While I studied abroad in Northern Ireland, I had a mid-semester break called Reading Week. Since I was in the perfect position to travel, I asked my friend, Trianne, to explore Europe with me. With our hearts beating fast with excitement, Trianne and I scheduled an eleven day trip to Portugal and Spain. The experience was absolutely amazing. I have the opportunity to experience the cultures of Portugal and Spain through their architecture, food, and local people.

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The Portuguese people were incredibly warm and friendly. I felt extremely comfortable asking for directions, and anyone I asked did their best to point Trianne and me in the right direction. I asked a young woman who was working in a small shop for directions, and even though she didn’t know, she called her boss to ask for directions to help us! The people went out of their way to be kind. It was such a great experience to be able to explore a different world.

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In Spain, we visited the Alhambra, which was magical. The Alhambra is an Arabic fortress in Granada, Spain. Visiting the Alhambra made me interested in learning more about the history of Spain.  In Spain, Trianne and I explored the gardens and appreciated the architecture. We spent an entire day in an Art Museum, looking at the art and culture of Spain. The experience was something that I will never forget. It amplified by desire to explore and experience the world and to meet new people.

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I wrote a blog post for the Honors blog about the ups and downs of traveling Portugal and Spain, and the advice I have for students wanting to travel: https://mnsuhonors.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/overcoming-challenges-in-travels/#respond