Tag: travel

One Door Closes, Another Opens

I’m back in the States!

Actually, I’ve been back for quite some time, but between graduation, taking summer classes, working at Plainwell Ice Cream, job hunting, car hunting, catching up with friends, working on a certification, gardening, and just living life, this final post has been pushed off just a bit.

In fact, I’ve pushed it off long enough that the week has approached where the next Lemus leaves on her own trip across the pond! This Friday we will be dropping Alejandra off at the airport where she will fly to Aberdeen in Scotland (in the UK? it’s confusing to me too).

This said, I write this final post not just as a reflection on my time abroad, but as advice to her as she gets ready for her journey.

First, enjoy my favorite pictures from Croatia. Blog post about Croatia can be found here.

My first piece of advice : Don’t study.

Ok, maybe study a bit. But when it’s your last week of classes and you have the choice between spending 3 hours in the library, or 3 hours at dinner with your friends, take dinner. Time is funny. It goes slowest when you want it to go fast, and fastest when you want it to stop. A stay that seems daunting at the start (and might have you questioning what on Earth you think you’re doing, and who on Earth you think you are committing yourself to a completely new environment and continent for the next few months, and who will take care of your cat?) flies by before you know it. That time is meant to be cherished. 

Relish each moment, but believe in the next too. Today you might be waking up to the best sunrise. Tomorrow you might be farther from your friends. Today’s flight may be full of turbulence, but tomorrow’s will be a little smoother. Enjoy the good, and know the bad will pass. Both will make great blog posts.

My second piece of advice : Study.

Study how the roof of an old church meets the sky. Study which bars seem bright and inviting and full of local accents. Keep an eye out for bizarre meals and brush up on your sense of curiosity, try the new plate. Make sure to review your history. Learn the meanings behind funny street names and statues. Watch the native birds in the park and the people who feed them. Take cues from your environment, it’s often the best way to learn.

Aside from your environment, study yourself. Take note of what you enjoy, and what you don’t. Which customs are easy to embody, and which are best left observed? Do you feel like running your social battery tonight, or taking a moment to rest? Which new acquaintances feel like old friends? When you are all alone, with the people you might frequently depend on thousands of miles away, you will learn how to depend on yourself. You will become more versed in your own thoughts and emotions than ever before, and even more confident in your decisions and actions.

A final thought:

A few summers ago, I sat on the grass in a park in my hometown and felt suffocated. Amid the pandemic, barely able to leave my house, I was clouded with the thought that I had biked every street, walked every sidewalk, and squeezed every experience out of my hometown of the past 20 years that I ever possibly could. 

When I arrived home earlier this summer, my eyes felt cleared. The veil was lifted from what I remembered as a dreary, monotonous place. Why hadn’t I noticed the flowers growing alongside the road before? Had there always been a yoga practice so close by? Sure, some aspects of our small town still aren’t for me, but I can see them now with the same eye I saw my new town in France, with a quiet appraisal and a curious anticipation of unexpected joys. 

To answer any last questions:

Yes, I became fairly fluent in French. I spent my entire last day walking around with my host sister (who obviously speaks French) without reverting to English (maybe just once). I also learned some lovely filler words including bahhhh, franchement, and du coup, so I’d say that counts for something. No, I do not think the “chocolate croissants” from Starbucks taste like my dear pan au chocolat. Yes, I would go back to France in a heartbeat and live there, or Croatia, or Barcelona. Yes, I do still keep in contact with my friends and host family from the trip, I miss them all the time.

Yes, I do want to travel more. After such an exciting first few months of the year, I feel I’ve only scratched the surface of all the cultures, languages, relationships, and experiences the world has to offer. 

If I’m lucky in life, maybe I’ll have more opportunities to find them. 

To Jandra :

I hereby leave this blog to you. Go be your best self in Scotland, and then find an even better self that none of us knew was even possible. Being on your own only means there is absolutely nothing to hold you back. I can’t wait to visit you and learn all about your new favorite places and people, and chug a Guinness with you. As they say in France, bon voyage, bon courage, et bonne aventure!

“L’aventure c’est le trésor que l’on découvre à chaque matin.”

Adventure is the treasure we discover every morning.

Jacques Brel (French singer and songwriter)

Your sister,

Isabella

Weekend Excursions: Rennes and Normandy

Half-Timbered Architecture

Knowing my study abroad is taking place in the COVID era, I had the expectation for myself that I would limit my traveling outside of the country in order to minimize risk of COVID, as well as risk of getting stranded in another country if situations were to change and borders to close. Even so, I know that one thing a lot of people regret after studying abroad is not exploring their home countries enough, which is exactly why I want to take the opportunity to do so. 

The first trip I took was a day-long outing in Rennes with some friends from IES. The capital of France’s Brittany region, it was only about one hour from Nantes by train. The city is well known for its half-timbered houses dating nearly 2,000 years, and it was fun to spot the ancient architecture hiding in between later-constructed buildings.

My favorite part of the trip had to be an art installation we came upon. The piece, entitled S E C R E T S de Rennes was constructed by Dan Acher. Made up of giant wooden letters spelling out the word ‘secret’, the general public was invited to write their own untold sentiments and stories on a piece of paper, which they could either hang immediately on the wooden blocks or put in a box to be hung later. At the end of the installation, which was the day after we left, the blocks and papers attached to them would be burned. 

The ‘S E C R E T S de Rennes’ exhibit

It was especially interesting to walk around the blocks and read all of the anonymous notes. Some were love letters, some concerned politics or identity, some revealed regrets, and others were just unpopular opinions. It compelled me to reflect on the reasons we chose to hide the parts of ourselves that we do, and consider what would happen if we decided to expose those things. Though pictures of the secrets themselves were prohibited, we were able to take photos from afar.

The next weekend trip that I went on was a trip to the northern region of Normandy. This was a trip with IES, so it included some more cultural experiences provided through the program. First we spent our Saturday in Caen, a village known for its buildings dating back to the reign of William the Conqueror, the first Norman monarch of England from 1066 to 1087. We learned more about his history through our visit to the Tapestry of Bayeux, an embroidered fabric from 1066 reaching 70 meters in length that depicts the events of William’s conquests. I loved seeing the old architecture in the bayeux region and the history they held. It was a charming place, and as I said to my friend there, they just don’t build houses like that anymore.

Our last day was spent visiting the Memorial Museum of Caen, as well as the American Cemetery of Normandy, Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc. The day was heavy with emotion, as we reread and saw in greater detail the absolute atrocity and human carnage that took place during WWII. Lunch was a relief to spend with my friend that day, talking over our thoughts during the visit and how our opinions on war were brought to light.

Later it was a rainy, aggressively windy walk through the cemetery, where I ended up finding the headstone of a soldier from Michigan. I wondered about his thoughts when he stood in the same place, and if he also told his friends that the ocean there looked exactly like Lake Michigan. Our final stop at Pointe du Hoc was the shortest, but it was again sobering to see the ground still so torn by bombs that we seemed to be surrounded by giant molehills and tiny valleys. 

The last thing I took away from both of these trips were my feelings upon returning to Nantes. It’s been surprising each time to notice my renewed sense of comfort when my train pulls into the station or our bus to the entrance of IES. More and more Nantes has felt like my landing place, and I am grateful to have a home to return to after my adventures.

Also, if anyone has a new word for ‘adventure’, please let me know. 

Write again soon,

Isabella

En Français, S’il Vous Plaît

Hello family, friends, and random readers!

It’s officially been a little over a week since I’ve arrived in France, which is a little later than I anticipated writing my first blog post. Adjusting to typing on a French keyboard definitely does not help my timeliness! Of course, the keyboards have not been the only big adjustment here, and part of my hesitation to write has come from my indecision on what exactly I should write about first, so I think I will start with the most obvious; the language. 

Since arriving, my brain has been split. For most of the day, I spend my day at the IES Center with other students, where we are required to speak French. In fact, the first thing you see when you enter the center is the doormat which reads ‘En Français, s’il vous plaît!’, a very common phrase here if you’re caught speaking English. I also speak French with my host family, who I typically see each night when we have dinner all together. My only English breaks come at home at the end of the day, where I might go on social media or talk to family and friends, or outside the center if I go for a coffee, shopping, or out with the other students. 

When I say my brain has been split, I really mean it. Every time I switch from French to English throughout my day, I feel the connections rewiring. Sometimes my friends and I forget words in English, in French, or in both languages at once so we’re left to struggle through giving a description of the thing like a spontaneous game of catch phrase. 

However, one of my favorite things about this experience has been this forced weakness. All of us students started with the same anxieties, and for the most part the same range of vocabulary. Our conversations are slow, but that means I am really, actively listening to the words being spoken, as well as telling my stories and sharing my thoughts carefully. 

With my family, I feel very encouraged. I am given the time and patience to speak, and every successful story is an encouragement to keep going. Going to stores and ordering food was another obstacle. But again, with each purchase I feel more and more confident in my abilities to navigate the new world I’m in.

Today, I was finally placed in one of the four French classes IES offers to its students for the semester. I cannot wait to continue building and practicing my language skills. My friend put it precisely in a way that stuck with me. Up until now, we’ve been using our French grammar and language skills we learned weeks, months; and years ago. We’ve been receiving so much input here though, and now these classes will give us the grammar structures to be able to form the sentences we need.

Until next time, which will hopefully be much sooner!

Isabella

Reasons to Study Abroad in Oslo

Upon returning home from a semester in Norway, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my overall experience abroad. I was fortunate to have a generally positive experience and already miss my friends and the lifestyle I lived while in Oslo. Here are a few of the things I have found I miss the most and what I believe was unique in choosing to spend a semester in Oslo, Norway!

Nature

There is no place quite like Norway. The chance to study in a place with mountains, rivers, oceans, or islands can be special but put them all together and you have the magical Norwegian homeland. From after-class hikes to weekend getaways, nature has heavily influenced how I spent my time abroad. It also inspired me to become more active and explore the unmarked beauty around me. Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to Norway each year so why not take the opportunity to live in a place where most others only brush on the surface?

Quirky Hang Outs

Norwegian summers are warm and endless. Norwegian winters are cold and dark. This means that bars, restaurants, and clubs need to be able to accommodate for all types of environments. The result? Unique spots which entertain year-round. Some of my favorite spots have included Mabou, Kulturhuset, and Oslo Street Food. Thanks to life in Oslo, places with chill coffee shop vibes in the morning and dance music and games in the evening now hold an even nearer place in my heart.

The Basement of “Oslo Bowling” is filled with students and parents alike, all out for an evening of fun!

Ocean Views

Coming from West Michigan, I have been fortunate to visit Lake Michigan on a regular basis each year but there is nothing quite like living on the ocean. From summer beach days to FREEZING winter fjord jumps (quickly followed by a sauna session) the Oslofjord holds many dear memories.

Advice: take advantage of unique opportunities to take a swim in the fjord, freezing or not it is great for your health!

Islands

Students in Oslo only have to pay $50 for unlimited public transport each month…including ferries to nearby islands. Studying on the beach of Lindøya after class and exploring the old ruins of Hovedøya are just a couple of fond memories. Regardless of your adventure, it is quite the treat to have unique spaces just a boat ride away!

The view of the Oslofjord from Lindøya

Unique Friends

I know what you’re thinking, meeting cool people from different countries and cultures is what EVERYONE does while abroad. However, Oslo is not the first city that comes to mind for most students deciding where to study abroad. This means that when a student does choose this unique location, they are likely to have a unique personality to match. Norway is not always sunshine and northern lights, it can be a cold, dark, and rainy place. With crappy weather set as a standard, students must push themselves to go out and adventure rather than wait for the rain to pass…the reality is it might not. Making friends in a place with unpredictable weather is a great way to ensure memorable adventures in memorable circumstances!

Small Town Vibes

While Oslo is the largest and capital city of Norway, it has total small town vibes. The city is surrounded by both fjord and forests and only houses ~675,000 people. I believe the Norwegian (and generally Nordic) culture in the city also contributes to such a small town feel. Despite the general shyness of Norwegians, they are still incredibly willing to help out when asked and tend to warm up in bars and clubs, which Oslo has plenty of. For the student who is nervous about leaving home for the first time, you might be surprised at how quickly this “small” big city can feel like home.

Even at 3:30pm in the city center, Oslo can be a quiet and relaxing place

Global City

Aside from oil, skiing, and beautiful landscapes, Norway isn’t exactly known for much. One thing I learned in my Norwegian History course was that Norwegians have always been GREAT at assimilation. The country is made of sailors and traders who had to interact with people from across the world, and did so as early as in the 700’s. What does that mean for the capital city of Oslo? It is a place filled with an appreciation for world culture!

While there might be a stereotype of what a Norwegian person looks like (blond hair and blue eyes) I quickly learned that the city has become almost as much of a melting pot as back home.

Norwegians are also excellent at English. As a foreigner, this meant communication was a breeze! This also meant that when attending conferences and business lectures, I could meet people from across the globe. Many travel to Oslo because it represents a progressive and sustainable country and they want to learn more.

Advice: Take advantage of the global city and attend events where you can hear ideas and meet people from unique backgrounds.

A selfie at the “Oslo Innovation Week” Opening Ceremony!

Candles and Fur

I have already mentioned that Norway can be cold and however this slight setback, in many ways opened up a wide array of beautiful coping mechanisms. One of my favorite ways the cold is combated comes in the form of cozy candles and warm furs provided at restaurants and cafes. Outdoor seating is provided year-round along with heat lamps to keep guest comfortable year-round. Despite the cool summers and snowy winters, it was always possible to feel warm and fuzzy in the city.

Check out the softest furs, all natural from Norwegian farms of course!

Peace

Oslo is home to the Nobel Peace Prize. Even back in the 1800’s when Sweden and Norway were still in a union, Alfred Nobel knew that Oslo held a special place in the world. Therefore he specified that while all other Nobel prizes would be awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize should always be Norwegian.

The presence of the Peace Prize resonates throughout the city through it’s policies, customs, and way of life. The Nobel Peace Center was the only location where I got a membership over the semester and was by far the place I returned to most frequently. Being surrounded by the stories and messages of Nobel Peace Laureates energized me. If looking for a place to reflect on the beauties of life and become inspired to make a positive impact, Oslo might just be the city for you!

I sincerely hope that you will consider visiting Oslo and the country of Norway at some point in life. This is a lovely place that upholds ideals which many other countries are just beginning to pursue. To those looking to find their home away from home for a semester, check out Oslo, while it isn’t the “obvious” choice you might be surprised at what a hidden gem you find!

Maintaining Relationships While Abroad

I am a very independent person. Maybe in some ways that seems obvious if I voluntarily left The States to live in a new country for a semester but regardless this is a point I wish to make. Being independent does not however mean that I struggle with or lack having strong relationships in my life. I LOVE PEOPLE and have been blessed with a personality that makes it easy to connect and build relationships with others. I have also been lucky enough to be exposed to some pretty awesome people over the years who enrich my life with their unique ideas, experiences, and perspectives!

A challenge that I have been facing since leaving the USA is simply that it can be hard to feel as connected to those I love back home when facing challenges like different time zones and busy schedules. Of course, different types of relationships are maintained in different ways so in this post, I will give some examples of ways to communicate with loved ones while studying (or living) abroad.

Things to Consider:

Time Zones – This can be one of the biggest challenges, especially since I may accidentally call someone at 3am not even realizing the issue. The way the time difference between Oslo and Detroit works is that Oslo is 6 hours ahead of Detroit. That means that when it is noon in Norway, Michigan is barely starting their day at 6am. Funny enough, this also means that as the sun rises in Michigan around 8am, the sun is starting to set in Oslo around 2pm. Strangely enough, having the sun fully set at 4pm is not as bad as it sounds, but more on that another time. The best way I have found to battle the time zone difference is to schedule time for phone and video calls. While it might seem a bit extreme, it has been the easiest way to be mindful of the schedules of everyone involved.

Note: Daylight savings really screwed with my head as for one week Michigan and Norway were only FIVE hours apart rather than six. This was due to Norway switching their clocks back one week earlier than The States. Since I had a handful of important calls and interviews scheduled during this week, it was critical for me to understand how this difference worked.

A map of time zones for reference. Check out Australia if you want to see something really crazy!

Apps – Many phone companies in The States offer international phone plans for those leaving the country for a while. Unfortunately, those back home don’t always have the ability to make long-distance calls without racking up fees. A few apps that have come in handy for international communication are WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype. All three of these allow for individuals to make audio and video calls with internet or data connection. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger also allow for individual and group chats to be made. Our immediate family has since made a handful of group chats allowing us to share random details of our day with ease.

Sister skypes are always quite eventful.

Letters – Call my old fashioned but I LOVE to write letters home. There is something so timeless and romantic about knowing a piece of paper is physically crossing an ocean to get to its owner. Besides, I have yet to meet a soul on this earth who doesn’t appreciate finding a note for them in their mailbox. For this reason, I try to send notes home to different individuals on a weekly basis. The way I see it, postcards are a cheap and easy souvenir and it can be fun to take time seeking them out with a particular person in mind.

Letters from Florence, Italy all the way to Michigan and Iowa.

Social Media – It can be easy to view social media as a waste of time but since removing myself from my close friends and school organizations, platforms like Facebook and Instagram have really helped to bridge gaps in communication! I currently maintain an Instagram page (@lemusstudyabroad) which is dedicated to my study abroad experience and I have gotten loads of positive feedback from friends and family about how nice it is for them to see my photos. At the same time, I have had to limit my social media use at times to avoid experiencing any FOMO (fear of missing out) when seeing events back home. It is great to have a platform for mass sharing of information but I still prefer Facebook and Instagram direct messaging to actually catch up with people.

My instagram account 🙂

While it is not always easy to keep in touch, I feel very lucky to be living in an age when I can call up my loved ones with a press of a button. We just have to keep working on matching up our schedules so that they can answer!

Study Abroad…It’s Not For Everyone

Studying abroad is not for everyone.

If you enjoy meeting new people…it’s probably not for you.

If you hope to open your mind…it might not be your thing.

If you want to explore life in a new city,

If you wish to be exposed to a mysterious language,

If you enjoy unwrapping unique cultures,

If you are interested in discovering new countries,

If you want to make friends from across the world,

If you want to study with people who have unique experiences,

If you hope to be comfortable eating alone,

If you want to understand life on a deeper level,

If you are interested in global perspectives,

If you are comfortable being uncomfortable,

If you hope to grow into a more mature individual,

If you want to appreciate all that life has to offer, studying abroad may be not a good fit

Studying abroad is not for everyone, but I sure think it’s for me.