France | Paris in the Rain

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BY SARAH BRANDENBURG

I had one wish before leaving Paris. I wanted to experience Paris in the rain. It was hot, unexpected, but it poured one day.

I walked out of my classroom and there it was, a wall of water showering on all of us. My wish had come true. A storm had surprised the city, and I was given the rare chance to explore Paris in the rain, a summertime rain.

Here are a few photographs and a film of Paris in the rain.

Sarah Brandenburg studied abroad in Paris, France in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/French-Paris/

France | The Arteries of Paris

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BY SARAH BRANDENBURG

The river is a refreshing place to take a stroll. Whenever the hot summer sun felt too unbearable, I would go to the river by Pont Marie, order a freshly pressed pamplemouse (grapefruit juice) and absorb the view.

There are places on the riverside cafés that are renovated boats. You can grab a refreshment and sit on the water. I enjoyed Monsieur Pelican, situated close to Pont Marie and Hôtel de Ville.

Friends talking by the river at Monsieur Pelican

This place is the only tourist filled location in Paris that I thoroughly enjoyed. Both Parisians and visitors are drawn to the water, especially during the hot summer months. The Seine is a haven from the heat even if it is un-swimmable.

A glass of freshly pressed jus de pamplemouse

Sarah Brandenburg studied abroad in Paris, France in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/French-Paris/

Spain | “Dance Like They Do in the Mediterranean” – Barceloneta

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BY PAULINA HERNANDEZ

The most cheesy thing I have ever done (but do not regret) is play Ed Sheeran’s “Barcelona” as I walk along the Mediterranean. But c’mon, I HAD to.

One of the places you’re bound to end up when in this beautiful city is the most popular beach found in the neighborhood of Barceloneta; this literally translates to “little Barcelona” which is accurate since it is always flooded with people, but that’s part of the fun!

There’s lots to do, see, and eat in Barceloneta as it is a hot spot for nightlife or cruising along the boardwalk. Here some of my favorite places and recommendations to make the most of your time:

Beach

The Mediterranean was definitely a different take of the beach than the Pacific, but I loved it just the same. It can tend to get crowded, especially during the summer, but you should be able to arrive around anytime of the day and still find a good tanning spot. Sometimes, my friends and I would head out there right after class with our towels and sunscreen in our backpacks lol.  *Definitely recommend going in groups so there is at least one person staying back to watch everyone’s belongings* ?

There are no huge waves like in California so there’s no surfing, but there are plenty of jet skis, boats, and parasailing (which you can rent in the Olympic Port!). The waters are pretty tame and not as cold either, which I really appreciated because I tend to get cold very easily lol.

There are also people selling various things on the beach, which can be overpriced. BUT, one of my best investments was this purple/colorful beach blanket for 15 Euros; it’s larger than a normal beach towel, easy to fold and put away, and sand slides right off after you shake it out.

Gelato!!

As you walk along the boardwalk, you see people riding bikes, rockin’ roller skates, selling jewelry and lots of restaurants. My friend and I were on the hunt for some good gelato, though! Luckily, if you walk down the boardwalk towards the W Hotel, you’ll find this gem of a place called Ice Box. It has incredible gelato and is right on the beach. This little black cups were so cute that I kept it to be my new jewelry holder lol.

Jai-ca

My friends made it a mission to try as many tapa places as we could throughout the program (and I highly recommend it!). One of my favorite places that was on the cheaper side was found in Barceloneta, called Jai-ca. It was one of our go-to lunch places after class and has this cute and cozy vibe to it. I’d 10/10 recommend for some good and authentic tapas!

W Hotel

If you’re looking for a more extravagant meal (but 100% delicious), you might try the Bravo 24. We saved this tapas meal for the last day as a celebration, but thank goodness we did because it was the best tapas of my life (nice to end on a high note lol). It also has incredible views of the city from the higher floor which you can get access to as well. It’s best to go at sunset!

Paulina Hernandez studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/span-barcelona/

Spain | Fiesta or Siesta?

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BY PAULINA HERNANDEZ

Well in my book, a siesta can be just as good a fiesta! A siesta is basically like this afternoon nap during the hottest parts of the day, and they are a big deal in Barcelona!

I’m originally from California, so the time change was something that took a while to get used to being 9 hours ahead of my normal schedule, but I promise these siestas saved my life because I was able to sleep during the day and it was perfectly normal!

Our professor told us right when we got there that usually, anywhere from 4-8PM, shops and restaurants would close for “siesta” so that the workers could go home and see their family, rest or even nap. Since we were near a tourist area, most stores now stay open but it wouldn’t be uncommon to find yourself locked outside of a store.

To a Californian girl like myself, it seemed odd at first to take break right in the MIDDLE of the day. [I mean I love sleeping in but 4PM!?] This is normal in Barcelona because they follow a different daily timeline that can look something like this (I modified it for the way I adapted as a student but it follows the same structure):

8AM – 10AM →  Go into work/school

2 PM →  Lunchtime!

4-7 PM →  Siesta ?

9-11 PM →  Start Dinner

After midnight — Enjoy your night!

Eating lunch at 2PM or eating dinner at 10PM definitely took some getting used to, since back home my lunch and dinner times are usually 12PM and 6PM, but there’s a reason for this!! I discovered it my first evening in Barcelona actually. After the orientation we had that first day, a group of us decided to go eat and watch the World Cup match that was going on that night. As we sat there eating our first taste of tapas and enjoying the fútbol game, we noticed that it was 9:30PM and it was STILL light out. I mean it, like the sun was barely setting and the air was cool so people were walking their dogs, going out for a jog or grabbing dinner outside.

After the next couple of days, I realized in Barcelona, the sun is only gone from 10PM to about 6AM, which was different from back home — but this culture shock and adjustment was just the thing I was looking forward to going abroad.

I’m not sure if any of you had a similar experience, but I had to practically beg and convince my parents to let me go abroad with every good possible reason: the classes count towards my minor, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s free (thanks to this scholarship!!). I even added the Spanish minor to make the classes count!

But why did I go great lengths to go abroad?

My mom told asked me why I wouldn’t just go backpacking Europe after I graduated from UCLA. My answer was the fact that I wanted to learn what siestas were. I wanted to discover for myself how to adapt to them, and how to live the lifestyle of a local even if it was for a short time. I am so blessed I got this opportunity because I’m not sure when I’ll ever get the chance to temporarily live in another country again and learn to adapt to a culture I am not familiar with. With that, I not only figured out how to keep my sleeping schedule on track, but gained world-experience and became conscious of real-world issues that other countries were facing outside of my home country. It opened my eyes that there is so much more out there than what’s happening in my backyard, and it matters just as much.

Paulina Hernandez studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/span-barcelona/

Spain | Study Spots and Polka Dots

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BY PAULINA HERNANDEZ

As beautiful as the Universitat Pompeu Fabra is, I did not want to spend my limited time in Spain sitting in a library. The most challenging part of any study abroad program is finding the balance between exploring the city for yourself while simultaneously making sure you are caught up on your assignments. Luckily, summertime in Barcelona happily allows for both.

When I did the program, we stayed at the Residencia Onix, which quickly becomes your home. It is about a 15 minute walk to campus, 25 minute walk to Barceloneta and the beach, 25 minute walk from La Sagrada Familia and conveniently a 5 minute walk to the Arc de Triomf and Metro!

*The Arc quickly becomes a reference point of how close you are to home*

When my friends and I did not want to read in our dorm rooms, we would first take advantage of the rest of the Residencia Onix. They have a lounge on the basement level with couches and tables to study at, and even a room open at the late hours of the night where other international abroad students are studying. It’s a great place to meet other people from all over the world and USA who are in different programs. They also have a movie room, a television, and ping pong tables (which seems to be a big thing in Spain apparently).

Another perk of this residence is the roof! It is open 10AM-8PM, so if you catch yourself home during those hours I would definitely check it out. It has a pool with some lounging pool chairs and is festively decorated. Sometimes, my friends and I would take a dip in the pool to cool off and then read or do our assignments under the warm summer sun. There is a great 360 view of Barcelona where you can see the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter to the Sagrada Familia and Barceloneta. 10/10 would recommend taking advantage of it.

Right around the corner, there is this cute little coffee shop called BRACAFÈ. From delicious pastries to great lattes, this cafe is a gem I wish I found sooner. There is inside seating, but the weather is so nice in the evening that I would recommend sitting at their outside tables — and YES they have Wifi!

If you’re looking to get out of the Residencia Onix area, my favorite part of the city was the Gothic Quarter because this is where all the tiny streets seem to criss cross one another in an no particular pattern. In these lovely streets, my group found Boheme Bakery Cafe during one of our group project ventures. We took time to break from our scavenger hunt-like assignment to refuel with some lattes and sweet goods. It is found around the corner of the Picasso Museum and one of the coolest little streets for the arts. I had a caramel latte (of course) and red velvet cupcake with cute little white chocolate hearts all over it.

So the Polka Dots from the title of this post go hand-in-hand with one of the most well-known tapas restaurants my friends and I happen to find! *Tapas are like Spanish appetizer-like dishes, a must-have when in Spain* But really, before visiting a museum, we were really hungry and just Yelped the nearest restaurant and luckily we came across Casa Lolea (which apparently usually needs a reservation FYI!). They are most known for their patatas bravas, a type of tapas dish, because they make them in their own special way. I actually really liked them, and that’s saying a lot being that I’m a picky eater lol. I also did myself a favor and ordered a slice chocolate cake because I’m on vacation, so why not?

Paulina Hernandez studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/span-barcelona/

France | A Birdseye View of Paris

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BY SARAH BRANDENBURG

When I was in Paris I lived in the 14th Arrondissement, where the Montparnasse tower finds her home. I could see the large edifice from my apartment window and wondered what it would be like to climb to the top.

The full fee to enter the observation deck is 18 euros and 15 euros for students. It is a big cost to pay to be surrounded by tourists vying for a glance. I recommend traveling to the top of the tower, and I have a few suggestions.

My roommate Andrea

If you want to relax from the heat at the same time, instead of going to the observation deck, make your way inside the lobby of the Montparnasse Tower and take the left elevator to the restaurant. The restaurant is pretty pricey but they have a tiny café/bar with a gorgeous view.

The refreshments are pricey but I ordered a glass of freshly pressed Pamplemousse (grapefruit) juice for 9 euros (less than the cost of a ticket to the observation deck) and relaxed in the air conditioning with a refreshing break.

If you go to Paris in the summer, be prepared for a strong heat and no air conditioning. Most of the establishments in Paris are not retrofitted for air conditioning, so finding a cool place like the café at the top of the tower is a welcome break from the hot city.

The view from my apartment: the large tower on the left is the Montparnasse

Sarah Brandenburg studied abroad in Paris, France in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/French-Paris/

Ghana | How My Experiences in Ghana are Preparing Me for Global Citizenship

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BY ASHLEY YOUNG

Globalization was all the rage of the early 2000s, and it is still of major importance today. As our world becomes increasingly more connected, different cultures meet and merge, economies become highly interdependent, and access to the internet is expanded to even the most rural and restricted areas, the idea of global citizenship has taken on new importance. Understanding places, social systems, peoples, languages, and cultures other than your own is highly valuable and can be readily used in the work place as well as personal daily life. I believe that studying abroad is one of the best ways to adopt a global outlook and prepare yourself to be a global citizen, and so I thought that in this post I would share some of the key experiences I have had in Ghana that have prepared me for global citizenship. This post will be comprised of ten individual photos that each have a caption fulfilling the statement: “Studying abroad in Ghana has prepared me for global citizenship by…” Each photo was taken during my time in Ghana and corresponds directly to its caption! Enjoy!

Studying abroad in Ghana has prepared me for global citizenship by…

  1. Exposing me to new people, places, and ways of life and improving my intercultural communication skills (Pictured: Fisherman at Bojo Beach)

2. Helping me to understand different philosophies and perspectives outside of my native culture (Pictured: Adinkra symbols)

3. Developing my knowledge, appreciation, and value of other groups and regions of the world (Pictured: An African style building)

4. Giving me experience learning a new language and participating in other culturally immersive activities (Pictured: Flower at the University of Ghana International Programmes Building, where I am learning Twi)

5. Providing me with outstanding research opportunities (I am researching democratization in Ghana) (Pictured: The Independence Arch)

6. Increasing my awareness of historical injustices that have modern implications (Pictured: The Elmina Slave Castle).

7. Increasing my knowledge of how globalization has impacted Ghana and how globalization affects the international community (Pictured: Cocoa in Ghana)

8. Developing my capacity to think creatively and imaginatively about solutions to the challenges of globalization (Pictured: The art of kente)

9. Pushing me outside my comfort zone and developing my personal character (Pictured: Heights at the Kakum National Forest Canopy Walk)

10. Allowing me to reflect on my own position and involvement in the world as a global citizen (Pictured: A Cape Coast sunrise)

Ashley Young studied abroad in Accra, Ghana in 2018: https://uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/programs/explore-ghana

South Africa | Post Program Reflection

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BY KELLI HAMILTON

This is so bittersweet in many ways. I was sad to leave, but I also missed In N Out and Trader Joe’s. Studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, for the past four and a half months was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. As I sit here, writing a reflection piece on my time abroad, I realize how grateful I truly am to have been able to study abroad in South Africa, and travel across the rest of Africa while doing it. It is at this time, that I want to say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my parents for making this possible, thank you to UCEAP for being a constant resource, thank you to IDACA for all the hard work you put into making studying abroad an enjoyable experience, thank you to UCT for accepting me as a student, thank you to everyone I met while in Africa, for you have truly changed me and my life for the better, and thank you Cape Town, South Africa, for being the gem that you are.

I had so many wonderful experiences in the past few months that I cannot narrow them down to just a few. However right now, I am thinking about going to the squash team’s formal, looking at the entire city from UCT’s campus, having an impromptu going away party at the Soweto Towers, high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, going skydiving, turning 21 in Namibia, going white water rafting, hanging out with my South African friends after class, participating in Food Jam’s Cooking Class with other UC students, exploring Table Mountain, meeting awesome people on airplanes, and watching the sunset from Signal Hill, a site that always took my breath away.

Studying at UCT and in S. Africa has been magnificent, to put it into one word. It was not without its challenges, however, such as the water restrictions, due to the drought, the fickle weather, and the different educational system, but eventually, I figured everything out. Cape Town is now out of the drought phase, I adjusted to school abroad, and the weather settled down a few months in. I now know a little Afrikaans, and through learning at UCT, a lot more about South African politics and history, and the economics and politics of Africa as a whole, which will certainly be important as globalization expands and Africa’s population continues to rise.

I made friends here who I consider to be such special people that I will stay in contact with as far into the future as I can see, South Africans, Americans, and other internationals alike. Closing the door to my house on Grotto Road for the final time brought a wave of emotions, but I am not too sad, because I know I will be back and Cape Town will be as good as ever when I return. So to you Africa, I bid you adieu, but just know, this is a not a goodbye, but a see you later, and I mean that, no matter how corny it may sound. Lastly, my piece of advice to anyone reading this is, if you are thinking about studying abroad, Cape Town or elsewhere, JUST DO IT. But seriously, Cape Town is an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

Love Always,

Kelli Hamilton

Kelli Hamilton studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018: http://eap.ucop.edu/OurPrograms/south_africa/Pages/univ_of_cape_town.aspx

Spain | The Party’s Just Begun

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BY PAULINA HERNANDEZ

What do you know, another Cheetah Girls reference for ya.

But really, this is how I would express my thoughts the moment I got settled into my new residence for the next 3 ½ weeks. I got a corner room, so my roommate and I lucked out with a larger room than normal. It had 2 twin-sized beds, lots of desk space and windows, a small kitchen and a bathroom. The evening I landed Barcelona, we had a short orientation with the professor and TA going over the unique layout of the course — which included a guided tour of the city the following afternoon!

One of the coolest parts of this program is that half the time, our classroom is the city and country itself via tours. Luckily, this city tour included all the major ‘touristy’ attractions Barcelona has to offer, so we easily got to check them off our list right at the beginning. It was great because the I didn’t feel pressured to go see these all the remaining of the trip on my own time. Here are some of the places we got to visit ?

Montjuic

Montjuic is a mountain that stands over the city. It literally translates to “Jewish Mountain” because that is where the Jews were thought to settle in the late 1400s. It was the first time I got a good look at the skyline as our tour guide was pointing out particular buildings and areas I would soon come to know on my own.

There were people selling souvenirs, which was common to find in this tourist attractions. Others were just picnicking on the hill or set out blankets to relax and enjoy the view among good company. Our tour guide continued to tell us about the Olympic Stadium that was reconstructed for the 1992 Olympics that were held in Barcelona and practically reshaped the image of the city to the world. It is now currently used for concerts, sporting events, or music festivals.

Park Güell

This place was the one I was most excited to see for various iconic Cheetah Girls 2 reasons (y’all thought I was kidding huh?). It was created by Antoni Gaudi, whose work I soon began to recognize and fall in love with. He has this style of organic architecture that was inspired by the idea that nature was a creation of God.

Park Güell was originally built for residential housing, hoping that the wealthy families would want to live up on the hill with one of the best views of Barcelona. Unfortunately only a couple of families bought into this idea, so the remaining space was decided to be used as a public park. The beautiful arches and artwork of Gaudi, including the fairytale-looking houses and mosaic dragon, can all be seen here!

Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is probably one of the most iconic landmarks of Barcelona today, and Gaudi’s most well-known masterwork — it just so happens to not be finished yet. It has remained an active church, except for during the Spanish Civil War period. The construction of this beautiful monument began in 1882 until Gaudi took over in 1883 and worked on it until the end of his life. It is still a continued project and is now projected to be completed in 2026!

From a birds-eye view, the finished shape of the church is supposed to be the cross. There are going to be 3 facades once it is finished representing The Nativity, The Passion and The Glory. Staring at the Sagrada Familia, you can see the endless details all around. One of the clearest views of the church is from the Plaza de Gaudi.

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Paulina Hernandez studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/span-barcelona/

France | Step Inside a Painting

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BY SARAH BRANDENBURG

A short train-ride outside of Paris there is a tiny town called Giverny. This village is where Claude Monet lived, and he created some of his most iconic paintings in these gardens.

The gardens in Giverny, where Claude Monet used to paint, are still cared for splendidly by talented gardeners. The little pond he used in his paintings still exists and there was a certain nostalgia in visiting a place I had only seen in impressionistic paintings.

Monet’s impression of the gardens is what catapulted a simple pretty and calming place into an iconic landmark. The place is beautiful, but Monet made it so.

My classmate enjoying the gardens at Giverny

The pond that Monet famously painted

I tried to capture an impressionist style photograph

Another classmate standing on the famous green bridge

The famous lily pads

A photograph trying to be a painting

Sarah Brandenburg studied abroad in Paris, France in summer 2018: https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/French-Paris/