m really excited to be in Mexico, especially since I’ve never been to a Spanish-speaking country. I can’t wait to try new food, learn new dances, go to the Mayan ruins, and meet my host family. My dream is to become a reporter in a Latin American country, so this trip brings me one step closer to learning more about the culture of the Latin American people. I’ve previously been to India, England, Malaysia, Singapore, and a few other places, but have never been immersed in a country by myself.

However, amidst all the critics there were a few who helped me remember why I was so passionate about studying abroad. The mother of one of my friends actually attended Ohio University and was a student on the Mayab program for two years as an undergrad. It was amazing listening to her gush on about all her excursions, still vividly explaining every detail of her trip and reminiscing on one of her best experiences yet to date. Another lady I met had actually taught English in a small Mexican pueblo for five years and said she would someday like to return to live in Mexico because she loved the country so much.

Don’t ever, ever let opinions or stereotypes damper your desire to study abroad in another country. Everyone who told me how unsafe Mexico is were completely wrong. I feel safer in this city than I do in my own hometown, and even the locals will tell you that this is one of the most tranquil cities in all of the country, destroying many of the stereotypical ideas of all Mexican cities being tainted by drugs and violence.

I am positive that even after only three weeks in Mexico so far, this has been the best experience of my life. One of the things I look most forward to about returning from Mexico is having the knowledge and experience to change the mind of at least person who knows so little about what lies outside their own border.

Merida, Mexico will be my temporary home from January to March as I study abroad in the Language; Culture Program. Senior year of high school I was able to take a day trip into a small town in Mexico across the Texas border and I fell in love; the colors, the people and the overall environment were completely invigorating. An avid traveler for all of my life, I’m looking forward to actually putting down roots in a location for an extended period of time. My hometown has a large presence of Hispanic citizens so I’ve grown accustom to the culture, but while in Mexico I believe the hardest obstacle for me to overcome will be to trust and reach out to those I meet. However, I know my independent and curious personality will open many doors while in Merida. By the end of the trip I hope to have eaten tons of fried ice cream, swam in cenotes, and embroidered my own dress.

I’ll be studying abroad in Spain this winter, and I chose the program because I want to immerse myself in a foreign culture and develop a stronger grasp on the Spanish language. While my majors pertain to journalism and communications, taking a quarter off from that to explore different culture and language is important to me. I hope to someday work with international clients in the magazine or communications industry. I have never been abroad before, so I am anticipating anxiety and excitement.

For students studying abroad, understanding and experiencing holidays, or “días festivos,” is a fantastic introduction to the community you are about to live in and provides you with a great representation of their culture. Almost all holidays will have some history behind its meaning and significance (think about Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July), so it’s a great way to not only learn the culture, but also learn a bit of history as well.

The city of Mérida wasn’t only celebrating the end of the Christmas season, but also the foundation of the city. I got to learn about when the city was founded, (1542!) and visited buildings and churches that are as old as the city! One can also understand architecture and the style of the city better when they know their history: for Merida, their foundation year was when the Spaniards first arrived to Mexico and conquered the Mayans that were living there. Many of the buildings are beautiful and colonial-designed due to the Spanish influence. Religion and Catholicism was huge during that time in the Spanish social realm, so there are several monumental churches “en el centro,” the main downtown area of Merida.

Enough about the history, you’re probably wondering how the city celebrates this double-holiday. “Rosca de Reyes” is a traditional cake that is baked for this holiday that in every cake, there is a figurine hidden inside. If you have the figurine (who is supposed to represent Baby Jesus), then you are supposed to throw a party for all the people you celebrated the holiday with before the second of February. My roommate had the figurine in her cake that she ate from work, so I will be inviting myself to that party! In the downtown area of Merida, they close down some of the main roads and have a huge party in the street. Hundreds of people swarm closed down streets to see and taste the biggest rosca de reyes in all of Mexico, stretching 1.5 kilometers, which in Gringo measurements, makes it about 4,821 feet long. It is HUGE. And yes, this cake is in the Guinness book of world records!!

Aside from getting a huge piece of cake and soda or hot chocolate for 25 pesos (less than 2 dollars), there is a huge dance party going on at the end of the huge cake, with a live band performing and signing nonstop for a few hours. It is quite a spectacle and very fun to be a part of. They invited a bunch of the ladies in the front dancing on stage, so I got to dance with the band!

I think its important to remember that events like these are not required parts of our excursions or the programs, so you must talk to locals or your host family in order to get the inside scoop of when these awesome cultural events go down.

Hop on Google or ask your local friend when the next holiday or fiesta is going down in the town you are studying abroad in. Make sure you go, bring a camera, and have an unforgettable time!

When traveling the world, you are confronted with many issues such as what to pack. When staring at your suitcase, have no fear.  I know all of us fashion lover’s dread one thing when going to the airport: the weight limit for suitcases. I can say for myself that I had to repack my suitcase three times just to get it a pound and a half under the weight limit. Here are some tips to make your packing stress free but still look fabulous while abroad.

Scarves: Scarves are one thing that can jazz up any outfit plus keep you warm during those unexpected cold days and nights. Many scarves are lightweight and pack easily while taking up little space. Also many stores in other countries sell scarves abroad, so if you get tired of the ones you pack, you can always shop for new ones.

Comfortable shoes: I can attest for myself that a stylish shoe will always beat out a comfortable one. But for those long days of touring cities and walking to class, a comfortable (but cute) shoe is necessary.  I recommend a boot in a neutral color such a black or brown so that it can be worn with many different outfits. Also, the clothing during the night life is very relaxed so a boot will transfer quite easily from day wear to night wear.

I also recommend Vans or a canvas style of shoe. It’s very casual and can go with many outfits as well. My gray vans are a great alternative to the boot look and are also very comfortable for long days of walking.

Hair accessories: Since  you are traveling to a different country were the voltage is probably different than the United States and you are dealing with a weight limit, you probably are not going to be able to bring the hair dryer and straightener that you cannot live without. For this reason, I recommend bringing hair accessories such as headbands (which you can buy for a steal at Forever 21), lots of bobby pins and hair ties. These tools will help you change up your style when you get bored with your everyday look and will make living without your beloved hair tools a little more manageable.  It even gives you an opportunity to try some styles that are sported by some of the locals (if you dare).

Fleece jacket:  By now, I’m sure most of you are tired of the fleece look, but for traveling, a fleece jacket is very lightweight and can add an extra layer when it may become a little chilly. A fleece jacket, such as a Northface or a Columbia, is very casual and can be purchased in a variety of colors. If you are not looking to splurge, many stores carry their own brands of fleece jackets that run very cheap.

Watch: I have recently become obsessed with watches and wear one every day. Wearing a watch abroad helps a lot and even adds style to your outfit. Many places in Spain don’t have clocks and people don’t look at their phone a lot to check the time. Plus if you wear your watch on the plane, it’s less weight you have to worry about packing. 

Happy traveling!

A quick overview of Mérida: it is the capital and the largest city (population of around 1 million)of the Mexican State of Yucatan and the Yucatan Peninsula. When you think of Mexico, Merida is in the eastern-most part of the country, a top of the tail-like end of the country. It ranges from 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit each day, but it is usually around a perfect 78 each day (well, for now, it is supposed to get hotter when “winter” ends).

The people of Mérida are as pleasant and warm as the weather. Everyone is extremely friendly, eager to make conversation, and helpful if you are lost or need directions. So far, Mérida is living up to its’ expectations and I am loving it!

I will be studying in the City of Toledo, Spain at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. This is through the Modern Language Program in Ohio University Education Abroad. Because my specialization is Spanish, I wanted some first hand experience within the culture to better my speaking skills. I am thrilled to be a part of this program and can’t wait for the opportunities that await me. Although I am nervous, there is something fascinating about being a part of a foreign culture. I have never traveled outside of the U.S., besides Canada, so this will for sure be an eye-opening encounter. Knowing I’m going to be isolated within a different culture and language is intimidating, but I look forward to meeting new people and trying new things. I couldn’t imagine a better way to end my college career.

I am studying Spanish in Toledo, Spain with determination to become fluent in Spanish and live up to my Hispanic last name. I heard Spanish guys think blondes are celebrities so I’m in luck. I’m scared that there won’t be any spicy food and I don’t think I can take a shower in less than five minutes. I plan to run a marathon one day and to have seven kids.

What a Wonder

Livingstone is home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Victoria Falls. Although it’s not the tallest, Victoria Falls is the world’s largest waterfall when you combine its height (354 ft) and width (5,604 ft).  March is the best month to view the Falls, but I think December gave us a pretty darn good show.

We got to the Victoria Falls park a little late and didn’t stay nearly as long as I would’ve liked.  I needed more time to comprehend the magnitude of the Falls; they seemed to never end.  Nonetheless, I spent most of my time at Victoria Falls absolutely mesmerized.

Close Encounters

Easily my favorite part of the weekend and the entire trip was our Mukuni Big Five Safari.  Our trip to Mukuni started with signing a waiver form for our elephant, lion, and, cheetah “activities.”  We then got to meet our “rides” for the day.  Our rides turned out to be 6 African elephants.  My ride’s name was Sondela, meaning come closer.  I rode Sondela for a cool 45 minutes, during which I learned all about Sondela and her daily routine from one of the Mukuni guides. At the end, we got to refuel our rides via mouth and trunk!

After my elephant ride, we were swiftly taken to meet our walking partners named Simba and Nellie.  Simba and Nellie just happened to be a male and female lion, respectively.  When we first met them, they had just finished their lunches and were in the middle of their post-meal snooze.  After we each got to pet them, we then woke up the sleeping beauties for a walk.  And to my amazement the lions actually walked right beside us! To top things off, at any given time one of us was walking each lion by its tail. The guides said the lions are so keen to walk beside us because they think we’re the pride; wherever we go, the lions will follow.  Although we stopped quite frequently for them to roll around and utilize trees as scratching posts, I have to say Simba and Nellie are now my new favorite walking partners!

As if an elephant ride and a lion walk weren’t enough, we then got to play with three cheetahs.  That’s right, we got to roll around in the grass, get our faces licked, and play fetch with cheetahs.  A cheetah might be a ferocious predator but these guys were nothing but really big house cats to me.  All of the cheetahs were so gentle and relaxed.  I could tell they were loving life too based on how loud they purred.  Words cannot describe how much I loved the cheetah encounter so I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Don’t Look Down

To end the weekend, we went back to the Falls to do what else but jump off a bridge!  Bungee jumping is something I’ve always wanted to do and what better place than Africa.  The bridge connects Zambia with Zimbabwe in which during your jump you literally swing on over to Zimbabwe – no passport required!  Although I was a little nervous that morning, I was very surprised at how calm I was at the jump site.  I thought I would get nervous when I stepped on to the platform but as I walked onto it all I felt was excitement.  They quickly strapped me in, said “check” about 5 times, and hastily walked me to the edge of the platform. I’m pretty sure the speedy prep is so you don’t have time to back out.  Before I knew it, the “5,4,3,2,1 bungee” countdown was over and I was plunging approximately 333 feet toward the Zambezi River.  The only word I can think of to describe my jump is euphoria.  The adrenaline of jumping mixed with the peacefulness of my surroundings was nothing but euphoric.  Unlike some people who do it once just to say they’ve done it, I’m fully planning on becoming a regular bungee jumper.